SBT GRVL 2021 was a race jam-packed with talent, controversy, and tired legs — some riders coming directly from the Leadville 100 to race another 144 miles, 104 of which are straight-up of gravel, oh and don’t forget the 9,400 feet of elevation gain.
SBT GRVL — How the race unfolded
The men’s and women’s fields were overflowing with possible favorites, for the men’s Ian Boswell (Wahoo Frontiers), Ted King (Velocio), and Peter Stetina (Canyon) looked like a good bet, same with EF Educations Alex Howes. Both Howes and Stetina raced in the Leadville 100 the previous day. For the women, Lauren De Crescenzo (Cinch Cycling) looked to dominate, but Lauren Stephens (TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank), Tiffany Cromwell, and Isabel King were not to be underestimated.
Over the 144 miles of gravel, the climbs softened the fields, and it came down to Stetina, Howes, and Boswell for the final selection of the men. The riders doing everything to stay with each other, the final came down to an unlikely sprint finish with Howes emerging victorious with a time of 6:19:44.
In the women’s field, De Crescenzo crossed the line with no competitors in sight and only a half-hour later than the trio including Howes, with a time of 6:45:36. The next female finisher, Stephens, crossed the line ten minutes later. The victory has sparked a debate of fairness in the world of gravel racing and possibly separating the men’s and women’s fields.
But — we’re not here to discuss that. We’re here to talk bikes and see what these riders piloted and trusted over 144 miles of SBT GRVL.
Lauren De Crescenzo’s Colnago G3X
First up is the women’s winner Lauren De Crescenzo and her gravel shredding Colnago G3X. De Crescenzo rides a 49 cm (small) frame with 120mm Zipp Service Course Stem and 40cm SL-70 bar. SRAM Force Etap AXS takes care of the shifting, and for those curious, De Crescenzo ran a 10-33T 12 spd cassette paired with a 48/35 tooth combo for the SBT hills.
As for wheels, De Crescenzo G3X rolls on Knight TLA35s, a nice mixture of aero advantage and lightweight spring. The Knight TLA35 rims are laced to DT-Swiss 180 center lock hubs for the killer/dependable and super light build. De Crescenzo’s Knight wheels roll on Rene Herse 700 x 44 Snoqualmie Pass tires (34 psi front, 39 psi rear) with TC Tire Endurance Casing and Muc-Off sealant.
Tiffany Cromwell’s Canyon Grail CF SLX
Isabel King’s Super-Orange Canyon Grail CF SLX
