Van Rysel RCR-G Red AXS Bike

The Van Rysel RCR-G Red AXS Bike is Van Rysel's race-focused gravel bike, built using the same aerodynamic development process the brand applies to its WorldTour road bikes for the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team. Where Van Rysel's EDR-G is aimed at long-distance adventure riding, the RCR-G is the racing counterpart — a gravel bike designed to be fast on fire roads and mixed-surface courses rather than technical singletrack. This Red AXS build sits at the top of the RCR-G range, pairing the frame with a full SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset and an integrated power meter.

Van Rysel developed the RCR-G's high-modulus carbon frame and full-carbon fork using CFD analysis and wind tunnel testing, targeting a claimed 8.6-watt efficiency improvement over its previous GCR gravel model, both on paved sections and in the dirt. That aero-first approach carries through to the one-piece carbon cockpit, which keeps cable routing clean and the front end low. Geometry stays race-oriented across the size range, with a consistent 426mm chainstay length on every frame size and a head angle that steepens from 70 degrees on the XS up to 72 degrees on the M through XL, giving the bike quick, road-bike-like handling rather than the slacker, more relaxed geometry typical of adventure gravel bikes.

Comfort on long gravel days comes from a 27.2mm carbon seatpost tuned to flex and absorb high-frequency vibration from rough surfaces, a detail that matters more on gravel than on smooth tarmac. The frame also carries triple bottle cage mounts and a bento box mount on the top tube, giving riders enough onboard storage for unsupported race days or long training rides without needing a pack. A UDH derailleur hanger keeps the bike compatible with SRAM's latest derailleur standards as the drivetrain evolves.

The build kit centers on SRAM's Red XPLR AXS groupset, a wireless 1x setup built specifically for gravel racing, with a 44-tooth chainring and integrated power meter feeding a wide-range 13-speed, 10-46 cassette. SRAM Red AXS hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors provide the stopping power and modulation expected from SRAM's top-tier groupset. Van Rysel's own VR 50 Carbon wheels — deep-section, aero-profile rims — are wrapped in Continental Terra Competition tires in a 700x45 width, close to the frame's 50mm maximum tire clearance. A Fizik Vento Argo X3 saddle and Deda VR Combo stem and handlebar round out the cockpit.

This is a bike for riders who want to race gravel or ride long, fast mixed-terrain routes where aerodynamics and low weight matter as much as they do on the road — not a bike built for chunky, technical off-road terrain. The 50mm max tire clearance keeps it capable on rougher gravel and hardpack, but riders looking for a more relaxed, load-hauling adventure bike will find Van Rysel's EDR-G a better fit. The Van Rysel RCR-G Red AXS Bike is available in Pine Green Yellow, in sizes XS through XL.