Aerodynamics and rolling speed dominated Maastricht: riders generally chose narrower tyres (often 35–40mm) and mixed 1x and 2x drivetrains depending on terrain and power needs. Tyre-pressure control and insert use also stood out as reliability boosters. Cycling Weekly
Belgian champ Florian Vermeersch rode a Colnago G4-X with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (54/40, 11-34), ENVE 4.5 SES wheels, Continental Terra Speed TR 40mm tyres and a Fizik Argo Adaptive R1 saddle—an all-rounder build balancing speed with bailout gearing. Cycling Weekly
Tom Pidcock’s eye-catching Pinarello Dogma F GR paired an SRAM Red XPLR AXS 1x (50T, 10-46) with a Wolf Tooth chain guide and Shimano Dura-Ace road pedals. He ran unreleased Vittoria Terreno T30 35mm tyres (likely with AirLiner inserts), choosing minimal width for aero benefits on a non-technical course. Cycling Weekly
Marianne Vos’s modified Cervélo Áspero-5 showcased experimentation: a mullet tyre setup—Vittoria Terreno T70 45mm front, Corsa Pro Control 40mm rear—plus on-the-fly pressure control via Gravaa Kaps hubs on Reserve wheels, and an SRAM Red XPLR AXS 1x with 48T ring.
Lorena Wiebes won on a Specialized S-Works Crux focused on pure speed: Roval Terra CLX II wheels with Specialized Pathfinder Pro 40mm tyres, Roval Alpinist Cockpit II, Tacx Deva cages, S-Works Power saddle, and SRAM Red XPLR AXS.
Matej Mohorič rolled a prototype Merida Silex with a stiffer front triangle and smoother seat cluster, built with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 2x and a Vision Metron integrated cockpit—hinting at the next-gen race-first gravel geometry.
Key trends: narrower tyres for aero efficiency; selective 1x vs 2x gearing; pressure management via systems like Gravaa Kaps; and road-leaning component choices on fast gravel.