New Roval Control World Cup wheels claim a sub-1kg weight
Specialized wheel engineers did a lot of homework to create the brand's astonishingly light new Roval Control World Cup wheelset.
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How much homework? The Roval Control World Cup design, prototype and engineering team created 1017 iterations of Specialized's new ultra-lightweight carbon rims to achieve the final production version's 44g weight saving.
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The result of all Specialized's weight-obsessed design is a wheelset under the mythical 1kg mark: at only 998g (with valves and rim tape). That's more than 250g lighter than the previous Roval Control World Cups, with a structure that's promised to be much stronger, hence the need for only 20 spokes per wheel.
2025 spesh roval world cup 2.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Rotational weight is the currency of competition in UCI World Cup and endurance mountain bike racing. That's why Specialized has been obsessed with weight reduction in every aspect of the new Roval Control World Cup wheel design. Spokes? They're carbon and 63% stronger than steel and save 101.6g. Even the rim tape is ultra-thin to save mass.
The Roval hub shells contain DT Swiss 180 EXP internals, with the brand's proven 36t ratchet system, offering 10-degrees of engagement and negligible mechanical friction, thanks to Sinc ceramic bearings.
Light, tough – and ideal for Air Trak rubber
Despite being incredibly light, Specialized engineers have enhanced durability and riding performance with the new Roval Control World Cup design.
The rims feature engineered flex by optimizing the inherent properties available with advanced carbon-fibre design, reducing rider fatigue at race speeds by absorbing more trail buzz. A 4mm broad bead reduces the risk of pinch flats, while the overall rim structure better dissipates energy from terrain strikes, reducing the likelihood of cracking.
2025 spesh roval world cup 3.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Rim geometry measures an internal diameter of 28.5mm, and it's optimised for Specialized's latest range of 2.35in tyres. However, the tyre sizing spectrum is generous, with anything from 1.9- to 2.6in being compatible, depending on your frame clearance.
Specialized's latest Air Trak tyres are unquestionably the choice rubber for these extraordinarily light new Roval Control World Cup wheels. These are set to be the lightest mountain bike race tyres Specialized has developed and ideal for the Roval Control World Cup application.
If you might use these wheels for very rowdy downcountry-type riding, they are insert-compatible and graded for a weight limit of 125kg (275lb).
Specialized is bringing the new Roval Control World Cup mountain bike wheelset to market at £1,050 for a front wheel and £1,450 for a rear wheel.
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