If Avona, Schwalbe and Newmen wanted a quiet Sea Otter weekend, they shouldn’t have sent gravel racer, Leon Kaiser, to the UCI’s elite men’s race in Girona. The German secured a first gravel win for 32-inch wheels on European soil in a 4-up sprint finish.

Kaiser’s setup featured a host of new products, with his bike and wheels unreleased. 32-inch wheels won’t fit in a regular bike frame, so Avona looks to have built a dedicated version of its Callis race bike. 

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

The German brand had the unreleased 32-inch model on display during the Sea Otter show, but doesn’t yet look to have revealed any details about it. The 29-inch model, however, was tested in the GST windtunnel, so it isn’t a stretch to suggest that the frame is aero optimised. 

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

Similarly Newmen, who’s wheels can usually be found on Cube’s road and gravel bikes, are yet to even whisper about having a 32-inch version of their Streem G.62 wheels. 

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

If you find it tricky to distinguish between 29- and 32-inch wheels, help can be found printed on the sidewall of the Schwalbe tyres. The markings read 50 – denoting the width – and 686 – which is the ETRTO bead seat diameter number for 32-inch wheels and tyres.

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

But away from the wheel size news, Kaiser’s setup was very interesting. He opted for a slick and speedy rear tyre, with more traction up front.

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

While Sram seems to be the choice of many gravel pros, the German chooses Shimano’s GRX Di2 groupset with an XTR rear derailleur paired with a 9-45T XTR cassette

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

A rider with Kaiser’s power will have no trouble pushing this 42T chainring. 

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

Favero’s Assioma Pro MX-2 pedals not only provide dual-sided entry, but also give Kaiser his power data.

While there has been significant interest around 32-inch wheels, it is fair to say that the tech is still in its infancy. But with both Trek and Scott debuting prototype 32-inch XC bikes at Soldier Hollow World Cup, and Schwalbe officially adding the bigger size to its gravel tyre lineup, we’re likely to see a drastic increase in brands launching 32-inch bikes and wheels in 2027.

What is also interesting is the manner of Kaiser’s win. Gravel got its first 32-inch wheel victory with Robin Gemperle in the men’s Unbound Gravel XL, a massive 350-mile race in Kansas. The Sea Otter UCI race is much shorter at 109km, and is therefore raced in a punchier fashion, with Kaiser averaging a blistering 35.62kph.

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(Image Credit: Liam Cahill)

Speaking to road.cc at the finish, Kaiser admitted that he was nervous as the group approached the day’s first climb, having been stuck between the G.62 and a lighter set of wheels.

But as the miles rolled by, the German was left with just three others and said that the 32-inch wheels added a lot of control during technical descents that would usually be found from fitting a suspension fork. 

Whether this victory in a fast gravel race might be the tipping point for 32-inch gravel wheels is yet to be seen, but the tech seems to be here to stay.