The competition had better be ready. Our high-end cyclocross race machine -completely redesigned for 2017 - is as subtly understated as it is uncompromisingly fast and performance-orientated. It's truly a wolf in sheep's clothing. The Cross Race SL is also surprisingly light and comes equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. It's just a shame the cross season is so short...

Frame: The 2017 Cross Race SL's double-butted Superlite Advanced 6061 aluminium frame is totally geared for performance and completely reworked for 2017. We added X12 through axles front and rear for even better rigidity and steering precision, and used our advanced mechanical forming process to design an ergonomically shaped top tube for more comfortable shouldering. Neat flat disc mounts, vibration-absorbing comfort seatstays and carbon/alloy 'cross fork and mud-proof internal cable routing are all details that will help to ensure the best possible performance, off-road or on.

Features: No doubt about it: the equipment highlight here is the complete Shimano Ultegra transmission, with 2x11 gearing and the perfect shift precision you'd expect. Mavic Aksium Disc wheels aren't just fast and good-looking, they're also tough enough to stand up to the demands of cyclocross rough-and-tumble. Shimano's BR-RS505 hydraulic disc brake system - with 160mm rotors at front and rear - ensures precise braking before a running section or into a corner. And Schwalbe's X-One Cross tyres are built for the purpose, too.