In a frantic bunch sprint finish to stage 3 of the 2024 La Vuelta Femenina, Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL's Charlotte Kool was forced to settle for second place behind Marianne Vos.Todays stage was really hard from the start. To be honest I didnt believe it could end in a bunch sprint with how it st...

Forge+Bond, CSS Composites' in-house brand, is expanding its line of recyclable carbon wheels with the all-new CR Series. The new series is the brand's first foray into road cycling and comprises two carbon wheelsets: one sporting a 35mm-deep rim and the other a 45mm-deep rim.

The fourth stage of La Vuelta Femenina, marked by echelons, didn't bring Marianne Vos a desired stage victory, but a leader's jersey is always more than welcome consolidation prize. Something the Visma | Lease a Bike rider has to agree with."Faulkner's attack was very strong," Vos looks back realist...

The relations between Emanuel Buchmann and BORA - hansgrohe are not very good at the moment. After the German champion was crossed out of the Giro d'Italia lineup at very late phases, the 31-year-old's future continuation with the German formation doesn't seem quite likey.For Jens Voigt the situatio...

May 26 will be the final raceday of Rick Zabel's career. The 30-year-old German professional will retire at his home race Rund umKln with more than 10 years worth of experience racing at the highest level for BMC, Katusha Alpecin and since 2020 in Israel - Premier Tech jersey."I have to tell you s...

Tour de France could return to Bretagne in 2025. Race director Christian Prudhomme inidicated thison the set of Thierry Adam, while visiting the local stage race Tour de Bretagne (2.2) to surprise local hero and five time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault, who is turning 70 this year.Since 20...

Weve been hearing a lot from the Hutchinson camp this year. So far, theyve covered nearly the entire bike racing spectrum. Theyve released a road tire (Blackbird), a mountain bike tire (Python 3), and now gravel. Meet the Hutchison Caracal Gravel Tire and Caracal Gravel Race Tire.Photo: Jordan Villella One thing all of these tires have in common is a race and performance focus. That also means they share some similarities in compound, casing, and layup. Each line, whether the Blackbird or the Python, borrows tech from the other. The Caracal takes cues from its road and mountain bike brethren to craft a truly fast gravel race tire.What is the Hutchinson Caracal?Photo: Jordan Villella The Caracal is Hutchinsons newest gravel tire range, aimed squarely at speed and performance. The lineup features two tires: the Caracal Race and Caracal. The Caracal tires have the same tread pattern and designs but have two different constructions.Photo: Jordan Villella Caracal Race features an all-out speed and race focus, forgoing some puncture protection for reduced rolling resistance and weight. The Caracal has a greater range of puncture productivity, and with that comes some additional weight (but not much).Like the other Hutchinson tires released this season, the new Caracal Gravel range features the premium Racing Lab naming. These tires are hand-made in France and the product of Hutchinson athletes feedback and testing. The Caracal range took many cues from ultra-distance gravel specialist Ulrich Bartholmoes.Hutchinson Caracal Gravel Race TireImage Hutchinson When creating the Carcal Race tire, the team at Hutchinson wanted to create the fastest gravel tire on the marketyears of research, prototyping, and looping in athlete feedback followed. The result is a gravel race tire that outperforms similar race tires from competitors by up to 35% in independent tests commissioned by Hutchinson.Image Hutchinson How? It helps that Hutchison also had two high-level (and Olympic hopeful) tires in Racing Lab development at the same time: the Blackbird and the Python 3.Image Hutchinson The Caracal Race uses the newSwiftEasy casing technology youll see on the Blackbird. The cool thing about this casing is that unlike typical tire casings, which overlap at the center of the tread, the new casing is bonded to the tires outer layer (see photo above again).This method means one less casing layer is required at the center, allowing for significantly increased flexibility and performance. Hutchinson claims rolling resistance is reduced by an unprecedented 40% over similar semi-slick gravel tires in the Hutchinson range.Image Hutchinson The Caracal Race also utilizes Hutchinsons new high-performance Mach Tread 3.0 compound. This compound is another technology initially developed for its performance BlackBird road tires covered here.To recap, the Mach Tread 3.0 is the fastest compound Hutchinson has developed. Its new formulation offers an exceptional 25% rebound, meaning more energy is returned into forward motion. Not only is the compound faster than its predecessor, but its also 10% harder and more resistant to tearing. Hutchinsons tests resulted in 75% better performance in tear tests, all without compromising grip.Caracal Tread PatternPhoto: Jordan Villella The Caracal tread (or lack thereof) is similar to other dry-condition gravel tires on the market. The center line tread pattern is smooth with a slightly pebbled surface for dry, fast race days. The side knobs are lower on the shoulder and are staggered and grow in size, descending onto the carcass of the tiremore on the tread and performance in my ride review.Size: 700x40mm size and only in Tan Wall colorWeight: 475g *claimedPrice: $65.00/59.99Hutchinson Caracal Gravel TireImage Hutchinson The Caracal has the same fast-rolling tread pattern as the Caracal Race but adds more long-range utility. The casing is a Hutchinson traditional design paired with its Hard-skin bead-to-bead puncture protection layer. This protection adds a little weight (not much) and might raise the rolling resistance (we havent seen test data for it).Photo: Jordan Villella The rubber compound is Hutchinsons steady bi-compound found on the other tires in Hutchinsons gravel range.Photo: Jordan Villella The result is a fast-rolling tire with puncture protection that lasts longer for endurance events and all-around riding.Size: 700x40mm size and only in Tan Wall colorWeight: 467g*actual weight Price: $63.00/54.99Where do the Caracal Fit in the Hutchinson Gravel Range?Image Hutchinson The French tire manufacturer offers five different gravel tires to match the full spectrum of conditions that riders encounter. These include the Override for dry fast tracks with sand or fine dirt, the classic Touareg for all-around riding and daily use, and the Tundra for hardcore technical days out or in wet conditions. But out of those listed above, the Caracal Race is the only option available in the Racing Lab notation and formulation.Ride Review Hutchinson CaracalPhoto: Jordan Villella The Caracal arrived just before the launch date, right as Pittsburgh was experiencing early summer weather. We didnt receive the Caracal Race version early enough to get ride impressions but stay tuned for a head-to-head competition.However, the Caracal impressed me right out of the box. It didnt feellike a second-tier tire model. Its only the more practical of the two in reality. The tire has a supple feel, similar to the Blackbird and Python tires we reviewed earlier.Setup Photos: Jordan Villella I mounted the Caracals to our Industry 9 SOLiX SL review wheel set with a 25mm internal and 35 external rim width. The tires installed and inflated easily with a floor pump and without the use of tire levers. The casing felt in the middle of robust and thin. This version of the Caracal uses the traditional casing, not the Swift easylike the Race version. Still, it feels supple and race ready from the touch.Photos: Jordan Villella Inflated, the Caracals grow to a slightly larger than spaced 41mm, but keep in mind this number is rim width dependent. The shape of the Caracal on the I9 AR40 rims with a 25mm internal looked great. The profile was round and not a teardrop shape like some overly narrow rims can create.Ride Impressions Hutchinson Caracal Gravel Tires Photo: Jordan Villella For my rides, I went for all conditions and all roads. I started my rides at 38PSI front and 39PSI rear, and for the road, that was just fine. I felt like I was rolling quickly, and the tires were quilted, eating up any road chatter or gravel bits. From the tires the Caracals replaced, I could feel a rise in efficacy and less rolling resistance. My former tires were nearly the same profile but apparently lacking in free speed.Photo: Jordan Villella I took the Caracals on kitchen sink-style rides for nearly all my review outings. On the road, they ride very similar to an all-road tire, but the 40mm width takes some getting used to at speed if youre sizing up. They feel like a dream on the gravel and unmaintained roads, absorbing all the little rocks and imperfections in the pavement. This is where the Caracal soars in. The confidence and excellent supple casing supplies, partnered with a puncture protective casing, give the rider an extra boost.In the Forest and On the TrailsPhoto: Jordan Villella The Caracal holds its own on single track and technical tracks, but its still a dry-weather tire. The slight tread offers much more than expected, especially in dusty and damp conditions. I felt the lower the pressure (more like 35-PSI rear and 33-PSI front), the better the performance, but you sacrifice some solid corning feel on the pavement, as the tire gets slightly bouncy at those pressures depending on rider weight.Photo: Jordan Villella I found the Caracal grips the solid nicely with the sharp side knobs, especially when they can sink into the ground. This was slightly unexpected but pleasantly surprising.The Caracal can survive rocks, roots, and the techy bits. If the rocks are dry, its a great companion. The volume is enough to bounce over and through the roots without much rim time. If you do bottom out, however, the casing is resilient enough to take more than a few hits.How did the Caracal feel compared to others on the market from my initial rides? They feel like an excellent middle ground between Vittoria Gravel Tires and Challenge Tiresa mix of suppleness and dependability.Final ThoughtsPhoto: Jordan Villella The Caracal is worth a long look if youre looking for a fast-rolling and dependable gravel race and training tire. The tread pattern is similar to the fast tireson the market, with a slightly better, lively feel and what looks to be lower rolling resistance. Remember, this is Caracal, not the Caracal Race, so it only gets faster from here. Look back for a head-to-head shootout between these two tan-wall Titans. In the meantime, Im predicting the Hutchinson Caracal will be at the top of gravel racers must-try tirelist if they can get a set.Cycling.hutchinson.com The post The Hutchison Caracal Gravel Tire Range Could be the Fastest On The Market appeared first on Bikerumor.

Hutchinson has unveiled the Caracal Race, a new gravel bike tyre claimed to be the fastest gravel tyre on the market.The Caracal Race is said to beat unnamed competitor models by up to 35 per cent, according to independent [rolling resistance] tests commissioned by Hutchinson.According to the French brand, the Caracal Race achieves this level of performance thanks to technology borrowed from its latest flagship road bike tyre, the Blackbird.This includes a lighter, more flexible casing and an updated tread compound, both of which are claimed to make the Caracal Race tyre faster rolling and more resistant to tearing.The Caracal Race features a slick central tread paired with pronounced side knobs for added off-road cornering grip.The trade-off, however, is that the Caracal Race doesnt feature a dedicated puncture protection layer beneath the tread. As a result, Hutchinson recommends it's best reserved exclusively for races on hard packed gravel or for all-road use.Given this, Hutchinson is also launching a hardier version called the Caracal which uses the same tread on a thicker casing, with a Hardskin bead to bead puncture protection layer.This tyre is claimed to offer a more versatile balance of performance and durability, making it more suitable for everyday riding off-road.Available now, in a size 700x40c and with tan sidewalls, the Hutchinson Caracal Race costs 54.99 / 59.99 per tyre.The Hutchinson Caracal is available in a size 700x40c and with black or tan sidewalls. It costs 49.99 / 54.99.Both the Caracal Race and Caracal are compatible with hookless rims and are claimed to weigh 475g per tyre.Blackbird-inspiredHutchinson's new Caracal Race gravel tyre borrows tech from its high-performance road bike tyres. - Hutchinson / Widen ProdHutchinson says the Caracal Race was designed to be the fastest gravel tyre on the market.The brand boldly claims the Carcal Race is the fastest gravel tyre on the market and exhibits up to 35 per cent less rolling resistance than unspecified competitor tyres, according to independent tests it commissioned.As such, the brand looked to its recently developed Blackbird road bike tyre said to be the fastest road bike tyre it has ever produced for inspiration.Hutchinson's new Caracal Race gravel tyre is claimed to be "the fastest gravel tyre on the market". - Hutchinson / Widen ProdThe first technology ported over from the Blackbird tyre is the SwiftEasy casing, constructed from a 127 TPI (Threads Per Inch) fabric.Hutchinson says this features only two layers of overlapping fabric beneath the tread compared to three on the sidewalls, which improves the flexibility of the tyre and reduces rolling resistance.According to the brand, this change alone led to a 40 per cent reduction in rolling resistance compared to other similar gravel tyres in its range.The Caracal Race features a slick central tread with shoulder knobs for added grip. - Hutchinson / Widen ProdThe tread on the Caracal Race is also said to be optimised for the lowest rolling resistance possible.This is due to its new high performance" Mach Tread 3.0 compound and semi-slick design.Hutchinson says its Mach Tread 3.0 compound is the most efficient it has developed, claiming it offers 25 per cent rebound, meaning more of the energy put into compressing the tyre is returned into forward motion while riding.More tear resistantHutchinson says the Caracal Race gravel tyre is designed for dry, hard-packed gravel and all-road racing. - Hutchinson / Widen ProdThe new tread is also claimed to be 10 per cent harder and more resistant to tearing than Hutchinsons previous best compound.This is claimed to result in 75 per cent better performance in tear tests, without sacrificing grip.As noted, the Caracal Race gravel tyre eschews a dedicated puncture protection layer beneath the tread.The central tread area is also completely slick (in order to reduce rolling resistance), with knobs only on the shoulders for off-road cornering grip.As a result, Hutchinson recommends it only for all-road use or hard-packed gravel racing on dry days.Hutchinson's Caracal Race gravel tyre uses a flexible casing and the brand's fastest tread compound. - Hutchinson / Diedre DesignHutchinsons Caracal Race tyre is available now and costs 54.99 / 59.99 per tyre.Handmade at Hutchinsons factory in France, the Caracal Race is only available in a size 700x40c and with tan sidewalls. A single tyre is claimed to weigh 475g.Hutchinson Caracal gravel tyreHutchinson's new Caracal gravel tyre uses a Hardskin bead-to-bead protection layer underneath the tread. - Hutchinson / Diedre DesignBecause the Caracal Race is intended only for racing, Hutchinson has also developed a version of the Caracal tyre with improved puncture protection and durability.Compared to the Caracal Race, the Caracal tyre uses a thicker, 3x127 TPI casing combined with a bead-to-bead Hardskin puncture protection layer.The Caracal gravel tyre gets added puncture protection for 'everyday' gravel riding. - Hutchinson / Widen ProdCasing aside, the Caracal uses the same tread pattern as the Caracal Race, but swaps the Mach Tread 3.0 compound for the bi-compound found on Hutchinsons existing range of gravel tyres.This compound is said to combine a harder central portion, for improved durability and reduced rolling resistance, along witha softer compound on the tread shoulders for improved grip.Hutchinson's Caracal gravel tyre uses the same tread pattern as the faster Caracal Race, but has a different casing and compound. - HutchinsonHutchinson says this results in a tyre that is still incredibly fast rolling but is more suitable for everyday riding thanks to its added puncture protection.The brand doesnt specify an exact performance differential between the Caracal and Caracal Race, however.Like the Carcal Race, Hutchinsons Caracal tyre is only available in a size 700x40c, with a claimed weight of 475g per tyre.It is slightly cheaper, though, at 49.99 / 54.99 per tyre.

The string of bad luck doesn't seem to have an end for Visma | Lease a Bike this year. The Dutch team's Giro d'Italia lineup already took big hits with leadersWout van Aert and Wilco Kelderman dropping out of the selected eight with injuries in the spring. Now it's clear that the 2022 King of Mount...