· about 3 minutes · Issue 003
Stages is back with a lighter smart bike. Look's gravel bike gets an RS.
Tuesday's brief: Stages is back with a much lighter smart bike, Look's gravel bike gets a race version, and Vollering and Evenepoel took the European titles.
🔧 Gear
Look G85 Cezal RS: the race version of Look's gravel bike (frameset €3,290)
Look moved the G85 Cezal to a high-modulus carbon layup it says saves about 200 g on the frame, with the same geometry, round seatpost and non-dropped stays. There are two complete builds; the top SRAM Red XPLR bike is €8,990 at a claimed 7.9 kg. Same handling brief as the standard Cezal, lighter and a lot dearer.
Source: Cyclingnews
🏠 Indoor
Stages SB200: the smart bike returns, 25 kg lighter ($2,399 / £2,199 / €2,399)
Stages, now owned by Giant after its 2024 collapse, launched the SB200 with real shifters, a small display and support for the open OpenBikeControl standard. DC Rainmaker found it quick to build and accurate after a calibration fix. The catches: no ANT+, cranks only 165 to 175 mm, and a loud freehub when you coast.
Source: DC Rainmaker
Zwift's Tour of Watopia is on (5 Oct to 22 Nov, Double XP)
The five-stage tour started Monday, and Watopia's 18 km of new roads open on 26 Oct for Stage 4. From late October, linked ROUVY rides also earn Zwift XP. Training by power? Print a zones card for the bars.
Source: Zwift Insider
🏁 Racing
European Championships, Slovenia
Demi Vollering soloed to the women's title on Saturday, a week after taking the world title in Montréal. On Sunday, Remco Evenepoel crashed during his first attack, rejoined, and still beat Giulio Ciccone in a photo finish for the men's title.
Biggest races this weekend
- Il Lombardia, Sat 10 Oct, Bergamo to Como. Pogačar is out injured, and most previews make Evenepoel the favourite, with Tom Pidcock and Giulio Ciccone as strong contenders.
- UCI Gravel World Championships, Nannup, Australia. Women Sat 10 Oct, men Sun 11. Florian Vermeersch defends the men's title.
💰 Deals
Checked on each shop's own page on 5 Oct. Prices move.
- Parcours Paniagua carbon wheelset, SRAM XDR, black: £365 (RRP £799) at Sigma Sports, UK; EU shipping and duty extra. XDR black only, two left. Carbon disc wheels under £400.
- Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR, 700x28C: €44.95 (RRP €95.95) at Rose Bikes, EU. Cotton race tire at under half price.
- Challenge Getaway XP TLR gravel, 700x40 or 45 mm: £27 (RRP £83) at Sigma Sports, UK; EU shipping and duty extra. Those two sizes only; stock is thin.
- Garmin Edge 840 Solar: €359.90 (Garmin DE €499.99) at Probikeshop, EU. Buttons, touch and solar.
- Hammerhead Karoo 3: €341.95 (RRP €500) at Rose Bikes, EU. €38 under Friday's pick; best if you ride SRAM AXS.
New tires? Try our tire pressure calculator. Waiting for Black Friday? We're tracking trainer and power meter prices.
That's Tuesday. Friday leans tech and indoor, with the weekend's race picks.
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