{"id":50133,"date":"2023-05-26T19:02:36","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T17:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=731784"},"modified":"2023-05-26T19:35:35","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T17:35:35","slug":"roglic-swaps-to-1x-gravel-bike-groupset-for-final-stage-19-climb","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/roglic-swaps-to-1x-gravel-bike-groupset-for-final-stage-19-climb\/","title":{"rendered":"Rogli\u010d swaps to 1x gravel bike groupset for final stage 19 climb"},"content":{"rendered":"

1x chainring paired with monstrous 10-44t cassette on queen stage of 2023 Giro d’Italia <\/p>

By Jack Luke\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 26 May 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d (Jumbo-Visma) used a 1x SRAM Red AXS XPLR gravel bike groupset with a massive 10-44t cassette for the final climb on stage 19 of the 2023 Giro d\u2019Italia.<\/p>\n

The Slovenian made the change at the base of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, ditching his usual 2x SRAM Red eTap AXS-equipped C\u00e9rvelo R5<\/a> in favour of the same bike setup with a single ring.<\/p>\n

1x drivetrains<\/a> are common on time trial bikes<\/a>, and are sometimes used on flatter races, particularly during the spring classics.<\/p>\n

However, they are almost never seen in the mountains. So why would Rogli\u010d go 1x on a key climb?<\/p>\n

1x in the mountains?<\/h2>\n
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Rogli\u010d made the swap at the base of the climb.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tim de Waele\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

To start, with no front derailleur and only one chainring, a 1x setup is usually lighter than a 2x setup.<\/p>\n

A 1x drivetrain is also, theoretically, more aerodynamic than a 2x drivetrain.<\/p>\n

A single-ring setup can also be more mechanically efficient, with an improved chainline<\/a> compared to a 2x setup.<\/p>\n

Chain retention can also be improved with a 1x setup. However, given the smooth parcours of the climb, this is unlikely to have been a deciding factor.<\/p>\n

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Rogli\u010d rode most of the race with his usual 2x setup.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tim de Waele\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

All of these are marginal gains but, over the course of a 7.2km 7.6 per cent climb raced at WorldTour pace, they could add up.<\/p>\n

That said, the time lost swapping bikes to then be dutifully towed back to the bunch by teammate Sepp Kuss may outweigh the theoretical time savings offered by a 1x setup.<\/p>\n

A test ahead of stage 20?<\/h2>\n
\""Stage\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Stage 20 of the 2023 Giro d\u2019Italia looks brutal.<\/span><\/figcaption> RCS Sport<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

With that in mind, it\u2019s possible Rogli\u010d had more pragmatic reasons for switching to the unusual setup.<\/p>\n

Stage 20 of this year\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia<\/a> is an 18.6km individual time trial. After a flat opening half, the final 9.8km of the stage ascends 1,050m with gradients kicking up as steep as 22 per cent.<\/p>\n

We expect many teams will swap to a lightweight climbing bike<\/a> at the base of the climb.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible Rogli\u010d wanted to trial the 1x setup in a low-pressure setting ahead of using it in the penultimate stage of this year\u2019s race.<\/p>\n

Rogli\u010d finished stage 19 in fourth place, knocking 3 seconds off of Geraint Thomas\u2019 GC (Ineos Grenadiers) lead.<\/p>\n

A 1x renaissance?<\/h2>\n

Though they\u2019ve become very common in time trials, it\u2019s fair to say 1x road bike drivetrains have seen mixed success.<\/p>\n

Aqua Blue Sport raced exclusively on 1x drivetrains until the team folded in 2018, with some riders specifically blaming the team\u2019s downfall on its early adoption of single-ring drivetrains.<\/p>\n