Corima: The French National Team’s Secret Weapon

If you’ve watched the track cycling events at the Olympics or World Championships, you may have noticed that French riders always use carbon wheelsets with a distinctive appearance. That’s Corima—a French carbon fiber specialist that isn’t widely known among recreational road cyclists, but is highly regarded in track cycling and the professional peloton.

Brand Background

Corima was founded in 1990 in Loriol-sur-Drôme in southeastern France, near the famous Rhône Valley. The founders were a group of engineers from the aerospace and composite materials industries who saw the enormous potential of carbon fiber in cycling.

The brand name Corima is an abbreviation of “CORbonnes d’IMages d’Art,” and while the meaning is somewhat abstract, the brand’s positioning is very clear—to make the best carbon fiber bicycle wheels and components.

From its inception, Corima established a close partnership with the French Cycling Federation (FFC), providing track and road equipment for the French national team. This collaboration has continued for over 30 years.

Product Line

Road Wheelsets

Model	Rim Depth	Weight (Front + Rear)	Internal Rim Width	European Price	Estimated Taiwan Price
MCC DX 32mm	32mm	1,250g	19mm	€2,900	NT$105,000
MCC DX 47mm	47mm	1,340g	19mm	€2,900	NT$105,000
WS1 47mm	47mm	1,380g	19mm	€2,400	NT$88,000
WS1 58mm	58mm	1,450g	19mm	€2,400	NT$88,000
S1 47mm	47mm	1,550g	19mm	€1,500	NT$58,000

The MCC (Multi-Composite Carbon) DX series is Corima’s flagship, using a composite layup of multiple carbon fiber moduli to achieve the optimal balance between lightweight, stiffness, and comfort.

Track Wheelsets

Model	Type	Purpose
4 Spoke HM	Four-spoke	Track front wheel
5 Spoke HM	Five-spoke	Track front wheel
Disc	Disc wheel	Track rear wheel
Lenticular	Lenticular wheel	Pursuit/Time trial

Corima’s track wheelsets are the brand’s core product. In track cycling events at the World Championships and Olympics, Corima disc wheels and spoked wheels are a common choice for the French, Italian, Dutch, and other national teams.

Triathlon/Time Trial Wheelsets

Model	Rim Depth	Estimated Taiwan Price
WS TT	80mm	NT$95,000
Disc	Disc wheel	NT$85,000

Corima’s Technical Features

Full Carbon Fiber Manufacturing

Corima has focused exclusively on carbon fiber products since its founding and does not make aluminum wheelsets. Their carbon fiber molding technology, refined over 30 years, has reached aerospace grade.

Made in France

Unlike many brands that outsource manufacturing to Asia, Corima insists on producing all wheelsets in its own factory in France. From carbon cloth cutting to finished product leaving the factory, every step is completed in Loriol-sur-Drôme.

MCC Multi-Carbon Composite Technology

The flagship MCC series uses a mixed layup of three or more carbon fiber moduli:

• Ultra-High Modulus (UHM): Provides ultimate stiffness
• High Modulus (HM): Balances stiffness and toughness
• Intermediate Modulus (IM): Provides impact absorption and comfort

Different areas use different carbon fiber blend ratios, giving the rim optimal stiffness in load-bearing directions and sufficient compliance in non-load-bearing directions.

Unique Carbon Hubs

Corima offers carbon fiber hub shell options. Carbon hubs are lighter than aluminum hubs but more expensive to produce. They are standard equipment on the top-tier versions.

The French National Team’s Choice

Corima’s connection to French cycling is deep and long-lasting. At major events:

• Olympic Games: The French track cycling team uses Corima disc wheels and spoked wheels
• World Championships: Corima equipment is commonly seen in track and road time trial events
• Tour de France: Some French teams use Corima road wheelsets

This long-term partnership with the national team not only validates the top-level performance of the products but also brings a unique sense of prestige to the brand.

Taiwan Market

Corima’s visibility in Taiwan is quite limited, and there is no official distributor. The main purchasing channels are:

1. Online purchases from European dealers (such as Bike-Discount, Probikeshop)
2. Direct purchases from the French official website
3. Occasional second-hand market listings

In terms of pricing, after adding international shipping and customs duties, the landed price of Corima in Taiwan is about 15-20% higher than European pricing. Taking the flagship MCC DX 47mm as an example, the estimated Taiwan price is around NT$105,000, placing it in the same price bracket as ENVE Foundation and Campagnolo Bora WTO.

Who Is Corima For?

• Track cyclists: Corima’s disc wheels and spoked wheels are among the best choices
• Riders who value French quality: Those who appreciate the rarity of Made in France
• Riders who want to stand out: Very few people use Corima in Taiwan, making it highly recognizable
• Serious time trial/triathlon athletes: Corima’s TT wheelsets offer first-rate performance

Comparison with Other French Brands

Item	Corima MCC DX 47	Mavic Cosmic Ultimate 45
Rim Depth	47mm	45mm
Weight	1,340g	1,355g
Place of Manufacture	France	Asia (designed in France)
Price	~NT$105,000	NT$105,000
Brand Positioning	Niche premium	Mainstream heritage brand
Track Racing Pedigree	Extensive	Limited

Summary

Corima is the “hidden ace” of the wheelset world. It doesn’t have Zipp’s marketing presence or Mavic’s century-long history, but in pure carbon fiber craftsmanship and performance, Corima stands at the top of the pyramid. If you’re the kind of rider who doesn’t follow trends and enjoys discovering truly great products, Corima is worth a deeper look. The French national team chose it for a reason.

Related Reading

• A Tour of French Wheelset Craftsmanship: The Gallic Spirit from Mavic to Corima
• Corima MCC EVO: The French Pinnacle of Full Carbon Monocoque Construction
• SuperTeam Wheelsets: The Entry-Level Choice for Budget Carbon Wheels
• Taiwan’s Hidden Champions: The Wheelset Factories Manufacturing for International Brands