New SRAM Red AXS leaked again? Best look yet at (what we think is) SRAM's new 2024 top-end road groupset

As most people (who care) will know, there's a new SRAM Red groupset coming. We already had a pretty good idea of what it's going to look like following leaked images, but now there's more, giving us our best look yet at the unreleased flagship groupset. The latest spy shots seen on Instagram not only reveal a redesigned crankset and front mech, but also confirm many of our predictions and match the spy shots that we shared earlier this year. 

SRAM Red is certainly due for an update. The latest version, 12-speed SRAM Red eTap AXS, was introduced nearly five years ago, and SRAM has revamped Force, Rival and Apex since then. 

@opaisdociclismo

Speculation began when we spotted unseen SRAM eTap AXS shifters at the end of 2022 on the bikes of cyclocross stars Lars van der Haar, Lucinda Brand and Shirin van Anrooij.

Looking closer at the latest leaked image, shared by @opaisdociclismo on Instagram, the new levers match the images previously shared by @MoBaohua on X/Twitter.

@MoBaohua

The new levers appear to be sleeker, featuring a smaller shifter. Additionally, the reduced size of the hood and a less aggressive upward slope suggest a design choice aimed at enhancing ergonomics. 

There is also a rubber cover at the top of the shifter which is likely to be for adjusting the reach. 

@opaisdociclismo

Previously, leaked images lacked views of the front chainring or front mech, but now we've gained a closer look and the front chainring maintains a similar design to its predecessor with an integrated power meter and direct mount chainrings.

The latest SRAM road groupset, Force AXS, focused on improving front shifting which has previously been regarded as a weakness of SRAM groupsets.

@opaisdociclismo

Like the front chainring, the design of the front mech also remains similar to the previous generation. However, the front mech cage is now black, like on the updated Force groupset. While it's difficult to see from these images if there's a revised shape to the front mech cage, it's worth noting that this was a significant area of improvement with the updated Force groupset, aimed at enhancing shifting performance. 

@MoBaohua

At the rear of the groupset, counting the cassette cogs all but confirms that the latest generation of SRAM Red AXS will be 12-speed, and the batteries look similar to the current generation. 

The cassette pictured looks to be 10-33T, but considering that Jumbo-Visma used 10-36T SRAM Red cassettes last season, it is reasonable to expect that this option will be available. 

@opaisdociclismo

The rear mech and jockey wheels show that weight saving seems to have been a big focus. Quite a bit of the rear derailleur and jockey wheels appear to have been hollowed out. 

> 1x vs 2x: Are single chainring set-ups the future of road cycling?

The leaked image shares similarities with the latest generation SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS mountain bike jockey wheels (pictured above) which feature a Magic Wheel. This allows the outer ring to rotate freely from the inner spoked hub, meaning you can keep pedalling even when a stick gets stuck in the derailleur. 

Whilst we can see limited use for this on the road, the SRAM Red groupset has typically been used for both road and gravel. 

This isn't the first time we've seen tech trickle down from mountain bike to road. For example, Shimano's Shadow Plus technology for single chainring groupsets was developed for mountain bikes and has since trickled down road, cyclocross and gravel. This helps to stop the chain from bouncing around. 

The chain in the leaked images also appears to be a new addition to the SRAM Red AXS groupset, again utilising mountain bike technology. 

This isn't the first time that SRAM has used a chain with cutouts in the outer plates. However, we would hope that it's cheaper than the current XX SL Eagle Flattop T-Type chain which retails at €180/£160. 

@MoBaohua

These images give us a closer look at what the new callipers and disc rotors could look like. Like the rear mech and jockey wheels, pieces also appear to have been cut out of both the rotor and calliper to remove excess weight.

These leaked images haven't escaped the notice of online forums, with many speculating that a new SRAM Red groupset is set to launch in 2024.

Now that images of the chainring and front mech have completed the new groupset (or it appears so, if the rumours and images are to be believed), we'll eagerly await further details... 

Would you choose this groupset over Shimano Dura-Ace Di2? Let us know in the comments section below.