3T has introduced the Racemax² Italia, the second generation of its gravel racing bike, which the company describes as the ‘purest expression of speed’ in its gravel range.
The bike is designed, built, and painted in Italy, using 3T’s proprietary Jazz Carbon technology. The new frame is a complete re-engineering of its predecessor, the Racemax Italia, a platform that was part of the original Exploro line launched in 2016.
The new model maintains a focus on fast, racing gravel, a shift from the original ‘one bike to do everything’ philosophy.
The evolution addresses the increased variety of tyre options in the gravel market, where wider tyres influence bottom bracket height. 3T notes that the Racemax² Italia keeps ‘the essence of realfast gravel’ with geometry designed to balance efficiency and comfort, whether for racing events such as the UCI Gravel World Series or for riders targeting personal bests.
Compared to the first generation, the company states that handling has been refined with a steeper head angle, with stability enhanced through an increased bottom bracket, and responsiveness sharpened due to shorter 420mm chainstays.
The Racemax² Italia now offers clearance up to 51mm WAM (363mm RAM) for 1x setups, or 48mm with a front derailleur. Despite the larger frontal area from wider tyres, 3T claims the bike’s aerodynamics are 1.5% more efficient than before, based on CFD simulations.
This efficiency is attributed to several design refinements, including a head tube area that integrates CeramicSpeed SLT bearings and adopts the same aerodynamic ‘nose’ concept as the 3T Strada Italia bike. A new fork also contributes to improved aero performance by hiding the front brake caliper bolts under a dedicated cover.
The downtube features a variable-width profile to manage airflow. It measures 54mm in the upper section to match the curvature of the front wheel (with tyres between 41 and 51mm WAM), and expands to 75mm at the lower section to streamline airflow around the bottles mounted behind it.
The frame includes an integrated storage compartment inside the downtube, which is built to carry tools and essentials securely, using a Missgrape-designed neoprene bag and Fidlock mini-hook closure. The seatpost light is built-in but removable.
Like all frames in the company’s Italia line, the Racemax² Italia is finished with exclusive Lechler paints, applied in Italy in four distinctive colourways: Brezza and Ambra (metallic gloss finishes), and Rame and Smeraldo (iridescent shades). It is also available in the naked ‘Project X’ finish, or Ready-to-Paint (RTP).
The frameset weighs 990g (size M, unpainted) or 1,050g in the storage version, with the fork adding 380g.
It is available in four sizes (S–XL). Build options span from the frameset to complete bikes, including:
- Shimano GRX 2×12 paired with 3T Discus 45|40 LTD wheels.
- SRAM Force XPLR AXS 1×13 with 3T Discus 45|40 LTD wheels (with an optional Torno Wide crank).
- SRAM Red XPLR AXS 1×13 with ZIPP 303 XPLR SW wheels (also with an optional Torno Wide crank).
- Campagnolo Super Record 2×13 Gravel with 3T Discus 45|40 wheels.
For riders seeking full customisation, the 1x setup can accommodate a 52-tooth chainring on the Torno Wide crank.
The Racemax² Italia is available through selected 3T retailers and can be ordered directly on the 3T website or from any dealer listed in its Dealer Locator, with a lead time of 6–8 weeks for both framesets and complete builds.
