Specialized's current CruX Evo is essentially billed as a gravel – or 'all-road' – bike, but it's little more than a cyclocross chassis with a different build. With the upcoming introduction of the all-new Diverge, however, Specialized will have a dedicated gravel bike.
Specialized has yet to officially launch the Diverge but a number of teasers distributed across various social media outlets paints quite the picture. The dedicated chassis is a curious hybrid that borrows design elements from the Tarmac, Roubaix, CruX and even the AWOL, and the progeny that results looks like it could be a good choice for all-day jaunts on multiple types of road surfaces.
The carbon frame boasts a huge down tube and chainstays similar to the Tarmac but with a dramatically slimmed-down top tube and seatstays that are more reminiscent of the Roubaix. The Diverge also borrows the latter's Zertz elastomeric inserts that are claimed to reduce road vibration, and the frame takes a slim 27.2mm-diameter seatpost with lots of extension to provide more bump-eating flex.
Several pictures also show compatibility with Specialized's upcoming Command Post XCP short-travel dropper post, including hidden stealth-style cable routing for the handlebar-mounted remote.
Specialized declined to comment on the bike at all beyond saying that information will be released July 15.
Specialized's upcoming Diverge looks like it could be quite a versatile machine
Additional features that we can see include disc-only configurations with 160/140mm front/rear rotors and a chainstay-mounted rear caliper, internal convertible cable routing (including for the front brake), Specialized's OSBB oversized bottom bracket shell, front and rear thru-axles, and discreet front and rear fender mounts.
Some incarnation of Specialized's SWAT storage concept is highly likely, too, particularly as some images clearly show a third water bottle cage mounted beneath the saddle and a combination CO2 inflator-and-tyre lever attached to the seatpost.
Among the interesting details are thru-axles and disc brakes front and rear, generous tyre clearance, and internal routing for a short-travel dropper seatpost
The slightly more upright riding position looks similar to the Roubaix but other aspects of the geometry are currently a mystery. We expect a bottom bracket that's a bit lower than on the CruX and slacker angles for stable handling manners. Tyre clearance, like all other details, has not been revealed but it seems safe to say that it will be generous. Ample room for 32-35mm knobby tyres should be a given, but assuming Specialized is serious about the gravel game, the Diverge might also take rubber as wide as 40mm across.
Given all that, it seems that the Diverge has the potential to be an awfully versatile road rig. Judging by the images we've seen, it could also be a very high-performance one as Specialized plans on introducing it all the way up to the S-Works level.
We've been told the official launch for the Diverge is July 15th so stay tuned for more.
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