Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Like last year, 2026 has been another bumper year for gravel, we’ve seen a huge mix, from full-suspension options like Trek’s CheckOUT, through to Merida’s lightweight Mission, Specialized’s new Crux with its aero-makeover, Orbea’s outstandingly capable Terra.
Not to mention the emergence of 32-inch options like Singular’s groundbreaking Pterodactyl. 32-inch bikes are sure to make a big impact in 2027.
The biggest thing in gravel this year, however, is the evolution of the racing gravel bike.
Whereas once gravel race simply meant road race bikes with bigger tyre clearances, or ‘re-categorised’ cyclocross bikes, now the new generation combines aerodynamics and race geometry, with huge tyre clearances and handling that can go far beyond wide open princess gravel roads, and I couldn’t be happier for that.
Our top three come from Argon 18 with the Anti Matter, Giant with the flyweight Revolt Advanced SL, and the Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0
00:00 Intro
00:31 Overview
01:57 Argon18 Anti Matter
04:21 Giant Revolt SL 0
06:01 Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0
09:30 Winner
The full shortlist for Gravel Bike of the Year 2026 was:
Argon 18 Anti Matter
Argon 18 Dark Matter
BMC Kaius 01 One
Giant Revolt Advanced SL
Orbea Terra M21e Team 1x
Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0
Singular Pterodactyl
Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Gen 3
Special mentions:
Specialized Crux
Van Rysel RCR-G
Factor Sarana
Felt Breed
Listen to the BikeRadar Podcast
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Like last year, 2026 has been another bumper year for gravel, we’ve seen a huge mix, from full-suspension options like Trek’s CheckOUT, through to Merida’s lightweight Mission, Specialized’s new Crux with its aero-makeover, Orbea’s outstandingly capable Terra.
Not to mention the emergence of 32-inch options like Singular’s groundbreaking Pterodactyl. 32-inch bikes are sure to make a big impact in 2027.
The biggest thing in gravel this year, however, is the evolution of the racing gravel bike.
Whereas once gravel race simply meant road race bikes with bigger tyre clearances, or ‘re-categorised’ cyclocross bikes, now the new generation combines aerodynamics and race geometry, with huge tyre clearances and handling that can go far beyond wide open princess gravel roads, and I couldn’t be happier for that.
Our top three come from Argon 18 with the Anti Matter, Giant with the flyweight Revolt Advanced SL, and the Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0
00:00 Intro
00:31 Overview
01:57 Argon18 Anti Matter
04:21 Giant Revolt SL 0
06:01 Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0
09:30 Winner
The full shortlist for Gravel Bike of the Year 2026 was:
Argon 18 Anti Matter
Argon 18 Dark Matter
BMC Kaius 01 One
Giant Revolt Advanced SL
Orbea Terra M21e Team 1x
Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0
Singular Pterodactyl
Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 Gen 3
Special mentions:
Specialized Crux
Van Rysel RCR-G
Factor Sarana
Felt Breed
Listen to the BikeRadar Podcast
👉 bikeradar.com/bikeradar-podcast
Follow BikeRadar on our social media channels:
👉 instagram.com/bikeradar
👉 facebook.com/bikeradar
👉 twitter.com/bikeradar
BikeRadar is supported by Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus Magazine –For more information and to subscribe please visit
👉 bit.ly/3nMr3Rn
For more content like this see our latest subscription offer –
👉 cyclingplus.com/subscribe-today
👉 mbuk.com/subscribe-today
