SuperX, Super Fast: Pushing Gravel Racing Limits

Lachlan Morton sure knows a thing or two about going fast. Among his colorful alt-tour palmarès, he holds the official FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Tour Divide route. He has ridden a flying lap of Australia, smashing the previous record by more than 7 days. And, in 2024, won the iconic Unbound Gravel race, setting a faster-than-ever time on his way to flying across the finish line. Doing so with an OMG-inducing average speed of 35 km/h no less.

These speed focused feats, as well as the increasingly competitive world of elbows-out gravel racing, have all fueled our fire and helped inspire Cannondale’s designers and engineers to think faster than ever when building the new super-fast SuperX. A gravel bike that’s lighter, more aero and more capable than its predecessor ridden by Lachlan to victory at Unbound.

Racing Pedigree

Whilst gravel riding is rapidly evolving, our brand is no stranger to the demands of racing and a riders’ need for speed. Cannondale has a long history of making class-leading racing bikes for the road. In considering a next generation gravel race platform we had a deep well of knowledge into which we could tap. When it comes to racing, efficiency is the name of the game. Our job is to deliver a bike that makes sure every bit of the rider’s energy is propelling them toward the finish line. This means finding the right balance of aerodynamics, weight, stiffness and compliance.

Just as it is on the road, aerodynamic drag is one of the primary resistive forces that a gravel racer needs to overcome. Whilst the speeds are lower in the world of gravel, aerodynamics remains critically important. Long race days out in wind magnify the performance gains from improvements in efficiency. With gravel sharing the same tenets of performance as road racing it was only natural for our design team to draw lessons and technology from the KOM dominating SuperSix EVO. Extensive simulation work has helped us to refine tube profiles that offer light weight and balanced stiffness whilst dramatically reducing the drag generated by a traditional round tube. Like the SuperSix EVO SE before, the new SuperX takes our proven road racing technology and reimagines it for the gravel domain, this time pushing that performance even further.

Tunnel Vision

Heading indoors doesn’t seem like the most natural place to go to get faster on gravel. But experimental testing is a key to validating the aerodynamic bona fides of all Cannondale performance bikes - whether road or gravel. All our race bikes are assessed in the wind tunnel to accurately map their aerodynamic efficiency. We then apply our yaw weighted drag methodology to translate experimental results to on (or off) road performance.

(FUN FACT: When the design and engineering team goes to the wind tunnel to test gravel bike prototypes, they test them at 35 km/h. Which coincidentally turned out to be Lachy’s average speed when he blew the field apart at Unbound ‘24 last year.) 

Revolution By EVOlution 

With insights from aero expert and Cannondale Senior Design Engineer Dr. Nathan Barry—who played a key role in making the SystemSix the fastest road bike of its time and the current SuperSix EVO the "fastest of the light"—the SuperX project is pushing the boundaries of fast gravel. 

"When we say the SuperX is shaped for speed, we mean it. Every surface, angle, and junction are created with performance in mind - all to help our riders go faster on gravel. But speed and performance are a delicate balance. Aerodynamics matter, but so do stiffness, weight, and compliance. The secret to making a true race bike is getting that balance right, so that every element of the bike, every design choice, is serving our riders’ need for speed.” - Nathan Barry 

Designing a gravel-specific, race bike is a complex business. It’s not as simple as directly importing frame geometry from our road line up. The natural necessity for wider tires changes the constraints of the frame and the tyres themselves significantly alter the air flow around various elements of the frame. Our team had to find a solution for the right mix of aerodynamic efficiency, low weight, balanced stiffness and the compliance and toughness to excel on rough terrain and unpredictable surfaces.

Making use of other tech at the engineering teams’ disposal helped with these challenges. For example, our unique Delta Steerer allows for a slimmer, drag-reducing headtube design. This fully integrates cables, guiding them out of the wind’s path, while the sleek design of course doesn’t look too unsightly either.

Working in harmony with Delta meanwhile, is the equally slippery SystemBar R-One. Designed and developed in partnership with MOMO Design and engineered exclusively for our Delta Steerer system, everything about this one-piece bar is there to help riders go as fast as possible.

Need For Speed

So, with this in focus throughout the whole design process, SuperX’s complex carbon construction has been built to smooth out the energy-sapping rough stuff, enabling bike and rider to float over tracks and trails and keep on pushing. More comfort means more speed after all. And the specially constructed flex zones located in the seat tube, rear triangle section and top tube all work together with the D-shaped seatpost to absorb shock, chatter and vibration. Which not only helps keep a rider’s body fresher for longer but also their mind. Something naturally important in high intensity, technical sections and ultra-distance events on these kinds of demanding terrain.

Meanwhile, when you add in the not inconsequential fact that the new SuperX also allows big rubber riding with up to 48mm tire clearance for the frame and 51mm for the fork, your racy ride just reached a whole new level of get-there-faster-comfort. Meaning you can be ready with the perfect tire size and profile for whatever the day, adventure or race demands.

The new SuperX has an exciting season ahead of it, flying over the rough stuff in races, tracks and trails around the globe. To learn more and consider going faster than ever on gravel with your own complete bike or frame, hit the link and buckle up.