Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Santa Cruz’s category-bending gravel bike, the Stigmata, was just updated with fresh colors and build kits for the new year, as well as a limited edition splatter/fade frameset. Check out the 2026 Santa Cruz Stigmata lineup here…
The Stigmata is Santa Cruz’s longest-running gravel bike, launched in 2007, and it has undergone numerous updates since. The most recent was released in 2023, and Neil tested it for several months before publishing his in-depth review. To summarize, he fell in love with its fast, efficient ride quality and race-worthy geometry. Although the 50mm tire clearance is somewhat limiting, he found himself rethinking his line choices and injecting new passion into underbiking certain terrain.
Santa Cruz has just updated build kits and color options for 2026, leaving much of what Neil reported on in his review applicable and accurate. It’s still built using their Carbon CC layup, offers clearance for 700 x 50mm tires, and supports both 1x and 2x drivetrains. Despite its performance-first approach, it’s nice to see a threaded 68mm bottom bracket, and it’s also specced with a UDH dropout, 27.2mm seatpost, three bottle mounts, and internal frame storage.
For 2026, the Stigmata is available in two colorways: British Racing Green or Matte Carbon. There are five complete build options ranging from $4,149 USD up to $7,549. Previously, the less costly build was $4,900 USD, so it’s hopeful to see something slightly more affordable. Builds include a SRAM Force 1 AXS option with a Rudy suspension fork, a Force 1 AXS build with a rigid carbon fork, a Rival 1 AXS with Rudy, a rigid Rival 1 AXS build, and the base-level SRAM Apex build. Both colors are also available as framesets, and there’s a limited-edition “htSQD” frame with a flashy black-to-teal fade/splatter paint job. Framesets cost $2,799 USD.
Visit SantaCruzBicycles.com to check out the entire lineup.
Further Reading
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