A closer look at Nino Schurter's SCOTT Addict Gravel for his gravel debut

Nino Schurter will start his 2026 season tomorrow, and he will do so in his first gravel race. The Swiss athlete, an absolute reference in XCO for over a decade, has decided to advance his debut in the discipline and will do so this weekend in Italy, in a race that will mark a turning point in his recent trajectory.

"I am a complete novice": Nino Schurter advances his jump to gravel and will debut this weekend in Italy

The chosen event is The Hills Gravel Race, which takes place in Susegana, in the Treviso area, as part of the Gravel Earth Series calendar. There, Schurter will face a demanding course of 125 kilometers with 2,350 meters of accumulated elevation gain, a profile that combines endurance and effort management, more akin to the marathon world than to the explosive Olympic format in which he has built his legend.

The runner himself has confirmed that this is his first competition on a gravel bike. "Tomorrow will be the first time I race a gravel event," he explained beforehand. It is worth noting that Schurter has recently become a father for the second time, and the choice of this race is not due to a grand strategic plan, but rather a practical decision in a transition season. "It's not too far from where I live, and this is the first year I am not competing in the Mountain Bike World Cup, so I want to do different things," he acknowledged.

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Schurter already has other gravel races on his calendar, such as Utopia or Traka, confirming that his foray into this discipline will not be a one-off, but part of a broader program that will take shape in the coming months.

As for his expectations, the Swiss downplays any competitive pressure, although he does not renounce his character. "I am not a professional 100% like before, so I want to enjoy it. That is the main goal," he stated. Even so, he makes it clear that the mentality does not change completely when the race starts. "I am competitive, and as soon as the race begins, I always switch to competition mode."

Details of Nino Schurter's SCOTT Addict Gravel RC

Schurter approaches this debut aware that he is starting from scratch in the discipline, but with very careful technical preparation. He himself acknowledges that he is "completely a novice in gravel," although that has not prevented him from fine-tuning his bike for this first experience at The Hills.

 

 

 

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He will compete on a Scott Addict Gravel RC fully equipped with Syncros components (wheels, saddle, seat post, and handlebars), combined with SRAM RED XPLR brakes and drivetrain, although adapted with a setup from mountain biking to gain range, featuring a cassette that goes from 10 to 52 and a 46-tooth chainring.

He has also opted for road pedals, Syncros carbon wheels, and Maxxis Reaver tires of 45 mm with a new compound. In terrain where navigation also plays a key role, he will carry a Garmin bike computer to follow the route, as well as a complete repair kit that includes a electric pump, tube, CO2 cartridges, and plugs integrated into the handlebars to address any issues during the race.

This first test will allow for an immediate assessment of what Schurter's role may be in this new scenario. With no previous references and an open approach, his debut not only generates expectations for the result but also for what it may anticipate for his competitive future.