Aerodynamics is at the forefront of the 3T Racemax 2 Italia, which is a prime example of a gravel race machine. Sleek, stiff and with a huge amount of tyre clearance this is not only a fast and responsive bike, but one that is hugely capable regardless of the terrain. At nearly £9,000, however, it’s one hell of a lot of money – though maybe that ‘Made in Italy’ label will go some way to justify it…
3T Racemax 2 Italia: Ride
That 2 – or, more accurately a superscript 2 for squared – at the end of the Racemax’s name highlights that this is the second iteration of this frameset which according to 3T has fully revised geometry, bigger tyre clearance and improved aerodynamics.
The main points are that it has a steeper head angle and an increase to both the bottom bracket drop and the fork offset.
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My first gravel ride on the 3T started with a few miles on the asphalt and it felt very much like an endurance road bike, albeit a slightly portly one – this complete build comes in at just under 9kg. The Racemax 2 has short chainstays and a correspondingly tight wheelbase when you consider the tyre clearance, so it feels kind of nimble on the road for a bike that is so capable. It’s actually fun to ride on the tarmac, in a way that many gravel bikes aren’t, which is important in the UK where our sections of gravel are generally short and you have to use the roads to link them up.
But it’s off-road riding that the 3T is really designed for, and once I felt the crunch of its tyres on the gravel it showed just how capable it is!
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The new head angle is 71.5°, which is slightly more aggressive than most, which tend to be 70.5 to 71°. Add that to the steep 74-degree seat tube angle and I found myself in a forward, race-like position even when I was riding on the hoods.
Pair that with the 1,029mm wheelbase and you have a bike that feels reactive and on the controllable side of twitchy – like a proper rider’s machine. It’s not the type of machine you want to go and buy as a newbie (though given its asking price that’s not very likely) and you’ll need to get a few hours under your belt to exploit the Racemax’s ability.
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Don’t take that the wrong way. The 3T isn’t a difficult bike, but to ride it hard and fast on a loose surface needs some skill and some commitment.
If you’ve got that then you will get so much from the 3T in return.
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The huge profiles of the head tube and down tube, alongside the oversized bottom bracket area, mean that the Racemax 2 is also incredibly stiff.
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It’s definitely a performance machine and hard efforts on the pedals regardless of whether you’re seated or standing highlight no flex anywhere, and the 3T feels impressively responsive.
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In the world of road bikes 9kg sounds weighty, but for a bike with huge tube profiles, deep-section wheels and large tyres like this it’s about the norm. The Vielo V+1 Race Edition that I was reviewing at the same time weighs around 8.75kg, a difference that’s neither here nor there. One thing that both bikes have in common – and which is true of most bikes – is that the weight is of no consequence to how the bike behaves or rides.
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Thanks to the stiffness the 3T feels like an efficient climber and it’s lively when you ask it to accelerate. On the flat the aerodynamics come in to play and the Racemax 2 flies along, and on the descents that weight actually makes it feel more planted, especially when the surface is sliding around beneath your tyres.
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It has all of the hallmarks of an impressive race bike, and off of the back of that I recorded various PBs on some sections of my gravel test routes – quite impressive considering how wet and muddy a lot of the trails are at the moment compared to the dry and fast rolling that most of them were previously set on.
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Stiff frames can sometimes come at the cost of comfort, and if you were to take the high-volume tyres away from this build then that might well be the case here. But throw in a pair of 40, 45 or 55mm tyres and they’re going to offset any frame firmness.
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The finishing kit really helps here too, the comfortable saddle and handlebar contributing to a package actually delivers a very pleasant riding experience.
2025-3t-racemax-2-italia-saddle-side-scaled.jpg (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)3T Racemax 2 Italia: Frame and fork
Since 2018 3T has been manufacturing its bikes in its Presezzo factory after moving their production back from the Far East.
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And 3T calls the material it uses for the Racemax 2… ‘Jazz Carbon’. This is a name given to its in-house filament winding of a combination of high-strength and high-stiffness carbon fibres and resin transfer moulding – or ‘RTM’. In a nutshell this means that the resin is applied directly into the mould rather than 3T using pre-impregnated sheets.
The claimed frame weight is 990g and about 380g for the fork on a size medium.
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Finish-wise, everything looks very good indeed both inside and out, plus this Project-X naked carbon finish shows the nature of the lay-up. Other than this naked option the Racemax 2 is available in four painted finishes.
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In true gravel bike guise, there are some extra mounting points aside the usual two bottle cage positions. You get bolts on the upper face of the top tube and another set under the down tube.
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3T has also incorporated a storage compartment within the down tube with access below the bottle cage.
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Other features include a universal derailleur hangar (UDH), fully integrated hose and cable routing and a ‘Miss Grape’ storage bag for the internal storage.
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The 51mm tyre clearance is the measured size, not necessarily what is says on the sidewall of your tyre – and to achieve this 3T has heavily dropped both chainstays, which I don’t think looks great aesthetically.
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Running a 2x chainset will reduce that clearance to 48mm.
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This does allow for a shorter wheelbase, though, which benefits the ride characteristics, so I’d say it is a compromise worth putting up with. The frame design will also allow a 52T chainring to be run if you’re running 3T’s 1x Torno Wide chainring, or a 52/36T chainset if using a Campagnolo 2×13 setup. Shimano’s GRX and SRAM’s groupsets all use smaller chainrings so this isn’t an issue.
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Other than that, it all looks very aero, with a curved cut-out in the seat tube for tyre clearance and dropped seatstays, and the mounting bolts for the front brake calliper are housed behind a cover.
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The seatpost clamp is incorporated into the frame and accommodates the aero carbon fibre seatpost.
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3T has neatly incorporated a rear light into the seatpost, which is a great addition.
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It has five modes, up to 15 hours of battery life depending on the mode you use and the output is a reasonable 25 lumens.
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There are four sizes ranging from small to extra-large. Our large test bike has a 552mm top tube, a 173mm head tube, which contribute to a stack and reach measurement of 589mm and 385mm respectively.
The bottom bracket drop is 79mm.
3T Racemax 2 Italia: Finishing kit and pricing
The Racemax 2 is available as a frameset for £5,310 or in six builds that top out with a Campagnolo Super Record PM 2×13 groupset for a whopping £11,595! The model with SRAMs RED XPLR groupset and Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels makes an appearance for £11,242, which is the same price whether you use the SRAM chainset or the 3T Torno.
This GRX Di2 2x build costs £8,763, the same price as the Force XPLR model.
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Yes, it is heady pricing, but 3T hasn’t scrimped on the builds. This bike includes a CeramicSpeed SLT headset, 3T’s own 3T Discus 40/45 carbon wheelset and a carbon handlebar.
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The 825 version of Shimano’s GRX Di2 groupset it is brilliant. Here it comes with a 48/31T chainset and a 12-speed Ultegra cassette, which gives a wide-ranging spread of gears with minimal gaps in between them – ideal for performance riding.
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The battery lasts for a long time, and the brakes offer loads of power and control regardless of the conditions.
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Unlike a lot of today’s bikes at this sort of price, the Racemax 2 gets a two-piece cockpit rather than an integrated option, which gives you a degree of adjustability to your setup.
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The 3T Aeroghiaia Integrale LTD is a good-looking, comfortable bar thanks to its aero shape. It gets a gentle flare at the drops for stability when you’re riding off-road and there is a small round section near the clamp that might allow you to fit a front light.
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A K-Edge out-front mount takes care of your computer.
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The MORE carbon stem is a bulky affair but manages to hide the brake hoses while also being aero. It uses an integrated wedge clamp for a smooth look throughout.
When it comes to the saddle, we’ve had a bit of an upgrade here, getting a 3-D printed model rather than the advertised Fizik Vento Argo R1 Light. Though having ridden the Fizik in the past I can vouch for it being a comfortable saddle.
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The Discus 45/40T LTD wheelset has a RRP of £2,136. The carbon rims are 45mm deep, 40mm wide and have an internal width of 29mm.
They are optimised for 40-60mm tyres and weigh just 1,439g.
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The spokes are Sapim’s CX-Sprint with 21 on the front, and 24 on the rear while the hubs are made for 3T by Scope.
Overall, I was impressed with Discus wheels. They are noticeably light and have loads of lateral stiffness, which makes them perfect for this type of bike.
The weather was pretty rubbish over the test period, but they stood up well to the water, mud and grit over the miles.
Tyre-wise 3T has gone for Schwalbe’s G-One RS in a 45mm width. It was the first time I have ever ridden these and I was very impressed although their minimal tread meant that they were only useable on hardpacked surfaces.
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They roll well, have a supple feel and give good grip even on the road. In fact, Matt over on our sister site offroad.cc was just as impressed.
For wetter rides I used a set of Pirelli’s Cinturato Gravel Ss, which were only 40mm wide but come with a much deeper tread pattern.
3T Racemax 2 Italia: Value
So, how does the 3T stack up in the marketplace?
The Cervélo Aspero 5 is another high-end gravel race machine and Rebecca recently reviewed the SRAM Red-equipped model. She was impressed with the way it rode, but its maximum tyre clearance is 45mm – not small, but less than we are starting to see on a lot of gravel bikes.
That model costs £10,000, but Cervélo offers a GRX RX825 Di2 version (1x) with carbon wheels, power meter, ceramic bottom bracket and a carbon cockpit for £8,250.
For UK gravel use, though, you are going to need to factor in the price of some knobbly tyres as all builds come with Vittoria’s Corsa Pro Control G2.0 tyres. Lovely to ride – but slick.
Earlier in the review I mentioned the Vielo V+1 Race Edition and I’d consider it a worthy adversary of the Racemax 2, especially if you aren’t bothered too much about things like internal frame storage.
It has 50mm tyre clearance, a smooth, clean frame and a racy, nimble nature. Vielo doesn’t offer Shimano builds, but the Force XPLR AXS model I reviewed comes with deep-section Zipp carbon wheels and a carbon cockpit for around £6,650 or £7k if you add a power meter.
You’re getting lot of bike for the money.
A gravel race bike that I haven’t ridden for a few years is the Pinarello Grevil, with the latest model focusing on aerodynamics and also comes with loads of mounting points for carrying plenty of kit. It can also accept 50mm knobbly tyres and has internal frame storage. There are plenty of build options, but the 2x GRX Di2 option costs £6,000 and includes Pinarello’s own MOST Gravel Carbon 45 wheels.
The cockpit is an alloy two-piece setup.
For more options, check out our best gravel bikes buyer’s guide.
3T Racemax 2 Italia: Conclusion
Overall, I enjoyed my time with the Racemax 2. I’m no racer, but I enjoy riding hard and getting out and trashing about whether I’m on the road or gravel – and the 3T definitely helped me to enjoy the latter.
Yes, it’s a lot of money and in terms of performance, weight and stiffness I’ve ridden bikes that are just as capable and fun for a lot less cash. But the Racemax 2 is definitely a very complete package, and you are paying for the in-house production and attention to detail.
If this bike is in your price range, then you really won’t be disappointed. It offers an excellent ride, both in terms of quality and controllability, and if power is your thing you’re going to be blown away by the stiffness on offer.
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
3T says: “Evolved from the Racemax Italia racing gravel machine, every detail, from design to construction, has been re-engineered and refined.
Featuring new geometry with increased tire clearance up to 51mm WAM, integrated downtube storage and a rear light housed inside the seatpost.”
This is a stiff, aero based bike that is very much about performance off-road.
Rate the product overall for quality (1-10):
9/10
Rate the product for performance when used for its designed purpose (1-10):
9/10
Rate the product for value (1-10):
5/10
List the components used to build up the bike:
HEADSET: Ceramic Speed SLT 44/33 (36/45deg) I 52/42 (45/45deg)
THRU-AXLE: 100×12 front – 142×12 rear (specific for 3T UDH dropout)
HANDLEBAR: 3T Aeroghiaia Integrale LTD (S&M: 40cm – L&XL: 42cm)
BAR TAPE: 3T Prendo Speed
STEM: 3T More (K-Edge GPS mount included) – (S: 80mm – M:90mm – L: 100mm – XL: 110mm )
BOTTLE CAGE: 3T Carbon front load water bottle cage
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano GRX Di2 RD-RX825 12s
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano GRX Di2 FD-RX825 12s
SHIFT/BRAKE LEVERS: Shimano GRX Di2 ST-RX825 12s
BRAKES: Shimano GRX BR-RX820 w/ Shimano RT-CL800 160MM rotors
CRANKSET: Shimano GRX FC-RX820-2 12s 48/31( S&M: 170 mm – L&XL: 172,5 mm )
CASSETTE: Shimano Ultegra CS-R8101-12 11-34T
WHEELSET: 3T Discus 45|40 LTD
TIRES: Schwalbe G-One RS 700–45
SEATPOST: 3T Racemax/Racemax2 ITALIA seatpost for Ritchey clamp with integrated light system
SADDLE: Fizik Vento Argo R1 Light 140 mm
Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it?:
3T says: “Evolved from the Racemax Italia racing gravel machine, every detail, from design to construction, has been re-engineered and refined.
Featuring new geometry with increased tire clearance up to 51mm WAM, integrated downtube storage and a rear light housed inside the seatpost.”
This is a stiff, aero based bike that is very much about performance off-road.
Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options:
This and the Force XPLr come in at exactly the same price and are the ‘entry-level’ models in the range. The SRAM RED and Campagnolo Super Record PM models top the range and cost £11,242 and £11,959 respectively.
Overall rating for frame and fork
9/10
Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork:
Exceptional build qaulity and the finish is clean inside and out.
Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork:
3T says: “The Racemax Italia is produced in our Presezzo factory, starting from dry carbon fibre wound automatically using the filament winding technique, followed by resin application through Resin Transfer Moulding.
“This is what we call Jazz Carbon.”
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork:
The geometry is gravel based, but on the more aggressive side than most, as this bike is very much intended as a gravel race machine.
How was the bike in terms of stack and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?:
The stack and reach figures aren’t anything out of the ordinary.
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality:
It’s a stiff, firm frame but the ride quality is still good and can be helped out by the large tyre clearances on offer.
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?:
The amount of stiffness on offer is immense especially around the head tube, down tube and bottom bracket area.
Was there any toe overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?:
No
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive?:
Lively on the gravel.
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?:
This bike has a racing pedigree, which means it feels direct and the handling is quick.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s performance? Would you recommend any changes?:
I found the handlebar to have just enough flex that it aided comfort without affecting stiffness when riding out of the saddle.
Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
9/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
8/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
8/10
Rate the bike for stability:
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering:
8/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for performance:
9/10
Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together?:
This version of Shimano’s GRX Di2 offers great shifting performance and the braking is excellent.
Rate the wheels for performance:
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
7/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
8/10
Tell us some more about the wheels. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so, what for?:
A good all-round set of wheels with a very wide internal rim that works perfectly with wide gravel tyres.
Rate the tyres for performance:
9/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
8/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
9/10
Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so, what for?:
Supple tyres that are also grippy and comfortable to use.
Rate the brakes for performance:
9/10
Rate the controls for performance:
9/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
9/10
Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?:
The top-notch kit is in keeping with the high-end price tag.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
The 3T is a big investment, but in terms of performance and build quality it goes a long way to justify its price tag. A very enjoyable bike to ride, and rewarding too.