So often we look at the pampered pros in the bike world and wish we could get our hands on the cool stuff they’re riding. Often it’s a prototype part or next year’s model we’re spying, and we’ll just have to wait. Other times, the team bikes are available for purchase exactly as built for the pro peloton which usually includes an equally pro price tag. With the Orbea Orca Team Cofidis Replica however, you get all of the panache of the pro frame – just with more affordable builds.
The Orca Team Cofidis Replica is, as the name suggests, an affordable consumer version of the Team Cofidis road racing bike. It rides on the exact same frame the pro racers use, which has been revised under a collaborative effort by Orbea and Team Cofidis. The newest Orca frame is claimed to be 20% lighter, 24% stiffer, and up to 62% more efficient than the previous model, which Bikerumor covered last summer.
Click past the break for info on all four models of the Team Cofidis Replica…
Orca’s highest grade OMR frame is the basis for the Team Cofidis Replica. The 2015 model is 150g lighter than the mid-range Orca OMP version and nearly 250g lighter than the previous model. They’ve refined the carbon layup schedule on the seat stays, seatpost and top tubes for better ride comfort, but the Orca was also made much stiffer for improved pedalling efficiency. Team rider Nacer Bouhanni says “The bike is responsive when you speed up; It performs well in sprints, transferring all the power you apply.”
The Orca utilizes a tapered steer tube, 86mm PressFit bottom bracket, 130mm rear spacing and a 27.2mm seat tube. It also has internal cable routing and magnet slots behind the BB shell for power meter sensors. The replica models employ Orbea’s ‘race geometry’, which is outlined in the geometry chart below. Four models of the Team Cofidis Replica will be available- The M10i, the M10, the M20i and the M20. They all start with the improved Team Cofidis frame, but feature different level builds for weekend warriors or serious racers.
Many of the components are the same for every model- Orca’s full-carbon OMR fork, Vision Trimax T30 clincher wheels, Challenger Forte Race tires, FSA handlebars, stem, seatpost and headset, plus a Selle Italia SLR Team Edition saddle are consistent throughout the line. The difference basically boils down to the drivetrain you choose.
The M10i (seen in title photo) is the highest-end model in the line, featuring Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 9070 11-speed electronic drivetrain. The M10 is essentially the non-electronic version, and is built with mechanical Dura-Ace 9000 components. The M20i model employs Shimano’s electronic Ultegra 6870 Di2 group, and following the pattern the M20 uses mechanical Ultegra 6800 components.
The Orca Team Cofidis Replica frame is available in seven sizes from 47cm-60cms. Orbea does not provide complete bike weights or prices, but to find a dealer check out their website.
