Mavic has unveiled its latest pro-tier cross-country wheelset, the Crossmax Ultimate, which the French brand claims sheds roughly 300g compared to its predecessor. The weight savings come from several areas across the wheel build.
Of that total reduction, about 50g per wheel is trimmed from the rim itself. An additional 100g per wheel is saved by switching to 20 carbon spokes laced in a two-cross pattern, paired with titanium nipples.
The remaining 100g comes courtesy of Mavic’s redesigned UltraLight alloy hubs, which feature an aerodynamic profile. These hubs run on ceramic bearings and tip the scales at 105g for the front and 180g for the rear. They’re available with a 6-bolt rotor mount and XD driver, though a Centerlock version is also offered.
The rear hub incorporates a 40-tooth ratchet mechanism with a redesigned spring that minimizes drag while coasting. According to Mavic, the freehub body is 25 percent lighter than the brand’s standard version.
The rim uses a hookless design with a 30mm internal width, 35mm external width and 25mm depth. It’s constructed from what Mavic calls an “adaptive layup” blending T1000, T700 and 3K carbon fibers, finished in raw UD carbon.
With the front wheel weighing 500g and the rear at 580g, the complete wheelset comes in at 1,080g. Mavic says this makes the new wheels feel exceptionally responsive on the trail. By comparison, the previous-generation Crossmax SL Ultimate with steel spokes was claimed at 1,395g per pair (635g front, 760g rear).
The maximum rider and equipment load is rated at 135kg.
Development of the Crossmax Ultimate was driven by computer modeling, laboratory testing, trail sessions and input from Mavic’s sponsored XC World Cup racers, who put the wheels through nine months of real-world testing before the official launch.
Even with the significant weight drop, Mavic insists the new wheelset maintains comparable stiffness, durability and dependability to the model it replaces. The carbon spokes, while rigid, are said to absorb vibration more effectively, which helps reduce trail feedback.
So far in 2026, Mavic reports that the new wheels have already delivered results at the highest level. Katrin Embacher rode them to an U23 XCO win in Nove Mesto in May, and the KTM and Mondraker XC Factory Racing teams have logged numerous top-10 finishes aboard the Crossmax Ultimate.
Each wheelset ships with tubeless tape already fitted, along with tubeless valves and Mavic wheel bags. Retail pricing is set at $3,049 in the US or €2,299 in Europe.
