Cinelli King Zydeco II 2026 — Shimano GRX 820 2x12s | Fulcrum Rapid Red AL

Some gravel bikes are built for adventure. The King Zydeco II is built for one thing: winning. The fastest, lightest gravel bike Cinelli has ever made, engineered for elite racing performance, maximum responsiveness, and versatility across mixed terrain — the natural choice for riders who treat gravel as a competitive discipline.

Perfect for:

• UCI gravel competitions
• Endurance races
• Fast mixed-surface riding
• Winter training and off-season conditioning

A serious weight reduction

The frame kit is 400g lighter than the original King Zydeco, with a further -273g (size M) thanks to the integrated Columbus Components handlebar and seatpost, and another -92g from aerodynamic and structural streamlining. The result: a frame and fork 6% lighter than the previous generation, for a complete kit that's 15% lighter overall.

Stiffness and ride quality

Bottom bracket stiffness is up 5%, front-end rigidity improves thanks to a more compact main triangle, and the Double Response layup keeps fiber alignment continuous through the seat cluster, cutting vibration on rough terrain.

The drivetrain: Shimano GRX 820 2x12 mechanical

This build runs the Shimano GRX 820 groupset in a double-chainring, 12-speed mechanical configuration. For riders who still prefer cable actuation — less electronics to manage, no batteries to charge before a long race, and maintenance any mechanic can handle anywhere in the world. Shifting stays precise and reliable, with the same gear-range philosophy Shimano built specifically for rough gravel.

The wheels: Fulcrum Rapid Red AL

Matched to the drivetrain, Fulcrum Rapid Red AL alloy wheels are built to handle the stress of fast gravel riding without adding unnecessary weight — the right choice when the surface shifts kilometer to kilometer and the wheel just needs to do its job without complaint.

Columbus Components:

• Integrated handlebar: 380g (420×100mm, painted)
• Seatpost: 215g (350mm, painted)
• 15° flare for enhanced stability
• Proprietary Cinelli seatpost with double-offset locking system (patent pending)

Discover this configuration in our Gravel Bikes collection, or check out our Latest Builds for other real configurations we've delivered to customers. To go deeper on Shimano's mechanical GRX technology, the official Shimano — GRX page is the right reference.