High end performance without an eye-wateringly high price tag? I was excited to test out the Cadomotus Worldcup 4E triathlon cycling shoes during my training as I got ready for Challenge Roth last month. Targeted at triathletes who want strong performance at an accessible price point, these shoes offer premium features like a stiff carbon sole and a construction designed for comfort. So how did they cope against the demands of long distance training? Read on to get my verdict!
Key features
| Premium carbon sole for max power transfer | Seamless construction for comfort and reduced weight |
| Woven matrix material upper, lightweight and fast-drying | Ergonomic Velcro strap fastening |
| 3-bolt road cleat system (compatible with SPD-SL, Look) | Neutral EVA insole, can be replaced with custom orthotics |
| Size range: EU37-47 | Width: F (men’s), D (women’s) |
| Weight: 245g (size 42) | RRP: €189.26 / ~£165 GBP |
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First impressions
Out of the box, these triathlon cycling shoes looked and felt super high quality. We’re talking more premium than the price tag here, which was an impressive start. They’re really well made, and the design is stylish and sleek, with just a small splash of colour. The stiff carbon sole certainly felt like it would give a solid power transfer, too.
On first try-on, they were also surprisingly comfortable compared to other triathlon-specific bike shoes I’ve worn. The main Velcro strap is shaped in a way that makes it easy to grab if you’re fastening your shoes once you’re already on the bike and rolling. Though it is quite ‘stiff’ fresh out of the box, so it’s worth making sure you’ve got a few rides in these shoes before race day to break them in a little.
Sizing
I ended up getting a UK size 4 in these shoes. By the measurements on the website, I was between a 3 and a 4, but I opted to size up. And in general, I’d say I think these shoes do run quite small – so check the size guide carefully, or if possible go and see Cadomotus at an event expo to try on a few options. They have since released a new scanning feature on the Cadomotus website where you can scan your feet to get a more precise sizing recommendation. For shorter rides, the UK4 has been fine but for longer rides – I could have done with going another size up as my feet tend to swell when I ride.
Real ride performance
I was testing these out during my training for Challenge Roth. And on my mid-week, shorter rides I was impressed with how comfortable they were. They’ve been designed to minimise stitching, which means there aren’t any irritating seams or sections of raised stitching to create friction or hot spots in the shoe. So if you wanted to you could probably comfortably ride without socks, even over longer distances.
The stiff carbon sole creates a feeling of really being connected to your pedals, which combined with the locked in fit gives a sensation of being able to transfer power efficiently. After those first couple of rides, I was seriously impressed with these shoes. However, I tend to find that my feet start to swell after an hour or so of riding, and sadly this meant the shoes became a bit too tight for me on longer rides!
I think had I gone another size up, these would have been my race shoe of choice for Challenge Roth – I was genuinely really impressed with them. The only other consideration is that the locked-in fit means the opening is a little narrow compared to other tri shoes, so you might find these a little trickier to get on if you’re doing a flying/push mount compared to other shoes. Though that may have been resolved for me if I’d gone another size up.
Verdict: premium performance at an accessible price point
Overall, the Cadomotus Worldcup 4Es are a great pair of triathlon cycling shoes offering carefully considered design and premium features at a competitive price point.
They look great, the stiff sole gives a good sense of connection to your pedals and the locked in fit further dials up that efficient power transfer. All of that means you’re getting a really solid amount of performance for your price point with these shoes.
They’re positioned as a short course shoe, but I think if you get the sizing right – they’d be comfortable enough to use as your all-rounder for long distance racing too. Just make sure you take the time to triple check what size you need. And if like me, you get ‘hot feet’ on the bike, you might even need to go up again from what the size guide says if you’ll be racing over the longer distances. It could even be worth considering an upgrade to the Chronos Aero triathlon shoes if you tend to struggle to get a comfortable fit, as you can heat treat those to get a custom fit. But get the sizing right, and the Cadomotus Worldcup 4E triathlon cycling shoes offer excellent quality and performance for the price point.
