The Haute Route events are the highest and some of the most grueling cyclosportives in the world. In 2016 they will lead hundreds of amateurs across the European cols of the Pyrenees, Alps, and Dolomites. The week-long tours don’t come cheap, but offer roads and support on the level of the Grand Tours. Mavic continues to be a big supporter of the events and this year has added a new limited Haute Route collection to outfit those who want to take on the challenge or to get the same experience from home.
Mavic’s Haute Route gear includes a numbered series of four of their premium road wheelset+tire combos, plus a head-to-toe kit, all with a unique design inspired by the high mountains…
The Haute Route wheels are limited to just 1200 total wheelsets (spread throughout the options based on Mavic’s estimated demand), each paired with matching tires and the special graphics. Mavic’s Haute Route Ksyrium Pro alloy wheel uses the Exalith braking surface and will sell for £900/1200€. The low weight clinchers are the best bet for a rim brake wheel climbing in the unpredictable weather of the high mountains and weigh just 1475g for the pair.
The new Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL clinchers drop weight even more to 1390g for the set and will sell for £1650/2200€ in the limited Haute Route edition with CeramicSpeed bearings. Built around the same rim, just with different graphics the Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL Disc clinchers climb to £1725/2300€ and 1570g, but give you the security of disc brakes on those harrowing mountain descents.
For the lightest wheels of the bunch the Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL tubulars weigh in at a scant 1190g with CeramicSpeed bearings. And at £1725/2300€, you’ll be glad that the Mavic WTS (Wheel-Tire System) already includes a set of 25mm Yksion Powerlink tubulars to glue up to them as well.
Mavic’s Head-to-Toe kit means the Haute Route will keep you looking snazzy as well. From a basic kit perspective that means a lightweight £75/100€ Haute Route Pro jersey and the £115/150€ Pro bib short with Mavic’s Ergo Pro 3D Endurance chamois and extra muscle support through the use of technical fabrics to keep up with rider demands in the high mountains.
At the head and toe are the 270g Haute Route edition Ksyrium helmet £95/125€ and the also 270g (each at least) Ksyrium Haute Route road shoes for £135/180€. And for good measure throw in a pair of mid-calf Haute Route socks for £10/15€.
All of the limited edition wheels and the mountain climbing kit will be available through regular Mavic retailers from the first of May 2016.
