The 2026 Giro d'Italia heads off from Bulgaria on Friday 8 May before ending 21 stages and just over three weeks later in Rome. On the way, it covers 3,468 kilometres and climbs a total of 48.7km, with an average stage length of 165.1km. While two of 2025's first three Giro d'Italia stages in Albania were hilly, this year's in Bulgaria look fairly benign. Last year, stage two in Albania was a time trial and there was a second time trial on stage 10. This time, there's only one time trial, again on stage 10, although it's a long one at 42km, almost the combined length of last year's two. Last year's winner, Simon Yates, won't be defending his title, having retired from racing suddenly at the beginning of 2026. Visma-Lease a Bike could well retain the Trofeo Senza Fine this year though, because Jonas Vingegaard looks in prime position to take the title. Although there are seven summit finishes, there are also a larger number of flat stages than in past editions as a fillip to the sprinters. Here's a stage-by-stage rundown of the 2026 Giro d'Italia and a guide to what to expect on each. Stage 1: Nessebar to Burgas, Bulgaria Friday, 8 May 147km, 500m altitude gain This year's route starts off with a flat run, with only 500m of elevation gain over its 147km, making it look like the first of a few sprinters' days. There's a 22km loop mid-stage that's covered twice before a slight uphill finish on an 8m wide road. Expect a spectacular finale and maybe a few crashes. Stage 2: Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria Saturday, 9 May 221km, 2,600m altitude gain A more technical stage, with a series of climbs, including the one to the Lyaskovets monastery that's only 11km from the finish. There's an awkward run-in to the line, including a 9% climb, cobbled sections and an array of twists and turns. One for a puncheur to escape in the last few kilometres? Stage 3: Plovdiv to Sofia, Bulgaria Sunday, 10 May 175km, 1,600m altitude gain The final stage in Bulgaria has one steady climb to the ski resort of Borovets, followed by a steady downhill run finishing in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia. Again on wide roads, it looks to be another one for the sprinters. Transfer/rest day Monday, 11 May A travel day/day off to return to Italian soil for (almost) the rest of the race. Stage 4: Catanzaro to Cosenza Tuesday, 12 May 138km, 1,800m altitude gain We may be back in southern Italy, but the stage profile looks remarkably similar to the previous stage, albeit the centrepiece 15km climb is to lower altitude, slightly steeper and closer to the stage finish. There's a slight uphill gradient in the final kilometre, as well as some twists and turns, but the roads are again wide. Stage 5: Praia a Mare to Potenza Wednesday, 13 May 203km, 4,100m altitude gain A three-star rated stage takes in the climb of Montagna Grande di Viggiano, which maxes out at 15% gradient. The finale snakes through the town of Potenza, climbing then descending before a final uphill gradient to the line. One for Jonas Vingegaard to make his mark? Stage 6: Paestum to Napoli Thursday, 14 May 142km, 500m altitude gain We're back on the flat today, with only 500m of climbing and a long run-in along the Naples sea front. It's trickier than it first looks though, with plenty of street furniture to look out for earlier in the stage and the last 700m a slight uphill run on cobbles, complete with a hairpin 400m from the line. Stage 7: Formia to Blockhaus Friday, 15 May 244km, 4,600m altitude gain The Giro's longest stage and its first summit finish. It starts fairly benignly, with a loop out along the coast and back to Formia, then takes a flat road heading to the hills, where the climbing starts. The 13km narrow, twisty final climb to the 1,665m Blockhaus maxes out at 14%. Stage 8: Chieti to Fermo Saturday, 16 May 156km, 1,900m altitude gain We swap from the west to the east coast of Italy for this stage, which tracks on the flat along the coast for much of its route, before an excursion into the hills after 96km. Then things get trickier, with steep ramps and a 14.3% climb that rears up to 22% gradient in the final 4km. The finish is on stone slabs as it twists through the town and uphill at 10%, too. Stage 9: Cervia to Corno alle Scale Sunday, 17 May 184km, 2,400m altitude gain We're in the Po valley of northern Italy now and it's another day with a sting in its tail. Starting off in the valley flatlands, the stage is flat until it bypasses Bologna. It's then uphill all the way, at first gradually as it heads into the hills south of the city. The final 12km climb is a sinuous mountain road averaging 10% in the last 2.7km, with maximum gradients of up to 15%. Rest day Monday, 18 May Stage 10: Viareggio to Massa (time trial) Tuesday, 19 May 42km, 50m altitude gain Back on the west coast post-rest day, the race continues with a mainly flat, long-ish time trial along the sea front from Viareggio. A hairpin near the start and another close to the end punctuate an otherwise straight run. It's likely to be fast, although headwinds or crosswinds on the exposed roads could make things trickier. Stage 11: Porcari to Chiavari Wednesday, 20 May 195km, 2,850m altitude gain Another hilly route along the coast with a range of climbs, including two short, steep ones on the approach to Chiavari. The finale looks tricky, with plenty of twists and turns, although the final kilometre along the harbour is straight and flat. Stage 12: Imperia to Novi Ligure Thursday, 21 May 175km, 2,250m altitude gain Today's stage follows some of the route of Milan-San Remo, but in the opposite direction. It then heads inland and takes on two larger climbs as it enters the Po valley. The last section into Novi Ligure is straight and almost flat. This looks like one for any sprinters who can get over the hills and stay with the peloton. Stage 13: Alessandria to Verbania Friday, 22 May 189km, 1,400m altitude gain Another fairly flat stage as the race passes Milan and finishes by Lake Maggiore. It's back-end loaded, though, with the final 30km offering a couple of short climbs, the second maxing out at 13%. There's then a sharp descent to finish by the lake. Stage 14: Aosta to Pila Saturday, 23 May 133km, 4,350m altitude gain The Giro follows its usual plan, saving the major climbing days for its last week or so. The stage follows a cloverleaf around Aosta, climbing then descending three valleys. This is the first five-star stage of this year's race, with little flat and finishing with a 16.5km ascent at around 9% to Pila. Stage 15: Voghera to Milan Sunday, 24 May 157km, 200m altitude gain From one extreme to the other, with only 200m of elevation gain on straight roads as the race traverses the Po valley floor on its way to Milan. There's a final 16.3km circuit in Milan that's ridden four times before the finish a reward for the sprinters who have got through the previous stage. Rest day Monday, 25 May Stage 16: Bellinzona to Cari Tuesday, 26 May 113km, 3,000m altitude gain The race heads into Switzerland for this stage, with yet another summit finish, this time at the apex of an 11.7km climb at up to 13% gradient. On the way, there's a 22km circuit up a side valley that's ridden twice. Stage 17: Cassano d'Adda to Andalo Wednesday, 27 May 202km, 3,300m altitude gain The Giro doesn't rate any of the climbs on this stage as particularly severe, although there are two to be tackled fairly early on. The stage finishes with a twisty 6km 6.2% climb, followed by a flat final 1,500m run-in to the line. Stage 18: Fai della Paganella to Pieve di Soligo Thursday, 28 May 171km, 2,050m altitude gain A route profile that looks more benign than it will be to ride. There's a sting in its tail in the form of the Muro di ca' del Poggio. It may be only 1.1km long, but it averages 12.3% gradient and tops out at 19%. At least the final 9km from there to the finish is mostly downhill. Stage 19: Feltre to Alleghe Friday, 29 May 151km, 5,000m altitude gain The Giro's queen stage and second five-star stage packs in 5,000 metres of climbing in 100km. It takes in three Dolomite passes: Duran, Giau and Falzarego, as well as the Forcella Staulanza. The stage's summit finish has eight hairpins with a 3km climb at 9.3% average gradient, maxing out at 15% and with its last kilometre at 11%. Stage 20: Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo Saturday, 30 May 200km, 3,750m altitude gain A couple of shorter climbs earlier in the stage head into a 53km circuit taken twice. The 14.5km climb to Piancavallo has a 14% maximum gradient and averages 9%. On the first loop, it's followed by a descent into the valley that includes a 4km-long tunnel. The second time up is the Giro's final summit finish. Stage 21: Roma to Roma Sunday, 31 May 131km, 500m altitude gain And so we come to the final stage, which follows a familiar, predominantly flat route, taking a loop down to the coast at Ostia and back. It's followed by eight loops of a 9.5km finishing circuit through the heart of Rome, which takes in the Colosseum and passes the ancient Roman forum before following the banks of the Tiber, with a finish on the Via del Circo Massimo.

The Pathfinder TLR is Specializeds clear high-speed gravel tire, aimed primarily at racers and hardpack specialists. In its product sheet, the US brand throws around plenty of numbers and percentage improvements, but are these gains actually noticeable on the trail? And how does the Pathfinder perform away from asphalt and perfectly compacted gravel roads?Specialized Pathfinder TLR | 499.5 g in 45-622 | 49.00 | Manufacturers websiteThe Specialized Pathfinder TLR is clearly built around one thing: speed. Designed for hardpack gravel racing, that focus is obvious at first glance. A smooth centre strip made from a harder compound is paired with small arrow-shaped side knobs, using Specializeds softer T5 rubber compound. As a reminder, in Specializeds MTB tire range, T5 is actually the hardest compound available.There isnt much meat on the carcass when it comes to tread, but theres plenty of marketing material to flesh things out. Specialized describe the tire as faster, lighter and more puncture-resistant than its predecessor, even calling it the best gravel tire in their own line-up. Expectations are therefore high. On the trail, the Pathfinder now has to prove whether it is still a true gravel tire at heart, or just an all-road tire that has gained a few waist sizes to reach 50 mm.Hardpack Hero Specialized Pathfinder TLR in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group TestIs 50 mm width and the fastest gravel tire in the line-up not a contradiction in itself? Apparently not. We deliberately tested the Pathfinder in both 45 mm and 50 mm widths. The weight difference in the comparison setup is around 100 g (499 g for the 45-622 and 597 g for the 50-622) one noteworthily lightweight, the other still perfectly reasonable for the volume. The idea that higher weight automatically means higher rolling resistance is quickly disproven by the Pathfinder. At just 12.1 W of drag, the 50 mm version ranks third in the entire test field, around 3 W less than average. The 45 mm version comes in only marginally behind. The hard centre strip appears to be a key factor in this efficiency advantage.As impressive as the efficiency is on hardpack, the picture changes once you get further off-road. On coarse gravel and in damp conditions, the Pathfinder quickly reaches its limits, with the rear wheel slipping under hard acceleration and breaking away abruptly in corners. Counterintuitively, it is only when you commit to a deeper lean angle that the tire seems to find more grip, as the side knobs then noticeably engage, preventing a full loss of control. On hardpack and asphalt, however, the Pathfinder plays to its strengths: very fast acceleration, stability at speed, and high overall efficiency. Thanks to its round profile, it feels agile, almost like a wide road tire with added damping. As for compliance, the Pathfinder sits at the top of Specializeds range in this test, delivering excellent comfort.Measured width comes in around 2-3 mm below the stated size, which makes even the 50 mm version suitable for frames with limited tire clearance. When it comes to puncture protection, Specialized deliver on their marketing promises with above-average results, offering a reassuring level of security for high-speed riding. Thats exactly what matters when youre going fast enough that youd rather not think about sudden mechanicals.AGILITYcumbersomebalancedplayfulGRIPlowhighCOMPLIANCElowhighROLLING RESISTANCEslowfastPINCH-FLAT PROTECTIONlowhighPUNCH RESISTANCElowhighConclusion on the Specialized Pathfinder TLRThe Specialized Pathfinder TLR is a clearly defined high-speed tire for hardpack and asphalt, and it hits its intended use case very precisely. It impresses with high efficiency, agile handling and strong puncture protection, showing its strengths clearly at speed and over firm surfaces. Once you leave well-compacted tracks and move onto loose gravel, however, caution is advised. The Pathfinder is simply not designed for that kind of terrain it would rather you didnt try to find any new paths of your own. If you stick to its natural habitat, you get a genuinely fast tire that also turns out to be the most comfortable in Specializeds line-up.Topsvery good efficiencyclearly defines its intended use caseFlopsruns noticeably narrower than statedunpredictable in loose cornersMade in Vietnam | Size (ETRO) 45-622 | Width in mm 43,1 Height in mm 38,33 | Weight 499.5 g | Price 49.00measured dimensions at 1.75 3.0 Bar, depending on tire widthMore information at specialized.com.The TestfieldThis tire was tested as part of the Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026 an overview of this comparison test as well as all other tested gravel tires can be found in the comprehensive comprehensive Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026. For the top models in the racing category, you should take a look at the Race Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026.Challenge: Getaway XP | Gravine XPContinental: Dubnital | Terra Adventure | Terra Competition | Terra Hardpack | Terra SpeedGoodyear: Connector Inter | Connector SpeedHutchinson: Caracal RaceMAXXIS: Rambler | ReaverMichelin: Power Adventure | Power GravelPirelli: Cinturato Gravel H | Cinturato Gravel M | Cinturato Gravel SRene Herse: Corkscrew Climb TC Semi-SlickSchwalbe: G-One RS Pro | G-One RX Pro | G-One R Pro | Thunder Burt | G One Overland ProSpecialized: Pathfinder TLR | Tracer TLR | Terra TLRVittoria: Terreno Pro T30 | Terreno Pro T50 | Terreno Pro T60WTB: Vulpine S | Vulpine | ResoluteDer Beitrag Specialized Pathfinder TLR in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

Neil's latest video from the 2026 Sea Otter Classic comes from a few days before the show opened, when he and Miles got a chance to catch up with John and his pup, Mira. In this video, John runs through the origins of his multi-year, globetrotting journey and the specifics of his new dogpacking-specific Xtracycle OmniTierra...The post John and Mira World Tour Update + Xtracycle OmniTierra Mid-Tail (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

In 2016 Team Visma | Lease a Bike signed Primoz Roglic from a Slovenian continental team and had one of the best transfers they could've hoped for. Before the signing and rise of Jonas Vingegaard and Wout Van Aert, it was Roglic who stepped up dramatically once he entered the Dutch team's training p...

Dublin City Council should revise its out-of-date action plan for the Richmond Road area, councillors have said, with local councillors describing it as dangerous for both people in wheelchairs and people cycling on the road.Much of the new residential development is planned with the concept of more people cycling, but the council does not expect to provide a safe route on the road until sometime after 2030. This is in the context of more and more apartment blocks being built along the road, and the Land Development Agency just breaking ground on a new, near-800-unit housing development at the former St. Vincents Hospital (SVH) in Fairview, which has its main access into Richmond Road. The issues with danger from rat-running traffic on the narrow road have led to residents protesting the councils inaction. At their last monthly local area meeting, North Central Area Committee councillors agreed to a motion to draft a new Area Action Plan in consultation with the local community, recognising the current and planned mix of uses in the area, and to improve the safety and accessibility of the area, which runs along both sides of the River Tolka from Drumcondra to Ballybough/Fairview.The existing plan was published in 2007, and councillors pointed out that the area has changed since then and new policies are now in place, such as the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets.Cllr Karl Stanley (Socs Dems) said that the council should go beyond just looking at traffic in the area and consider placemaking, riverfront activation, and the use of bridge connections to Clonliffe Road. He said that the area was previously mixed, but it is now increasingly residential, with a growing population. Over a thousand new residential units have gone in or are going in the next couple of years bearing in mind, the 2007 plan talked about the population being about 5 000, when the population of the area will be at least 50% higher in the next year or two, he said. Cllr Stanley said a new plan for the area would give residents some hope, outlining how, currently, theres a bit of almost despair as residents feel theres no plan for their growing area. A plan could show that the city has a vision for the area, he said.Cllr Clodagh N Mhuir (Fine Gael) said its a great place to live and has a huge amount of potential, but that councillors wanted to make sure there is a long-term plan in place to improve the defects in the area.We need to start planning ahead now, so thats when we have people moving in on the new site [for housing that the council has just commissioned], were not looking back at this 5 or 10 years down the road and saying we should have done this or this, she said. Cllr N Mhuir added: It would be good to have a coherent plan and vision for the area.Cllr Donna Cooney (Green Party) said: Were leaving an active travel route until post-2028. We dont even have any preliminary designs or anything else. And yet, this new development of up to 800 units, with possibly more than 2,000 people living there, children included, will be expected to cycle. Thats the way this has been developed around the fact that there are thousands of bicycle parking spaces.Active travel is a main component of that plan, and yet, were not putting in an active travel route along there and that just seems ludicrous, she said. Why cant we join up the dots so that children can get to their schools from there safely?She added: Im a very experienced cyclist, and I feel nervous on that road cycling. it just does not feel like a safe road cycling. Its really not safe. Cllr Deirdre Heney (Fianna Fil) said that there needs to be a high-level meeting between the councillors, council departments and state bodies involved. Cllr Alison Field (Labour Party) said: shed been up Richmond Road twice in the past 24 hours, and while she always knew it was a complete mess, her experience with her son in a wheelchair was dangerous because of the narrowness and poor state of the footpaths. Yesterday, I took my son in a wheelchair up that road, and I am telling you, its not wheelchair-friendly one bit. The dishing [where footpaths meet roads and entrances], was actually dangerous at certain points I could barely fit the wheelchair on the tiny little path. Its a complete mess, and then therell be more people living there, she said. Cllr Field added: So we really are gonna have to sit down and put a proper plan into place around that area, its a complete mess.You can watch the full discussion at the April meeting of the North Central Area Committee, which starts around 19 minutes into the recording.ALSO READ:Marino and Richmond Rd/Grace Park Rd areas need to come together to cut rat running

With the Reaver, MAXXIS presents its solution for hardpack and fast gravel rides. The low-profile centre tread, paired with chunky side knobs, is designed to deliver fast rolling on the straights, while still providing confident cornering grip. But how well does this combination actually work, and whats new in the second-generation Reaver?MAXXIS Reaver | 510.7 g in 45-622 | 58.50 | Manufacturers websiteThe MAXXIS Reaver comes from one of the biggest names in MTB, ever-present at World Cups and in bike parks around the world. But how well does that experience translate to gravel? The Reaver is already into its second generation and, much like the MAXXIS Rambler, the focus is clearly on the internal details.The new HYPR-X rubber compound is designed to bridge between their road and MTB technologies, combining the HYPR compound from the road segment with MaxxSpeed from the off-road range, replacing the previous Dual Compound setup. The new compound is paired with the well-known EXO casing from the MTB world, now updated with new materials and a 120 TPI construction, aiming to improve puncture protection without adding weight. Visually, the tread remains unchanged: low-profile diamond-shaped centre knobs and large, angular shoulder lugs, complimented by revised branding that feels less MTB-focused. At 510 g, the Reaver sits around 60 g below the test field average. What it does with that weight advantage is what our test set out to discover.Ride It Like You Stole It The MAXXIS Reaver in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group TestThe MAXXIS Reaver doesnt quite live up to its plundering namesake in the test you wont exactly be making a quick getaway on this one. On tarmac, its rolling resistance is surprisingly close to the Rambler, despite the Ramblers significantly more pronounced tread. Rather than feeling light on its feet, the Reaver plants itself squarely on the ground and comes across as more sluggish than lively. That lack of agility becomes noticeable in fast changes of direction. Puncture protection also trails slightly behind its more robust sibling, the Rambler.Off-road, the picture is similar. The Reaver is predictable, but it doesnt bite into the terrain as effectively as the more heavily treaded Rambler. In gravel corners, it tends to drift slightly towards the outside of the turn, though always in a controlled and predictable way. When it comes to quick evasive manoeuvres and high lean angles, however, the large side knobs engage reliably, adding a reassuring sense of security.Comfort is where the biggest weakness shows. Again, the Reaver doesnt match the Rambler here, tending to oscillate and feeling somewhat underdamped overall. Rebound is too pronounced, which leads to noticeable bouncing on rough surfaces, shaking both rider and bike through the handlebars and saddle.AGILITYcumbersomebalancedplayfulGRIPlowhighCOMPLIANCElowhighROLLING RESISTANCEslowfastPINCH-FLAT PROTECTIONlowhighPUNCH RESISTANCElowhighConclusion on the MAXXIS ReaverIn essence, the MAXXIS Reaver is the stripped-back sibling of the MAXXIS Rambler. However, its agility, ride quality and liveliness dont live up to what you might expect from its low-profile tread. It also fails to gain enough in efficiency to make up for the reduced grip. As a result, the clear recommendation in this test remains the Rambler, which offers more overall grip and security without feeling noticeably more sluggish on the road.Topspredictable cornering tractionFlopstends to float on graveldespite the low-profile tread, not particularly efficientMade in Taiwan | Size (ETRO) 45-622 | Width in mm 46,8 Height in mm 41,63 | Weight 510.7 g | Price 58.50measured dimensions at 1.75 3.0 Bar, depending on tire widthMore information at maxxis.com.The TestfieldThis tire was tested as part of the Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026 an overview of this comparison test as well as all other tested gravel tires can be found in the comprehensive comprehensive Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026. For the top models in the racing category, you should take a look at the Race Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026.Challenge: Getaway XP | Gravine XPContinental: Dubnital | Terra Adventure | Terra Competition | Terra Hardpack | Terra SpeedGoodyear: Connector Inter | Connector SpeedHutchinson: Caracal RaceMAXXIS: Rambler | ReaverMichelin: Power Adventure | Power GravelPirelli: Cinturato Gravel H | Cinturato Gravel M | Cinturato Gravel SRene Herse: Corkscrew Climb TC Semi-SlickSchwalbe: G-One RS Pro | G-One RX Pro | G-One R Pro | G-One R Pro | Thunder Burt | G One Overland ProSpecialized: Pathfinder TLR | Tracer TLR | Terra TLRVittoria: Terreno Pro T30 | Terreno Pro T50 | Terreno Pro T60WTB: Vulpine S | Vulpine | ResoluteDer Beitrag MAXXIS Reaver in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

While bikepacking across the Balkans, Joshua Kian and his partner were introduced to burek, the savory, flaky delicacy that makes for a uniquely satisfying fuel for a long day in the saddle. In this piece, Joshua pays homage to the many delectable pastries they encountered along their route and reflects on how slowing down to enjoy them offered a unique window into local culturesThe post Bikepacking the Burek Trail appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

There may be no obvious rivals on the start list, but stage racing has a habit of throwing up surprises

With the Cinturato Gravel M, Pirelli have a true all-rounder in their range. The tire promises reliable grip on both dry and wet surfaces, combined with solid efficiency. But how does this Italian gravel tire perform in our big test for the best gravel tire of 2026?Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M | 603.5 g in 45-622 | 79.90 | Manufacturers websiteThere are plenty of gravel tires for mixed terrain, but few feature a tread as aggressive as the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M. So, who actually needs this kind of mixed-condition tire? Could it be the ideal choice for riders who use their gravel bike in all weathers, across constantly changing surfaces, from tarmac and gravel tracks to proper trails? Gravel riding is always evolving, and that is exactly where the Cinturato Gravel M aims to shine as a true all-rounder.When it comes to tread design, Pirelli go all in on chunky, pronounced knobs. A central tread made up of tall, closely spaced lugs is designed to deliver an efficient ride, while the grippy shoulder knobs are more widely spaced to maximise traction in corners. The goal is clear: to combine efficiency and grip in a single gravel tire.Aggressively Average: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group TestSo how does this tire perform in direct comparison to our test field? At 604 g, it is slightly heavier than the 570 g average. Given the significantly more aggressive tread, that is perfectly acceptable, as long as it delivers on efficiency and puncture protection. When it comes to rolling resistance, that seems to be exactly the case. At 13.4 W, the Cinturato Gravel M performs very well in fact, its actually 0.1 W faster than the low-profile Cinturato Gravel H, which is designed specifically for hardpack. The concept of a fast-rolling central tread clearly works, especially considering the tire is less than 3 W behind the fastest gravel tire on test, the Schwalbe G-One RS Pro.Grip is equally convincing across the board. It is not quite as extreme as the Cinturato Gravel S, but for an all-rounder built for mixed terrain, it is an impressive result. The tread and rubber compound handle almost any surface with confidence, only struggling slightly at the extremes. Deep mud and pure tarmac are not where this tire truly shines. At the same time, the Gravel M benefits from its wide casing. At 47.5 mm, it measures significantly wider than stated. The handling mirrors the agile and highly engaging ride feel known from the Cinturato Gravel S, allowing for quick and direct reactions at all times. However, the relatively narrow central tread means the tire can feel a little prone to tipping between the centre tread and the side knobs when cornering, without always delivering a fully linear ride feel.Compliance is the weak point in the Gravel Ms otherwise strong characteristics. The tire is one of the firmer options in the test field, offering less cushioning than the other Pirelli models on test. Running slightly lower pressures is advisable to achieve a more comfortable ride. Puncture protection is a step up from the Cinturato Gravel S, particularly in terms of puncture resistance, where it shows a noticeable improvement. That said, it still does not quite match the significantly stronger performance of the Cinturato Gravel H here.AGILITYcumbersomebalancedplayfulGRIPlowhighCOMPLIANCElowhighROLLING RESISTANCEslowfastPINCH-FLAT PROTECTIONlowhighPUNCH RESISTANCElowhighConclusion on the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel MOverall, the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M is an outstanding gravel tire that truly delivers as an all-rounder for mixed terrain. It combines very good efficiency with plenty of grip and agile handling that makes every ride engaging. The only trade-offs come in puncture protection and compliance. If you are looking for a versatile gravel tire for changing conditions, and can live with a bit less comfort, the Cinturato Gravel M is a strong choice.TopsHigh EfficiencyPlenty of GripAgile HandlingFlopsLow ComfortSlightly Reduced Puncture ProtectionMade in Italy | Size (ETRO) 45-622 | Width in mm 47,4 Height in mm 41,28 | Weight 603.5 g | Price 79.90measured dimensions at 1.75 3.0 Bar, depending on tire widthMore information at pirelli.com.The TestfieldThis tire was tested as part of the Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026 an overview of this comparison test as well as all other tested gravel tires can be found in the comprehensive comprehensive Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026. For the top models in the racing category, you should take a look at the Race Gravel Tire Comparison Test 2026.Challenge: Getaway XP | Gravine XPContinental: Dubnital | Terra Adventure | Terra Competition | Terra Hardpack | Terra SpeedGoodyear: Connector Inter | Connector SpeedHutchinson: Caracal RaceMAXXIS: Rambler | ReaverMichelin: Power Adventure | Power GravelPirelli: Cinturato Gravel H | Cinturato Gravel M | Cinturato Gravel SRene Herse: Corkscrew Climb TC Semi-SlickSchwalbe: G-One RS Pro | G-One RX Pro | G-One R Pro | Thunder Burt | G One Overland ProSpecialized: Pathfinder TLR | Tracer TLR | Terra TLRVittoria: Terreno Pro T30 | Terreno Pro T50 | Terreno Pro T60WTB: Vulpine S | Vulpine | ResoluteDer Beitrag Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M in the 2026 Gravel Tire Group Test erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team have net wildcards for the races they desire in the 2026 season, and they are managing their season much like the World Tour outfits. At the Giro d'Italia, the Swiss team starts with stage winning ambitions, even if they do not have their leader Tom Pidcock at the st...