Cinelli Speciale Corsa XCR Frameset

The Cinelli Speciale Corsa XCR Frameset doesn't fit neatly into the carbon road bike conversation. It's built from Columbus XCR stainless steel — a material choice that makes a deliberate statement about where this frameset stands. XCR is Columbus's proprietary stainless alloy, developed specifically for high-performance bicycle construction. It offers corrosion resistance inherent to the material itself, a ride character distinct from both carbon and conventional steel, and a surface that takes an exceptional polish without traditional frame paint. The White Mirror colorway on the RA listing is the XCR alloy buffed to a mirror sheen — the finish is the material.

The frameset is 100% Milanese design, hand-crafted in Italy. Cinelli was founded by Cino Cinelli in Milan in 1948, and the Speciale Corsa XCR sits at the top of their road frameset lineup — the product where the brand's obsession with material quality and Italian craft is most directly expressed. The frame weighs 1,990g in size M. The Columbus Trittico Carbon fork — included — adds 430g (painted, uncut), placing total frameset weight around 2,420g. The Columbus Trittico Carbon seatpost (27.2mm) is also included in the kit.

One of the Speciale Corsa XCR's more distinctive construction details: Cinelli precision-builds this frame using 3D-printed components at key connection points. Additive manufacturing enables more complex geometries at lugs and dropouts than conventional fabrication methods allow, and achieves tolerances that are difficult to maintain through traditional welding or machining at scale. The result is a hand-crafted frame that benefits from the accuracy of industrial manufacturing at the joints where structural loads are highest.

Disc Brake Configuration

The Speciale Corsa XCR is built for disc brakes — flat mount caliper standard, with clearance for rotors up to 160mm. Axle standards are 12x100mm front and 12x142mm thru-axle rear, covering the current road disc spec across all major component brands. The rear dropout uses SRAM's UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) standard, compatible with SRAM AXS, Shimano Di2, mechanical Shimano, and Campagnolo groupsets. The frameset is fully current in its interface standards.

Columbus Trittico Carbon Fork and Cockpit

The paired Columbus Trittico Carbon fork is tuned for the handling profile of the XCR frame — a high-stiffness carbon fork that maintains the responsive steering feel the stainless chassis delivers. The included headset is IS 52/28.6 upper / IS 52/40 lower, integrated into the head tube. Columbus and Cinelli have shared a working relationship rooted in Italian cycling since the mid-20th century; the Trittico is a deliberate pairing. Cinelli also notes the Spirit Handlebar as a compatible cockpit option for the XCR platform — available by request.

Tire Clearance and Bottom Bracket

The Speciale Corsa XCR accepts tires up to 700x32mm, which gives the build flexibility across road and lightly mixed-terrain use without compromising the frame's road race character. The bottom bracket shell is T47 threaded at 68mm — a modern standard that uses a threaded interface to eliminate the creaking and serviceability issues associated with press-fit systems, while maintaining wide compatibility across current cranksets.

What's Included

This is a frameset kit. It ships with the Columbus Trittico Carbon fork, Columbus Trittico Carbon seatpost, and headset. Brakes, groupset, wheels, cockpit hardware, and saddle are builder-supplied. The T47 shell, flat mount caliper interface, and UDH hanger make this compatible with any current road disc groupset. Five sizes run from XS (47cm) through XL (56.5cm).

The Speciale Corsa XCR is for riders who want a road frameset built on different terms than carbon. Stainless steel doesn't corrode, doesn't accumulate fatigue the way aluminum does, and doesn't carry the impact sensitivity of carbon. The mirror-polished surface ages as the material does — without paint to chip or fade. At $7,490, it's a premium investment in a frame built to last, with a ride character and aesthetic that no carbon chassis can replicate.