Wavy, wide and Italian: with the Sharq GR, Fulcrum bring a wheelset to the test whose distinctive undulating rim profile sets it apart from everything else in the field. The extra-wide rims with Mini-Hook technology are designed to pair seamlessly with modern gravel tires. But can those waves make a meaningful difference in our big gravel wheel group test?This wheelset was tested as part of our big 2026 gravel wheel group test you can find an overview of all the wheels on test here.Fulcrum Sharq GR | 1,543 g | 1,990 | Manufacturer websiteBased in Italys Veneto region, Fulcrum have close ties to Campagnolo and have already established a name for themselves on the road with their Sharq range. Since March 2026, the family has included the gravel-specific Sharq GR, combining a distinctive wave-shaped profile with extra-wide rims designed for gravel racing. The undulating profile is intended primarily to reduce crosswind sensitivity, while the Mini-Hook design should provide secure tire retention even with wide gravel tires. The Fulcrum are among the more affordable wheels in the test, although theyre also towards the heavier end of the field.Riding the Wave The Fulcrum Carbon Gravel Wheelset in DetailThe defining feature of the Fulcrum Sharq GR is immediately obvious: their unusual rim profile. Fulcrum call it 2-Wave, with the rim depth alternating between 47 and 52 mm. With a 30 mm internal width and 36 mm external width, the rims are optimised for modern gravel tires measuring between 47 and 50 mm. Fulcrum only approve 45 mm tires after individual assessment. Our 45 mm Continental Competition control tires measure 47.0 mm front and rear once mounted. The Mini-Hook rims are approved for pressures up to 3.5 bar and a maximum system weight of 120 kg. The undrilled rim beds eliminate the need for tubeless rim tape. At 1,543 g on our scales, compared with Fulcrums claimed 1,550 g, theyre among the heavier wheelsets in the test.Up and down The 2-Wave profile alternates between 47 and 52 mm rim depth.Mini-Hook The small bead hook is designed to securely retain tires measuring at least 47 mm wide.Two to one The 24 bladed stainless steel spokes per wheel follow a 2:1 lacing pattern.Fulcrum forgo carbon spokes and elaborate high-end solutions in favour of 24 bladed stainless steel spokes per wheel, laced in a 2:1 pattern to aluminium hubs with conventional cup-and-cone bearings. The freehub remains pleasantly unobtrusive. One unusual detail is the brake rotor attachment. Fulcrum use the AFS system from the Campagnolo family, which requires a specific lockring to secure the rotor. Visually, the Fulcrum doesnt quite convince us. The combination of wave-shaped rims, spokes and hubs looks more budget-oriented than premium. At 1,990, however, the Sharq GR are among the more affordable wheels in our test.Special solution The AFS brake rotor interface requires a compatible lockring.Conventional bearings The aluminium hubs use service-friendly cup-and-cone bearings rather than high-end alternatives.La Dolce Vita Rather Than Full Gas The Fulcrum Sharq GR on TestOut on the test route, the Fulcrum feels remarkably restrained, perhaps too restrained for a racing wheelset. Rather than encouraging you to push harder, its content simply to roll along. Acceleration feels sluggish and heavy, and stiffness is neither particularly high nor especially effective at transferring power. In corners, it steers predictably, but without much excitement or directness.Its biggest weakness is comfort. Despite conventional steel spokes and a relatively wide tire profile, the Fulcrum ranks among the harshest wheelsets in the test. Its not quite as stiff as the CADEX, but on rough ground, it can feel stubborn and transmits impacts directly to the rider. Unsurprisingly, the Sharq GR isnt much fun on trails, bouncing awkwardly across rough sections and struggling to stay composed. To be fair, Fulcrum have optimized the rims for tires from 47 to 50 mm, whereas we used the same nominally 45 mm Continental Competition tires across the entire test field. Wider tires could therefore improve both comfort and stability.Riding the Wave? The Fulcrum Sharq GR in the Wind TunnelThe Fulcrum struggles to impress on the course, but can its unusual rim profile at least deliver an aerodynamic advantage? Subjectively, we couldnt detect one. The Sharq GR feels heavy and sluggish rather than aerodynamic, and the benefit of its undulating profile remains unclear in real-world riding. The wind tunnel is more encouraging. With a rider on board at 36 km/h, the Fulcrum requires 1.3 W less than our reference wheelset, the DT Swiss GRC 1100, a 9.5-second advantage over 40 km, though the result remains within the measurement tolerance. We therefore cant establish a measurable advantage from the wave-shaped profile, but neither can we identify a disadvantage.Conclusions about the Fulcrum Sharq GRThe Fulcrum Sharq GR is the individualist in our test field, standing out both visually and technically with its distinctive wave-shaped rims. It also offers wide rims with generous tire compatibility, a tubeless setup that needs no rim tape and respectable aerodynamic performance in the wind tunnel. With our 45 mm test tires, however, it lacks the responsiveness, liveliness and comfort wed expect from a racing wheelset. If youre after a carbon gravel wheelset with an unconventional design for tires of 47 mm or more, the Sharq GR is still worth considering at 1,990.TopsDistinctive wave-shaped rim profileWide rims with generous tire compatibilityTubeless setup without rim tapeNo aerodynamic disadvantage in the wind tunnelFlopsLimited comfort and sluggish handlingAFS brake rotor interface requires a special lockringMore information at fulcrumwheels.com.The Test FieldThis wheelset was tested as part of our big 2026 gravel wheel group test you can find an overview of all the wheels on test here.All wheels on test: CADEX Max GXR | DT Swiss GRC 1100 DICUT 50 | ENVE G SES 6.7 Pro | Fulcrum Sharq GR | HUNT 5AM Gravel Limitless Ti_UD | Leeze CH 60 PRO GX | Light Bicycle AG48 | NEWMEN Streem G.62 CS | OQUO RP50LTD CS | Reserve 48|53 GR | Roval Terra Aero CLX | Vision SC 45 i30 | Zipp 303 XPLR SWDer Beitrag Fulcrum Sharq GR Gravel Wheelset on Test erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.