Welcome back to another installment of Racing Roundup, where we take an exclusive look at all things Argonaut Factory Racing. But before diving into the highlights, let’s reflect on why racing matters to a custom bike fabrication company.
Why Racing Matters at Argonaut
At Argonaut, our focus is singular: advancing carbon fiber manufacturing and composite engineering through an innovative approach to bicycle design. No one else in the world does carbon fiber the way we do. Why? Because it takes time. Think about how a Toyota Corolla rolls off the assembly line in half a day, while a Rolls-Royce takes weeks, if not months. It’s the same at Argonaut. We could cut corners, reduce labor, and produce a lower-quality carbon frame painted in a nice color. But that wouldn’t speak to our soul as riders. What moves us—literally and figuratively—is ride quality. The hundreds of individual plies laid up one at a time by our skilled craftspeople are well worth the effort as soon as you spin the cranks and feel the Argonaut difference beneath you.
Racing: The Ultimate Proving Ground
So what does engineering and an obsession with ride quality have to do with racing? As it turns out, everything. Racing is the ultimate proving ground for our designs. The nuances of modern gravel racing—from tire size and pressure to body position, suspension forks, and drivetrain choices—are endless. As a manufacturer, we have a responsibility to design the best-riding bikes in the world, ensuring they exceed expectations in the most grueling testing environment: the pro peloton. We conduct extensive engineering tests in-house, but real-world results and racer feedback give us the final word on whether a bike meets its design goals.
Beyond a test lab, racing is also the catalyst for our ride-quality revolution. Ride quality is inherently personal, but at its core, it’s about creating a bike that fits you so perfectly—beyond frame position, into your unique power profile and riding style—that it becomes a seamless extension of you. In modern gravel racing, athletes tackle terrain that previous generations would have only dared to ride on full-suspension mountain bikes. And they’re doing it at breakneck speeds. High velocity combined with unpredictable terrain is a recipe for disaster unless the bike is engineered to protect the rider and preserve performance. That’s where the Argonaut custom process shines. We craft a strategically stiff platform for maximum efforts when victory is on the line, while fine-tuning compliance in key areas to reduce fatigue. The result? You feel fresher for longer, with the strength, stability, and precision to make the decisive move when it counts.
Factory Racing Highlights
This is why racing is in our DNA. Success on the racecourse is as integral to our manufacturing philosophy as each individual carbon ply is to our frames. We refuse to accept the industry status quo. Argonaut exists for those who live to ride—just like us.
Now, let’s get into the latest stories from Argonaut Factory Racing. It’s been an exciting start to the season, with some early wins already in the books:
- 3rd place at the Australian Road Nationals
- 2nd place at Northern California’s elite pro tune-up, the Low Gap of the Grasshopper Adventure Series
- Top 10 finish at Radl Grvl during an off-season training block
Cassia’s UCI Podium Streak in Vietnam
Building on this momentum, our athletes are making waves on the international stage. Cassia has been piloting her custom RM3 to multiple UCI podiums at the BIWASE Tour of Vietnam. Back in the U.S., we’re gearing up for some of Oregon’s finest gravel racing at this weekend’s Real West Gravel in Pendleton, where Matt Wiebe will take on the elite field aboard his GR3. Meanwhile, Cassius is set to represent Argonaut at one of the U.S. gravel majors, Mid South, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Stay tuned for next week’s race recap with Matt and Cassius, but for now, let’s turn our attention back to Cassia’s incredible performance in Vietnam.
After settling into the elite road racing scene on Stage One, Cassia delivered a career-best effort on Stage Two, claiming her first-ever UCI podium with a 2nd place finish. This catapulted her into GC contention, just four seconds behind the race leader, Kamonrada Khaoplot.
Stage Three saw her maintain her form with another podium, taking 3rd place. The women’s elite peloton is stacked with talent, and despite dominating much of the field, Cassia ended the day tied for second overall with Valeriya Zakharkina.
Not one to dwell on setbacks, Cassia came back even stronger in Stage Four, storming to another 2nd place finish, opening a 20-second gap to the next rider in the final kilometers. For those keeping track, that’s three UCI podiums in four days! Her RM3 responded to every move as if it were an extension of her legs—not just a machine beneath her. By the end of Stage Four, she had secured a one-minute lead over third place in the GC and was comfortably seated in second overall.
With just one more day of racing left, we’re cheering hard for Cassia from across the globe as she takes on the final stage of the 2025 BIWASE Tour of Vietnam. Check the live results here as the riders roll through La Dat City. And don’t blink—Cassia’s Southeast Asian campaign continues with a fast-paced criterium followed by the BIWASE Cup.
Up Next: Real West Gravel
Looking ahead, we’re beyond stoked to support Real West Gravel this year. Now in its second year, this race sits at the high-speed crossroads of modern gravel racing and old-school wild west adventure. Expansive skies, rolling hills, and near-perfect gravel make it the ideal proving ground for our GR3.
Meet the Argonaut Racing Squad
Matt Wiebe will be lining up in the elite field, but we’re bringing a deep squad from our Bend headquarters. Keep an eye on:
- Cory Sullivan – A familiar face from the North American Enduro Cup, Cory is a force on the descents and a powerhouse in the peloton.
- Ryan Taylor – Our head of sales knows exactly why Argonaut makes the world’s best bikes—and he shows it in how he rides. Having logged serious miles on top-tier competitor bikes, Ryan confidently says nothing rides like an Argonaut.
- Ben Farver – The man, the myth, the legend. Ben’s relentless drive for innovation and excellence is the reason Argonaut exists. He’s hands-on in every aspect of development, from adjusting ply orientation to envisioning the future of custom carbon. And despite running the company, he rides more than almost anyone—and often finds himself on the top step of the podium.
Why highlight our staff as riders and racers? Because when we say racing is in our DNA, it’s not just marketing fluff. We live to ride. And when ride quality is everything, there’s no reason to settle.