Made in Italy

We dream we build. From Design to production.
Since 2018, more than 10 people are involved in creating
the best ever products in our HQ Factory in Presezzo.

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100% MADE IN ITALY

BUILT IN OUR FACTORY

Just a dream 6 years ago, reality today: our Italian carbon factory is ready to build frames.
3T's in-house manufacturing project takes the next step. After the award-winning Torno aero crank, it's now time for frames that are 100% Made in Italy.
In August 2021, we started with the initial batch of Founder’s Edition frames followed by 60 frames from our 60th Anniversary Edition. Now the Racemax Italia goes into full production.

FIRST: THINK DIFFERENT

As you may know, 99% of carbon frames are made in Asia, even the very high-end ones. Almost all use the same process, which involves the manual lay-up of pre-impregnated carbon/epoxy and lots of manual labor in finishing. So much labor has two problems; it affects consistency and is totally impractical for Italy.

How would we design the production process from scratch for a carbon frame in Italy?

SECOND: KEY TECHNOLOGY

After a review of all the manufacturing technologies, two key decisions were taken for our Italian carbon factory:
1. Filament winding instead of manual lay-up to improve consistency and reduce labor in lay-up
2. Dry fiber and resin injection instead of pre-impregnated carbon to reduce labor in finishing

FILAMENT WINDING:

Nobody makes a filament winding machine suitable for bike frames, so we designed and built our own. Its standout feature is that it can wind fibers at zero degrees, which traditionally is not possible (as the mandrel rotates, the fiber is per definition not exactly along its axis, but we absolutely need zero degree fibers for optimal stiffness in a bike frame).
Today, 90% of the total frame fiber weight is applied in automated fashion while the remaining 10% produced in the traditional process

RESIN TRANSFER MOLDING (RTM)

Traditional pre-preg material has fibers pre-impregnated with resin in sheets. These are then cut in shapes and applied to a core. This leads to waste and limits the use of the material as it starts curing as soon as you take it out of the freezer. The bladder- assisted production process also creates a less-than-perfect surface, requiring lots of finishing.

Instead, RTM injects resin into the mold after the dry fiber frame is loaded into the mold and a vacuum is applied to remove all the air inside the mold. Removing all the air prevents voids and creates a much better surface finish (less labor in finishing).

By splitting the fiber and the resin, we can choose each specifically for the application, creating shorter curing cycles at lower temperatures.

SUSTAINABILITY

• Producing in Italy means following all EU environmental laws and regulations
• No waste material from cutting pre-preg sheets as winding applies the fiber directly and only exactly what is needed.
• Dry fibers don’t need to be stored in energy-slurping freezers and do not expire.
• Curing happens at lower temperatures and curing times are shorter, reducing energy use.
• Molds are stationary and heating is integrated which is more energy efficient than the traditional presses or heated plates
• No toxic fumes are released during the entire process
• Avoiding the long sanding process strongly reduces the release of particles into the environment
• Lower CO2 emissions from transportation by producing closer to market

Made with passion

The greatest products are born from the passion and desire of great men to make dreams come true. The Racemax Italia frame was born from a bold idea to bring production back to Italy.
Today, in our factory in Presezzo they came to life from the dedication of people who are making it real. Among these, there are also many passionate cyclists. We Dream We Build.

photo credits: @chiara redaschi

A touch of craftsmanship

3T Racemax Italia

A different method that starts from the carbon fiber, and with artisanal attention to detail completed with handmade painting by our partner Tony Spray.
For now you can choose between 3 different colours which resemble the Italian flag: Rosso, Verde and Blu. But there is also an “RTP” version that you can then customize as you want.
Also, we are launching a new special version that is the exaltation of carbon at sight, called “Project X”.

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Torno

This is our first made in Italy project, dated in 2018, all started from here.
The idea was to renew the market, to change the concept, bringing the hands back in time, when the great products were created with craftsmanship attention to detail and a desire to innovate. The Torno is the lightest and fastest crank on the market.

Discover 3T Torno

Only The Best

The best gravel frames would be incomplete without the best components. All our Made in Italy builds come complete with the Discus C45|40 carbon wheels, our Superghiaia or Aeroghiaia carbon bars, Selle San Marco Shortfit 3D printed saddles and the best drivetrains on the market for gravel. We offer 3 levels of SRAM AXS builds and of course Campagno- lo's Ekar groupset.

Exploro Racemax Italia

Our history

1961

The story begins

3T Cycling’s story began in Turin, Italy, in 1961 when Mario Dedioniggi left Ambrosio to found Tecnologia del Tubo Torinese (Turin Tube Technology), a cycling company with a humble start but huge ambitions.

1967

Birth of the logo

Its name soon changed to the more manageable 3ttt and the brand quickly found a foothold in the industry by supplying bars to Italian pro riders – building a reputation for light, strong and beautiful products.

1975

Superleggera

By the mid-1970s, 3ttt was experimenting with advanced aerospace materials including 7075 Ergal alloy, which resulted in the brand launching the world’s lightest cycling handlebar; the 250g Superleggera.

1980

Titles with 3T components

In 1980, aspiring racers and pros alike were treated to a range of handlebars featuring the same bends used personally by the likes of Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, Giuseppe Saronni and Nino Defilippis.

1984

Aerodinamica

Following the launch of the world's first aero racing handlebar, the Aerodinamica in 1983, Francesco Moser used a 3ttt design to set a new hour record in 1984, the aero bullhorn design dubbed the 51’151” in honour of the victory.

1989

Forma SL

In 1989, the brand changed the drop bar forever by creating the Forma SL, which featured a revolutionary anatomic grip that would go on to become the cycling world’s most copied bar design.

1994

ForgeAhead

Remaining always at the cutting edge of cycling technology, 3ttt embraced the introduction of the threadless headset with the industry's first forged aheadset stem, fittingly named the ForgeAhead.

2000

World's first female handlebar

In 2000, the brand changed its name to 3T and ushered in even lighter bars, carbon stems and improved ergonomics as well as producing the world's first female-specific handlebar, the Eva, in 2003.

2007

New era under René Wiertz

3T’s new CEO, René Wiertz, revitalised the brand in 2007 with a totally new component range that introduced the three-tiered Pro, Team and LTD product design. 3T also set in motion plans to return to pro sponsorship.

2008

The carbon Rotundo

2008 was a huge year with Carlos Sastre’s Tour win using 3T components. The Merckx bend was also re-imagined as the carbon Rotundo and forks joined the 3T line-up, the Funda becoming Cervélo’s fork of choice.

2012

Scatto & Giro win for Hesjedal

3T’s ultra-aero sprint bar, the Scatto, became the go-to cockpit for track riders in 2012 while the brand created the first integrated superbike TT cockpit for the Cervélo P5. Ryder Hesjedal also won the Giro using 3T components.

2015

Vroomen joins from Cervélo

In 2015, Cervélo co-founder Gerard Vroomen joined Wiertz, the pair becoming owners of the 3T brand. This enabled a refocusing of the company, reinvigorating and reaffirming its commitment to innovation.

2016

Exploro lands

The first fruits of the new partnership at the head of 3T arrived in 2016 with the reverse-grip Revo aerobar and the Exploro, a go-anywhere, aero-optimised adventure bike that begs riders to explore cycling in a new way.

2017

The Strada

3T launched the Strada – a new take on the road bike that combines wide-tyre-optimised aerodynamics, a 1x drivetrain and disc-brakes. The bike will be ridden by the Aqua Blue Sport UCI Pro Continental team in 2018.

2018

Bringing production back to Italy

It has always been our dream to manufacture right here at home in Italy, and in 2018 this dream became a reality. A new building for office, warehouse and factory in Bergamo, with the Torno super aero 1x crank as the first product.

2019

Start assembly in Italy

Bike assembly is an important part in our conversion from a parts to a bike company. By doing the assembly in-house in Italy, we can ensure quality, quick delivery and constant feedback on all the components we spec.

2020

Launch of the Racemax

The original Exploro took the gravel market by storm, and even in 2020 there was no other aero gravel bike available. Still 3T decided to forge ahead with the RaceMax. It looks like a road bike, rides like a road bike but it also rips through gravel. For the first time, riders can have a gravel bike that is as fast as a normal road bike.

2021

Italian dream

After several years of developing new production technologies, our first Made-in-Italy frame launched. The Racemax Italia is the lightest Racemax ever built and offers several customization options for our customers.

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