3T Racemax+ WPNT: an aero gravel race bike for wider tyres

3T has overhauled the Racemax, its aero gravel race bike, around bigger tyres. The new Racemax+ WPNT clears a 51mm tyre with a 1x drivetrain where the outgoing Racemax WPNT stopped at 46mm. It comes in six sizes, the chainstays have grown, and 3T says it costs about €1,000 less than the old bike in an equivalent build. UK prices start at £4,053 before VAT.

The '+' is there because 3T now sells two Racemaxes. The Racemax² ITALIA is the new-generation frame, made in the company's own factory at Presezzo near Bergamo. The Racemax+ WPNT is the 2020 design brought up to date: the frame is moulded in Asia from prepreg carbon, then painted and assembled in Italy, and that is how 3T gets the price down. "They are an important part of our range because they allow us to reach more riders," says chief executive Edi Jareci of 3T.

We haven't ridden it. Our reference is the Exploro, the bike that started 3T's aero gravel line in 2016. When we reviewed the Exploro LTD in 2019 it was quick and very stiff, we reckoned 700 x 40c was the sensible tyre limit and its 415mm chainstays made the back end "a real handful" on fast corners. On paper the Racemax+ addresses both. What follows comes from 3T's release, tech sheet and price list.

The limits are printed on the chainstay, in case you forget. Photo: 3T

Room for a 51mm tyre

3T quotes tyre sizes as measured on the rim, which it calls WAM (width as measured), because that can differ from the number on the sidewall. By that measure the frame and fork take a 51mm tyre with a 1x drivetrain and 48mm with a front derailleur, each with 5mm of space left around the tyre. The old Racemax WPNT was limited to 46mm, or 43–45mm with a front mech depending on the groupset, so you gain roughly a tyre size either way. The aero shaping is worked out around tyres of 38–48mm, and the complete bikes come on 700 x 45c Vittoria Terrenos.

Chainstays are 425mm in every size, up from 418mm, and 3T has added fork offset for stability. Stack and reach grow by 3mm in all sizes but the XS. A size M has 569mm of stack, 377mm of reach and a 1,020mm wheelbase. There are six sizes from XS to XXL, which 3T's chart says covers riders from 145cm to over 192cm (4ft 9in to 6ft 3in and up).

The frame is a claimed 1,050g in size M, unpainted and without hardware, with a 430g fork. Cables and hoses run inside through 3T's Semi-Integrale routing, which has room for three lines: enough for a mechanical 1x groupset or an electronic 1x or 2x. The rear dropout takes a UDH hanger, the bottom bracket is BB386EVO and both brakes take 160mm rotors only.

It is a race bike and the mounts say so. There are three bottle cage positions and a top tube bag mount, and the tech sheet lists nothing for mudguards or racks. The maximum load is 110kg for rider and luggage together, so bigger riders won't have much to spare for bags.

Vela Beige, on the Discus 40|30 carbon wheels. Photo: 3T

Pricing and UK availability

Two builds have UK prices, both with SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 1x13: £4,053 (€3,770 / $4,800) on Fulcrum Lite GR wheels and £4,670 (€4,344 / $5,600) on 3T's own Discus 40|30 carbon wheels. 3T's price list gives the sterling and euro figures without VAT and the dollar figures before tax, so ask a dealer for the price you'll pay. A mechanical Shimano GRX 1x12 bike (€3,033) and a frameset with bar, stem and seatpost (€2,623) are in the range, with no UK price for either.

Colours are Foresta Green, Vela Beige and Quarzo Grey. 3T hasn't given a UK delivery date.

The full range is on 3T's Racemax+ WPNT page.