Packed house: Last Friday, the moment finally arrived – 60 readers and bike industry representatives from across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland gathered in Munich to celebrate the launch of the GRAN FONDO App Magazine Issue #028 at the Rapha Clubhouse. The highlight? The unveiling of the winner and best buy recommendations from our comprehensive 2025 race bike group test.
There were plenty of excuses not to attend: a tremendous snow chaos the night before and early that morning, long travel times, and even the fact that the event took place in the morning, forcing most readers to either take time off work or rearrange their schedules. But it’s all the more impressive that our readers didn’t shy away – and showed up in such great numbers. Adding to the excitement, several industry representatives attended the event too, including people from brands like 3T, the ACCELL Group, BMC, Buycycle, Cervelo, EY, Hunt, Specialized, SRAM, Trek, and TQ, all eager to witness the awards ceremony.
So, the big question is: which bike is the fastest race bike of 2025? And what’s the best buy recommendation? If you missed the sneak peek, we’re afraid we’ll have to disappoint you – the results are still confidential. The official announcement will be made with the release of the new GRAN FONDO App Magazine Issue on Thursday, 27th of November 2024. Until then, you have the chance to make your prediction – and possibly win an exclusive GRAN FONDO team jersey!
Submit your prediction here!
Which bike could be hiding under the cover? And which two manufacturers earned the awards? For now, it’s all still a secret.
Community spirit: Chatting about the latest race bikes over pizza, Aperol, and cappuccinos (in any order!) with an Italo-disco soundtrack? Meeting fellow drop-bar enthusiasts, making connections, exchanging ideas, or even pitching fresh concepts to the editorial team? That’s exactly what happened at the Rapha Store in Munich! A massive thank you to everyone who joined us – it was an absolute pleasure and so much fun!
Also present: special guest @Italian_Madness, who’s part of the GRAN FONDO Rari Racing Team, influencer @jaylungo, and our former editor-in-chief, Ben Topf! Fun fact: back in Ben’s day, the team was exclusively bearded, but now it also includes beardless editors — like our newest team member, Jan Fock.
So, what’s next? This GRAN FONDO release party was a new and innovative format for us – something the cycling world hasn’t seen before. One thing’s for sure: we’ll definitely be doing it again in 2025!
Stay tuned for Thursday, when the new GRAN FONDO App Magazine Issue #028 is due for release – because that’s when the winners will be officially announced! If you haven’t downloaded the free app on your tablet or smartphone yet, do it now – it’s worth it!
If you want to submit your guess for the test winner and best buy, click here!
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.
Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: Mike Hunger
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.
