Vitus Energie CR eTap AXS, blu/nero

At its core, the Vitus Energie EVO CR cyclocross bike with wireless Sram Rival eTap AXS components has the clean lines and sleek aesthetic of a modern carbon race bike. But its best side is not the one leaning pristine against an immaculate garage wall or sparkling for Instagram. It’s the one ready for the real world - to race laps of a grassy park in the rain, slide into muddy corners, power through sand and compete in the worst winter weather.

Whether podium or mid-pack - it doesn’t matter. This bike is for those driven by that intoxicating excitement for race day. This is for those who come alive when that number is pinned on, whether lining up on frosted grass or ankle-deep in swampy mud. This is for those looking for electronic shifting performance and refined race geometry to deliver a competitive ride with no compromises on fun. Whether racing for the podium or just for fun, the frame is loaded with thoughtfully engineered features that are uniquely designed and refined for the demands of cyclocross. A flatter top tube sits comfortably into the shoulder and single-entry cable routing reduces penetration of dirt so that performance is not reduced by wet conditions or a jet wash. A revised carbon lay-up improves the stiffness for power out of the turns, where it really matters mid-race, while also reducing weight for when you need to carry or charge into a climb.

The top tube is slightly longer and the stem a touch shorter than before, keeping weight distribution slightly back from the front end, so the handling feels snappy and responsive - this is immediate control, whatever the conditions. Frame clearance around the wheels is vast, so your speed won’t be slowed, nor the bike weighed down by mud. It also makes the bike easy to clean for your pit crew, and when the racing is done you can spray it down quickly and put it straight into the car.

A Vitus is always best being ridden, not hanging on a wall, waiting or posing. So when you’re not lining up for cyclocross, thanks to an innovative removable seat stay bridge, you can add mudguards and carry on with your winter training and year-round commuting. However hard the ride, with the Energie the fun is always turned right up. Why wouldn’t you want to keep riding this bike?