Trek have expanded the Émonda family with the addition of the ‘ultra-lightweight aluminium’ Émonda ALR.

The Émonda was first unveiled ahead of the 2014 Tour de France as Trek’s new featherweight, carbon fibre frame, with the flagship SLR chassis weighing just 690g and the top-of-the-range machine, the Émonda SLR, tipping the scales at a paltry 4.65kg.

Now Trek say they have applied the same weight-stripping philosophy to an aluminium version of the Émonda. “The all-new Émonda ALR is built with unmatched attention to balance and handling, offering elegance on a new level and far surpassing the lightness, performance, and ride quality of many of its carbon competitors,” says the Wisconsin-based firm.

The result is a frame which weighs a claimed 1,050g in a size 56cm – making the Émonda ALR one of the lightest aluminium frames on the market. High-end alloy has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years, and is popular with riders who want low weight and plenty of stiffness, without the cost of carbon fibre. It’s likely to better withstand the rough-and-tumble of racing, too.

The Émonda ALR is made from Trek’s new ‘300 Series Alpha Aluminum’, which is said to be hydroformed into size-specific tubes to balance weight and stiffness. Trek say the Émonda ALR’s ‘Invisible Weld Technology’ cuts weight by requiring less material while also increasing the strength of the joint, plus it gives the frame a really neat finish.

The Émonda ALR is based around Trek’s H2 geometry, which seeks to strike a balance between racy and relaxed. For example, a 56cm frame has just that, a 56cm effective toptube, and the 98.3mm wheelbase should keep handling lively, but the headtube is relatively tall at 170mm.

Trek have sought to spec the Émonda ALR line-up with complete groupsets and each bike also comes with an integrated DuoTrap S speed and cadence sensor. Of the two models, the Émonda ALR 5 is the more affordable at £1,300 and comes equipped with a Shimano 105 groupset and Bontrager Tubeless Ready wheels, while the Émonda ALR 6 gets an upgraded Shimano Ultegra groupset for £1,700. The frameset is also available for £700, which will appeal to riders looking to piece looking their own alloy build.