The Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 has been revealed as our Gravel Bike of the Year and, in the process, took the overall title in our annual, industry-leading test of the best bikes of 2026.The Kanzo Fast 2.0 is one of eight bikes shortlisted in the gravel category for this year's Bike of the Year, all of which have been tested over the past 12 months, since the conclusion of the 2025 Bike of the Year test.Of those eight bikes, three made the podium for the final gravel shootout: Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 Giant Revolt Advanced SL 0 Argon 18 Anti Matter Force AXSWhy did I choose those three bikes for the podium? And why did the Ridley come out on top? Let's get into it... Gravel race bikes come of age The best gravel race bikes combine straight-line speed with technical prowess. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Like last year, 2026 has been a bumper year for gravel. Weve seen a widely varied mix of new bikes, from full-suspension options such as Treks CheckOUT through to Meridas lightweight Mission, Specializeds new Crux with its aero makeover and Orbeas outstandingly capable Terra.That's not to mention the emergence of options such as Singulars groundbreaking Pterodactyl 32-inch gravel bikes are sure to make a big impact in 2027. Our top three gravel bikes for 2026. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The biggest thing in gravel this year, however, has been the evolution of the gravel race bike. This years Bike of the Year top three all come from this subset.Whereas once gravel race bikes were simply road race bikes with bigger tyre clearances, or re-categorised cyclocross bikes, the new generation combines aerodynamics and race geometry with huge tyre clearances and handling that can go far beyond wide-open princess gravel roads. I couldnt be happier for that.Now, onto my podium of bikes... Read more on Bike of the Year 2026 Revealed: our Bike of the Year 2026 winners What is Bike of the Year? 2026 Race Bike of the Year shortlist 2026 Endurance Bike of the Year shortlist 2026 Gravel Bike of the Year shortlist Our top three gravel bikes for 2026. Scott Windsor / ourmedia What we've tested the full 2026 Gravel Bike of the Year shortlist Argon 18 Anti Matter Force AXS XPLR review 7,495 / $8,995 / 8,495 Argon 18 Dark Matter SRAM Rival XPLR AXS review 4,500 / $4,650 / 5,095 BMC Kaius 01 One review 9,999 / $12,999 / 10,999 Giant Revolt Advanced SL 0 review 9,999 / $12,000 / 9,999 Orbea Terra M21e Team 1x review 5,299 / $6,299 / 5,999 Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 6,299 / 6,999 Singular Pterodactyl review (rolling chassis) 3,490 / $3,959 / 3,429.95 Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Gen 3 review 1,700 / $2,099 / 1,999 In third place: Argon 18 Anti Matter Force AXS The Anti Matter succesfully combines aero and off-road ability. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Argon 18's Anti Matter blends true aerodynamic design with solid handling and a great spec. The Anti Matter has the most aggressive ride position in this category; it's long and low, and comes with road-bike like geometry (albeit with more trail in the fork for better stability over the bumpy stuff).The Anti Matter has a great specification, with full Force XPLR AXS, a power meter and Zipps second-tier 303 XPLR S wheelset. I love the included Argon 18 x Apidura aero frame bag, too. The Anti Matter has very generous clearances up front. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Argon 18 should also be praised (as should Ridley) for using a CeramicSpeed SLT headset to cope with the extra grit and grime of gravel riding. Further kudos goes to Argon 18 for adopting a ceramic bottom bracket.The 55mm tyre clearances meet 2026s trend towards bigger tyres and Argon 18 made a running change to the specification, upping the tyres from 45 to 50mm once it saw the direction the tyre trend was heading in. The Anti Matter is a true aero race bike built for gravel. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The Anti Matter is a bike that has been specified with care and attention from the side-entry bottle cages that mean you can easily use big 750ml bottles even with the frame bag fitted through to the use of ceramic bearings.The long fork provides much more than the nominal 55mm tyre clearance, and its designed with a standard round steerer. That makes the Anti Matter gravel-suspension-fork ready, so you wont upset the steering geometry should you want to upgrade to a plush, comfort-giving fork. The Anti Matter proved to be fast almost everywhere. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Thats a good thing because the Anti Matters strength is the way in which it handles. Theres an assured stability to the front end that makes the bike excel on fast gravel roads and gives it a road-bike feel on tarmac. However, it cant quite match the off-road bump-smoothing chops of either the Giant Revolt SL or the Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0.In second place: Giant Revolt Advanced SL 0 Giant Revolt Advanced SL 0 a featherweight gravel race bike thats good everywhere. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Giants Revolt SL is a new take on the brand's gravel geometry longer and lower, but with steering geometry to handle the rough. It is, however, the jaw-dropping low weight that puts the icing on a very fast cake.The Revolt is the most expensive option here, at a pound less than 10,000, or $12,000.At only 7.72kg, it's road-bike light, and thats with 45mm gravel tyres. This is a superb all-round gravel bike. Scott Windsor / ourmedia What makes the Revolt SL special, though, is the ride quality. Its compliant over rough surfaces, yet light enough for the toughest climbs, both off-road and on it. Its capable on more technical trails, too, having the nimble, dancing feel of a featherweight racer, but with the capability of a more rugged off-roader.The lightweight 45mm low-tread Cadex tyres are very quick in dry conditions, although I managed to rip the rear tyre on a long ride. It sealed enough with a couple of tyre plugs to get me the last few miles home (with a few top-ups).A replacement was fitted and it hasnt happened again. An element of bad luck was surely at play, although Id have preferred to make a switch to a larger-volume tyre for more protection and take a small hit in weight increasing anyway. Red XPLR AXS is the best gravel drivetrain that SRAM offers. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The Revolt SL is a gravel speedster of epic proportions. It loses out to the Ridley by the smallest of margins, it's significantly more expensive and the tyres have been selected to keep weight down.Id prefer the extra level of protection and comfort afforded by a move up to a 50mm tyre (the Revolt can take a maximum 53mm). The Ridley and Giant are closely matched but one bikes comes out on top... Scott Windsor / ourmedia Our Gravel Bike of the Year: Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 Force AXS XPLR The Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 is our Gravel Bike of the Year for 2026 and takes our overall title, too. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 is the complete gravel race bike. It has standard-setting 58mm tyre clearances, impressive aerodynamics and very forward-thinking geometry.As with its aero road bike, the Noah Fast, Ridley took a new approach to race geometry. It similarly upped the seat angle to 74.5 degrees to provide the over-the-cranks position common to progressive road geometry, found on bikes such as Factors One and our 2026 Race Bike of the Year, the Merckx 525R. At the same time, its slackened 71.5-degree head angle sits between the steeper Argon 18 and more relaxed Giant. The Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 is race-bike responsive, yet comfortable and composed off-road. Scott Windsor / ourmedia For a race bike, Ridley has gone a little taller with the stack, but with the more forward seated position, it still means you can get into a low-aero-tuck race position easily, and its more comfortable to stay down in the drops on the Kanzo than its rivals here.The Kanzo felt as fast as the Argon 18 on the wide-open gravel roads of my Salisbury Plain test grounds, but outpaced it when it came to the more technical terrain of the woodland singletrack that peppers the perimeter of the plain. In fact, on the twisty and turning tracks, its as capable as the flighty, lightweight Giant. Flat-out fast. Scott Windsor / ourmedia The progressive geometry and forward seated position give a feeling of sitting in the bike rather than upon it. It feels wonderfully balanced, stable on unstable surfaces, and on long gravel roads you can get down low in the drops and really power through.I love the way in which the Kanzo Fast descends, too. The confidence it inspires positively encourages you to take the more aggressive cornering line where on lesser bikes you'd back off. The Forsa Skiron RS wheelset is light, aero, and wide enough to handle 55mm tyres. Scott Windsor / ourmedia Thats complemented by the big-volume 55mm tyres, which in MTB fashion have front- and rear-specific treads. That's a smart choice that could only come from designers and product managers who ride bikes.Add in a wealth of options thanks to a smart online configurator and a price tag thats very competitive, and the Kanzo Fast is the gravel race bike to beat. In fact, it goes much further than that its the gravel bike to beat, full stop.Previous Bike of the Year winners (2009-2025)Our Bike of the Year test has been running since 2009, with past winners including some of cyclings biggest names alongside breakthrough brands that have earned their place at the top table. 2025: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 SmartSense 2024: Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 2023: Vitus Venon Evo RS Aero 2022: Giant Revolt Advanced Pro 0 2021: Boardman SLR 9.4 AXS 2020: Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2019: Rondo HVRT CF0 2018: Giant TCR Advanced 2 2017: Specialized Roubaix Comp 2016: Cannondale CAAD12 105 2015: BMC GF01 Disc 105 2014: Cannondale Synapse 5 105 2013: Giant Defy Advanced 2 2012: Focus Izalco Pro 3.0 2011: Storck Scenero 2010: Cannondale Six Carbon 105 2009: Giant TCR Advanced 3