29/05/2026
New Specialized Crux is an aero gravel bike with sub-800g frame and 55mm tyre clearance
Specialized has swapped Aethos-adjacent round tubes for Tarmac-like aerodynamics on the new Crux, with claims it could save up to ten minutes for top Unbound pros than old model
Specialized Crux gravel bike
Once called the gravel Aethos for its resemblance to Specialized’s round-tubed climbing bike, the fifth generation Crux mimics watt-saving tricks from the Tarmac, the brand’s all-round road race bike. These changes reflect the diminished importance of cyclocross and the increasing professionalisation of gravel racing – the winning speed of Unbound 200, the world’s most prestigious gravel race, has gone up by an average of 6kmh in four years.
Although heavier than before, the S-Works Crux remains very light for a gravel race bike. Specialized claims 800g for a frame and 7kg for a complete build. Despite the introduction of internal cable routing, the frame is still compatible with mechanical groupsets, but only 1x single chainrings up to 52 teeth. Specialized had added UDH compatibility to the outgoing model mid-cycle, which the new bike retains.
