Tested: Bianchi Specialissima Pro

Peter Maniaty describes the bike as a thoroughbred racehorse because it’s agile and responsive and just wants to move. He liked it so much that he didn’t want to give it back!

It wasn’t long ago that the Specialissima was Bianchi’s undisputed lightweight climbing bike, one for the true mountain goats. Nowadays, things aren’t quite so simple. While it’s still magnificent on the ramps and cols – and Bianchi, unlike many of its rivals, still maintains its standalone aero platform, the Oltre – the Specialissima has a few more tricks up its carbon sleeves. It’s evolved into a true aero-optimised all-rounder, just as capable for most riders on the flat as it is on the hills. In fact, after six hugely enjoyable weeks of riding, I’d venture it’s one of the most well-rounded performance road bikes currently available. Returning it was a sad moment, indeed.

Background

The Specialissima name dates all the way back to 1958 and the days of Fausto Coppi. After a glittering professional run featuring many of the world’s finest teams and riders, it then disappeared in the late 1980s, before being reintroduced by Bianchi in 2015. Just like the Oltre, there are three models in the range, and the subject of this review, the Specialissima Pro, is the mid-level offering, wedged between the top-of-the-range Specialissima RC (as ridden by Arkéa-B&B Hotels on the WorldTour in 2025) and the base model Specialissima Comp. Bianchi describes the Specialissima Pro as the perfect bike for “pro amateurs” and, whilst something of an oxymoron, I do understand what they’re getting at. This is a serious bike for serious cyclists, with day jobs.

First impressions

There must be something in the water in Treviglio because Bianchi currently has some of the most intriguing road frames in cycling. Whilst far more refined to the eye and far less muscular, the angular styling of the Specialissima Pro still has subtle hints of its polarising sibling, the Oltre. The form is entirely modern and quite unconventional in places – most notably, there’s a kink near the top tube/seat tube junction – with little in the way of old-school nostalgia. That said, I really like it, especially with the iridescent paint scheme which gives off hints of grey, purple and even celeste in bright sunlight. Whilst the Specialissima RC is a true featherweight that seriously challenges the UCI weight limit at just 6.6kg, the Specialissima Pro comes in a touch higher at 7.3kg – still wonderfully light, of course.

Frame & geometry

Climbing has always been in the Specialissima’s DNA. But like pretty much every other major frame manufacturer on the planet, convergence is very much at play here. A small clue of Bianchi’s desire for it to be seen as more than just a climbing bike is the 52/36 chainring. Yes, the carbon layup is clearly optimised to reduce unnecessary bulk wherever possible. However, the Specialissima Pro still boasts plenty of classic aero touches, including a recessed fork/headtube junction, integrated one-piece cockpit, D-shaped carbon seat post, dropped seat stays and CFD-optimised aerofoil tube sections. Bianchi explains the fork design was directly inspired by learnings from the Oltre, with it efficiently integrated into the bottom of the top tube to reduce drag and friction.

To the eye, most of the weight savings appear to come at the rear of the build with a heavily tapered top tube, slender seat/chain stays and, by modern standards, a relatively modest bottom bracket junction (compared with the chunky girth of the Oltre, for example). One thing that actually adds a little weight to the Pro frameset – it’s 60 grams heavier than the RC – is the use of Countervail (CV) technology in the carbon layup, Bianchi’s clever viscoelastic material that reduces road vibration.

There’s little publicly available performance data for the Pro model, but again, clues can be found nearby. Bianchi describes the Specialissima RC platform as an ideal choice for GC-style riders, ultra-light with world-class stiffness-to-weight ratios. Specifically, it claims that at 250 watts, the Specialissima RC is faster than the aero Oltre RC on gradients of 4% and higher. Even with the addition of CV, it seems reasonable to expect similar performance comparisons from the respective Pro models.

Geometry-wise, the 55cm Specialissima frame lines up pretty closely with the Oltre. The wheelbase and BB drops are identical. The stack and headtube measurements are also very similar (adjusting for the recessed steerer/headtube junction on the Oltre). The Specialissima frame offers a slightly longer reach and lower stack than some of its main rivals, including the Tarmac SL8 and Canyon Ultimate. The result of all this? A reasonably low and aero-optimised ride position, but certainly not an unforgiving one. I actually found it quite comfortable.

Wheels & components

Technically speaking, the Specialissima Pro is a step down from the sublime spec levels of the top-end RC, which is equipped with Reparto Corse components. But have no doubt, the Pro still has plenty to offer us mere mortals. For starters, it actually features the same one-piece Reparto Corse aero carbon cockpit as the RC (available in five stem lengths with 125mm drop and two-degree flare), along with an adjustable out-front computer mount and underside bracket for lights and/or cameras. The review build was fitted with an ever-impressive Shimano Ultegra Di2 12-speed groupset, whilst SRAM Force AXS is also available. The carbon wheelset comes from Bianchi’s in-house brand, Velomann, with the versatile 33mm Palladium rims (tubeless-ready, internal 21mm, external 28mm) weighing a very respectable 1,450 grams and finished with slick 26mm Pirelli P ZERO Race tyres. Underneath your derrière is a Specialissima Carbon Aero seatpost (20mm offset) and Velomann Mitora 139mm Hyper saddle with nylon carbon shell and carbon rails, the exact same spec as the Oltre Pro. The Specialissima Pro also arrives with bespoke bottle-cage screws in Bianchi celeste but, alas, no actual cages.

The ride

Some bikes just make you smile. From the first kilometre, I knew this was going to be fun. Like a thoroughbred racehorse, the Specialissima Pro just wants to move – ideally as fast as possible. Agile and responsive, the overall ride feel is fabulously balanced, making it a hugely capable performer pretty much anywhere. Thanks to the combination of its lightweight and race-tuned stiffness, acceleration isn’t just good, it’s exciting, bringing you up to speed as quickly as any road bike I can remember; something that also suggests the even lighter and stiffer RC model must be an absolute rocket. Put in the effort, hills or flat, and the Specialissima Pro responds instantly. Even with the addition of CV in the carbon layup, the road feel is far from muted. The ride remains quite firm with sharp handling and ample road feedback, especially at higher tyre pressures. I started with 85 psi, way too high, dropped it down to 75 psi, which was better, then down again to around 65 psi, which, for me, was perfect. In addition to being more comfortable and less fatiguing for general riding, the use of CV in the frame also reduces road buzz on faster downhills with uneven road surfaces such as those often encountered on the Three Gorges ride north of Sydney, for example. The result is more confident descending – who doesn’t want that?

If you think this all sounds rosy, you’re absolutely right. The only slight watch-out – and I really do mean slight – comes if you spend the vast majority of your time riding at high speeds on flat roads. The Specialissima Pro is unquestionably fast and considerably more than just a climbing bike. However, for now, more traditional aero builds such as the Oltre (which I reviewed for Bicycling Australia magazine in late 2024) still hold an edge in the watts maximisation stakes on flatter terrain, backed by Bianchi’s performance data. Swapping in a set of deep-section carbon rims could certainly level things somewhat. But if you’re a sprinter type wanting a high-octane, super stiff crit machine and rarely bother with hills, there are probably better options.

Summing up

Light, balanced, responsive, and fast. As far as 2025 bikes go, the Bianchi Specialissima Pro might just be the perfect all-round build for an aspirational amateur roadie. Sure, it’s slightly unconventional to look at, but it’s simply beautiful to ride. Whilst it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the RC, the spec level is still impressively high, and it delivers first-class performance in pretty much all conditions. I’d very happily call it my own. Just don’t call it a climbing bike, okay?

Specifications

RRP: $11,849

COLOUR: Mystic Grey

FRAME: Specialissima Pro CV (Carbon)

FORK: Specialissima Pro CV (Carbon)

HANDLEBAR/STEM: Reparto Corse Integrated (Carbon, for Acros ICR system)

HEADSET: Acros IS52 ICR SS custom headtube cover Specialissima

SADDLE: Velomann Mitora 139 Hyper

SEAT POST: Specialissima Carbon Aero, 20mm offset

BRAKES: Shimano BR-R8170 Hydraulic

ROTORS: Shimano RT-CL800 Centerlock (160mm front & rear)

SHIFTING: Shimano Ultegra Di2 12sp

CASSETTE: Shimano Ultegra, CS-R8100, 12sp, 11-30T

CHAIN: Shimano Ultegra 12sp CN-M8100

CRANKSET: Shimano Ultegra FC-R8100 12sp, 52x36T,

BOTTOM BRACKET: Shimano SM-BB72-41B, press fit

RIMS: Velomann Palladium (33mm, carbon, tubeless ready)

TYRES: Pirelli P ZERO Race (700 x 26mm)

CLEARANCE (MAX): 32mm