When Carolin Schiff claimed victory within the ladies’s 200-mile race of the 2023 Garmin Unbound Gravel offered by Craft, it was an epic solo effort for the previous couple of hours of the race that delivered a surprising solo win for the German rider.
On taking the win, Schiff stated “I didn’t all the time imagine that there was a giant hole. To complete is to complete and simply push as a result of something can occur. I really like gravel racing! I discovered my spot, I feel.”
Schiff races for the Canyon CLLCTV gravel crew and has been pictured driving the model’s Grizl gravel bike to date this season, together with taking the win on the UCI World Collection in Berja, Spain. Canyon additionally produces the Grail gravel bike and the road-going Final can be able to accommodating gravel tyres so there are many choices within the Canyon vary to select from. Unbound, nonetheless, noticed her driving a prototype bike from Canyon in a subtly camouflaged paint scheme, Peter Stetina and another athletes had been additionally driving the identical prototype. The brand new body seems to be to borrow options from bikes within the Canyon line already, there seems to be to be a brand new seatpost form and rumours of a body storage compartment within the down tube, a bit just like the Trek Checkpoint or S-Works Diverge STR, each of which had been featured in our Unbound tech gallery.
The variations listed below are most noticeable on the entrance of the bike with what seems to be a deeper fork which seems to be just like the Grizl mannequin, however with out the extra mounts that fork has. There additionally appears to be a brand new built-in handlebar and stem that has a downward sweep from the stem faceplate, and an outward flare from the hoods to the drops.
Regardless of the visible similarity to the Grizl up entrance, we suspect it is a alternative for the Grail, Canyon’s extra race-ready gravel bike. The Grail made waves when it first launched with its odd double-decker handlebar design later renamed because the ‘Grail Cockpit,’ however we have not seen that bar used a lot in competitors.
The orange and black camouflage paint scheme additionally does a very good job at detracting from body strains and particulars, add in mud and grit from the race and it is tough to make out clear body variations.
The above image from the Unbound gravel Instagram web page reveals the downward sweep of what seems to be like a brand new prototype handlebar from Canyon. Brake hoses are uncovered below the stem for now.
Tools-wise, Schiff used a Dura-Ace Di2 groupset with a double 11-speed 9100 chainset and a more moderen 12-speed R9250 rear derailleur, which appears to be a well-liked selection amongst highway and gravel riders at current.
Tyres had been Schwalbe G-One RS tubeless fashions, and Schiff additionally raced with a spare internal tube connected to her high tube. Judging by its look it is one of many model’s Aerothan tubes that are very light-weight however supply good puncture safety – essential at Unbound.
Wheels are provided by Enve and Schiff ran a 42mm deep 3.4 rim within the rear with a shallower AG25 gravel mannequin upfront.
