We may keep hearing about how 32″ wheels are set to take over cross-country mountain biking, but Scott’s new 32″ aero gravel bike prototype is set to shake things up. Set for an Unbound gravel racing debut this weekend, the Scott Racing Project hopes to show that big wheel rollover improvements can boost speeds for any off-road racing. And without the need for external suspension providers or complex moving parts, Scott just had to create a new carbon frame and fork themselves…
Scott 32″ Racing Concept prototype aero gravel bike
And don’t think this is just a marketing exercise (which it’s clearly also that), because 2025 Unbound winner and 2025 Lifetime Grand Prix overall winner Cameron Jones will be racing this gravel monster for the 200-mile win again this year!
“This bike makes you feel like you’re levitating over the surface. I’ll be experiencing a road race while everybody else is racing gravel! The driving traction and cornering grip is revolutionary. I’m genuinely scared how fast I’ll be able to corner once on a course with proper descents.”
– Cameron Jones
What do we know about the bike?
At first glance, it almost looked like a Dangerholm project bike with the massive, wide tires and wheels and a slammed cockpit. But no, this is certainly an all-new carbon prototype. And after we haven’t seen a new gravel race bike from Scott in a few years, it kinda looks like an all-new, more aero design.
With the taller front wheel meaning a longer fork and a steeper slope to the downtube, Scott has given their 32″ gravel prototype a short, forward-extended headtube like we’re used to seeing on their mountain bikes that also have to accommodate higher front ends (that’s also where the Dangerholm connection sparked in my brain).
The result is that this 32″ Scott gravel prototype gets a long front end, with sleekly integrated aero shaping coming off the fork crown that makes it look almost more Foil than Addict. And then out back, the longer wheelbase also makes for a lower angle to the dropped seatstays, again making this prototype look more like an aero road bike than your average graveller.
Tech details
Of course, we are dealing with a custom aero carbon frame and fork, both newly developed for 32″ gravel racing. But it does appear to stick with the D-shaped seatpost that you’d find on today’s Addict Gravel RC, as Jones is on a full D-shaped post and Gemperle is running the bump-eating Syncros version.
Individual custom Unbound race builds for Jones & Gemperle
There are also some nice custom aero 32″ wheels for Jones, too. Scott describes them simply as custom Industry Nine wheels, not sharing any more detail about what looks to be maybe a 55mm deep aero carbon rim in the new 32″ wheel diameter.
Other than that, Jones’ bike combines up a few standard components for his build, even if the mix is a bit unconventional.
- premium Shimano 1×12 Di2 groupset combining XTR derailleur, Dura-Ace shifters & brakes, and a GRX crankset
- a 4iiii Powermeter on the short 160mm GRX cranks
- 370mm wide ENVE Aero Road bars
- slammed 100mm Syncros alloy stem
- 50mm Schwalbe RX 32″ gravel tires
- XTR SPD MTB pedals
Jones isn’t the only Scott athlete set to race the 32″ gravel prototype; Robin Gemperle, winner of the 2025 Tour Divide and Silk Road Mountain Race, will also take on Unbound on his own 32″ Scott bike. His setup is a bit different, and maybe more conventional? Although Gemperle does have a different – possibly 60mm deep – aero wheelset that Scott doesn’t share any details on. We can see, though, that it features conventional flange, J-bend hubs, 24-spoke lacing, and visible 3K weave carbon reinforcing the spoke bed on the otherwise UD carbon rims.
- complete SRAM RED AXS XPLR 1x 13-speed wireless groupset, including a Red powermeter
- 360mm flared Syncros alloy handlebar
- 100mm Syncros alloy stem &
- 50mm Schwalbe RX 32″ gravel tires
- HT PK01 carbon road pedals
Both Jones & Gemperle also get subtly different custom paint jobs, with small nods to their individual personalities in the detailing. A kiwi for New Zealander Cameron Jones, and a dotwatching track for ultra-distancer Robin Gemperle.
Will 32″ Scott Addict Gravel RC bike be coming soon to a shop near you?
Scott says simply, no.
These are Emporia-only bikes, but…
“RC stands for Racing Concept, Scott’s performance standard: products designed with racing intent from day one and validated in real competition. It was critical to get Scott’s top gravel athletes on the bike as early as possible in the development process, where fast, honest feedback makes all the difference. What works in theory must prove itself in the real world.”
Officially, these 32″ Scott gravel prototype bikes that Jones & Gemperle will race are “pure prototypes and will never be released on the market“. But we’ll have to see how long Scott keeps their word on that!