Gravel worlds

[Karvalo]

Or simply the road bike with slightly larger tires. I believe the riders have to mitigate between the sponsor's wish for marketing and what is quickest. Overall comfort, handling, etc. all goes out of the window when speed is concerned. Those roadies don't even use allroad bikes when taking on Paris-Roubaix.
Nevertheless, I think such an event is about winning and not having fun primarily. Thus, if you want to enjoy such trails, still a dedicated gravel bike is best.

Definitely. I would max out my CX bike's clearance or take a gravel bike if I had one.

In his case I have a hard time imagining him preferring a less racy, heavier bike with clearance he didn't need. But not impossible, especially considering the chance of bad weather.

Is it much less racy? A Grail M is the same stack height and 9mm longer reach than the Inflite M he currently uses, so the achievable position is exactly the same. Handling might be a little slower but then there's a distinct lack of tight hairpins on the gravel course. It might be heavier, but is it potentially slightly more aero? I'd be surprised if it wasn't, and the course was basically flat with a few kickers.

[Roel W]

Nice gallery of Gravel WC tech: https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/uci- ... ch-gallery

[Karvalo]

Still some road bikes around then. Dogma X, Roubaix and standard Supersix Evo hiding in there.

[BenCousins]

Or simply the road bike with slightly larger tires. I believe the riders have to mitigate between the sponsor's wish for marketing and what is quickest. Overall comfort, handling, etc. all goes out of the window when speed is concerned. Those roadies don't even use allroad bikes when taking on Paris-Roubaix.
Nevertheless, I think such an event is about winning and not having fun primarily. Thus, if you want to enjoy such trails, still a dedicated gravel bike is best.

If you just care about fun and not speed then a full-susser is best.

[Requiem84]

It seems MvdP used the Vittoria Terreno Zero' tire.

Is that this tire? https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... ravel-lite

If so, he was running quite a slow tire?

Difference with a G-One RS is about 10 watts per tire (!).

[CampagYOLO]

It seems MvdP used the Vittoria Terreno Zero' tire.

Is that this tire? https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... ravel-lite

If so, he was running quite a slow tire?

Difference with a G-One RS is about 10 watts per tire (!).

There's a lot to be said in Gravel racing for using a tough tyre. The Zero isn't the fastest around but it's definitely one of the thickest.

[Requiem84]

It seems MvdP used the Vittoria Terreno Zero' tire.

Is that this tire? https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... ravel-lite

If so, he was running quite a slow tire?

Difference with a G-One RS is about 10 watts per tire (!).

There's a lot to be said in Gravel racing for using a tough tyre. The Zero isn't the fastest around but it's definitely one of the thickest.

Yeah, maybe we overrate the speed aspect for gravel. Puncture resistance understandably is more important with gravel.

But still, some people were riding on Schwalbe 35mm slicks and they didn't puncture the race. They likely had a massive rolling resistance benefit over MvdP.

But then again, he just compensated with the legs I guess. If you are that good you can decide to play it safer it seems.

[Karvalo]

Vittoria has more than enough resources to make a special casing for VdP if they wanted to. Though it does look a lot like the standard one.

[CampagYOLO]

It seems MvdP used the Vittoria Terreno Zero' tire.

Is that this tire? https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... ravel-lite

If so, he was running quite a slow tire?

Difference with a G-One RS is about 10 watts per tire (!).

There's a lot to be said in Gravel racing for using a tough tyre. The Zero isn't the fastest around but it's definitely one of the thickest.

Yeah, maybe we overrate the speed aspect for gravel. Puncture resistance understandably is more important with gravel.

But still, some people were riding on Schwalbe 35mm slicks and they didn't puncture the race. They likely had a massive rolling resistance benefit over MvdP.

But then again, he just compensated with the legs I guess. If you are that good you can decide to play it safer it seems.

Yep, MVDP was just that much better than everyone else in terms of power as well as ability with his CX background. It was reported that he was running his tyres at 50 psi which is very high but with his off-road ability MVDP would have been fine. The higher pressure would have gone someway to cancelling out the rolling resistance difference.

[Requiem84]

The Vittoria was measured at 23 watts at 50 psi. A G One RS at 36 psi still measures 16 watts. So that is 7x2= 14 watts difference still.

For gravel riding probably better if he stays in these tires

[Yoln]

Rolling resistance is not a marginal gain in gravel, it's a massive gamble.

One puncture and you're out, there won't be a spare bike magically coming to you within 2 minutes... Ask Mohiric about his Unbound experience, I'm sure he would have traded no-punctures for 10 or 15w additional RR.

It makes for some interesting game theory. For favorites, it tends to make you play safer and trade resistance for insurance to finish, knowing that you can still pull it off with slower tyres. On the other end, for outsiders, who know they would lose on a level field, they can play it risky and hope to be able to punch above their waist by running fragile fast tyres if they feel lucky

[KalleWirsch]

Interestingly it seems that you don´t need a Gravel Groupset. Just use Dura Ace

[KalleWirsch]

Did MVDP rode the Grail in size M or S? It looks so small on the pictures.

[otnemem]

Definitely. I would max out my CX bike's clearance or take a gravel bike if I had one.

In his case I have a hard time imagining him preferring a less racy, heavier bike with clearance he didn't need. But not impossible, especially considering the chance of bad weather.

Is it much less racy? A Grail M is the same stack height and 9mm longer reach than the Inflite M he currently uses, so the achievable position is exactly the same. Handling might be a little slower but then there's a distinct lack of tight hairpins on the gravel course. It might be heavier, but is it potentially slightly more aero? I'd be surprised if it wasn't, and the course was basically flat with a few kickers.

I believe you meant to say he rides an Inflite size L (which I'm almost positive he does) which tracks with the 9mm longer you quoted.
They did have a few tight turns into those single file sections he took advantage of, but yeah, the Grail is more comparable than I thought for these racy conditions.
I actually forgot the current Inflite has had its cables hidden and he definitely didn't need to pick the bike up on his shoulder so it's likely potayto/potahto there all around minus the slightly weight penalty vs. more tire clearance.

On a second thought he probably didn't even consider using the Inflite.

[otnemem]

Rolling resistance is not a marginal gain in gravel, it's a massive gamble.

One puncture and you're out, there won't be a spare bike magically coming to you within 2 minutes...

This.
Last year's Worlds, even in those "mild" conditions, several contenders were out due to punctures (WVA's second issue IIRC). No peloton dynamics and team strategy to fall back on. No second chances.