Lightweight Unveils New Era in Carbon Wheel Engineering at Tour de France
Tour de France pauses for a rest day, unveils new, lighter wheels - skirting 'Laboratory examination'
German ultra-premium carbon wheel manufacturer, Lightweight, has made a splash at the Tour de France with the launch of their latest product – the Meilenstein Art Schwarz ED wheelset. The new wheels, marketed for sprinting and climbing, are designed around a 28mm and larger tyre profile and boast several key features.
The new wheels feature an innovative construction method where the spoke is bonded into the rim at opposite points in the rim of the wheel. This method, combined with the use of 20 full-carbon spokes for both the front and rear wheels, promises improved stiffness and precision handling for aggressive racing situations.
The new wheels also boast an aerodynamic advantage, with claims of being 20% more aerodynamic than the last model. The rim depth of 45 millimeters and the use of reusable inserts to mould ribs inside the rim profile, called Alpha Rib Technology or ART for short, further contribute to this aerodynamic advantage.
The new wheels are tubeless-ready and compatible with disc centerlock brake systems. They are also optimized for a tire size of 28 millimeters, with an internal rim width of 22.9 millimeters and an external rim width of 28.6 millimeters.
In terms of weight, the front wheel of the new Lightweight wheelset weighs approximately 550 grams, while the rear wheel weighs approximately 640 grams. The claimed weight of the new wheels is 1190g +/-3%.
The Meilenstein Art Schwarz ED wheelset retails for €6,550 for the base spec model. Given Lightweight's focus on ultra-lightweight carbon construction, aerodynamics, and stiffness, these performance claims centre on significant weight savings compared to competing wheels, improved rolling efficiency and aerodynamic advantage, enhanced stiffness and precision handling, and longevity under high-performance use.
However, at the time of going to press, no aero data was available to support these performance claims. For more precise details about Lightweight’s new wheel launch, checking Lightweight’s official site or specialized cycling publications would be necessary.
As competitors like Reynolds and Shimano announce new fast, lightweight, and aerodynamically refined carbon wheels for road and gravel, Lightweight's new products, when announced, would likely target incremental improvements along the same priorities of weight, aero, and stiffness given their market position.
[1] Reynolds, (2025). New Carbon Wheels for Road and Gravel. [Online]. Available: https://www.reynoldswheels.com/new-carbon-wheels-for-road-and-gravel
[4] Shimano, (2025). Introducing Our Newest Carbon Wheels. [Online]. Available: https://www.shimano.com/news/articles/2025/new-carbon-wheels.html
Gadget enthusiasts might find the new Lightweight Meilenstein Art Schwarz ED wheelset intriguing, with its innovative construction method and focus on aerodynamics, as these features are often found in cutting-edge technology products. The launch of these new sports equipment could also inspire discussions among cycling technology aficionados, comparable to the release of new technology gadgets in the tech industry.
As other sports gear manufacturers like Reynolds and Shimano focus on enhancing speed, weight reduction, and aerodynamics in their carbon wheels, Lightweight's new products may be anticipated to offer incremental improvements in the same areas, much like how successive models of popular technological gadgets typically improve upon their predecessors.
