Felix Stehli rode a 32in-wheel bike to the top of the podium on Stage 3 at the Cape Epic, alongside his teammate Marc Pritzen on a 29in bike. To our knowledge, this is the first time a 32in-wheel bike has taken an elite-level UCI race.
The Cape Epic, which takes place in South Africa's Western Cape, is widely regarded as one of the most difficult stage races in the mountain bike calendar, with the men’s race seeing teams of two taking on seven stages across 707km.
An interesting detail is that Stage 3 is the longest in the race, perhaps showing the 32in wheels' ability to cover ground faster.
- Read more: Are we on the cusp of a 32in wheel revolution? This is what pro XC racers are riding in 2025
Stehli and Pritzen are on Team Honeycomb 226ers and were both riding Stoll bikes, although they chose two different platforms for the race, with Stehli opting for the 32in P32 and Pritzen picking the M3 SR.
Stehli’s P32 features an Intend 32 fork up front, which gives between 100mm and 120mm of travel, and was seen using 32in Maxxis tyres.
It’s hard to see what wheels he was using, but looking at Stoll’s spec list for the bike, they’re likely to be the Pi Rope Duke Lucky Jack 32.
The frame itself is said to weigh in at 1,880g, with Stoll saying this is competitive with 29in bikes of the same ilk.
The suspension linkage is one we’ve come to expect in mountain biking, although the frame features an oddly dissected top tube, perhaps to minimise weight.
The UCI officially approved 32in wheels for XC racing in November 2025, and they are expected to be raced at all levels of the sport throughout this season.
