The Belgian bike-making arm of global outdoor retailer Decathlon just dropped 2 high-value, high-performance gravel bikes. One, the RCR-G is a race-ready bike with big inspiration from their aero road bikes, all come specd with wireless electronic drivetrains. The other, the endurance-focused EDR-G is built for everything from all-day rides to backcountry adventures, with a complete mechanical drivetrain build option starting from just 2200. I rode both of these bikes earlier this summer, and came away impressed with both. But which one would I choose?Van Rysel RCR-G or EDR-G, a carbon gravel bike for any ride(Photos by Van Rysel & Cory Benson)Van Rysel goes for either race or everyday with their all-new carbon RCR-G & EDR-G gravel bikes. Both are clearly capable of tackling a mix of paved, dirt, and gravel roads but really for two very different graveler personalities:They created the RGR-G together with road pro team Decathlon-CMA CGM riders looking to race gravel, too. And the similarities to the RCR-R overall profile are pretty clear, just with slightly thinner aero tube shapes and much bigger tire clearance.On the other hand, the EDR-G is more of an all-new shape for Van Rysels new endurance and adventure gravel bike. It combines a smoothly curved front triangle similar to their EDR road bike with very thin-for-carbon dropped stays, kinked just behind the seattube for added comfort flex.Tech details: What makes the RCR-G a gravel race bike?Since a lot of gravel riders are looking for speed on and off road, the Van Rysel RCR-G goes for CFD-optimized mid-depth aero tube shapes, full cable integration, racy gravel geo, 1x or 2x UDH compatibility, but still plenty of tire clearance to handle the roughest courses. Van Rysel claims the new RCR-G is 8.6W faster in the wind tunnel compared to their old GCR gravel race bike, which already featured aero fork & downtube shaping. And yet, its also only 8W slower than their RCR-R aero road race bike. And yet, this new bike is said to be lighter, more comfortable, and has room for up to 50mm tires.reinforced hi-mod aerodynamically-optimized carbon frame & fork, with size-specific layups885g frame & 415g fork weight claims (size M, unpainted; uncut fork)50mm max tire clearancefully integrated internal cable routing1x & 2x compatible, for both electronic & mechanical drivetrains50T max 1x & 52/36T max 2x chainring clearanceUDH rear hanger and removable braze-on style front derailleur hanger3 bottle cages mounts (2-position on downtube) including one under the downtube, plus toptube bag mountintegrated downtube gravel-strike protector27.2mm road seatpost with internal wedge clamp binder12mm thru-axles & flat mount disc brakesTech details: What makes the EDR-G an endurance gravel bike?Instead of focusing just on speed, the EDR-G is more of an all-rounder. But its still not only an adventure gravel bike, though.All-day comfort is the number one priority here. So tube shapes are much thinner for better compliance; geometry is longer and more relaxed. and the layup consists of slightly less-stiff fibers for their better vibration damping characteristics. The EDR-G adds a couple hundred grams more than the RCR-G. But with that extra weight comes more durability (no need for a downtube bashguard here, apparently), more comfort obviously, but also more capability.Officially, the EDR-G offers the same 50mm tire clearance. But here you can carry a lot more gear. First off, theres internal frame storage (independent of your bottle cage) with a built-in pump & mini-tool carrier, plus a slim bag for a spare tube & tire levers. Then, theres simply a lot of bikepacking-ready mounts, including all from the RCR-G plus full-coverage fender mounts and 3-bolt cage mounts on its fork legs. mixed modulus comfort-focused carbon frame & fork~1100g frame weight (M, unpainted)50mm max tire clearancefully integrated internal cable routing1x-only, for both electronic & mechanical drivetrainsUDH rear hanger3x 2-bolt mounts (seattube, toptube & under downtube) & 3x 3-bolt mounts (downtube & both fork legs)mounts for full-coverage fendersinternal frame storage toolkit, includes: removable internal storage bag, mini-pump, mini-tool, TPU tube, 2x tire levers27.2mm road seatpost with internal wedge clamp binder12mm thru-axles & flat mount disc brakesFirst Impressions RCR-G vs. EDR-GTheres clearly two distinct riding characters here. But frankly, you kinda cant go wrong with either.If you are looking to go fast, on and off-road the RCR-G is probably the better choice. It really does feel like an aero road bike, stretched out to fit fat enough tires to take on any terrain. Sure, its a bit stiffer than the EGR-G with its deeper aerodynamic tube shaping, but it is still plenty comfortable rolling on 45mm tires out of the box. And I appreciate the separate aluminum bar & stem setups on all but the top-spec bike, which let you really dial-in your perfect cockpit fit for off-road riding. Plus, its an easy upgrade down the road to a carbon bar if you feel you want more gravel bump vibration damping.On the other hand, if you ride gravel for the adventure of it, the EDR-G is really your better choice. This bike still feels plenty fast and It racks up kilometers (or miles, if those are your thing) quickly, while being a bit easier on your body. I test rode the most affordable bike with mechanical GRX 112 & alloy DT G1800 wheel spec. And truly, theres not much I would change on this bike. Yes, it is a kilo heavier than the Force AXS specd RCR-G I tested, but its also half the price. And you can totally spend that extra 2000 you spend on a more forgiving carbon handlebar and lighter carbon wheels when you feel the need down the (gravel) road. But honestly, I didnt notice any extra weight out riding in the dirt, or even much slower ride, only the extra comfort and the simplicity of not having to keep batteries charged. Van Rysel gravel bikes Pricing, options & availabilityThe real trick with the two all-new Van Rysel gravel bikes is their availability. There are a lot of options, and some impressive affordability, at least in Europe. But not everything is available everywhere, or all at once.RCR-G available firstThe race-focused RCR-G is offered in 3 spec levels. The most affordable 3200 / 3000 / $5300 RCR-G Rival AXS comes with Rival Xplr 113, alloy 2-piece cockpit, and 30mm deep alloy Van Rysel wheels with 45mm Continental Terra Comp tubeless tires, at a claimed 8.6kg. 2026 Van Rysel RCR-G Force AXSStep up to the 4200 / 4000 / $7400 RCR-G Force AXS build to get Force Xplr 113 with a power meter, a carbon handlebar & 35mm deep carbon Van Rysel wheel upgrades, at a claimed 8.2kg complete.Or go all-in for the 6600 / 6500 / $11k RCR-G Red AXS build to get SRAM Red Xplr 113, the exact same 1-piece carbon cockpit used on Van Rysels RCR-R Pro road bike, and more aero 50mm Van Rysel carbon wheels upgrades, at a weight of 7.8kg.As for real availability, you can get any of the 3 RCR-Gs now from your Decathlon dealer shops in Europe now, in the UK from October, and the USA at an undetermined later date.EDR-G now for some, later for othersOptions for the four much more affordable EDR-G models are quite a bit more complicated. 2026 Van Rysel EDR-G GRXThe most affordable of them all is a 2200 / 2100 EDR-G GRX build with wide-range 1x mechanical GRX 610 groupset, curvy alloy Deda Gera cockpit with 24 flare bar, and new DT Swiss G1800 alloy wheels wrapped in 45mm Schwalbe G-One R Performance tires a claimed 8.75kg complete.Next up, the EDR-G Rival at 2700 / 2700 upgrades to wireless electronic SRAM Xplr 13-speed shifting, sticking with DT alloy wheels. Then, the EDR-G Force at 3200 / $6300 steps up once more to Force Xplr, Van Rysel VR32 Gravel Carbon wheels & Schwalbe Pro-spec tires at a claimed 8.85kg. Lastly, the EDR-G Force Suspended at 3500 / 3500 gets the same spec, but swaps in a 40mm travel RockShox Rudy XPLR suspension fork for even more off-road comfort at 9.7kg complete.The first availability will be for three of the specs in Europe from next month (September), including the GRX bike in two color options, Force & Force Suspended. The Force bike will also likely show up in the Chinese market at the same time. Next, the beige GRX bike & Force Suspended bike should arrive in the UK in October. Then, expect the Rival bikes sometime in 2027. Of note, only the Rival & Force specs are expected to make it to the US at some undefined point in the future, where, without the weight of Decathlons own big-box distribution, their pricing doesnt look nearly as affordable.VanRysel.com

The Vuelta a Espaa is cycling's third Grand Tour and one of the most historically rich events in professional cycling. The race invited Spanish influencer Erola Jons and her interaction with Tadej Pogacar has brought out a huge wave of indignation. And I believe all of it is fully justified. I'm a...

Our MADE 2026 video coverage continues with part three where Neil checks in with a few old friends and some new ones. In this episode, he catches up with Jesse from Slow Southern Steel to talk about a hardtail built for his framebuilding class, gets the lowdown on Black Sheep and a 32 bike built nearly seven years ago, takes a look at the new mini velos from Velo Orange, and much more...The post MADE 2026 on Video (Part 3): Slow Southern Steel, Blacksheep, Velo Orange, Fine Bikes, and More appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Gravel bikes have matured rapidly over the past few years, and nowhere is that more apparent than the contenders for 2026 Gravel Bike of the Year.While the category continues to cater for everything from bikepacking adventures to racing, this year's launches show a growing consensus around what makes a truly capable modern gravel bike.In particular, gravel race bikes have come of age. Rather than simply adapting cyclocross bikes or endurance road platforms, manufacturers are now designing purpose-built machines that are faster by being more stable and more versatile than ever .Here's a look at the trends defining the category in 2026, and the bikes competing for the Bike of the Year title. Read more Introducing Bike of the Year 2026: three categories, one winner... The five bikes on our 2026 Endurance Bike of the Year shortlist Meet the eight bike shortlisted for our Race Bike of the Year category The trends shaping 2026's gravel bikes Big tyres are here to stay. Scott Windsor / ourmedia If one trend defines this year's gravel bikes, it's bigger tyres.Tyre clearances that would have seemed excessive a few years ago have become increasingly common, particularly among bikes with racing intentions. Brands have recognised that wider tyres don't simply improve comfort they also deliver greater grip, lower rolling resistance over rough terrain and more confidence when speeds increase on technical courses.As gravel racing has evolved, so has the understanding of what makes a gravel bike fast. Rather than using road bikes as the starting point, and an aggressive geometry to match, manufacturers are increasingly prioritising stability, enabling riders to maintain higher average speeds over rough terrain because the bike is easier to control. Aerodynamics remain a focus. BMC / Luka Spiel Longer front centres, carefully balanced steering geometry and increased tyre clearance combine to produce bikes that feel calmer over challenging terrain without sacrificing responsiveness on smoother roads. Ultimately, confidence translates into speed.Aerodynamics also continues to influence the category, albeit in a more measured way than on the road. Integrated cockpits, cleaner frame profiles and thoughtful storage solutions are becoming increasingly common, particularly on race-focused machines where marginal gains are thought to add up over long events.And it would be remiss to ignore the growing spectre of 32in wheels. Weve already dabbled in the tech and like what we see with the excellently named Singular Pterodactyl, but theres no denying the new size will exclusively favour taller riders, and its future in UCI-approved events is unclear.BikeRadar Gravel Bike of the Year 2026 contendersBMC Kaius The BMC Kaius is lighter, faster, and less expensive than the original. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The previous BMC Kaius was one of the benchmark gravel race bikes, delivering impressive speed and handling required for demanding off-road events. That said, it was uncompromisingly stiff, which gave it a nervous quality when dealing with technical terrain.The updated bike comes with a refined geometry that addresses the weakness of the old bike. How many weaknesses remain?Argon 18 Dark Matter The Argon 18 Dark Matter is a brilliant gravel all-rounder. Andy Lloyd / Our Media The Argon 18 Dark Matter has evolved into a highly capable performance gravel bike, balancing confident handling with the responsiveness expected from a premium carbon bike.It too has had the geometry overhaul and tyre clearance improvements that mark the main developments across the gravel bike category. Can it take the crown?Giant Revolt Advanced SL Giant Revolt Advanced SL 0 a featherweight gravel race bike that's good everywhere. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The Giant Revolt Advanced SL continues to offer one of the broadest skillsets in the category, combining race-worthy efficiency with the comfort and practicality required for long-distance gravel riding. Versatility is the name of the game with the Revolt, and its an enduringly popular bike.Reputationally, its one of the bikes to beat, but the new model will need to raise its game once again against a competitive field.Singular Pterodactyl The Singular Pterodactyl is the first full production 32inch gravel bike we've seen others are sure to follow. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Singulars Pterodactyl has earned a spot in our shortlist for its impressively well-thought-out design, incorporating the hot new thing in gravel bikes: 32in wheels.The Pterodactyl is one of the first bikes, and the first production bike weve tested, to capitalise on the innate properties of larger wheels rolling over rough terrain, with handling compensated for via a corrected geometry.Sometimes, being the first to the punch means others can counterpunch and learn lessons from your opening gambit but this punch was undoubtedly a strong one.Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Gen 3 While not a flashy, the latest Trek Checkpoint ALR impressed Warren in testing. Scott Windsor / Ourmedia Testing on the latest Trek Checkpoint ALR took place at the back end of last year (after Bike of the Year 2025), but it has remained lodged firmly in our minds.Warren concluded he couldnt think of a better sub-2,000 gravel bike at the time of writing, thanks to its versatility and performance clearly derived from the more expensive carbon Checkpoint bikes.Argon 18 Anti Matter The Argon 18 Anti Matter is a bike that could conceivably do it all. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The Argon 18 Anti Matter, like the Dark Matter also shortlisted, stood out in testing for its progressive design, pairing a distinctly off-road-friendly geometry with progressively wide tyre clearances.Its a race bike, but one that keeps fun at the heart of its design. Warren also liked that it delivered practically as much fun and speed, but for less money than its testmates.Orbea Terra M21e Team Orbea's Terra has a distinctive design. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia The other bike to impress enough in the same test as the Anti Matter to warrant Bike of the Year shortlisting was the Orbea Terra M21e Team, with versatility high on the pros list.While Warren found the handling a bit of a handful on tougher terrain, part of this is down to the stock tyres, which proved out-matched for the challenging test conditions in the early part of the year. Happily, Orbea runs its MyO customisation programme, enabling you to change these for the difference in price, alongside delivering other fit and spec choices.Special mentionsSadly, not all new bikes can be tested in time for Bike of the Year reasons include test bike availability, editorial prioritisation of the most interesting bikes (driven in part by the evidence of your clicks), resource constraints, plus other logistical hurdles.That said, you can rest assured that we have made our best efforts to call in and test all the bikes listed. Despite not making our deadline for inclusion, we still feel the below bikes are worthy of mention.Once tested, these bikes will be eligible for next years Bike of the Year edition.Van Rysel RCR-G The Van Rysel RCR-G arrived too late to make our BOTY shortlist this year. Van Rysel has quickly established itself as a serious performance brand, and the new RCR-G reflects an uncompromising approach to modern gravel racing.Its race-focused design combines a claimed 885g frame (in a size medium) and 480g fork, a smattering of aero optimisation, and racy 50mm tyre clearances. The complete bike well be testing shortly after our Bike of the Year deadline weighs in at an impressive 8.28kg in a size large with a SRAM Red AXS XPLR groupset. In typical Van Rysel style its priced well at 6,500 / $10999 / 6,599.Specialized Crux We've only sampled the latest Specialized Crux on foreign shores, but we liked what we saw. Simon von Bromley / Our Media The Crux has also been updated to address its derived-from-cyclocross DNA thats largely outdated in 2026. Its still one of the lightest and most versatile gravel race bikes available on paper, though, with Specialized aiming to maintain the lively ride characteristics that made the previous bike so popular.Our first ride review was carried out on unfamiliar terrain, but Simon von Bromley concluded that while Specialized can often be accused of hyperbole, its fair to say it has nailed it with the Crux 5 at least on first impressions.Were looking forward to testing the latest Crux on home roads and trails soon.Factor Sarana Rob Britton's Factor Sarana for the 2026 Traka 560. Simon von Bromley / Our Media Factor's new Sarana represents the brand's latest interpretation of the high-performance gravel race bike.As expected from Factor, there's a strong emphasis on efficiency, integration and outright speed, backed up by geometry designed for today's increasingly technical race courses. 2025 Unbound XL winner Rob Britton was riding the latest bike at the Traka 560 this year, complete with suspension fork, while the brand also teased a One-imitating prototype gravel race bike at the same event.Felt Breed The Breed is similar to the Nexar aero road bike in terms of fit. The latest Felt Breed made headlines because it's been inspired by its Nexar race bike aerodynamics, while still being light enough to get close to the UCIs 6.8kg weight limit (unloaded, of course).Despite this, it can still accommodate a 54mm front and 52mm rear tyre, while the geometry is suspension-adjusted offering a great deal of setup freedom.How is a bike considered for Bike of the Year (and why isnt a particular bike included in the main shortlist)?Bike of the Year is made possible by the testing weve done throughout the year, with our picks coming from the bank of experience weve built up from riding those bikes.In order for a bike to be considered for inclusion, we need to have performed either a full or first-ride review on home roads for familiarity, to enable true comparative testing with fewer ride-affecting variables such as road quality or gravel type.Bikes given a first-ride review at a launch event are ineligible until a test can be carried out on our known test routes.Our shortlist and special mention bikes are chosen by our expert testing team, led by our Bike of the Year testing veteran and lead tester, Warren Rossiter.

What disappoints me enormously is that everyone says it is terrible, but then immediately a but follows. I would say we need to skip everything after the but. This simply cannot happen, said Richard Plugge

Good morning and welcome to the liveblog of the Vuelta a Espana. Stage 3 takes the riders from Gruissan to Font-Romeu, covering 174 kilometres. It is the first summit finish of this years race and an early opportunity for the main general classification contenders to show how good their legs are. T...

In episode three of Tailfin's Overnighters series, host Boru McCullagh heads to Morocco to meet solo world traveler Leoni Kolberg on the side of the road for 24 hours with long climbs, endless desert, and a night in the dirt. Watch it here...The post Tailfin Overnighters: Bikepacking Through Life With Leoni Kolberg appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

There were tons of beautiful new handmade bikes in Portland over the weekend, but it looks like there were some new components, too. Specifically, it looks like WTB has some new gravel tires in the works. Shown on two different Mosaic 32 gravel bikes, each was rolling a set of WTB tires with Course 52 on the hot patch. There is no Course model currently in the WTB lineup, so this appears to be a brand new model. Also interesting is the size listed on the hot patch along with 32, the tire also has the number 800. We havent seen anyone call 32 tires by their metric diameter equivalent, but it would stand to reason that if these are bigger than the 700c and 750d wheel sizes (it was just 3 years ago that WTB debuted the 750d wheelsize, also at MADE!), 800 might be the right number. Well see if this catches on as a way to label gravel tires 800(?) x 52?The tread pattern is reminiscent of some other low profile knobbier, with angular tread blocks with decent spacing between and slightly elevated shoulder lugs. It looks fast but still more grippy than a center slick. The tires were mounted to DUKE Sierra carbon wheels built to Industry Nine Hubs.It seems highly likely that WTB would release more than one size of these if it does end up being a new model, so we expect more to come soon. wtb.com

Stage three of the Vuelta a Espaa was neutralised and then cancelled on Monday after a hailstorm meant racing was impossible on the final climb.Race leader Tadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was seen telling riders in the peloton to slow down with around 15km to go on the climb to Font Romeu, after they had topped the Col de Mont-Louis.Riders were shown on TV sheltering in a hotel on the roadside atop the Col de Mont-Louis, with team staff handing out wet weather gear. While there was initially hope that the stage would be restarted, moments later the day was cancelled. The day had been largely warm and sunny, but as riders began the final third of the stage, which took them into the Pyrenees, the weather turned. At first it was simply wet and unpleasant, but this soon morphed into a torrential hailstorm with stones so big the riders had little choice but to shelter.TV images showed riders sheltering at the roadside, before a race announcement urged them to take shelter if needed. This was followed a short while later that the stage had been abandoned.More to follow...

Excellent comfort and straps, but the fit feels less Aero Race than the name suggests