Heïdi Gaugain and her Comete 45/55 wheels win the Red Bull Cycling Survivor, with Robin Early in the spotlight.

Red Bull Cycling Survivor at Charade: Mavic provided support

On 26 September, the Red Bull Cycling Survivor once again brought together the best male and female riders on the roads of the Charade circuit. As a partner of the event, Mavic was on hand to support the participants with its Service Course, providing assistance throughout the race.

Two Mavic ambassadors were also on the starting line. Robin Early was taking part in the event for the first time, whilst Heïdi Gaugain returned with a clear objective: to defend the title she won last year.

The programme comprised three laps and a progressive elimination system, followed by a final stage in the form of a pursuit race on the Charade circuit, featuring the top five women and the top 30 men. The first three loops covered 50.3 km and 735 m of elevation gain, followed by 38.5 km and 652 m, then 18.5 km and 489 m on a steeper course, before a final 3.9 km showdown on the circuit.

Comete 45/55 and 55/65 wheels: two rim heights for racing

Our two brand ambassadors were also able to rely on the latest innovations from Mavic to support them in this event. Heïdi Gaugain rode on Comete 45/55 wheels, fitted with a special ‘World Champion’ edition, in honour of her world title in para-cycling won in early September. Robin Early, for his part, had opted for the Comete 55/65 wheels, for maximum performance across the various stages of the race. Both were also wearing the brand-new Comete Ultimate helmet, the latest addition to the Comete range and the result of Mavic’s aerodynamic expertise.

The Comete 45/55 wheels combine a 45 mm front rim with a 55 mm rear rim, weighing 1,350 g per pair – 600 g at the front and 750 g at the rear. In practical terms, the lower front profile reduces sensitivity to crosswinds on the technical descents of Charade, whilst the taller rear rim maintains speed on the fast sections. The 21 carbon spokes per wheel and 25 mm internal width round off this set, priced at €2,499.

The Comete 55/65 wheels take the aerodynamic concept a step further, with 55 mm at the front and 65 mm at the rear, weighing 1,390 g per pair and featuring a 34 mm external-width Aero Wide rim. When fitted to the bike, these tall profiles prioritise maintaining speed and stability on straightaways – two key requirements for the final sprint – and are available at the same price of €2,499. Both sets feature the Instant Drive 360 hub and its Mavic ceramic bearings, which ensure instant power transfer when accelerating.

The Comete Ultimate helmet weighs 300 g in size M and costs €239. Tested in a wind tunnel, it saves an average of 9 watts in the upright position – the position in which a rider spends most of a race of this format – and even more in the aerodynamic position. Its AeroShape design and AeroFlow 扰流片 optimise airflow, whilst the AirChannel system maintains ventilation.

Heïdi Gaugain takes the win, Robin Early finishes 22nd in his first race

Our two brand ambassadors proudly wore the Mavic colours right to the finish. In his debut appearance, Robin Early, Mavic ambassador, secured an impressive 22nd place following a hard-fought race. This Scot is a specialist in ultra-distance road and gravel racing: switching from long-distance endurance to a knockout format, where each lap is raced at maximum intensity, requires a completely different level of effort.

Meanwhile, Heïdi Gaugain, a Mavic athlete, confirmed her status as a champion by winning once again, claiming the Red Bull Cycling Survivor for the second year running. A triple Paralympic silver medallist on the track and road, and world time trial champion in the C5 category, she competes in both para-cycling and able-bodied cycling.

Another success for Heïdi Gaugain and a solid debut for Robin Early: the Mavic colours were once again well represented at the Red Bull Cycling Survivor.

Which rim height to choose from the Comete range

Comete wheels are suitable for mountain routes as well as fast routes, depending on the rim height chosen. The Comete 45/55 and Comete 55/65 wheels sit at the top of the range, at the same price, and are distinguished by their profile.

To choose, start by considering your riding style and the terrain you’ll be tackling. A rugged route, with mountain passes and winding descents, benefits from the lower front profile of the Comete 45/55 wheels and the 40 g weight saving per pair. A fast, open route justifies the taller profiles of the Comete 55/65 wheels. And for time trials, Mavic has developed the Comete 85 wheels and Comete Disc Road, the fastest wheels in the Comete range.

FAQ – Comete wheels on the Red Bull Cycling Survivor

Qualification for the final stage of the Red Bull Cycling Survivor is decided over the first three laps, each followed by a ranking and a round of eliminations: 100 riders remain after the first lap, another 100 after the second, and then 70 after the third. For this second edition, the first 30 riders to cross the line at the end of the third lap receive time bonuses, ranging from 30 seconds for the first to 1 second for the thirtieth. These time bonuses then determine each rider’s start time in the final pursuit: the rider with the best cumulative time sets off first, and his rivals must close the gap over 3.9 km.

Comete 45/55 wheels are designed around a UST Tubeless Ready rim with an internal width of 25 mm, optimised for 30 mm tyres. This wide base supports the tyre sidewalls, allowing for slightly lower pressure without the tyre deforming under load, and improves comfort on rough surfaces. A narrower tyre section is still possible, but it negates some of the aerodynamic benefits achieved through the rim’s profile, which is designed to allow air to flow from the tyre to the rim without any turbulence. Also check the wheel clearance on your frame and front fork before fitting a larger tyre size.

The Comete Ultimate helmet complies with UCI regulations, so it can be used in road racing competitions such as this event. It is available in three sizes – S, M and L – and in three colours: white, grey and black. Its RS360 fit system allows you to adjust the head circumference with one hand, whilst Mips Air Node Pro technology manages rotational forces in the event of an impact. The shell also features a storage compartment for glasses, the ‘Eyewear Garage’, so you can store them on the helmet when you take them off on climbs or at refreshment stations.

Comete wheels deliver a measured gain of 1.6 W in combined efficiency – encompassing aerodynamics and power output – compared with their closest competitor, and up to 9.1 W compared with other models on the market. These figures were measured in the CMEFE/HEPIA wind tunnel in Geneva at 50 km/h, on the wheels alone fitted with a 30 mm tyre. Two further benchmarks complement this figure: Aero Spokes rims reduce rotational drag by 18 per cent, or 1.1 W at 50 km/h, and the saving rises to 5–10 W as soon as a crosswind sets in, at around 10 km/h and at an angle of 10–20°. In terms of rolling resistance, a combination of a 25 mm rim and a 30 mm tyre proves to be 11 per cent more efficient than a 23/28 set.

There are four factors to check when assessing the compatibility of Comete 45/55 wheels: braking, drivetrain, axles and maximum load capacity. These wheels are designed exclusively for disc brakes with a Centre Lock mount, and are not compatible with 6-bolt mounts. As for the drivetrain, two freehub bodies are available – Shimano HG and SRAM XD – both featuring a 40-tooth ratchet that engages every 9°. The thru-axles measure 12 x 100 mm at the front and 12 x 142 mm at the rear. The maximum combined weight, including the bike and rider with all equipment fitted, is 120 kg. Please check these measurements on your frame and fork before ordering.

Comete wheels are covered by a 2-year warranty, extended to a lifetime warranty on the carbon wheel provided the pair is registered at mavic.com/care within 2 months of purchase. This extension applies to the original owner, covers defects in materials and workmanship (excluding wear and tear parts), and does nottherefore does not apply to unregistered pairs, which remain covered by the standard 2-year warranty. Orders placed on mavic.com also come with a 30-day cooling-off period and free delivery on purchases over €98.99. Spare parts, including spokes and bearings, remain available in the catalogue to help maintain a pair over time.