Gravel racing is very popular now. Over the past decade it has grown, developed and boomed into a discipline in its own right. From the depth of the fields at gravel world champs, to the amount of new gravel races that have appeared for amateur riders, and the number of professional athletes making a living racing nothing but gravel.
You can tackle a gravel race on any gravel bike, but if you find yourself getting more serious, like any other cycling discipline, you'll probably want to try to improve and optimise your setup to boost your performance. As such, the best gravel race bikes are designed to help you with that very aim.
Gravel racing is getting faster all the time. Many riders are looking for fast gravel bikes that can still deal with technical off-road challenges, depending on the course, and there are several machines on the market now that are designed with gravel racing in mind.
The Cyclingnews team has tackled races like the Traka, Santa Vall, and the Gralloch UCI gravel world championships qualifier on some of these bikes; they are our pick of the most popular and best gravel race bikes on the market right now.
It's a fast-moving category, with 32-inch wheels being tested, and several new bikes spotted at races that are yet to be officially released by their respective brands (and thus, we've not yet had chance to ride them). Those developments will likely affect our recommendations, but for now, here's our pick of the best gravel race bikes available today.
Quick list: Best gravel race bikes
The ever-popular Specialized Crux 5 is a super-light, super-aero all-rounder that can handle up to 55mm tyres. The ride quality is epic, but the price tag is too.
The Lauf Seigla is a popular and versatile gravel bike that is all about smoothing out the rough stuff to make you fast. It has monster tyre clearance, a carbon fibre suspension fork, and is easily customisable to suit racers thanks to its standard components.
The Canyon Grail is the brand's gravel race machine and has won three world gravel titles. It's a fast, exciting machine to ride, that will handle anything well. Although its tyre clearances are a little smaller than some other bikes now.
The Factor Ostro Gravel is all about stiffness and speed. If you want an agressive, road race bike like gravel experience, this one's for you.
The ASTR RS is an aero focused gravel race bike that blends aero frame shapes with a progressive geometry that puts you in an aero posistion.
The Allied Able is another progressive bike that's all about going fast with big tyres. It has huge clearances like the Lauf, and prioritises straight line speed.
Best gravel race bikes available today
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Best gravel race bike overall
The Crux 5 launched a few days ahead of the 2026 Unbound Gravel and promptly swept up the entire men's elite 200 podium and two of the three spots in the equivalent women's.
It's no longer a cyclo-cross model like versions gone by, and is instead a dedicated lightweight, aero, big-tyre gravel racer, so it's bound to be popular.
Its ride quality is supple, nimble and fun. Its weight is in a class of its own; the S-Works frames weigh in at 789g, with our 56cm full bike tipping the scales at 7.1kg (no pedals, but with bottles in cages, no sealant in the tyres).
It was also the most aero (with a rider) in our recent gravel bike wind tunnel group test, beating the likes of the Wilier Rave SLR, Argon 18 Anti-Matter, Lauf Seigla and Trek Checkmate.
Best budget gravel race bike
The Lauf Seigla takes our best overall spot for several reasons, partly because Lauf has been years ahead of the gravel curve with the Seigla. This isn't a brand new bike.
The Seigla features huge 57mm tyre clearances, meaning you can run any size you wish. The bike also uses a standard round seatpost and comes with a two-piece handlebar, meaning it's easy to live with out of the box or to travel with, and it's also easy to change components.
Full-blown suspension forks may be unnecessary for a lot of fast gravel racing, but the Seigla uses its carbon fibre leaf-sprung Grit fork to smooth out the rough stuff. I got on very well with it; it really does smooth out an extra layer of chatter without bobbing. It also requires zero maintenance.
The Seigla is similarly priced to the Specialised Diverge, which also has big clearances and a Futureshock front-end suspension system. But we think this bike offers better value, lower weight and a faster ride on the road or on smoother sections.
This is a bike that embodies the smooth is fast mindset, and can be easily customised to be an aggressive gravel race bike or an all-round gravel machine.
Find out more in our in-depth Lauf Seigla review.
Gravel all rounder
The Canyon Grail is the German brand's dedicated gravel speed machine, and it's a versatile gravel race bike that's always a lot of fun to ride.
The Grail may well be the most successful gravel race bike out there currently, with three back-to-back world titles to its name.
It is a fast bike with some aero influences and a one-piece integrated handlebar that feels fast everywhere but adept on technical off-road sections as well.
Canyon's direct-to-consumer model means you can pick up a range of models for competitive prices, and the specs are usually solid across the board.
The Grail's limited 42mm tyre clearance is the only real chink in its armour, but it makes a competitive race machine for smoother surface stuff. Interestingly, at our recent exploits at the Traka, we spotted an all-new Canyon with wide tyre clearance, which may be worth waiting for.
Read our Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS review, or if you're interested in the suspension fork-equipped Grail RIFT review.
All-out speed machine
The Factor Ostro Gravel is a pure aero gravel race bike - in fact, the UCI would let you use it in its sanctioned road races alongside the best aero road bikes. It's light too, with a 900g claimed frame weight and 7.9kg total weight for the review bike with pedals and extras included.
The ride on smoother gravel is sensationally fast and responsive, and encourages you to get down and aero to up your speed, while the Ostro Gravel even copes well with mud thanks to the tyres' side lugs. Things aren't so great once it gets rough, though, with a jarring ride that makes putting the power down difficult and makes landing back on the tarmac a relief. So the Ostro is perhaps best suited to smoother, faster gravel racing where the terrain isn't too challenging. Although that depends on the rider, of course.
We rated the Black Inc integrated cockpit and wheels, as well as the fast-rolling Goodyear Connector tyres. Although you could build up the frameset 2x, complete builds are only available 1x with SRAM XPLR.
Check out our Factor Ostro review.
Aero focused
This category is hotting up massively, not least with Ridley teasing an even-more aero-focussed machine at the Traka. But for now, our pick of gravel race bikes we've had hands on with is the ASTR RS from Ridley, and as one of the first to pair an aero frame with wide tyre clearance, it was a hit when Josh rode it at the British National gravel champs.
It also boasts a narrow integrated handlebar that creates an up-to-date and racey package.
Our size large test bike came in at a competitive 7.9kg in a large size, and he really rated the narrow handlebars. Ridley also has a configurator on its website, giving a range of customisation options if you want to put your own bike together.
We did have a couple of QC issues with our early prototype, such as un-faced disc brake mounts and a slipping seatpost, but after over a year in production, those should be ironed out. So if you want a gravel bike that's ready to race, this is a good option.
Read our Ridley ASTR RS review.
Future of gravel race bikes
The Allied Able is a bike that we think is one of the best right now when it comes to out-and-out racing.
It boasts a relatively 'normal' looking frame, it provides a stiff ride, and its party trick is the monster 57mm tyre clearance. You can fit a huge 2.4inch MTB tyre up front if you want to really let things go on tough rocky courses.
The Able has 435mm chainstays, which the brand lengthened in the bike's latest update. For context, that's 10mm longer than the Specialized Crux, and it helps the bike feel stable at high speeds.
If you want to set up an aggressive position and aim for pure speed on faster gravel courses with the ability to fit any tyres you want, this is the bike to do it.
Read our in-depth Allied Able review.
Also tested
The Wilier Rave SLR ID2 is another gravel machine that pairs an aero-influenced, stiff frame with a narrow aero handlebar for off-road speed.
CN tech team member Graham said "Every time I swung a leg over the Rave SLR ID2, the ride would always turn into an intense effort from start to finish." It's a bike that just spurs you on every time.
Tyre clearances are a progressive 57mm, but we did feel the Rave became a bit of a handful when tackling technical or rough terrain, so perhaps one that's best for faster, smoother courses where big tyres will absorb finer vibrations.
New launches and 32 inch wheels
As promised up top, there's a storm brewing in gravel racing which is likely to change the landscape of what we consider the best gravel race bike in the next few years.
Imminently, that involves new launches from Ridley and Canyon, both spotted at the Traka, and the Factor and Giant bikes we got a nice look at at Unbound. There are undoubtedly even more bikes in the world from other brands, all following the same trend of being lighter, more aero, and with bigger tyre clearance.
Slightly more down the line, it looks as though brands will be introducing 32 inch wheels, three bigger in diameter than the current norm of 29 inches (700c). Salsa already has a bike on the market, while Scott's prototype was ridden to success at Unbound XL by Robin Gemperle. Sources at various big brands have told me they are actively working on 32 inch wheels, but that most are waiting to see what the market does before they commit to a full production run.
If you want to buy a bike today and ensure it's at least somewhat futureproof, my advice would be buying something with big tyre clearance.
How to choose the best gravel race bike
- Make sure the bike you are looking at fits you: If you are considering buying a gravel bike to race on, make sure its geometry will work for you. Get some expert advice and compare it to one of your current bikes if you can, and a test ride is always worth doing.
- Make sure the tyre clearances work: Generally, buy a bike that's capable of fitting large tyres, even if you don't. It's nice to have the ability to run a wide range of tyres for courses and conditions rather than be limited.
- Will it be competitive? If you are looking for a bike to race on, look at things like the frame tubing profiles, handlebar width, and whether the bike has an aero-profiled integrated bar. These are all features that can help make a bike competitive in a race situation. For example, an aero-integrated bar can be a handful of watts faster than a standard round one.
- Will it cost a fortune to customise or alter: If you can spec a bike to be perfect for you from the supplier or shop, then brilliant, but you may find you need a longer stem, an inline seatpost or want to change the handlebars, tyres or cranks from the stock ones. Consider how easy it is to do this on the bike you are buying. If it's going to be difficult, for instance, if changing the stock integrated bars is tricky, consider an alternate model that gets you what you want or need more easily.
Gravel race bikes: Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy a specific gravel race bike to race?
If you are interested in competing in some gravel events with focus on racing or performance you defintely don't need to buy a specific gravel race bike, you can create a competitive setup with a range of gravel bikes, and one of the best things about gravel is still the variation that comes from different courses, approaches and bike setups.
That said, if things start to get more serious for you, and you really want to focus on achieving the fastest or most competitive setup possible, then some race orientated machines will possibly put you in a better place straight away with racier handlebars, faster wheels and frames that are more aerodynamic.
However, don't forget you can race on anything, a great many gains can come from the right clothing, tyre, tyre pressure and chain treatment choices, it's the legs that do the talking ultimately.
Does a gravel race bike need to have big tyre clearances?
There is a definite trend among gravel race bikes for big tyre clearances currently, and many racers are trying to fit the biggest tyres that they can.
However, a bike with smaller clearances can still be competitive and fast. Generally, we think a larger volume tyre that is run at lower pressures can be the most competitive option, but the main point here is don't think you have to run 55mm+ tyres to compete and get involved.
Will a gravel race bike be unsuitable for other kinds of riding?
An off-the-peg gravel race bike will be suitable for a huge range of gravel riding. A gravel race bike needs to be durable and capable of dealing with a range of terrain. You may end up changing things like tyres to suit, but a good, competitive bike should be usable everywhere.
If you start getting more serious and really optimise your bike for a certain kind of course, you may find your setup isn't as capable in other places. An example would be an aggressive, aero optimised setup with a long stem and narrow bars for flat, fast races may not be as suited to steep, technical terrain. However, generally, you will be able to use your bike everywhere.
How do we test the best gravel race bikes?
Here at Cyclingnews, we all ride varying definitions of 'gravel', and our tech team will always have at least one gravel bike in for testing.
Our everyday gravel riding is done aboard whatever test bike we have in at the time, but in addition, we'll put each bike through a set of semi-repeatable tests. For example, we each have set routes that all bikes will be tested on, which will incorporate all types of gravel terrain, from road to basically mountain bike trails, up steep climbs and down the other side, with rocks, roots and more. This is to give each bike a thorough shakedown on all terrain that eventual buyers might face.
We race ourselves and have ridden gravel races on at least three of these bikes, pushing them and ourselves to the limits to test them.
Read our guide to how we test for more details on our review team and our pledge to readers.
