3T has launched the Racemax+ WPNT gravel race bike. The replacement for the previous-generation Racemax WPNT, the bike increases tyre clearance to 51mm as measured, while the geometry has been updated to increase stability.
Along with the updates, there’s a price decrease, which 3T says reduces the price for the three complete builds available by around €1,000 from the previous-generation bike. 3T has also added more sizes to the gravel bike range, with six frame sizes from XS to XXL, which it says will fit riders from 145cm to over 192cm in height.
The WPNT suffix indicates the new Racemax+ frame is made in Asia, using pre-preg carbon sheets, but painted and assembled in Italy (it denotes We Paint). 3T also makes pricier bikes in Italy, which all come with the Italia suffix and use filament winding for a lighter frameset.
More stable geometry
3T says it has tweaked the geometry, adding 3mm to both the reach and stack across the size range, with the exception of the XS frame.
It has also increased the chainstay length to 425mm from 418mm across the size range, while the fork offset has been increased by 3mm, to add extra stability. The head tube angle has been increased by close to one degree, which 3T says improves steering accuracy. Together, these changes are claimed to offer increased handling predictability at high speeds.
When Warren reviewed the Racemax2 Italia, which shares the previous-generation bike's geometry, he found it a handful on more technical trails, which 3T's geo updates may have helped to rectify.
As with the previous-generation Racemax, launched in 2020, and indeed all 3T’s gravel bikes going back to the original Exploro, which was launched in 2016, the Racemax+ has aero tube profiles, gearing it up for racing and faster gravel rides.
3T says the Racemax+ WPNT is aero optimised for tyres from 38mm to 48mm, although there’s space for 51mm tyres when specced with a 1x groupset. This drops to 48mm with a double-chainring setup.
The down tube spreads out towards its base to shield the bottles from the airflow, although there’s no in-frame storage.
You can fit both mechanical and electronic groupsets, with 3T’s Semi-Integrale tech enabling you to route up to three cables internally into the head tube. This limits setups to 1x mechanical, but means you can fit both 1x and 2x electronic groupsets.
Along with the frame updates, 3T has decreased the price from the previous-generation Racemax WPNT and claims an equivalent build of the new bike is around €1,000 cheaper.
3T Racemax+ WPNT outline specs and prices
3T will sell the Racemax+ WPNT in three pre-built specs and frameset-only, priced at €3,200.
- Shimano GRX 1x12 with Fulcrum Lite GR wheels: £N/A / $N/A / €3,700
- SRAM Rival XPLR AXS with Fulcrum Lite GR wheels: £4,053 / $4,800 / €4,600
- SRAM Rival XPLR AXS with 3T Discus 40|30 wheels: £4,670 / $5,600 / €5,300
The SRAM spec bikes come with 3T’s latest one-piece Uno GHIAIA carbon gravel cockpit and there’s the option to upgrade to its Torno crankset.
