Pro bike gallery: Sofia Gomez Villafañe’s Specialized Roubaix for the UCI Gravel World Championships

The rainbow-jersey contender is riding a souped-up road bike at the inaugural event.

Reigning Unbound Gravel champion Sofia Gomez Villafañe is a favorite to take home the rainbow jersey at the first ever UCI Gravel World Championships this weekend. 

But while she rode a Specialized Crux gravel bike at Unbound, she won’t be riding a gravel bike per se at worlds. Instead, she is turning to the Roubaix road bike favored by Specialized roadies for the rough and tumble roads of Paris-Roubaix. 

Also read: UCI Gravel World Championships: 10 riders to watch in the women’s race

Why? The gravel worlds dictates a less gravel-specific bike. The 140-kilometer route is 69 percent gravel but on relatively tame roads, similar to those used in the Strade Bianche spring classic, which is often raced on road bikes with 28mm or 30mm tires. Gomez Villafañe is beefing up her tires compared to that, but doesn’t need 40mm or larger tires for this event.

The addition of some cobble sectors into the route makes the purpose-built cobble-crushing Roubaix, with its Future Shock stem suspension and compliant seatpost design, a good choice for this race.

Gomez Villafañe’s bike is equipped with a mix of Shimano GRX and Dura-Ace drivetrain, Roval wheels, Specialized components, and an Easton cockpit.  

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