Canyon Ultimate CFR: The bike of gravel world champion Gianni Vermeersch

Click through: The Canyon Ultimate CFR by Gianni Vermeersch

Gianni Vermeersch landed a surprise coup at the first UCI Gravel World Championships in Veneto and became the first gravel world champion in history. However, the Belgian did not win the title on a gravel bike. He was travelling on a road bike that had been adapted for the terrain: the Canyon Ultimate CFR. You can see the professional road bike in our picture gallery above.

Canyon Ultimate presented in September

Vermeersch was initially part of a two-man leading group. He made common cause with the Italian Daniel Oss. The Belgian overtook his companion around ten kilometres before the finish and rode solo to the world championship title. His team-mate Mathieu van der Poel took the bronze medal and completed the podium, which consisted entirely of professional road cyclists. This was also reflected in the material.

Vermeersch and van der Poel both rode a modified Canyon Ultimate CFR. The lightweight all-rounder was only officially launched in September. The frame of the Ultimate CFR weighs just 730 grams and the fork only 330 grams. A first ride report can be read here. You can find the detailed test in TOUR 10/2022.

Normally, the Canyon Ultimate is only designed for tyres up to 32 millimetres wide. However, as is so often the case, there is still some leeway to fit wider tyres. According to Vermeersch's mechanic, the Belgian Bici da Strada tyres are 33 millimetres wide at the front and 35 millimetres at the rear.

Data on the Canyon Ultimate CFR by Gianni Vermeersch*

• Cockpit: Canyon Aerocockpit CP0015
• groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
• Gear ratio front: 52-36
• Rear gear ratio: 11-34
• Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace C36
• Tyres: Vittoria Terreno Dry
• Tyre width: 33 millimetres at the front, 35 millimetres at the rear
• Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Superflow

When choosing the tyres for his Canyon Ultimate CFR, Vermeersch opted for Vittoria Terreno Dry, just like his team-mate van der Poel. The two Alpecin-Deceuninck riders were not alone in this decision. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, the women's gravel world champion, was also riding on this brand. However, she opted for a gravel bike with the BMC Kaius.

Click through: The BMC Kaius by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot

Vermeersch's gear set-up is also interesting, as he rode off-road with road gears on the Canyon Ultimate CFR. A sensible decision due to the topographically not particularly demanding route. The 29-year-old was travelling with Shimano Dura Ace and two chainrings at the front (52-36), while the rear ranged from 11-34 teeth.

Another exciting detail can be seen on the bottle cage of Vermeerschs' Canyon Ultimate CFR (see picture above). He had fitted a Vittoria Pit Stop Kit there so that he could quickly repair a defect himself in an emergency.

*Information according to Bici da Strada