{"id":244875,"date":"2026-05-22T14:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T14:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/22\/cannondale-factory-racing-in-nove-mesto-on-prototype-deep-aero-reserve-gravel-wheels\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T14:00:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T14:00:40","slug":"cannondale-factory-racing-in-nove-mesto-on-prototype-deep-aero-reserve-gravel-wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/22\/cannondale-factory-racing-in-nove-mesto-on-prototype-deep-aero-reserve-gravel-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannondale Factory Racing in Nove Mesto on Prototype Deep Aero Reserve Gravel Wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The latest example?<\/em> Cannondale Factory Racing (CFR) showed up to the Nov\u00e9 M\u011bsto World Cup with a LAB71 Scalpel sporting a set of Reserve 48|53 GR aero carbon gravel wheels. Deep-section gravel wheels. On a World Cup XC bike. At one of the fastest short-track courses on the calendar. In fact, these are deeper aero prototype wheels that aern’t even available for gravel bikes yet!<\/p>\n

You can see all the details on the RideCannondale Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n

Cannondale LAB71 Scalpel with custom unreleased Reserve 48|53 GR aero gravel wheels<\/h3>\n
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According to CFR, they\u2019re the first team to race aero gravel wheels in short track, possibly the first in top-level XC racing altogether. <\/p>\n

In fact, the Reserve 48|53 GR wheelset deosn’t even exist yet. We’ve covered their shallower, ultra-wide GR 40|44 aero gravel wheels before<\/a>. So, we can only assume that they are the same front 27.4mm & rear 27mm internal widths. Reserve already offers the shallower GR rims separately, and lets buyers pick from a couple of different hub options. So, it was likely no issue for the CFR team to lace them in Lefty & MTB rear-specific hubs for XCC racing. <\/p>\n

Although, interestingly, these 48|53 GR wheels are laced with 28 spokes front & rear, unlike the 24 on the existing 40|44 GR gravel wheels. So, maybe it wasn’t as simple as you might think!<\/p>\n

The XCC race-ready wheels in question are paired with Shimano\u2019s new XTR Di2 drivetrain and an aggressively fast Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1 tire setup, which tells you pretty quickly what the goal was here: outright speed.<\/p>\n

Prototype Deep Aero Gravel Wheels on an XC Bike?<\/h2>\n
\"Cannondale<\/a>
(Photos\/Cannondale Factory Racing)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At first glance, the Reserve 48\/53 GR wheels look a little ridiculous on a mountain bike. Deep carbon rims usually belong on aero gravel bikes or road bikes built by people who know exactly how many watts their socks save (I’m that guy… and it’s 2-12 watts, sock-dependent). <\/p>\n

But short-track cross-country XCC has changed, and it’s all about the demands of race day.<\/p>\n

\"Cannondale<\/a><\/figure>\n

Teams can\u2019t swap frames between events, but they can change almost everything bolted onto them. Narrower bars, shorter-travel suspension, firmer setups, and even gravel tires are becoming increasingly common. Chris Blevins won the Nove Mesto short track race last year, running a Specialized gravel tire<\/a>, so the line between modern XC and gravel equipment is already getting blurry.<\/p>\n

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(Photo\/Cory Benson)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today\u2019s short-track courses are smoother, faster, and much more draft-heavy than traditional XC racing. Riders are spending long stretches above 20mph, and once speeds reach that level, aerodynamics start to matter, whether mountain bikers like it or not.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what makes this setup interesting. Reserve didn\u2019t design the 48\/53 GR wheels specifically for XC, but modern gravel racing and modern short track are starting to ask for similar things:<\/p>\n