AURUM MANTO at Badlands: 810 kilometres across one of Europe’s toughest gravel challenges

Four riders, four AURUM MANTO bikes and 810 kilometres across some of the most spectacular and demanding terrain in southern Spain. Badlands 2026 was much more than a race for AURUM: it was an opportunity to take the MANTO into one of Europe’s toughest gravel ultra-distance events and put it to the test over more than 14,500 metres of climbing.

From Granada to the Tabernas Desert, through endless gravel tracks, long climbs and terrain where equipment choice can make all the difference, our four MANTO bikes completed Badlands with setups specifically prepared for several days of riding.

Four AURUM MANTO bikes at Badlands

AURUM arrived at Badlands with four riders and four MANTO bikes in three different colourways from the collection: Veleta Grey, Andean Mocha and Cadaqués White.

Alongside them, our ambassador Hannah and a member of the POC team also took on the race aboard AURUM MANTO bikes, further extending MANTO’s presence at one of the major events on the international gravel calendar.

The challenge was simple to explain and considerably harder to complete: around 810 kilometres and more than 14,500 metres of elevation gain across some of the toughest terrain in Andalusia.

Badlands combines fast gravel tracks with rough sections, long climbs, technical descents, heat, dust and countless hours in the saddle. It demands a careful balance between speed, comfort, compliance and reliability.

Exactly the kind of terrain the AURUM MANTO was developed to tackle.

Our AURUM MANTO setup for Badlands

Preparing a bike for Badlands requires a different approach from setting up a bike for a conventional gravel race. Over 810 kilometres, improving comfort and control can be every bit as important as outright speed.

One of the key choices was tyre setup. Our MANTO bikes were equipped with Schwalbe G-ONE RX PRO tyres, running 50 mm up front and 45 mm at the rear.

The higher-volume 50 mm front tyre provides additional compliance and control over rough terrain while adding confidence on technical descents. The 45 mm rear tyre strikes a strong balance between traction, comfort and rolling efficiency. The tread pattern of the G-ONE RX PRO is designed to deliver grip on demanding surfaces without sacrificing speed, making it particularly well suited to the constantly changing terrain of Badlands.

For the drivetrain, we opted for a 40-tooth chainring paired with a 10-46 cassette, providing the range needed to handle both fast sections and the long, steep climbs encountered throughout the route.

This setup highlights one of the MANTO’s defining characteristics: its ability to adapt to very different interpretations of gravel riding. From a fast race such as Unbound to an ultra-distance challenge like Badlands, tyre choice, gearing and components allow the bike to be tailored to the terrain and the rider’s objectives.

A gravel bike built for ultra-distance riding

Badlands is an ideal testing ground for understanding what a gravel bike needs when the distances become truly serious.

After hundreds of kilometres, outright speed is no longer the only priority. Stability over rough surfaces, an efficient riding position for long hours in the saddle, generous tyre clearance and the ability to carry everything required for the journey become equally important.

The AURUM MANTO combines geometry developed to deliver speed and control with the versatility required to adapt the bike for racing and long-distance gravel adventures.

During Badlands, the bikes carried the equipment needed to complete the route using Apidura bikepacking systems, demonstrating how a performance-focused gravel bike can also become a platform capable of taking on several days of self-supported riding.

Discover the AURUM MANTO and configure yours here:

https://aurumbikes.com/manto/configure/

Badlands as a testing ground for AURUM

Taking part in Badlands was not only about the sporting challenge.

For AURUM, riding 810 kilometres with 14,500 metres of elevation gain also provided an opportunity to use the MANTO in exceptionally demanding real-world conditions and continue learning about how the bike performs as the kilometres, climbing and hours over constantly changing terrain begin to add up.

That approach is part of the philosophy behind AURUM, created by Alberto Contador and Ivan Basso: developing bikes through real riding experience and continually looking for ways to improve both performance and the experience of the rider.

Badlands took that philosophy into one of its most extreme environments.

An adventure made possible by our partners

A challenge like Badlands is about much more than the bike itself. Nutrition, lighting, protection, clothing, equipment and technology all become essential when the objective is to keep moving for hundreds of kilometres.

For Badlands, we were supported by 226ERS for nutrition; Magicshine for the lighting needed after dark; COROS for tracking and ride data; POC for protection; Apidura for our bikepacking systems; Gobik for cycling apparel; Northwave for footwear; Scope Cycling for wheels; Schwalbe for tyres; and GEMINI for components.

We were also joined by D.Franklin, with Badlands providing the perfect setting to launch the new cycling sunglasses developed through the collaboration between D.Franklin Athletic and AURUM.

AURUM x D.Franklin: sunglasses made for long days in the saddle

The collaboration between AURUM and D.Franklin started with an objective closely connected to the spirit of Badlands: creating cycling sunglasses capable of delivering comfort, stability and performance over long days on the bike.

The model features carbon-fibre temples, an ultra-resistant frame, silicone grip and OPTAREX™ lenses, combining a secure fit with the performance required during hours of riding.

Badlands provided the perfect environment in which to launch the collaboration: dust, heat, constantly changing light and full days in the saddle across some of the most demanding terrain imaginable.

A test that would be difficult to recreate in a laboratory, but one that comes naturally at Badlands.

810 kilometres to keep exploring the limits of the MANTO

Badlands represents a different way of racing.

It is not simply about riding fast. Riders need to manage their effort, look after their equipment, fuel properly and keep moving as the kilometres continue to accumulate.

Over 810 kilometres and 14,500 metres of climbing, our AURUM MANTO bikes crossed Andalusia through gravel tracks, mountains and desert landscapes, spending long days on terrain that continually changed beneath the wheels.

The adventure gave us the opportunity to showcase Veleta Grey, Andean Mocha and Cadaqués White across some of Badlands’ most recognisable landscapes. More importantly, it showed just how far a gravel bike can go when speed, control, comfort and versatility are all part of the same design.

Some bikes are built to get you there fast.

Others are built to take you far.

The AURUM MANTO is designed to do both.

Relive our Badlands adventure

There is far more to 810 kilometres of Badlands than words alone can capture. Watch the video and join us through some of the landscapes, terrain and moments that defined our Badlands 2026 adventure.