3T’s top carbon aero gravel race bike gets a complete redesign as the new RaceMax² Italia, highlighted by a new aerodynamic nose job and a 1.5% drag reduction, even with its bigger tires. 3T describes it as a ‘completely re-engineered’ bike, and a better all-rounder. But it also still looks a lot like the familiar race-ready RaceMax in all the good ways, just more refined than ever. Bigger tire clearance, better cable integration, secure internal frame storage, and more refined aerodynamic shaping overall.
2025 3T RaceMax² Italia aero gravel race bike, made-in-Italy
At first glance, it still looks a lot like the RaceMax we tested five years ago. It gets the same dramatically oversized downtube, wider at the bottom, evolved from the original Exploro for 3T’s pioneering gravel aerodynamics. Plus, there’s the same thinner squaero tube shapes throughout the rest of the frame to balance aerodynamic performance with all-day comfort. And the same incredibly low-stack fork crown, tight rear wheel cutout, and dropped chainstays, that let 3T squeeze in big gravel tire clearance, and still fit proper 2x cranksets for the roadie side of the gravel crowd who are looking to go fast.
But now, there’s room for bigger tires – now up to 51mm WAM (actual Width As Measured). More refined aerodynamics that lower drag even with the fatter tires. Plus, improvements to comfort and handling too. Because you can only go fast on a gravel race bike if you can survive racing over rough terrain for many long hours in the saddle.
Improved aerodynamics
Reduced drag starts with the new aero nose and revised fork up front, tucks your spares out of the wind in the middle, and finishes with a new aero rear end.
The new extended nose and narrow headtube are all about reducing drag up front, not dissimilar to what we recently saw on the latest Strada road bike update. The revised front end shaping works together with 3T’s Integrale-style completely internal cable routing and a CeramicSpeed SLT ‘lifetime’ headset so you get smooth routing through the headset, but never have to worry that the bearing with hoses inside will need to be taken apart for servicing.
The new RaceMax² also gets a new Fango RaceMax² fork that’s slimmer and sleeker down below the headtube all the way to the axle. Flat mount brakes still bolt on directly from the front for a clean, adapter-free install. But they now use standard length bolts like on your chainstay, then clip an aero cover over the top. Furthering smooth airflow, the fork now has a closed driveside dropout, with the bolt to remove the axle only visible on the non-driveside.
The new fork² also blends its crown into the giant downtube for improved airflow transition off the front wheel. And there’s even a tiny front wheel cutout there to keep everything tight & aero. Things are tight, and it looks like the same steerer stop that protects cables from damage also should limit the fork crown from scraping the underside of the frame.
Out back, the new 3T RaceMax² importantly gets a bigger seattube cutout to fit those key bigger tires, with aero transitions at the top of its dropped seatstays. The bike still uses a proprietary, narrow D-shaped aero seatpost. But it now integrates an easily-USB-rechargeable 25-lumen clip-on taillight up top, which has the side benefit of also providing much-appreciated flex just at the top of the seatpost for extra rider comfort. There’s also a smooth cover for bikepackers that plan to strap on a big saddle pack, or if you want to ditch the light.
Bigger aero downtube, now with secure storage inside, too!
The new RaceMax² downtube now tops out at 75mm wide in its lower section (up a couple mm from before). That’s both to shield a full-size water bottle in the lower cage position, but now also to better house your spares inside. You still get 2 cage positions on the big removable glovebox door. And 3T worked with Fidlock to create a simple-to-open magnetic latch that’s really secure. Just pop it into place, and it automatically snaps shut. But its secret is a tiny extra push of the Fidlock latch, that really locks it shut. You have to be careful to remember and properly latch it. But when you do, this is the most secure closure I’ve used that’s still really easy to operate.
Inside, 3T partnered with Italian-made bikepacking bag specialists Miss Grape to create a simple neoprene bag that will keep your spares secure, your frame protected from metal tools, and everything rattle-free.
Updated geometry & sizing
The new 3T RaceMax² gets slightly revised geometry, developed essentially to maintain the road-like sharp handling character of the original RaceMax (and Exploro before it), but tweaked for use with wider tires. That means that even though the rear end is slightly longer, the headtube is a bit steeper, BB heights a bit higher, and fork Trail is slightly decreased thanks to increased offset.
On paper you can see a few changes in the chart – like a 0.5° steeper head angle and 2mm more BB drop in my size M – but the ride feel is much the same. For example, the chainstays are 5mm longer, but still super short at 420mm for a bike that can clear a 29 x 2″ mountain bike tire. And the changes offset added tire weight & height well to get incrementally increased stability, while retaining maneuverability.
All 3T sizing also now moves to letters instead of centimeter sizing, since that doesn’t really correspond to modern sloping frame designs or shifts in frame reach in the past decade anyway. For this new bike, there’s now just 4 sizes at launch. But those sizes technically shift down one step to a new S-XL range, which seems to better correspond to my own personal experience of where I thought I would fit, as well. I was a 56, then a 54/S, now back to an M which aligns more with other bike brands.
Tech details
- filament-wound Italia hi-mod carbon gravel frame, made entirely in Italy
- aero optimized for 41-51mm WAM tires, 45mm recommended
- fully integrated internal cable routing, for mechanical 1x or electronic
- 51mm max tire clearance with 1x drivetrain (or 48mm max with a 2x setup)
- 1x max 52T chainring on Torno Wide cranks, GRX 2×12 up to 48/31T, Campy 2×13 up to 52/36T, no SRAM 2x compatability claimed
- 1050g claimed frame weight (990g without storage?) + 380g fork (size M, unpainted without hardware)
- 4 sizes (S-XL)
Just In
The new 3T RaceMax² Italia only just showed up in our workshop this week, but it quickly made some first impressions. I’ve ridden every generation of 3T’s gravel bikes from the first Exploro. And this feels like the most advanced gravel race bike to date. It’s not quite as burly feeling or as comfortable as the Extrema, but it certainly looks and feels both quicker and more refined. Outside of the cable routing of the original RaceMax, I was quite a fan of that bike’s versatility. 3T already fixed that last year. Now this latest evolution takes integration and aerodynamics to the next level, while boosting versatility via bigger tires to take on anything from smooth champagne to big, chunky gravel roads.
First Impressions on the 3T RaceMax²
I’m personally not the biggest fan of internal frame storage. It invariably adds weight, complexity, and you still need to remember what spares you have packed inside. But the RaceMax² solution in undeniably clean & simple. The Fidlock closure, the soft sealing around the opening, and the little Miss Grape bag inside all work together to make for a nice setup. And it means you get a clean look under the saddle with a tidy taillight integrated into the seatpost.
I also love that it can fit a proper 2x drivetrain with their tight, smooth gearing steps. The latest Campagnolo Super Record 13 wireless groupset is pretty excellent, and works great on both road and gravel with its smooth 13-speed gearing steps.
I can only fault a couple of small points about this bike. One, its paint job is nice. But I feel like it’s a shame that the filament-wound carbon is hidden from view. When I first popped open the internal storage and saw the beautiful carbon weave, I sighed, realizing that I would never see it again unless I was digging for a tool or tube to carry out a trailside repair.
The other is its weight. 3T claims a <1kg frame weight. But with wide carbon wheels (1435g claimed), fat 45mm gravel tires (~1050g for the pair), sealant, a pair of 280g Eggbeater pedals, ~40g of carbon cages, and a 30g GPS mount… it all adds up to 9.11kg ready to ride, even with a super high-end Campy Super Record gruppo.
First Rides
Now it doesn’t feel heavy at all. Quite the contrary, the ride is undecidedly fast. And those big-volume tires go a long way to making this bike more comfortable than any previous 3T gravel race bike, while improving control, too. I guess I just have to get used to the idea that even a super premium gravel race bike is gonna weigh over 9kg once we accept ever-wider tires.
Because in the end, the ride of the new 3T RaceMax² feels even better than I expected. It’s fast and nimble. And the design is more refined than ever. 45s are apparently the new 40s for the racer mindset crowd. I’m even curious to how this will wide with fast-rolling 29 x 2.0″ mountain bike tires. Only a year or two ago, I would have balked at tires this big on a gravel race bike. It seems maybe like comfort and cornering grip are opening up my mind.
2025 3T RaceMax² Italia – Pricing, options & availability
The new 3T RaceMax² Italia is available now in four frame sizes as a frameset or a number of complete bike builds. Pick from 4 standard colors, a special edition Reverb paintjob, the unique Project X that shows off the unique carbon construction, or a Ready-to-Paint raw model as your own blank canvas.
The made-in-Italy RaceMax² Italia frameset sells for about $6500 (before tax) / 5900€ (including VAT, which varies a bit market to market). For that, you get the Italia frameset, plus the integrated Aeroghiaia handlebar & Integrale stem, the seatpost with built-in light, and a K-edge out front mount.
Complete bikes range from $11,000 / 9740€ with GRX 2x Di2 up to $14,600 / 12.880€ all the way up to Super Record 13 wireless and 3T’s own 29mm internal Disco 45|40 LTD carbon wheels. Order yours today directly from 3T.
