A further 2 years of collaboration with Andreas Klöden as SCHMOLKE Carbon brand ambassador

Our highly successful partnership with Andreas Klöden, twice runner-up in the Tour de France, as a SCHMOLKE Carbon brand ambassador continues with the handover of the brand-new 2026 AERROW 2.0. For a further two years, Andreas will support us with his many years of experience and expert knowledge, and continue to promote the SCHMOLKE Carbon brand around the world!

As part of the handover of his own custom-built AERROW 2.0, we had the opportunity to speak to Andreas about his involvement in the development of the new frame.

SCHMOLKE Carbon: Thank you, Andreas, for taking the time today to answer a few questions for us. Your input has played a key role in the further development of our brand-new aero road bike, the AERROW 2.0, and, drawing on your wealth of experience, our development team has been able to achieve even better performance and a significant reduction in weight. Could you tell us what your focus was during the development process?

Andreas Klöden: You’re very welcome; I’m glad I was able to have my say to some extent. Right from the start, my focus was on the balancing act that every fast road bike has to manage these days: pitting aerodynamics against weight is pointless – you need both. In my view, that’s exactly what the AERROW 2.0 combines really well. You can see this particularly clearly at the front, on the head tube, which is consistently shaped to optimise airflow – and this line then runs the entire length of the frame, not just in one place. The exciting thing is this: despite these aerodynamic shapes, the bike has become even lighter – the frame currently weighs 5.600 grams – without compromising stiffness. And you notice this straight away in the saddle – when accelerating, when sprinting, and just as much on those long, fast stretches where you simply burn fewer calories.

Bicycle handover with brand ambassador Andreas Klöden

SCHMOLKE Carbon: That sounds like a lot of hard work and “brainpower” that you and Stefan Schmolke have put into developing the frame! Would you like to go into a bit more detail and describe the key technical features of the Aerrow 2.0 frame from your perspective?

Andreas Klöden: Sure, of course – there’s actually quite a lot going on that you wouldn’t notice at first glance from the outside. Let’s start with the down tube: it’s been given a more efficient cross-section, and the carbon fibres have been deliberately re-oriented so that the tube provides support exactly where the forces are actually applied. We’ve treated the head tube and fork as a single unit – greater torsional stiffness, and you can feel that straight away in the handling, which has simply become more precise, especially in fast corners or when things get tight in the peloton. With the chainstays, the aim was a rock-solid drivetrain, but without adding unnecessary material – every gram you don’t need there is a gram saved.

At the rear, we’ve deliberately taken the opposite approach: the seat stays are specifically designed to be slightly more flexible, rather than making the whole frame soft. This gives you comfort exactly where you need it, without the frame losing any efficiency. One aspect I personally find really exciting is the frame junctions – these are now designed so that the load paths flow more smoothly, resulting in fewer localised stress peaks. And the whole thing is held together by a very well-thought-out carbon lay-up: high-modulus fibres are used where they really make a difference, whilst tougher carbon is employed in the critical areas to withstand more wear and tear in everyday use. All in all, this isn’t a single major change, but the sum of many details – and that’s exactly what makes the difference on the road in the end.

SCHMOLKE Carbon: A few days ago Stefan Schmolke personally presented you, as our official SCHMOLKE Carbon brand ambassador, with your new AERROW 2.0. Congratulations on your new high-end bike, featuring a stylish mother-of-pearl white finish, SRAM’s latest RED top-of-the-range groupset and the extremely fast 60 mm high-profile wheelset from SCHMOLKE Carbon – all weighing in at a fabulous 705 g. Why did you choose this setup, and what particularly fascinates you about your bike after your first few kilometres?

Andreas Klöden: I’m absolutely delighted with the bike – and to be honest, it’s already seen more than just a few test rides: I’ve already clocked up the first 1,000 kilometres, and it rides simply fantastically. My thinking behind the setup was quite simple: if we’ve invested so much in the frame’s aerodynamics, I don’t want to throw that away on the wheels. That’s why I went for the TLO high-profile wheelset – and the bike rolls superbly with it; especially once you’ve built up some speed on the flat, it literally carries you along. The SRAM RED is the perfect match for me, because I can rely on the bike one hundred per cent when shifting gears and focus on the ride. And what I personally think is really cool is that I was able to choose the frame colour entirely to my own taste from thousands of different RAL colors – that’s not always a given. I went for mother-of-pearl white because it looks different depending on how the light hits it and gives the bike a character all of its own. All in all, for me this isn’t just any off-the-shelf bike, but one that suits me perfectly.

Our brand-new AERROW 2.0

The lightest and fastest aero road bike SCHMOLKE Carbon has ever produced!

SCHMOLKE Carbon: With your new racing bike, we’re delighted to welcome you back as a SCHMOLKE Carbon brand ambassador for the next two years. We’re very proud of this and absolutely delighted! Would you like to tell us what it is about this partnership that particularly appeals to you, apart from our long-standing expertise as Germany’s leading carbon specialist?

Andreas Klöden: I’m absolutely delighted – I’m so happy that I’ll be continuing for another two years with Stefan and the whole SCHMOLKE Carbon team. I’ve been with them for quite a while now, and that’s exactly what I find most exciting: seeing how the company and its products have continued to develop over the years. It’s not just a case of repainting a model and selling it as an innovation; there’s genuine progress every single time – in terms of weight, aerodynamics and the finer details. And that’s exactly what SCHMOLKE Carbon fans look for and get excited about. What I also like is the direct line of communication: I can pass on my feedback straight from the saddle, and it actually makes its way into the next stage of development. Over the course of my long career, I’ve ridden bikes from a great many different manufacturers, and I can say quite clearly: SCHMOLKE Carbon’s bikes more than hold their own – both in terms of performance and appearance.

SCHMOLKE Carbon: Finally, where can people meet you in person to see your AERROW 2.0?

Andreas Klöden: Most often, of course, around Lake Constance – that’s my local route, and I’m out and about there in almost any weather. If you spot me there, just give me a quick wave or say hello; I’m always happy to chat about bikes. And what I’m really looking forward to right now is the 2027 SCHMOLKE Carbon Training Camp in Palma de Mallorca in the spring. We did it for the first time this year, and I think I speak for all the participants when I say: we all – myself included – had a brilliant time. Lovely rides, good chats, a relaxed atmosphere. It’s exactly this mix that makes a camp like this so special, and that’s why I’ll definitely be back in 2027.

SCHMOLKE Carbon: Thank you, Andreas, for your time and all your valuable input. We look forward to the next two years with you.

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