At first glance, the wheels appear to be the existing Rapide CLX wheels. However, a subtle label positioned next to the valve gives away the game, confirming the wheels as being tubeless compatible.
Thanks to this label, we can gather that Roval is set to continue its charge on tubeless technology (Image credit: Josh Croxton)
When Roval launched the Rapide CLX and Alpinist CLX wheels in 2020, the major headline was the wheels' incompatibility with tubeless tyres, which marked a shift in attitude from Roval and, by association, Specialized too. Roval had previously been unwavering in its belief that tubeless was the future for road tyres, and the Roval CLX 32, CLX 50 and CLX 64 were all tubeless compatible.
Specialized, meanwhile, had spent the prior year waxing lyrical about the benefits of tubeless tyres in marketing its Turbo RapidAir tyres, which it launched at the 2019 Tour de France.
However, both brands backtracked on this narrative heavily when those wheels were launched.
Speaking at the time of the launch, Ben Capron from Roval's Brand and Marketing team explained the brand's reasoning: "Most pro riders and team technical staff appreciate the ride quality, puncture sealing properties, and low rolling resistance of tubeless road tyres. The weight of complete tubeless systems is what they don't like."
According to Roval, the increased force put on a rim by a tubeless tyre requires extra material. The benefits of tubeless tyres, Roval claimed, aren't high enough to warrant the increased weight that this reinforcement creates.
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For Specialized-sponsored teams, the subsequent switch to clincher tyres was far from unsuccessful, despite the associated puncture risks. Julian Alaphilippe gained the most airtime when he won stages of the delayed 2020 Tour de France, but perhaps more impressive was the Deceuninck-QuickStep team's commitment to using clinchers throughout the 2021 Spring Classics, including at the belated Paris-Roubaix.
"We recognize the potential of tubeless road tyres," Capron continued at launch. "For now the performance balance tips in favour of tube-type wheel/tyre systems for the performance road rider. We will continue working to realise the benefits of tubeless road systems while reducing the drawbacks."
True to his word, it appears Roval did indeed continue to work on tubeless and now believes the technology is at a place where the balance tips the other way. As a result, a large number of sponsored riders are testing the fruits of the brand's labour.
Unfortunately, aside from tubeless compatibility, questions remain as to the other specifications of the new wheels. Firstly, it's unclear whether Roval has adopted a hooked or hookless rim, although with a quoted max pressure of 110psi, we're going to assume they will be hooked, it's also unclear whether Roval has been able to maintain the weight that it claimed so important in the past.
One thing that is clear is that Specialized has a new pair of tyres on the way, too, since a pair of as-yet-unreleased S-Works tyres accompany the wheels. This S-Works branded rubber has been spotted in two colours - black and tan - with a silver background housing the S-Works logo near the valve.
New S-Works tyres are devoid of any branding beyond this silver patch (Image credit: Josh Croxton)
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Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
