The test field was broad. In search of next year's trends, the test editors took a close look at race, endurance and gravel bikes.

There are two clear trends in the gravel sector. On the one hand, there are versatile everyday bikes, such as the STEVENS Camino, which impress with their off-road capabilities, practical features and extensive packing options.

On the other hand, lightweight, sporty gravel bikes are becoming increasingly popular. This is not least due to the steadily growing number of gravel events, which appeal primarily to recreational athletes. This is where the completely redesigned Camino RS comes in. Consistently designed for racing and fast, fun rides, it offers a mix of the versatile geometry of the Camino and the marathon tuning of the Xenith Endurance Bike, which is designed for long rides. An aerodynamically optimised frame design was also important in the development, while refined manufacturing methods save a good 200 grams in weight compared to the Camino frame.

Combined with the SRAM Force XPLR 13-speed drivetrain and lightweight Zipp carbon wheels, the Camino RS Pro AXS tested weighs just 8070 grams on the TOUR test scales. ‘No lighter gravel bike has rolled into our lab in the current model year,’ according to the TOUR test editors. Those who want to further reduce the weight could do so by using a lighter component group and even lighter wheels. Then ‘7.5 kilograms would be entirely possible, which would put it in the absolute top league,’ according to TOUR magazine.

As befits a fast gravel bike, it feels at home not only on twisty courses but also at high speeds. The steering geometry, frame tuning and tyre selection ensure that you can ‘keep going for a long time’ even on rough sections of the route, according to the TOUR test riders.

The SRAM Force XPLR 13-speed drivetrain with a 44-tooth chainring and 10-46-tooth cassette is also sporty, offering ‘smooth shifting at high speeds’ according to the test editors. The standard carbon seat post, which ‘absorbs fine vibrations well’, ensures increased comfort at any speed. Those who like it even more comfortable can swap the standard 40 mm wide tyres for 45 mm wide ones, further increasing suspension comfort with the possibility of lower air pressure.

Speaking of craftsmanship: the bike's clean Nordic design not only gives it an elegant appearance, it also makes it easy to maintain, earning the Camino RS top marks in this area.

In conclusion, the new Camino RS impressed the TOUR test editors across the board. It is ‘very light, inexpensive, easy to maintain [and offers] balanced steering geometry’ – enough reasons for an excellent test score of 1.8!

In addition to the top-of-the-range Camino RS Pro AXS tested by TOUR, the bike is also available as the Camino RS Pro Di2 with Shimano GRX Di2 2x12-speed groupset and as the entry-level Camino RS with SRAM Apex 1x12-speed groupset. For those who want to build their bike from scratch according to their own ideas, a frameset will also be available in three colour options.