In preparation for a season of warm-weather bikepacking, Miles schemed up the lightest, most compact camping system possible. He landed on a 720-gram kit consisting of the Rab Mythic Ultra 120 sleeping bag, Nemo Tensor Elite sleeping pad, and Exped Ultra Pillow. Find mini reviews of all three, reflections on packing strategies, and thoughts on why ultralight doesn't need to mean uncomfortable here...The post A 720-Gram Ultralight and Compact Summer Sleep Kit appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Giant and Cadexs engineering teams came together on the new Advanced SL project to create not just a frameset with a selection of components. Instead, they set out to create a "complete speed system". The frame, fork, one-piece aero cockpit, wheels and new 45mm tyres were developed, tested and tuned to work together to create a pure gravel race bike. According to Giant, the new system weighs in 288g lighter and reduces resistance by 18.99 watts over the previous-generation Revolt Advanced Pro. Giant claims the new Revolt is one of the lightest and aerodynamically efficient gravel race bikes available. As part of the new bike's development, Giant brought on board Cole Paton, three-time top-five finisher at the Life Time Grand Prix, and two-time Australian gravel national champion Brendan Johnston. Both have already raced a prototype of the Revolt at major races, including Unbound. At the level were racing now, every system on the bike has to work together, says Paton. Theres no room for compromise. "The Revolt Advanced SL is the first gravel bike Ive ever ridden that feels like it was 100 percent engineered for the demands we face. The aero advantage, the way it carries speed over rough terrain, it changes whats possible in every race situation. "The demands of the sport are higher than ever" new Liv Devote Advanced SL is fully focused on gravel racing Cadex's new Max CXR gravel wheels weigh only 1,320g and are paired with 'aero' tyres Lighter than ever The Revolt Advanced SL has been reimagined as a pure racer. Giant Bicycles The new Advanced SL grade frame weighs in at a claimed 839g (size M), 151g lighter than the previous generation. Alongside the frame, the all-new fork also sees a drop of 10g to 385g. Its the first time the Revolt has been part of the SL manufacturing process, which employs Giants own carbon nanotube tech resin (CNT) and in-house woven fibres cut accurately using its cold-blade technology. Alongside the frame, an all-new one-piece cockpit brings further weight savings, with the Contact SLR XR weighing in at 295g. The new Cadex Max GXR wheels weigh 1,280g (118g lighter than the previous top-end model's wheelset). So, even with larger-volume tyres as standard, the Revolt Advanced SL 0 is 288g lighter than the previous-generation Revolt Advanced Pro 0. Giant claims the SL 0s stiffness-to-weight ratio is 31% higher than the previous bike. The new integrated cockpit keeps the Revolt front end clean. Giant Bicycles Aero everywhere, even the tyres The new 45mm Cadex GXR tyre tread is optimised for rolling resistance and aero. Cadex Giant says the increased speeds in gravel racing have made aerodynamics the key to any new gravel bike design. It says: With race speeds at 30 to 45 km/h over five to ten hours, sustained drag is a direct tax on energy output. The new Revolt Advanced SL has been engineered to minimise drag across every element of the system. The frameset and fork, along with the cockpit, draw on Giant's aerodynamic expertise from bikes such as the TCR and Propel. Giant claims the revised frameset alone has helped reduce aerodynamic drag by 3.72 watts over the previous generation. The one-piece bar also adds aero efficiency, reducing turbulence over conventional setups thanks to the hidden brake-hose routing, keeping a clean aero profile. The wheels on the SL 0, Cadexs Max GXR, have a 50mm-deep wide profile that was designed to work in conjunction with the 45mm GXR tyre. The wheels' 25mm internal profile is matched with a 5mm-wide rim bead that improves impact resistance and profiles the tyre to the rims width. Even the tyre tread has been optimised to reduce rolling resistance while maintaining grip. The tread has also been profiled to complement the aerodynamics of the tyre and rim. Carbon aero spokes also help to reduce drag. The wheel and tyre combination reduces drag by 3.03 watts, according to Giant and thats with a 5mm wider tyre than the previous wheel and tyre combination. Wind-tunnel tests have shown a total reduction in drag of 18.99 watts, with 13.81 of those watts coming from aero improvements and 3.03 watts of rolling resistance savings. The remainder comes from wheel-rotation drag reductions. Race geometry The Revolt Advanced SL 0 tops the range at 9,999. Giant Bicycles The Advanced SL has geometry aimed squarely at racing, whereas previous Revolts were aimed at being all-rounders, or for more adventurous terrain in the case of the Revolt X. That means a lower, longer ride position. The stack drops from 586mm to 557mm on a medium, while at the same time the reach extends to 395mm. Giant has also steepened the seat angle to 74.5 degrees, shifting the rider weight forward, more over the bottom bracket for improved pedalling efficiency. The shift towards more progressive geometry is something weve seen in road-bike design. Is this a sign its coming to gravel, too? The Revolt has dropped the flip chip in favour of a UDH dropout. Giant Bicycles Elsewhere, the wheelbase has been kept short, while increasing the tyre clearance to 53mm. Out has gone the flip chip rear end Giant has used on the Revolt for the past two iterations. It's replaced by a simplified UDH dropout an essential on a modern gravel bike since the introduction of SRAM's direct-mount XPLR derailleurs. Giant Revolt Advanced SL pricing and range details Revolt Advanced SL 1 comes with SRAM Force XPLR and Giant's new CXR wheelset for 6,999. Giant Bicycles The Revolt Advanced SL comes in three models and as a frameset option. Revolt Advanced SL 0 (SRAM Red XPLR AXS, Cadex Max GXR wheelset, Giant Contact SLR XR bar/stem/post): 9,999 / $12,000 / 9,999 / AU$13,999 / CAD$15,999 Revolt Advanced SL 1 (SRAM Force XPLR AXS, Giant CXR 0 wheelset, Giant Contact SLR XR bar/stem/post): 6,999 / $8,000 / 7,499 / AU$9,999 /CAD$10,299 Revolt Advanced SL 2 (SRAM Rival XPLR AXS, Giant CXR 0 wheelset, Giant Contact SLR XR bar/stem/post): 5,499 / $7,300 / 6,499 / AU$8,999 / CAD$8,999 Revolt Advanced SL frameset: 3,899 / $5,000 / 3,999 / AU$5,999 / CAD$5,899

For Jordan Jegat, a Tadej Pogacar attack at the Tour de France is not always the worst moment of the climb. Sometimes, it is the moment the race finally becomes his own again. The TotalEnergies rider finished 10th overall at last years Tour, more than half an hour behind Pogacar, after three weeks...

Groupama - FDJ United have denied that David Gaudus Tour de France omission points towards a split, but the message from team management still came with pressure attached after a turbulent few days around the French climber. Gaudu has been left out of the teams eight-man squad for the 2026 Tour, w...

The 2026 Tour de France's grand finale is centered around its iconic ascent Alpe d'Huez, but less than four weeks before this year's edition reaches its decisive penultimate stage, the Col de Sarenne has been hit by a second mudslide in a span of one week, raising fresh concerns about the route's sa...

Today, LOOK introduces the 3rd generation of its top-tier road racing platform, the 795 BladeRS 3. Co-developed with Team Cofidis, tested in the wind tunnel, and validated with wins on the road this spring, the new 795 officially launches just days before the 2026 Tour de France kicks off in LOOKs home country.According to LOOK, the 795 BladeRS 3 is 160 grams lighter and 15 watts more aerodynamically efficient than its predecessor. Marginal gains aside, the brand says one of the main priorities in its development was the connection with the rider. Claiming over 350 fit combinations across six frame sizes, its clear that Look recognizes that comfort and speed are not mutually exclusive.Developing a bike with high technical promise and countless marginal gains only holds value if the bike fits the rider perfectly and provides them with the finest feeling on the bike. That conviction shaped every choice we made on the 795 BladeRS 3.-Romain Simon, Bike Category Leader at LOOK CycleGet low, stay low, ride faster.Look 795 Blade RS: Whats New?As with most road bike launches, LOOK has made some updates to the frame, resulting in a claimed weight reduction and improved aerodynamics. The brand states that it was able to shave 160g off the frame weight, bringing it down to just 890g (claimed, size M). When combined with the 340g weight of the RS 3 fork, thats a total frame weight of 1,230g. Complete builds reportedly start at 6.9 kg, which is quite competitive.Despite that light weight, they also claim that the front end and bottom bracket are up to 10% stiffer than the World Tour average to maximize responsiveness. At the same time, they say theyve engineered the frame to be compliant and forgiving everywhere else, including the patented flexible seatstays, increased flexibility in the fork, and clearance for tires up to 34mm. All those elements are designed to work together to reduce feedback, improve comfort, and enhance rolling efficiency.The 795 BladeRS 3s frame has updated tube shapes that reportedly save 15 watts at 50 kph.LOOK says its development process also included CFD simulations, along with real-world and wind-tunnel testing to identify aerodynamic enhancements. Ultimately, they claim that the drag-reducing shapes of the RS 3 fork and updated frame tubes result in a 15-watt savings compared to its predecessor at 50 kph. At pro race speeds, LOOK says that equates to a 2-minute-27-second advantage on stage 19 of the 2026 TdF Gap (Hautes-Alpes) Le Bourg-DOisans (Isre)(128 km D+3500m).The unidirectional UHM carbon fiber frames are hand-painted, assembled, and quality-controlled by LOOK in Burgundy, France, and are covered by a lifetime warranty. LOOK recognizes that all of our bodies, fit, and comfort preferences are different, and aims to improve the relationship between riders and the 795 BladeRS 3.Optimizing the Rider ConnectionAccording to LOOK, Because the rider accounts or 75% of aerodynamic drag, perfect positioning is essential for speed. The 795 BladeRS 3 was developed with this in mind, considering both fit and component ergonomics as important factors in the bikes overall performance. The idea is to make the bike conform to the rider, and not the other way around. But to optimize fit for all riders is no easy task, and LOOK takes a multi-faceted approach.Customizable Cockpit: Combines seven stem lengths (80 to 140 mm), three handlebar widths, and 0 to 50 mm of headset spacers.Aeropost 5 Seatpost: Features the new seatpost, available in two different offset options. Universal Handling: Six dedicated sizes and geometries, paired with three fork offsets, ensure consistent handling characteristics for cyclists ranging from 155 cm to 200 cm (XXS to XL).LOOK carried over the proven race-oriented geometry from the previous 795 Blade RS.GeometryFrame size is the first step in finding the right fit on any bike. LOOK is well aware of this and makes the 795 BladeRS 3 in six frame sizes, claimed to fit riders between 155 and 200 cm (51 to 66). At the same time, they say the same proven race-oriented geometry of the previous version carries over to the latest. Its clear that LOOK is confident in its geometry formula, and adaptations to fit and body position are up to the rider.350 Fit CombinationsLOOK says that through its Your LOOK a la Carte configurator, there are over 350 fit options available to riders to ensure a perfect setup. This customization is available to all customers, both directly through lookcycle.com and LOOKs B2B partners. Beyond the frame size, customization of the cockpit components, which include LOOKs new Aero CarbonRS 3 Bars and Aeropost 5 seatpost, helps to optimize rider fit and body position.Loads of adjustability in LOOKs new Aero CarbonRS 3 bars.Aero CarbonRS 3 BarsLOOK says that with its new Aero CarbonRS 3, the perfect handlebar exists. Of course, it has been designed with an aerodynamic profile, including thin, wing-shaped bar tops, along with three primary hand positions Breakaway (aero on the hoods), Sprint (in the drops), and Climb (on the bar tops).But LOOK says the real magic lies in the design: it keeps you locked in the aero position four times longer than a standard bar, delivers unmatched power transfer in the drops, and positions your upper body ideally on the climbs by opening your shoulders and chest. If you think about it, the longer you can comfortably stay in an aero position, the faster you can ride.Thats combined with three bar widths: 380, 400, or 420mm, seven stem lengths: 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, or 140mm, and 0 to 50mm of stem spacers. With so many options, riders can truly optimize the cockpit setup reach, stack, and width to their exact specifications.This Cofidis rider has his seatpost set in the forward without offset position.Aeropost 5LOOKs new Aeropost 5 takes it a step further with two offset options. Riders can choose to run the post with or without offset. By reversing the orientation of the post, riders can dramatically alter their saddle position relative to the bottom bracket. According to LOOK, the differences are:With offset: +42 to -8Without offset: +15 to -35LOOK 795 BladeRS 3: Key SpecsFrame: 890g (Size M, Pro Team Black, tolerance +/- 5%), new UD UHM carbon, UDH compatible, lifetime warranty upon registration.Fork: 340g, available in three offsets, engineered for increased compliance.Complete Bike Weight: Starting from 6.9kg (Size M, without pedals).Aerodynamics: 15-watt saving for the complete bike-and-rider system compared to the previous 795 BladeRS at 50 kph (LOOK data); consistent aerodynamic gains from 0 to 15 degrees of yaw; 205 W estimated normalized aero drag (based on internal data using the Tour Magazin protocol).Power transfer: 10% stiffer than the World Tour average at the bottom bracket and front end; patented flexible seatstays; 34mm tire clearance (front and rear).Fit: Over 350 combinations; NEW Aero CarbonRS 3 handlebar (380/400/420 mm widths, compatible with the previous generations 360/440 mm); seven stem lengths (80 to 140 mm); 0 to 50 mm headset spacers; new Aeropost 5 seatpost with two offset options. Available through the Your LOOK la Carte configurator.Sizes: XXS to XL, featuring six dedicated geometries to fit riders from 155 cm to 200 cm.Finishes: Silver Red, Pro Team Black, Iconic Prisme, Orange Shift. The Iconic Prisme Replica is limited to 50 units in the exact Team Cofidis Tour de France spec (Campagnolo Super Record wireless, Bora WTO 60 Ultra Team wheels, 7.1 kg).Groupset Options: Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Dura-Ace Di2; SRAM Force E1 AXS; Campagnolo Super Record 213.Wheel Options: LOOK R45S, Mavic Comete 50, Fulcrum Speed 57, Scope Artech 6.A.LOOK 795 BladeRS 3: Pricing and AvailabilityThe 795 BladeRS3 is available in just a few complete builds, ranging from the most affordable Ultegra Di2 with LOOK R45S wheels at 8,490 / $9,700 up to the range-topping Campy Super Record with Scope Artech 6.A wheel for 13,190 / $15,290. Of course, with the Your LOOK a la Carte configurator, all of the complete builds are simply suggestions, and youve got Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo groups, along with four wheelsets to choose from.For those looking to go the full custom route, the 795 BladeRS 3 is also available as a frameset in all four finishes for 4,990, or 5,780 including the full LOOK cockpit.Last but not least, LOOK is offering a limited-edition Iconic Prisme Replica (just 50 units) with a retail price of 13,990 / $15,500.It comes with Campagnolo Super Record 13 and the ultra-high-end Bora Ultra WTO 60 CL Team Edition wheels.The 795 BladeRS 3 is available now. Head to the LOOK website to learn more, configure your own race rocket, or find a dealer near you.lookcycle.comThe post With the Tour de France Approaching, LOOK Unveils Its New 795 BladeRS 3 Road Race Machine appeared first on Bikerumor.

Bernard Hinault doesn't need much of an introduction as a five-time Tour de France champion, and last French winner of the Grande Boucle. But his contribution to the race's legacy did not stop there as Hinault continued to promote Tourin a position in charge of public relations and protocol. That...

Baptiste Veistroffer may not be the biggest name in the world of cycling, but if you follow races closely, you almost had to run across the 26-year-old Frenchman's one of many breakaways. Just this season, he's been a part of 12 escaped groups. And even managed to take his first professional win at...