A Giro stage winner, a former wearer of the maglia rosa, and now a gravel racer.
Lukas Pöstlberger has long been a respected figure in the professional peloton, but after a 10-year stint in the WorldTour peloton the 32-year-old Austrian has turned his attention to the world of gravel racing.
Trading in tarmac for the trail, he’s joined Rose Racing Circle and is taking aim at one of the biggest off-road events on the calendar - Unbound Gravel.
Lukas Pöstlberger upset the sprinters on stage 1 of the 2017 Giro d'Italia, earning him the chance to wear the Maliga Rosa at the 100th Giro.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Pöstlberger’s switch isn’t exactly first in class. He’ll be on the startline with a number of familiar faces - including the likes of Nathan Haas and his former teammate, Daniel Oss. It’s worth pointing out that the Austrian is no stranger to the rough stuff either, having raced mountain bikes from a young age before switching to road racing at age 11.
The Austrian has already notched up two podiums in the UCI Gravel World Series, with strong rides in Monaco (2) and Austria (3). Those results make him a good outside bet for Unbound, a race infamous for its brutal mileage, unpredictable conditions, and leg-sapping Kansas gravel.
(Image credit: Rose Racing Circle)
To tackle the chaos of Unbound, Pöstlberger will be aboard the Rose Backroad FF, the German brand’s lightweight, race-optimised gravel bike. It’s a purpose-built machine designed for high-speed performance on mixed surfaces, with a fully carbon frame and integrated cockpit setup.
At just over 7.5kg, Pöstlberger’s steed is pretty lean for a gravel bike. Aiding the build is a set of Newmen Advanced SL X.R.36 wheels, which tip the scales at just 1385g for the pair.
A bike complete with 1x13 shifting, and 45mm tyres.
(Image credit: Rose Racing Circle)
Shifting is handled by the latest SRAM Red AXS XPLR groupset, set up in a 1x configuration. Pöstlberger is running a 46T chainring up front and a 10–46T cassette at the back.
Tyre choice is critical at Unbound. Pöstlberger will be racing on Schwalbe’s G-One RS Pro tyres in 45mm width - right at the maximum of the Backroad FF’s claimed clearance. The added width offers more grip and comfort across Unbound’s notoriously varied terrain.
Rose Racing Circle has sent 3 riders to Unbound 2025.
(Image credit: Rose Racing Circle)
Year after year we are seeing more pros and ex-pros take to the dirt roads, adding to the gravel racing spectacle. Unbound 2025 is set to be as unpredictable as ever, so it's worth keeping an eye on Pöstlberger on Sunday in what promises to be a brutal but beautiful day of racing.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Joe is Cycling Weekly's tech writer. He's always had a love for bikes, since first riding a two wheeled steed before the age of four. Years down the line, Joe began racing at 16, and enjoyed great experiences internationally, racing in Italy, Spain and Belgium to name a few locations. Always interested in tech, Joe even piloted his Frankenstein hill climb bike to a Junior National Title in 2018. After taking a step back from elite level racing in April 2022, Joe joined our team as a freelancer, before becoming Tech Writer in May 2023.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
