{"id":652974,"date":"2026-05-06T09:09:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T09:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/652974\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T09:09:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T09:09:42","slug":"lael-wilcoxs-traka-560-bike-around-the-world-record-holders-specialized-diverge-under-the-microscope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/652974\/","title":{"rendered":"Lael Wilcox’s Traka 560 bike \u2013 Around The World record holder’s Specialized Diverge under the microscope"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last weekend at the Traka, we had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the bike of Around The World record-holder, Lael Wilcox.<\/p>\n

Wilcox, who competed in the 550km Traka Adventure, finished fourth (just over two and a half hours behind the winner, Maddy Nutt) aboard a custom Specialized Diverge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The DIverge is Specialized’s endurance-focused gravel bike, with a more relaxed geometry, greater tyre clearance and an increased number of mounting points compared to the racier S-Works Crux (as ridden by winner of the women’s Traka 200, Sof\u00eda G\u00f3mez Villafa\u00f1e<\/a>).<\/p>\n

It also features the brand’s distinctive Future Shock headset suspension system, and Wilcox had her bike set up with a set of Zipp aero extensions, dynamo lights<\/a> and a set of chunky, 50mm Specialized gravel tyres<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

“So tired my eyes are almost closing”
\n\"LaelWilcox crossed the line exhausted but happy, having secured fourth place in the Traka 560 women’s category. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Speaking to BikeRadar immediately after crossing the finish line, Wilcox explained she was “so tired my eyes are almost closing” following her 29-hour plus effort.<\/p>\n

The bike, Wilcox said, had been “Amazing \u2013 the perfect bike for it, actually”.<\/p>\n

\"LaelWilcox’s bike had a beautiful patina of dust following the race. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

As noted, Wilcox chose the Diverge gravel bike for the Traka 560, rather than the Roubaix SL8<\/a> endurance road bike she used to break the Around The World record in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although the latest Roubaix has clearance for 40mm tyres, and a few more aerodynamic optimisations, the Diverge can take up to 2.2in \/ 55mm tyres, and features integrated storage within the frame’s down tube.<\/p>\n

\"LaelWilcox opted for 50mm tyres front and rear, on Zipp carbon rims. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"LaelHer rear rim featured a Zipp integrated pressure sensor. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

This enabled Wilcox to use on-trend, 50mm-wide Specialized Tracer TLR tyres<\/a> \u2013 the American brand’s all-rounder gravel tyre.<\/p>\n

These were mounted to Zipp 303 rims, with an 303 SW rim out back (with its integrated tyre pressure sensor) and a ‘standard’ 303 Firecrest rim up front.<\/p>\n

\"LaelA front dynamo hub kept Wilcox’s devices charged throughout her ride. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"LaelDynamo wires were held in place with electrical tape. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Wilcox’s front wheel also featured a dynamo hub for powering her Exposure Revo lights<\/a>, Wahoo Elemnt Roam V3 bike computer<\/a> and smartphone \u2013 the wires for which were simply taped onto the frameset using black electrical tape.<\/p>\n

In terms of gearing, Wilcox used SRAM’s Red XLPR AXS groupset<\/a>, with a 40-tooth chainring mounted to a SRAM Red AXS power meter<\/a>. According to her bike computer, Wilcox averaged 133 watts for the day.<\/p>\n

\"LaelSRAM’s Red XPLR AXS was the groupset of choice for many top racers at this year’s Traka. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"LaelWilcox used a SRAM Red AXS power meter with Time Atac pedals. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"LaelThat’s one big ride! Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

To carry all of her food, spares and tools, Wilcox opted for a large top tube bag and a saddle bag.<\/p>\n

Unlike 2025 Unbound XL winner, Rob Britton (who rode the Traka 560 aboard Factor’s new Sarana gravel bike<\/a>), Wilcox simply oped for two large water bottles within the main triangle of her frame \u2013 perhaps due to space issues, given her smaller frame size.<\/p>\n

\"LaelA top tube bag is an essential accessory for any ultra-endurance event. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"LaelInstead of a frame bag, Wilcox opted for a saddle bag. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"LaelWIlcox brought her custom Around The World water bottles for the Traka 560. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Following her epic ride, Wilcox walked out of the finishing area and sat down on the grass with a friend \/ supporter, who brought her some food.<\/p>\n

Unlike at WorldTour road races<\/a>, there are no team buses for riders to disappear into at the Traka (at least as things stand), meaning even stars such as Wilcox remain surprisingly accessible to fans.<\/p>\n

\"LaelWilcox used Zipp’s Vuka Clip aero bar. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"\"Wilcox’s Diverge after the Traka 560.
\n\"LaelWilcox eating a well-earned meal following her ride. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last weekend at the Traka, we had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the bike…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":652975,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,85],"class_list":["post-652974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=652974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652974\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/652975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=652974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=652974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=652974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}