CannondaleSuperX
Origin
The SuperX has lived two lives. Originally launched in 2016 as Cannondale's premier cyclocross race bike, it dominated UCI cyclocross courses under riders like Stephen Hyde and Caroline Mani through 2018-2020 with its asymmetric SAVE rear stays and OutFront geometry (long front-centre, short stays for stability). When the gravel race scene exploded around 2020-2022, Cannondale temporarily shelved the SuperX in favour of the SuperSix EVO SE (a gravel-ified road bike). For model year 2025 the SuperX was relaunched as a dedicated gravel race bike — same name and racing DNA, but completely new design with aero tube shaping, 700x48mm rear / 700x51mm front tyre clearance, mount points for bags and toptube storage, and the in-frame StashMount system. The Lab71 flagship (€14,999, ~900g frame) is hand-laid in Cannondale's Bedford, PA prototype shop. The 2025 relaunch made the SuperX both cyclocross-capable and gravel-race-optimised, allowing Cannondale to retire the SuperSix EVO CX (dedicated cyclocross) entirely.
Specifications
- Frame
- Carbon. Series 0 BallisTec on regular trims; Lab71 Hi-MOD carbon on flagship (~900g frame, 56cm). Proportional Response size-specific lay-up, Delta Steerer (1-1/8" to 1-1/2"), C1 Aero D-shaped seatpost, internal StashMount storage. 1.6 W faster in wind tunnel than outgoing SuperSix EVO SE.
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Shimano GRX Di2 2x12 or 1x12 on mid trims; SRAM Force AXS / Red AXS XPLR on top trims; SRAM Red AXS XPLR on Lab71
- Brakes
- Hydraulic disc, flat mount, 160 mm rotors. Lab71: SRAM RED AXS with Paceline X rotors; SuperX 2: Shimano GRX BR-RX820.
- Wheels
- Reserve 40|44 GR carbon gravel wheels (40 mm rear / 44 mm front depth); Lab71 with DT Swiss 180 hubs.
The verdict
- Refined aerodynamics — new aero tube shapes and Delta Steerer make it 1.6 W faster than the outgoing SuperSix EVO SE while staying a true race bike
- Generous tyre clearance (700x48 mm rear / 51 mm front) lets it run 50 mm gravel rubber yet remain cyclocross-capable — one bike for both disciplines
- Stable, composed, confidence-inspiring handling over rough terrain — far less twitchy than a traditional CX bike, ideal for long gravel races
- Effective compliance from carbon seat/chainstay flex zones and the C1 Aero D-shaped seatpost
- Among the lightest in class: Lab71 frame ~900g, complete Lab71 ~7.4 kg (56cm)
- Mid trims are heavy — the GRX Di2 SuperX 2 weighs ~8.53 kg, third-heaviest in GranFondo's 2025 gravel race comparison
- Stock cockpit handlebar width and flare feel outdated for a modern race gravel bike
- Stock Vittoria Terreno T50 tyres struggle for grip versus Schwalbe/competitor rubber and are a quick upgrade target
- Very expensive: Lab71 ~€14,999 / $15,000; even SuperX 2 (~€6,899) is poor value against lighter rivals like the ROSE Backroad FF
- Wide Reserve XPLR wheels make fitting tyres above ~50 mm tricky, and the Series 0 fork is ~100g heavier than some competitor forks
Who it’s for
Want one?
Find this bike on the marketplace, or compare notes with riders already on one.