are there any real advantages of that spoke pattern that would justify the looks?
Only on the rear, where 16 drive side spokes give the strength of a 32 spoke wheel, and 8 nds are enough to provide balance. They've stopped doing the fronts like that because even Campag eventually realised it was dumb.
Interesting, thanks for the answer! Could there be marginal aerodynamic gains on the front wheel? Tastes differ, I have my own guilty pleasures like the mavic starfish and look ergostem.
Only on the rear, where 16 drive side spokes give the strength of a 32 spoke wheel, and 8 nds are enough to provide balance. They've stopped doing the fronts like that because even Campag eventually realised it was dumb.