New and exclusive Roval Control SL Team wheels with carbon spokes

Specialized presents the exclusive and limited new Roval Control SL Team 2024. The model features carbon spokes, identical to those used by the Specialized Factory Racing riders and comes to light after three years of development. The wheelset weighs 1,190 grams and has a price of 3,000 euros.

Roval Control SL Team 2024: the lightest XC wheels in the world

Wheels are an essential part of any bicycle and, as with any component intended for high-level competition, they require a rigorous development process in which designers and engineers work hard to achieve the highest levels of performance and lightness. Roval, one of the market leaders, now offers for sale -in the form of an extra limited edition- the wheels worn by the Specialized Factory Racing riders.

The Roval Control SL Team 2024 are exclusive XC wheels designed to help some of the best cyclists in the discipline reach the top step of the podium. This model is the result of a three-year development that has relied, as usual for the brand, on feedback from the S-Racing riders -Koretzky, Blevins, Batten, Stigger, and company-. In addition, they are built by the same expert wheel builders.

The main innovations of the Roval Control SL Team 2024 are the new hubs -the brand needed to create 36 different variations before settling on the final design- and the carbon spokes, the main responsible for the low weight of the set. The wheels have 20 straight-pull carbon spokes arranged in a two-cross pattern, front and rear.

The spokes, almost 30% lighter than steel spokes and more resistant and durable, are one of the main features of the Roval Control SL Team 2024.

Lightness is one of the most important aspects in wheels, as there is a fairly direct relationship between weight and acceleration and climbing ability. Hence, this is one of the aspects that the manufacturer proudly highlights: the 1,190 grams of the set make them the lightest XC wheels on the market.

Besides the spokes and hubs, Roval has also optimized the shape and lamination of the rim with a flat bead for shedding some grams on the scale.

Furthermore, top-level wheels should also be durable and increase control. Firstly, Roval ensures that their creation "requires 33% more force to fail than our closest competitor"; secondly, control is achieved with a stiffness that provides great steering precision and traction.

The Roval Control SL Team 2024 are handcrafted, only available through the Specialized website and in very limited quantities -although they have not revealed how many units will be available- which can be purchased for a price of 3,000 euros.

The Roval Control SL Team 2024 come with a box that includes:

• Titanium disc closures
• Caps and tool
• Microspline core (comes standard with XD core) to be compatible with a bike equipped with Shimano transmission
• SINC bearings
• Roval Dynaplug Racer Pro + additional plug set
• 20 extra carbon spokes
• Premium double wheel bag
• 1 S-Works Fast Trak 29 x 2.35 and 1 S-Works Renegade 29 x 2.35 tire
• 2 custom Roval bottles
• Personalized cards from the Specialized Factory Racing cyclists

Specialized warns that any maintenance required on these wheels should be done by a professional mechanic. You can find more information about the Roval Control SL Team 2024 on the Specialized website.