We saw how quickly you can slip off course with our intern, J.F. – he just wanted to spend a couple of months with us, getting a taste of our editorial routine and testing the latest bikes and gadgets. Two months later, he was tearing through the Dolomites in the passenger seat of a Ferrari 348 GTB, bags of blood chilling in a YETI cooler beside him. The fact that he picked up a new identity along the way – rebranded as Junior Fuentes – caught him by surprise. Us too. But somehow, that’s how things unfolded.
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Who doesn’t dream of a big career, of fame and impressive power outputs, of legendary mountain passes and Grand Tours? Or of the ultimate race bike, cutting-edge technology, and the best gear? We certainly do. That’s why we went all out for our latest group test.
“Dai dai dai! Push yourself, you lazy sod!” The ringing in your ears – is it Manne’s mix of Swabian-accented German and Italian shouted from the support car, or is it your heart rate spiking as you teeter on the edge of fainting? Hard to say. One thing’s for sure: this was our choice. We wanted to suffer because that’s part of the deal – and, let’s be honest, there’s something thrilling about pushing yourself to the absolute limit. That was the mission for this issue!
We weren’t just in search of the fastest race bike of 2025; we went a step further and formed our own racing team – complete with a Directeur Sportif (DS), a Ferrari support car, and a head mechanic. Naturally, Junior Fuentes joined the ranks as our unofficial team doctor, bringing his, let’s say, flexible sense of ethics to the role. Our main goal? To answer some burning questions. What technological innovations, WorldTour trends, marginal gains, aero tweaks, and developments can benefit us all? And, most importantly, which is the fastest race bike of 2025?
The official launch of the Rari Racing Club took place at the Rapha Clubhouse in Munich, bringing together bike industry insiders, a few GRAN FONDO readers, and plenty of pizza, Aperol, and amore. Attendees had the exclusive chance to grab our team jersey and discover who made it onto our roster. Now, with this issue, you’ve got the same opportunity! WorldTour, Continental, or something else entirely? And what does the UCI think of our team? If you know our Directeur Sportif, you can probably imagine his take on it…
With this issue, we seized the opportunity to make another one of our dreams come true. Why? Because it would be a shame to leave dreams as just that. It’s only by trying that we can discover what we’re truly capable of. Not by taking ourselves too seriously, but with a smile – it makes everything so much easier. Road cycling is what you make of it, so do it your way. Our goal is to inspire you to follow your own path and dare to try something new! After all, life is too short not to live your dreams.
And our intern? He’s managed to turn things around, despite his side gig as a team doctor, and he’s now been promoted to Junior Editor.
“Dai dai dai! Why are you rambling on at your readers for so long?” Sorry, got to dash – the DS is yelling at me again!
Robin Schmitt
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
GRAN FONDO
Enjoy the mix of articles that have made it into this issue, and grab yourself some inspiration! Get the latest issue directly on your device if you already have our app. Otherwise, simply install it from the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or the Play Store (Android Smartphones & Tablets).
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Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: Jan Richter, Robin Schmitt
About the Author
Robin Schmitt
Robin is one of the two founders of 41 Publishing, a visionary and go-getter. While he now enjoys every second on the bike – whenever his busy schedule allows – he used to race against the clock at enduro events and a few Downhill World Cups. Besides that, Robin practises kung fu and Zen meditation, plays the cello, loves classic cars, travels abroad and still reviews numerous bikes himself. Progressive ideas, new projects and major challenges – Robin loves exploring undiscovered potential and getting to the bottom of new trends.
