2024 Giant TCR Advanced vs Cervelo R5

In this article, our bicycle authority Bernard Lu compares the Giant TCR Advanced and Cervelo R5, comparing the variant, features, technologies and pricing.

Experienced cyclist turned writer with 7+ years working in bike shops, overseeing retail and workshop operations.
Updated:

This article compares the Giant TCR Advanced and Cervelo R5.

I’ll help you understand the bike model lineups, specifications, and suggested retail prices in USD. I’ll explain the carbon fiber technology (Giant Advanced Composite and ) and innovative frameset technologies on each bike.

The objective is to provide you with a clearer understanding of Giant TCR Advanced and Cervelo R5.

Giant TCR AdvancedCervelo R5
Type of bikeAll-rounderLightweight, all-rounder
Frame materialAdvanced-SL carbon
Advanced carbon
Cervelo carbon
Frame sizesXS, S, M, ML, L, XL48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61
GroupsetShimano, SRAM (12-speed)Shimano, SRAM (12-speed)
BrakesHydraulic discHydraulic disc
CablingInternalInternal
Price (USD)$6,500 to $12,200$9,000 to $13,000
Overview of Giant TCR Advanced and Cervelo R5

Giant TCR Advanced

Giant TCR Advanced SL 1 SRAM Force eTap AXS
Giant TCR Advanced SL 1. Photo : Giant

The top-tiered Giant TCR Advanced SL uses the super light Advanced-SL carbon, has an integrated seat post, and is specced with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) or SRAM Force eTap AXS. The Giant TCR Advanced Pro sits in the mid-range, uses a lower-grade carbon fiber (Advanced carbon), and is slightly heavier.

The framesets are available in the Advanced SL and Advanced Pro versions for those looking to custom-build their bikes.

ModelFrame materialGroupsetWheelsetRetail price (USD)
Giant TCR Advanced SL 0Advanced SL carbonShimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200)CADEX 36$12,200
Giant TCR Advanced SL 1Advanced SL carbonSRAM Force eTap AXSGiant SLR 1 36$9,200
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 ARAdvanced carbonSRAM Force eTap AXSGiant SLR 1 36$6,700
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0Advanced carbonShimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100)Giant SLR 1 36$6,500
Giant TCR Advanced models lineup

Cervelo R5

Cervelo R5 SRAM Red eTap AXS
Cervelo R5. Photo : Cervelo

The Cervélo R5 is an all-rounder road race bike. The Cervélo R5 sits at the top with the best components and is ridden by Jonas Vingegaard to win the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France.

Cervélo R5 and R-Series (discontinued in 2022) share the same carbon fiber material. Cervélo calls the carbon tubing design, the Squoval Max, a reference to the combination of Square and Oval tube shapes to achieve a balance between weight, stiffness, and aerodynamic benefits according to their CFD analysis.

The Cervélo R5 is disc-only with an integrated cockpit. It’s also available in a frameset only.

ModelFrame materialGroupsetWheelsetRetail price (USD)
Cervelo R5CarbonShimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200)Reserve 34/37$13,000
Cervelo R5CarbonSRAM Red eTap AXSReserve 34/37$13,000
Cervelo R5CarbonShimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100)Reserve 34/37$9,000
Cervelo R5CarbonSRAM Force eTap AXSReserve 34/37$9,000
Cervélo R5 models lineup

Giant vs Cervelo carbon fiber

Giant Advanced Composite Carbon

Giant’s Advanced Composite Carbon is a proprietary carbon fiber technology used in constructing bicycle frames. It’s a high-quality composite material with carbon fibers embedded in a resin matrix.

Using Advanced Composite Carbon, Giant can design frames with specific performance characteristics tailored to different riding disciplines. The material offers excellent vibration-damping properties, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue on long rides. It also provides efficient power transfer, enabling riders to maximize their pedaling efficiency and accelerate easily.

The Giant Advanced Composite Carbon is available in standard and SL (Super Light) versions.

  • Advanced SL represents the pinnacle of Giant’s carbon fiber engineering and construction. Advanced SL frames undergo additional optimization, utilizing a higher grade of carbon fiber and meticulous layup techniques. It’s found in Giant’s top-of-the-line bikes.
  • Advanced is a step down from the top-tier Advanced SL carbon fiber, but it still offers an impressive balance of performance and value for money.

Cervelo Carbon

Cervelo doesn’t publicly release information about the types of carbon fiber used on their road bikes.

From my observation of the current Cervelo bikes lineups, there are at least two carbon fiber grades used.

  • Highest grade. Cervelo R5 and S5 could be using the highest carbon fiber grade of all the models. These are pure race bikes used by the pros and would likely have the best carbon fiber available at Cervelo.
  • Mid-grade. Cervelo Caledonia and Soloist could be using a mid-level carbon and heavier fiber grade of all the models. These are endurance bikes that prioritize comfort over stiffness. So it’s not a surprise to see a lower-grade carbon fiber being used here.

Frameset technologies and innovations

Giant TCR Advanced and Cervelo R5 framesets incorporate advanced technologies to enhance their bikes’ performance and ride characteristics.

Here’s an overview of the technologies used in each bike model.

Giant TCR Advanced

NameDescription
Advanced Composite TechnologyUtilizes Giant’s High Performance Grade raw carbon material and Modified Monocoque Construction technique to create a custom frame material. This carbon composite offers a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, balancing lightweight performance and strength.
OverDrive 2Features advanced steerer tube technology with oversized headset bearings and a tapered steerer tube (1 1/2″ lower, 1 1/4″ upper).

This design optimizes the front-end steering performance, resulting in superior steering stiffness, enhanced control, and precise handling.
Compact Road DesignOriginating with the professional Team ONCE in the 1990s, Compact Road Design revolutionized high-performance road bikes.

It involves a downward-sloping top tube, creating smaller front and rear triangles for a lighter, stiffer bike. The design also enables riders of all sizes to find a perfect fit and maintain optimal power transfer.
PowerCoreIncorporates a massively oversized bottom bracket/chainstay area with a fully integrated 86mm wide bottom bracket design (92mm wide for off-road bikes).

The asymmetrical chainstays provide additional stiffness on the drive side and stability on the non-drive side, ensuring efficient power transfer and precise handling.
Giant TCR Advanced’s frameset features and technologies

Cervélo R5

Unlike other road bike brands, there is minimal information about the technologies used in the Cervélo R5 frameset. The most obvious, and talked-about feature is the Squoval tube shapes.

Squoval stands for square-oval tube shapes. They are a unique design feature that combines the benefits of both square and oval tubes to produce frames that are stiff, light, and aero.

According to Cervélo, the seat tube doesn’t undergo much stress compared to the down and top tubes. Hence, the Cervélo engineers designed a smaller, thinner, and lighter seat tube. On the other hand, the down and top tubes are beefed up to be stiff, and strong while using as little material as possible. This led to the square-oval design seen on the R5.

Where to buy

Giant retailers

Cervelo retailers

Bernard Lu at Mr.Mamil

Bernard Lu has 7+ years of experience working in a bicycle shop, overseeing the retail and workshop operations. He’s a qualified bicycle mechanic who understands a cyclist’s needs and speaks the same cycling lingo.

If you meet him at the cafe, he will happily talk to you for hours about all the intricacies of bikes and cycling tech. Just buy him a coffee next time you see him.