Lapierre Prorace CF: Lapierre softens race hardtail - for faster lap times

With the Lapierre Prorace CF hardtail, the French manufacturer is sending the next fast innovation onto the mountain bike race tracks. The latest Race and Marathonfullys XR and XRM were already unveiled in spring - the BIKE has already tested the Lapierre XR 9.9.

The carbon hardtails have been completely overhauled and thoroughly softened - in line with the trend "Soft is the new hard". More comfort may sound like cosiness at first, but in reality the aim is to achieve ever shorter lap times on the ever faster and rougher racetracks.

According to the motto "softer than others", Lapierre certifies that the Prorace hardtails have more flex than ever before. UD SLI, the latest carbon technology at Lapierre, and the so-called 3D tubular concept are designed to get as much travel as possible out of the bike with a rigid rear end.

Lapierre has been using 3D Tubular on its road bikes since 2015. The seat stays are decoupled from the seat tube and run past it to the top tube. The resulting longer seat stays can be dimensioned more flexibly. The seat tube in combination with the slim 27.2 mm seat post also provides a little more suspension without the direct connection to the seat stays.

In addition to the design changes, the use of the new high-tech fibres also allows an additional reduction in weight, of course. The Prorace UD SLI Team frame from the top model 9.9 weighs just 845 grams (size M, untreated surface; manufacturer's specification). At 970 grams, the simple UD SLI frame still saves 100 grams compared to the previous model.

Agile & smooth: the geometry of the Lapierre Prorace CF

The geometry of the Lapierre Prorace is not radical or extreme, but it has become "that of a pure road bike" - albeit with "seven significant changes":

• Shorter chainstays (-8 mm)
• Slightly longer top tube and reach (depending on frame size) of 20 to 22 mm
• 5 mm lower head tube (10 mm for XL)
• Seat angle steeper by 1° for all sizes
• Moderate steering angle
• Lower stack for a lower centre of gravity
• 10 - 40 mm shorter seat tube from S to XL with increasing inclination

Lapierre Prorace CF 2023: Models & Prices

The new UD-SLI carbon frame is available in the Lapierre Prorace CF 5.9 from € 2299 - as a complete bike with SR-Suntour Raidon fork and Sram SX drivetrain. The top model, which makes the biggest price jump with the electronic Sram drivetrain and the SID Ultimate, starts at € 6499. The same carbon wheels, a Fox Factory fork and complete Shimano XT equipment are available in the € 4599 Prorace CF 8.9. All prices at a glance:

• Lapierre Prorace CF 5.9 - 2299 Euro
• Lapierre Prorace CF 6.9 - 2899 Euro
• Lapierre Prorace CF 7.9 - 3599 Euro
• Lapierre Prorace CF 8.9 - 4599 Euro
• Lapierre Prorace CF 9.9 - 6499 Euro