This week Campagnolo announced a new Campagnolo Potenza groupset to fit in the Campagnolo Revolution 11+ groupset series below Super Record, Record and Chorus. The Campagnolo Potenza groupset is an entirely aluminium groupset featuring tricke down technology from it’s more expensive carbon stable mates.
>>> 2016 Campagnolo Groupsets and MyCampy Guide
The Potenza groupset will replace the existing Athena groupset before the end of the year and like the Athena the Potenza will be offered in black and silver finishes but doesn’t have the carbon crankset option that the Athena had. Campagnolo sees the Potenza appealing to mid range groupset buyers.
Potenza is the Italian word for power, intensity and strength, and that’s what we try to bring to the groupset market,” said Joshua Riddle, Campagnolo’s Press Manager. “It’a s very powerful group that’s pegged right in the mid-range.
See below for individual component specifications and a weight comparison of the new Campagnolo Potenza groupset to the outgoing Athena groupset, as well as Shimano Ultegra 6800 and SRAM Rival GXP.
Campagnolo Potenza Groupset Specifications
Ergopower Shifters
The Potenza shifters maintain the ergonomics of the Revolution+ line and the Power-Shift function has been improved for performance and durability. Weight is 370 grams.
Front Derailleur
The front derailleur looks quite different from the Athena derailleur and the upper section features a design ‘nearly identical’ to the Super Record front derailleur and with a one piece steel cage shifting is claimed to be on par with Super Record . Weight is 94 grams.
Rear Derailleur
The rear derailleur is available in two versions like SRAM and Shimano, the short (55mm cage) takes up to 29 tooth cassettes and the long/medium (72.5mm cage) takes up to 32 tooth cassettes. Weight is 211 grams.
Potenza Crankset
The Potenza crankset has a similar four arm design as the Super Record, Record and Chorus cranksets but made entirely in aluminium and features include hollow arms and for the first time an inbuilt extractor in the left arm so there is no longer any need for special tools. Available crank arm sizes are 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm while chain ring sizes are 53/39, 52/36 and 50/34 and all fit the same four arm spider. Weight is 754 grams plus bottom bracket is 69 grams.
Brakes
Dual pivot skeleton brakes similar in look and exactly the same weight as the Athena brakes. Weight is 321 grams.
Cassette
Campagnolo Potenza cassettes will available in 11-25, 11-27, 12-27, 11-29 and 11-32. Weight is 249 grams for the 11-25.
Campagnolo Potenza Groupset Weight Comparison
Campagnolo are pitching the Potenza groupset at mid range groupset buyers so below we have taken the new Campagnolo Potenza groupset weights and compared them to the outgoing Athena plus a comparison to Ultegra 6800 and SRAM Rival GXP groupsets.
Note: The actual weight of the Ultegra 6800 groupset is 2,294 grams, some publications incorrectly reported the Ultegra 6800 groupset weight at 2,390 grams. That is incorrect, one of the errors was the bottom bracket weight was included with the crankset weight and then again individually.
| Component | Campagnolo Potenza | Campagnolo Athena | Shimano Ultegra 6800 | SRAM Rival GXP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shifters | 370 | 372 | 419 | 332 |
| Rear Derailleur | 211 | 209 | 193 | 180 |
| Front Derailleur | 94 | 92 | 86 | 89 |
| Crankset | 754 | 736 | 694 | 844 |
| Bottom Bracket¹ | 69 | 72 | 76 | 115 |
| Cassette² | 249 | 230 | 226 | 260 |
| Chain³ | 235 | 255 | 260 | 259 |
| Brake Calipers | 321 | 321 | 340 | 300 |
| Groupset Weight in grams | 2,303 | 2,287 | 2,294 | 2,379 |
¹Bottom bracket, external type used.
²11-25 cassette used.
³116 links for Shimano, 114 links for SRAM and Campagnolo. Potenza possibly has incorrect weight as Chorus chain is 250 grams. Record is 239 grams.
Other Notes on weight:
Athena – weight is with aluminium crankset, carbon reduces weight by 96 grams.
SRAM – GXP version used, BB30 would reduce groupset weight by 46 grams to 2,333 grams.
Summary
Campagnolo are clearly pitching the new Potenza groupset at riders either currently using Ultegra or considering buying Ultegra 6800, it seems the most logical explanation for the name change from Athena to Potenza. Athena just wouldn’t sit right in a comparison to Ultegra, I’m not entirely sure Potenza will either.
Potenza will carry some of the same selling points that Athena had, the silver finish for for classic type bikes and a low entry point into 11 speed groupsets, as well as new trickle down technology from the Super Record, Record and Chorus groupsets.
Prices will be added once available for Australia and US.
There’s a 2016 Campagnolo Groupsets guide if you want to compare the features or weight of the new Potenza groupset to another Campagnolo groupset.
