A lot in the best way that the Excursion Down Below supplies a primary glimpse on the avenue peloton’s apparatus for the season forward, the Santa Vall, based totally in Girona, is speedy positioning itself as gravel’s an identical.
However whilst WorldTour groups are regularly made up of a uniform number of completely and professionally prepped motorcycles, freshly pressed jerseys and pristine white sneakers, the metaphorical gravel paddock is a bit more… eclectic! As such, the tech highlights you’ll be able to in finding underneath are too.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
I’m going to get started with some techy unearths, and there is not any doubt that marginal good points exist on this planet of gravel, as noticed right here, with this SRAM XO Eagle mech entire with the circa-$500 outsized pulley wheel machine from CeramicSpeed.
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This one, courtesy of the beginner box, is a relatively unknown wheelset emblem known as Gulo. To start with look, the spokes glance to be cloth, like the ones from Berd, however the American emblem makes use of carbon fibre bonded similarly. The logo guarantees stepped forward vibration absorption. I believe those are the GGA44 Extremely Broad Aero, which pairs a 30mm inside rim mattress with a hooked bead and a 44mm deep rim.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Here is a nearer have a look at the ones carbon spokes and the silver ferrules they attach into.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Talking of Berd spokes, I controlled to search out some laced to a rim branded up as ‘Neo’ – now not one I am aware of.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
This were given an inclusion for a few causes. At the start, a beautiful cool paint process, for my part. And secondly, a shout out to Guava Motorcycles, the brand new emblem based totally right here in Girona, who hooked me up with a motorbike for the race. The Spot is a playful motorcycle, with just right tyre clearance, a proprietary cockpit, and a quite comfy geometry designed extra for having a laugh at the trails than for racing, nevertheless it nonetheless fared really well on the latter this weekend.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Talking of a laugh paint jobs… the landlord of this Rose motorcycle went wild at the stickers and I believe it seems to be cool.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
My favorite paint process from the weekend needs to be this motorcycle. It belongs to Alex Miller, the Namibian gravel champion, and its colors replicate the ones at the Namibian flag.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Whole with the 12-ray solar, wrapped across the rear of the pinnacle tube.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The colors truly glance nice on his Large Rebellion Complicated.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Whole with colour-matched aero cockpit.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
He is likely one of the riders at the new Italian Swatt Membership crew, even supposing with the dust splatter right here the title turns out extra suitable for a biking crew.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
A laugh paint jobs shouldn’t have to be unique to the motorcycles. On the Castelli team-that-isn’t-a-team release, each and every rider had their very own jersey design and so they have been all of a equivalent ilk to this. May you believe any of those within the WorldTour? No, me neither.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Whilst many riders spend hours toiling over their motorcycle setup to make sure the entirety is very best, others slap just a little of fabric beneath their Garmin mount to prevent it slipping and rubbing the carbon and get in touch with it accomplished.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Talking of a really perfect setup, how’s this for consideration to element? Rosa Klöser has taped excessive and backside gaps on her quantity board to seal the space and save you it from performing like a mini parachute. She additionally taped down the edges to clean over the sign up for between the seatpost and the quantity. Color me inspired, Rosa.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
This was once additionally a well completed answer. Many riders, as we will see underneath, are compelled to tape gear to their motorcycle to cause them to more uncomplicated to clutch within the tournament of a subject. This Rose motorcycle had what I presume is a 3-d-printed instrument holder for a Dynaplug and multi-tool, positioned smartly at the top-tube mount typically reserved for a small bag.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Others simply caught to the attempted and examined peak tube bento field manner, entire with huge Pas Racing branding since you gotta stay them sponsors satisfied! Or possibly Simen Svendsen simply has a dependancy of forgetting who he races for. Who is aware of.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
This one was once cool too. On Morgan Aguirre’s motorcycle, a small aero spice up courtesy of those little rubber sleeves, which fill within the small hole the place the handlebar transitions from flat to spherical.
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This Argonaut belonged to Aguirre’s Pas Racing teammate Matthew Wiebe. It’s carbon fibre, and tradition constructed to his most popular geometry. Regardless of being simply 6ft tall, I would wager the pinnacle tube on this is round 110mm, which is tiny for a motorbike that gigantic. Oh to be younger and now not have a sore again!
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The wheels on that motorcycle are from Argonaut too, and Wiebe tells me you’ll be able to best get them when purchasing a body. The primary reason why for together with this photograph regardless that is the brand new(ish) G-One RX Professional tyres he has fitted. I used them this weekend and so they truly inspired. Possibly now not the quickest rolling at the tarmac, however get them onto any off-road descent and the grip was once insane! Previous roadie Josh right here was once passing folks on descents for a laugh (which was once helpful as a result of they got here instantly previous once more at the climbs!)
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Rosa Klöser was once operating a 50mm model at the Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels and so they blew up so giant that the tyre clearance was once having a look just a little dangerous. I did not have any verniers with me on the end, however I would say they have been just about 60mm throughout.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The Zipp 303 XPLR wheels have been a commonplace sight on the race. They boast a 32mm inside rim, which is as extensive as anything else in the market this present day, however their hookless nature approach the checklist of appropriate tyres is beautiful narrow. Maximum riders caught to that checklist, however I did spot a couple of rule-breakers. I am undecided whose motorcycle this was once, however a 45mm Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H isn’t one thing SRAM would suggest you utilize. Likewise the Hutchinson Touareg and Continental Terra Velocity I noticed on my travels.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The Zipps could be the widest, however different manufacturers are beginning to catch up. Here’s a new wheel from the Chinese language emblem EXS, discovered aboard the motorcycle of Luis León Sánchez. Their inside width is 30mm, and the Spaniard had wrapped them in 47mm Specialised Pathfinder tyres. Extra on his motorcycle later.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Some other uncommon in finding, albeit a rather extra well known emblem, was once the Fara F/Gravel, of which I realized a grand general of 1. It belonged to Pas Racing’s Svendsen, and quite apparently, he’d zip-tied down the shipment door that sits at the down tube. Possibly, he is fearful in regards to the door coming off and jettisoning his bottle with it, which is a good fear given the collection of unfastened bottles I encountered alongside the course. Honest play to the organisers Klassmark regardless that, who despatched a sweeper across the path after the riders to assemble all of them.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The opposite a laugh factor about that Fara motorcycle was once those handlebars. Introduced final yr, they provide a modular are compatible with two alternatives of succeed in discovered underneath the ones oval covers. He is additionally became his levers in as a result of aero.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Talking of turned-in hoods, this is Klöser’s motorcycle once more. The cockpit she was once operating had a width of 37cm, however given how a lot she’s became in the ones SRAM Purple hoods, I am guessing there is round a 32cm hole on the narrowest level.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Some other for just right good fortune: This is some of the Categorised x Rose motorcycles, the crew that Thomas De Gendt calls house.
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In the meantime, as some glance to maximize the aero good points on their cockpits, others slap a digicam up entrance. Despite the fact that Dylan Johnson did in finding it to be quicker, so who is aware of their motivations!
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Chad Haga went one step additional regardless that. Along with the GoPro adaptor sitting there underneath his pc mount, he additionally had a bell on his handlebars. This shot was once taken the night time earlier than the race regardless that, so it is unclear whether or not he saved it on. I’m hoping he did and that he gave it a bit ding-ding simply as he was once about to assault.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Possibly unsurprisingly, there was once no scarcity of motion cameras at the fronts of riders’ motorcycles. Everybody’s an influencer in this day and age, particularly right here in Girona! I simply really feel for the deficient out-front mount bolts – they are going to have indisputably installed a shift over the last few days.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Now let’s get into one of the puncture-repair-quickening hacks. The 3-d-printed mount up above was once through a long way the smartest of them, whilst the next few are principally created from… tape. My criticism with this setup is the loss of a Co2 adaptor. Why tape a canister on your body, after which spend 20 seconds fishing the adaptor from your pocket and screwing it on?!
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Similar motorcycle, extra tape: This one is a tubolito inside tube hidden in the back of the pinnacle tube. A just right, light-weight failsafe in case your puncture cannot be plugged.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Extra tape right here on Staff Amani’s Jordan Schleck’s motorcycle – surely undoing a few of Issue’s laborious paintings through taping a tube to the bottom of his cockpit.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
He’d additionally taped a small plastic field of gear onto the bottom of the highest tube. Keep tuned for extra of Schleck’s motorcycle regardless that, it isn’t one it would be best to omit.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Other rider this time, however extra tape.. and I imply much more! If he will get a puncture he’s going to spend 45 mins unravelling that earlier than he can get started solving it.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
His Pas Racing teammate must be offering some guidelines. I am undecided whose motorcycle that is, however he’d opted for bottle cages with further clips for a Co2 canister and a Dynaplug instrument (there at the pressure facet when you glance intently). Possibly now not probably the most aero of choices, however a minimum of he’s going to save time if he has any problems.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Chad Haga followed a equivalent manner, with the Arundel cages accompanied through a Co2 canister (no adaptor regardless that!) and a pump, whilst a Topeak Ninja Grasp instrument pack is fixed underneath the down tube bottle.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Greg Van Avermaet opted for a extra minimalist manner. In lieu of a saddle bag, he is merely taped a spare tube and levers underneath his saddle, then used the Boa-dial strap that includes a Silca Mattone saddle bag to carry all of it in position. That is on the end of degree 1, all over which Van Avermaet punctured, so his tyre plug and Co2 have been used up, however I consider he merely put them in his pocket like a Belgian avenue professional would.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
One among his teammates, alternatively, did have a Dynaplug Racer taped to his stem, in a neat-ish answer.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Stated teammate additionally had a tube taped like so.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Possibly unsurprising, given Van Avermaet’s time with the logo all over his avenue profession, he has shaped a partnership with BMC for his new gravel crew’s motorcycles.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
They have been all aboard the Kaius 01, colour-matched on this fluoro yellow and blue.
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Amongst his different sponsors was once the chain waxing emblem Cyclowax
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He was once additionally aboard Shimano’s GRX wheels…
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…which have been wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC tyres.
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From one Belgian ex-WorldTour hitter to every other, that is Thomas De Gendt’s faux motorcycle.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
I say faux as a result of his personal motorcycle from the Categorised x Rose was once lacking a very-sponsor-appeasing crimson chainring – see underneath – and so was once left within the resort for this pre-race presentation. As an alternative, I were given his crew supervisor’s motorcycle, which was once arrange most commonly the similar.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Regardless of being his supervisor’s motorcycle, I believe it was once going for use tomorrow through some of the crew, because it was once stickered up with the degree 1 profile map.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Some other former WorldTour professional now, and this time it is Luis León Sánchez and his Large Rebellion Complicated Professional, entire with tradition paint, super-wide wheels, huge chainring, and super-slammed stem.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Whilst maximum riders opt for a elementary decal with their title, the Spaniard’s is labored into the paint process. I would recommend keeping off copying the professionals in this tactic, because it almost definitely harms the resale price. While you’ve spent over a decade on the peak of the game regardless that, it is most likely accomplished the other!
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The Spaniard’s motorcycle is a beautiful tech-heavy setup. We now have already noticed the ones EXS wheels, and this SRAM Eagle 10-52T mountain motorcycle cassette may have proved helpful at the sharp climbs that peppered the path, particularly on degree 1.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Particularly given it was once paired with this aero 1x SRAM cassette, additionally 52T in dimension.
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Being a professional, it is most likely unsurprising that he is slammed the motorcycle too…
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
And I imply SLAMMED. He is got rid of as a lot {hardware} as imaginable to get that stem as little as he can. He may wish to have a phrase with Matthew Wiebe about that Argonaut.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Like maximum riders the use of 1x groupsets on the race, he was once the use of a sequence catcher. This one comes from the well known American emblem Ok-Edge. Small tangent: I had the excitement of assembly Ok-Edge’s Tim Kelley simply final week. Great man. And a fab emblem that makes nice merchandise.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The ones super-wide EXS wheels are reputedly known as the FG50. They don’t seem to be indexed at the emblem’s web site, and Sánchez tells me the wheels are emblem new. They’re paired with Specialised Pathfinder Professional tyres – Sharpied out, so do not inform any individual – in a 47mm width.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
I did not have any verniers with me, however the tyre clearance on that Rebellion is just right for as much as 53mm with exchange, so no problems right here.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Relating to extensive tyres, this is Chad Haga’s Felt Breed, entire with Reynolds wheels shod with Maxxis Aspen mountain motorcycle tyres in 2.25in, or round 57mm.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Rear clearance is regularly tighter regardless that, and so Haga was once operating a narrower tyre, on this case a Maxxis Reaver in 45mm.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Haga tells me his 2025 motorcycle is never reasonably in a position, and so that is his setup from 2024, however nonetheless, the eye to element is attention-grabbing, together with the CeramicSpeed OSPW on the again there, on an SRAM GX derailleur paired with a 10-52 Eagle cassette, a 46T 1x SRAM Power entrance chainset, at the side of a Ok-Edge chain catcher.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
There was once a mixture of personal tastes between mountain motorcycle pedals and avenue pedals. A few of the execs, I would wager round 70% leant against avenue pedals, however given day one integrated two sections that had to be accomplished on foot, I’d be stunned if a few of them did not have problems clipping in once more afterwards.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
Whilst Sánchez, Haga and Klöser have been pushing their tyre clearances, Jordan Schleck of Staff Amani has to take the prize! Coupled with the small Issue Ostro Gravel body, the tyres truly glance monstrous.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
The clearance is not more than a few millimetres at some issues.
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The entrance tyre was once a Vittoria Mezcal mountain motorcycle tyre in a 2.25in (57mm) – that is 12mm (or 26%) larger than Issue’s really useful 45mm clearance!
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Like Chad Haga’s Maxxis Reaver, Schleck’s Vittoria Terreno Dry on the rear was once a rather extra modest 45mm.
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My 120g of carbs in step with hour fuelling technique does not agree, however the decal’s cool. As is the decal overlaying the opening the place a top-tube bag may another way be fixed.
(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
🤘
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