SBT GRVL pro bike check: Sofia Gomez Villafañe's Specialized S

Jun 06, 2023

(Photo: Alvin Holbrook/VELO)

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“75% fitness15% nutrition9% tactics1% luck”

Somewhere in that 9% is equipment choice — and although a small fraction of the overall, Gomez Villafañe takes that very seriously, as well.

Read also: Gomez Villafañe smashes SBT GRVL

On Sunday, the 30-year-old raced her Specialized S-Works Crux to the win in Steamboat Springs. The super lightweight cyclocross bike has proven to be an adept gravel racer and Gomez Villafañe makes modifications based on the course conditions.

Sunday’s 142-mile course presented a few different challenges in terms of equipment choice: some sections were fast and hard-packed, while others were loose and chunky. Gomez Villafañe chose a fast-rolling 38mm Pathfinder tire and a big 48t chainring to power through — which she did in a record-setting time of 6:59:50.