The 3T Racemax 2 Italia takes a bike that changed the industry and updates it with all the modern details it needs to stay relevant.
(Photo 3T)
Updated October 10, 2025 07:04AM
Today 3T is launching the 3T Racemax 2 Italia. This is a bike for the nerds who consider every detail and now it’s getting modern touches.
The update is part of a progression that’s happened over the years starting with a bike that changed the industry. That was back in 2016 when the original 3T Exploro hit the market with a dropped chainstay and room for big tires plus a story about aerodynamics.
(Photo 3T)
At the time, the whole concept was unheard of. Then it became mainstream and four years later the 3T Exploro RaceMax launched. This time instead of a single dropped chainstay there were two and tire clearance jumped to a “massive” 700×42 or 650×61 mm.
From there things kind of plateaued. It wasn’t until 2023 that an update came but the change was from the 415 version of the frame to a 418 version that elongated the chainstay. You couldn’t tell the two apart other than you could now fit a 700×46 tire. Similarly in 2025 there was a pair of updates that added UDH compatibility and later Integrale cable routing through the stem.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
Today’s update is bigger but still follows a familiar pattern.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
Tire clearance goes bigger again
As in the past, the chainstay is gaining length. This time it’s up 420mm but continues to use the same double dropped style. The increased space corresponds to more clearance and 3T states that the new bike used 41-51mm width as measured (WAM) tires as the baseline for design. Keeping it practical though, expect to be able to run a 700×50 with 1x groupsets or a 700×48 with 2x groupsets.
Interestingly, there’s no mention of 650b specs this time around. This is, of course, something that makes sense in 2025 as 650b tires have largely, though not completely, disappeared from the market.
(Photo 3T)
More aero
Despite the move to bigger tires, the overall bike is a claimed 1.5% faster. To get there, 3T is introducing a number of new tricks while also sticking with what works.
On the if it ain’t broke don’t fix side of things, the massive downtube is still there. This is an enduring feature of the Racemax and, as before, it means the downtube starts big and only gets bigger as it flares to 75mm to shield the water bottles.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
What’s changed is that there’s now integrated downtube storage in this massive tube. Opening it is simple with a Fidlock branded “mini-hook closure” that amounts to a pull down to a simple pull tab. Inside is a dedicated bag made by Missgrape. There’s also still two bottle mount locations on the downtube, even with the storage.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
The other detail that’s changed is that there’s now a cut near the top to fit the tire. As with the Colnago Y1RS, keeping the downtube and the tire a bit closer enhances the aerodynamics of both. In this case it also works with the more aggressive head tube angle, up from 70.7 to 71.5, plus the larger tire clearance.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
Above the downtube you’ll also see an update to the headtube. 3T doesn’t give the exact numbers behind this but the narrower neck area of the downtube is 54mm and there’s a “minimalist Fango Racemax 2 Crown” at the top of the fork that further helps with the aero optimization. Fortunately along with these changes the headset bearings have actually grown in size a bit up to a CeramicSpeed IS44/52 compared to the previous IS42/52.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
Details that persist are the rear wheel cutout, fully aero seatstays and seattube junction, and an aero seatpost with a Ritchey clamp. Like the downtube though, the new seatpost now includes a quality of life update. Not storage in this but rather a rechargeable light that pushes out 25-lumens or can be replaced with a cover if not needed.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
One new detail is a caliper bolt cover on the bottom of the fork to shield the brake caliper mounts.
A true aero crank is worth serious watts (Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
New wheels
As always, wheels are one of the most important aero considerations and 3T is bundling new wheels with the updated bike. A Discuss 45|40 wheelset already exists but this is a complete redesign including new graphics.
This time it’s not about aerodynamics though as that hasn’t changed here. As given away by the name, the outer profile stays the same. This is a 45mm deep rim with a 40mm external diameter and 29mm inner width. From there, things change with a move to a hookless profile and Scope Race series hubs using 21 spokes in the front and 24 in the rear. The changes add up to a 1435 gram wheelset weight compared to the previous 1665 weight.
New sizing and geometry
The last bike used numbered sizing with six sizes ranging from 48-61. Not much has changed as the sizes are the same but now they get a t-shirt size label. Other changes include a steeper head angle, increased BB drop, new fork offset, and the longer chainstays already mentioned.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
Note that no geometry was provided for XXL or XS sizes.
(Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
Pricing and availability
Model options include SRAM Force AXS, SRAM RED AXS, Campagnolo Super Record PM 2×13, Shimano GRX Di2, or framesets. SRAM builds are available with either SRAM cranks or the 3T Torno cranks. Bikes are available today from the 3T website with prices ranging from 4.917 € for a frameset to between 8.115 and 10.736 € for complete builds.