OQUO has introduced a new generation of carbon spoke wheels, expanding its high-performance road and gravel lineup with a platform focused on stiffness, reduced weight and improved aerodynamics. The development process took more than two years and involved collaboration with WorldTour team Lotto-Intermarché as well as professional gravel riders.

Rather than integrating carbon spokes into an existing design, OQUO approached the project as a complete system redesign. Rims, hubs and spokes were developed together, with the aim of optimizing efficiency while maintaining predictable handling and ride feel.

The brand states that the use of carbon spokes increases torsional stiffness by up to 17 percent compared to traditional steel spokes. This is intended to improve power transfer by reducing deformation under load, resulting in more direct acceleration. The higher strength of carbon also allows for a reduced spoke count, down to 20, which contributes to a claimed reduction in rotational weight of up to 6 percent. In practice, this should translate into quicker acceleration and improved climbing response.

Aerodynamic performance is another focus of the new design. With fewer spokes and refined spoke profiles, airflow around the wheel is said to be smoother, reducing drag and turbulence. OQUO reports savings of up to two watts at higher speeds compared to its previous wheel models.

To complement the new spoke system, OQUO has developed a dedicated hub that aligns spokes more precisely with the hub shell and nipple interface. This is designed to maintain consistent spoke tension, particularly during high-load efforts such as sprinting. As with the rest of the range, development, prototyping, manufacturing and testing are all carried out in-house at the company’s facility in the Basque Country, allowing full control over the process.

The new carbon spoke models sit within OQUO’s LTD range and consist of four options. The RA80 LTD CS, with an 80 mm rim depth, is intended for maximum aerodynamic performance in time trials and triathlon. The RA57 LTD CS offers a 57 mm profile as a more versatile aero option for road racing. The RP50 LTD CS combines a 50 mm depth with a wider internal rim, aimed at riders using higher-volume tires across mixed terrain, while the RP45 LTD CS is the lightest wheelset in the range and is positioned as a climbing-focused option.

Each of the LTD models feature the Q10 hub, which has previously received recognition at Eurobike. Elements of the technology developed for this range are expected to be introduced into OQUO’s more accessible TEAM series.

OQUO wheels are currently raced at the highest level with Lotto-Intermarché on the road, as well as in off-road competition by several privateers and teams such as Orbea FMD Racing and Orbea FOX Factory Team.