The 2026 Traka is proving to be a hotbed for fresh gravel bike tech, with Ridley debuting a new aero-optimised gravel race bike at the event in Girona. The new bikes key distinctive feature is the deep, slab-sided head tube, which is reminiscent of that seen on the Noah Fast 3.0 aero road race bike. Read more: Rob Britton debuts Factor's new aero suspension gravel bike at the Traka 560 The 'RS2' features a deep head tube, similar to that on the Noah Fast 3.0 aero road bike. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Generally, the front of a bike is considered the most important element to optimise for aerodynamics, given it plays a key role in how the air behaves over the rest of the bike (and the rider). Dropped seatstays give way to a sculpted down tube. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Doubling down on neat airflow, the seat tube of the new bike hugs the rear tyre, unlike the unreleased Canyon Grail CFR, which sports a cut-out lower section. Like the Canyon, though, the seatpost features a deep-D design. The leftover clearance is laid bare here. Simon von Bromley / Our Media That said, tyre clearance is clearly high and in keeping with the general trend for running wider tyres in gravel. The fork crown or shoulders aren't as broad or angular as some. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Belgian Bert Kenens RS2 we pictured was sporting 2.25in (57mm) Vittoria Peyote XC tyres on the also-wide Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels, with a small amount of clearance to spare. Its a stretch to imagine the new bike could sport around 60mm tyres given the space left over, although it remains to be seen what Ridley says the official limit is. The underside of the seatstays appears optimised to fit the shape of fast XC tyres. Simon von Bromley / Our Media The chainstays are shaped to fit around wider XC tyres as they meet the bottom-bracket area. Tread height clearance looks to be fine, but the width clearance could be more limiting. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Interestingly, the fork crown and leg width appear less prominent than the forks weve spotted on the unreleased Grail CFR clearly, Ridley feels this isnt an avenue to exploit for aero gain. Again, width is the limiting factor here, rather than height. Simon von Bromley / Our Media The underside of the fork crown is flattened (as is the underside of the dropped seatstay bridge), which could be an attempt to optimise for the knobbled profile of gravel and MTB tyres. The down-tube storage port is easily accessible. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Were not seeing any mounting points for mudguards or racks here, but the frame sports a down-tube storage port accessible without removing the bottle cage. Strapped-on storage bags hint that Ridley hasn't included mounting bolts to save weight. Simon von Bromley / Our Media The bike is also 'missing' luggage mount points on the top tube or on the interior of the tubes. Kenens had strap-on storage bags fitted it's feasible Ridley has sought to keep the frame weight down by not including mounting points. The heavily cantered-in levers Kenens was running on his Forza aero handlebar. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Up top, this bike is running an in-house Forza one-piece aero cockpit, with a significant in-toe to the levers. Speaking to our tech editor Simon von Bromley in Girona, Ridley said the new bike had no prescribed launch date confirmed, but would become available eventually. Stay tuned for that news when it lands.

David Gaudu was a climber with a lot of potential in the early years of his career, putting in a lot of performance that briefly put him as France's biggest hope in the Grand Tours. Currently however the 29-year old is distant from his best level and from the results he's achieved in the past, somet...

Factor has teased a new aero gravel race bike, with design cues clearly influenced by its radical One aero bike. The bike features a similar wide-splaying fork, which (on the One) is designed to disrupt airflow before it passes over the riders legs. The turbulent air created presents less resistance to the rider behind it. We spotted the new Factor at the Traka gravel event in Girona, Spain. Read more:Rob Britton debuts Factor's new aero suspension gravel bike at the Traka 560 We spotted a new aero Factor gravel bike in Girona, alongside the Sarana suspended gravel bike. Simon von Bromley / Our Media The rigid fork crown also sports a similar chin protrusion, essentially starting the manipulation of air sooner than a standard design. We've seen this kind of wide-splaying fork on the One aero road bike. Simon von Bromley / Our Media However, the design is far less pronounced than the Ones, with a slacker angle evident from the handlebar to the fork dropouts. This is likely due to the need for less aggressive handling over rougher gravel terrain. With new 42mm Michelin Power Gravel tyres, there's plenty of clearance left over. Simon von Bromley / Our Media The additional upside to the wide-arcing fork shoulders is enormous visible tyre clearance, with a higher crown granting more clearance for the knobs found on gravel and MTB tyres. This bike, with 2.1in Schwalbe Thunder Burts, still leaves some space. Simon von Bromley / Our Media We first spotted the bike sporting new 42mm Michelin Power Gravel tyres, but its clear it can accommodate much bigger rubber. We also found a bike fitted with new 2.1in (53mm) Schwalbe Race Pro Thunder Burt MTB tyres, which look much closer to the limit. The seatstays appear slim. Simon von Bromley / Our Media The seat tube curves around the rear tyre, much like the prototype Ridley RS2, and the dropped seatstays are notably thin compared to the Ridley or the also-unreleased Canyon Grail CFR. The front wheel features a small number 64, suggesting this is a new deep-section aero wheel from Factor that we might eventually see used on the road, too. Simon von Bromley / Our Media In our experience, Factor has a track record of producing firm bikes for road and gravel use so rather than compliance, which would largely be delivered through wide tyres, we think this is a weight-saving measure. Helpfully, Factor has printed the rear wheel's 64 on the opposite side. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Interestingly, on the bike with Michelin tyres, the Black Inc wheels also look to be new, with the number 64 printed on the front wheel. The aero Factor One road race bike comes with Factor Sixty Two wheels. The new bike doesn't come with many fixtures and fittings A new Sixty Four wheelset debuted on a gravel bike would come as a slight surprise generally, the deepest racing rims are reserved for road racing. ...but there is Monza-style down-tube storage. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Elsewhere, the bike appears not to include storage bag mounts, with tools simply taped to the top tube, but it does feature down-tube storage in a design very similar to the Monza road bike.

Good morning, friends. Welcome to the liveblog of Eschborn-Frankfurt. Today marks the end of the Spring Classics campaign at WorldTour level, and well be here, minute by minute, bringing you all the action and emotions from this one-day race taking place on German roads.

Once fully published, the Mata Atlntica Bike Route (MABR) will stretch nearly 5,000 kilometers from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul, tracing mostly unpaved roads and paths through eight Brazilian []The post Mata Atlantica Bike Route (N2): Costa appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Christian Bagatin (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) delivered the ride of his career to win Stage 6 of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Trkiye, surviving from the early breakaway to take a commanding victory on the brutal summit finish at Feslikan. The Italian held on after attacking on the lower slopes...

Selle San Marco targets gravel comfort with new Shortfit Allroad saddle rangeSelle San Marco has unveiled the Shortfit Allroad, a new saddle family aimed squarely at the demands of modern gravel and all-road riding, with the Italian brand promising more stability, improved vibration control and greater freedom of movement across mixed terrain. The range launches in three versions, each available in two sizes, and is designed to cover everything from commuting and first-time gravel riding to longer and more performance-focused adventures.At the centre of the new line-up is Selle San Marcos Shortfit shape, which uses a compact platform and a waved profile to deliver a more planted feel on rough ground. According to the brand, that profile is intended to improve load distribution and keep the ride smooth when surfaces become broken, loose or unpredictable. The saddles also use the Bow Rail System, a design that allows the frame to flex around the rail in order to absorb micro-shocks and vibrations over long distances and varied terrain.Selle San Marco says the structure is further supported by shock absorbers integrated into the body of the saddle, helping to filter high-frequency vibration and reduce rider fatigue. In a category where comfort can quickly become the deciding factor on long days out, that focus makes clear where the new range is pitched. This is a product family built not just for speed on gravel, but for control and consistency when the ride gets rough.The entry point is the Shortfit Allroad Sport, which is positioned as the accessible option for riders new to gravel but keen to build distance without sacrificing support. Selle San Marco has equipped it with steel rails, prioritising durability, sturdiness and predictable performance on tougher surfaces. In practical terms, it sounds like the model for riders who want reliability first, with a price that keeps it within reach at 74.99.Moving up the range, the Shortfit Allroad Racing is aimed at riders who want a firmer, more direct feel from the saddle, particularly on faster gravel routes and mixed-terrain rides where precision matters. It uses a carbon fibre reinforced nylon body, which Selle San Marco says helps deliver a stable and responsive ride, while the Xsilite rail is intended to keep weight down without compromising strength. That makes it the more performance-led option in the family, with a recommended retail price of 134.99.For riders putting comfort at the top of the wish list, the headline model is the Shortfit Allroad Supercomfort Racing. This version is built for longer rides and bigger distances, with Selle San Marco adding integrated gel to improve pressure distribution and reduce pressure peaks at contact points. The brand says that should help absorb the repeated impacts that come with gravel tracks, hard-packed dirt and uneven roads, while the Xsilite rail is retained to provide a balance of low weight, durability and responsive ride feel. The recommended retail price is 144.99.Taken together, the three-model range is a clear attempt by Selle San Marco to broaden its appeal in one of cyclings fastest-moving categories. Gravel riders are asking for saddles that can cope with long hours, repeated impacts and constant shifts in body position, while still feeling efficient when the pace rises on smoother sections. On paper, the Shortfit Allroad range is Selle San Marcos answer to that brief, combining a compact profile with rail flex, integrated damping and model-specific constructions to suit different budgets and riding styles.There is also a wider brand story behind the launch. Founded in 1935 in Rossano Veneto, in the province of Vicenza, Selle San Marco is one of cyclings longstanding names and has built its reputation on technical saddles with a strong Made in Italy identity. Since 2016, it has been part of the Selle Italia Group, and with the Shortfit Allroad the company is clearly looking to reinforce its place in a market where gravel-specific equipment continues to evolve quickly.For riders weighing up the options, the range appears neatly segmented. The Sport looks set to appeal to newcomers and value-conscious buyers, the Racing targets a more speed-focused gravel rider, and the Supercomfort Racing is the obvious choice for those planning all-day adventures where fatigue management matters as much as outright responsiveness. If the real-world performance matches the claims, Selle San Marco may have produced a range that covers a lot of ground, both literally and commercially.

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Are brands really trying to sell us more stuff we don't need? Our Liam weighs in