Horse For The Course: Gravel bike on pro Zonhoven CX course

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A ’cross bike’s for cyclocross, a gravel bike’s for gravel and, since the bike industry powers that be tell us what each bike is for, then we must obey, and never shall the two paths cross.

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But really, what is the difference between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike? Both have drop bars, a road-style frame and wheels, fairly grippy but still narrow tyres, and disc brakes.

So I recently went to the Zonhoven Superprestige in Hasselt, Belgium and — gasp — test rode a Ridley X-Trail gravel bike on the notoriously tricky cyclocross circuit ahead of the pros.

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• The course: Zonhoven Superprestige, which is a uniquely steep, deep sand challenge, majoring on power and very specific technical ability
• The quest: To see how a gravel bike from the self-professed Belgian masters of cyclocross would cope with one of the most challenging ’cross courses in the sport
• The horse: Ridley X-Trail Carbon Force 1 HDB, with 12mm thru-axles, SRAM Force 1, 46t chainring, 10-42 cassette, 140mm/160mm rotors, DT Swiss RR21 Dicut wheelset with Clement X’Plor MSO 36mm tubeless ready tyres, 4ZA finishing kit, Time ATAC pedals

Steep and deep

When invited to go and ride the notorious Superprestige cyclocross race circuit at Zonhoven in Belgium, the day before the pro race, I was excited and really quite nervous at the prospect. Having watched some of the world’s best cyclocross racers crash spectacularly on the fast, deep sand descents which make up this course’s most famous feature, there was some trepidation.

Coming from a UK cyclocross background, where the only sand on a racecourse is usually an old golf bunker on a disused fairway, or a school field long jump pit, extended riding in sand would be a steep learning curve for sure. As it turned out, it was steep, but mostly downhill!

Basically, the X-Trail’s geometry makes it a little more comfortable, with higher stack, average reach and a long wheelbase for stability

Into De Kuil

Grippy, spiked shoes came in to their own too, but still couldn’t prevent the feeling of two steps upward, one step down

Choices and conclusions

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