GRAVEL
ROAD
Giant and Liv aren’t introducing just another pair of shoes. The two brands are launching four carbon, race-focused models at the same time, with a clear split: road on one side, gravel and XC on the other, all built on the same technical foundation for support, efficiency and fit.
The Charge Pro (from Giant) and Tesca Pro (from Liv) are two 2-bolt shoes designed for fast gravel and cross-country, featuring a carbon sole, dual BOA Li2 dials and a Giant G1 outsole.
🚀 In brief:
Giant and Liv launch four high-end carbon shoes: Surge Pro, Macha Pro, Charge Pro and Tesca Pro.
The Charge Pro and Tesca Pro target gravel and XC with a 2-bolt interface, carbon sole and Giant G1 outsole.
All four models use dual BOA Li2 dials, EvoWrap construction, 3D arch support and adjustable EPS insoles.
The other two models, Surge Pro and Macha Pro, target road riding with a 3-bolt interface and SRM Power Direct compatibility. Above all, they set the context: Giant and Liv want to establish a shared high-end architecture, then adapt it to each discipline.
The line-up is straightforward. At Giant, the Surge Pro covers road and the Charge Pro covers gravel/XC. At Liv, the Macha Pro follows the same road logic, while the Tesca Pro targets gravel and XC with a last specifically developed for women.
All four pairs use a Giant-developed carbon sole, wraparound EvoWrap construction, dual BOA Li2 dials and EPS insoles with interchangeable arch inserts. The goal is not just to add stiffness, but to better stabilise the foot in the shoe.
A race shoe isn’t judged solely by its sole. Midfoot support, forefoot volume, heel lock and the ability to avoid pressure points matter just as much, especially on long gravel rides where the foot swells and moves more than on a short outing.
The Giant Charge Pro and Liv Tesca Pro are the two models closest to gravel use. They adopt a 2-bolt interface compatible with the main MTB and gravel cleat systems, along with a Giant G1 outsole with tread designed for grip, mud shedding and durability.
The Charge Pro is quoted at 330 g in size 43, with sizes from 40 to 47, a standard D width and three colours: matte white, matte black and Dusty Blue. The Tesca Pro comes in at 290 g in size 39, with sizes from 36 to 43, a standard D width and two colours: matte white and matte black.
In both cases, Giant and Liv are aiming for the classic balance of a high-end gravel/XC shoe: stiff enough to transmit power, yet still usable when you need to walk, dab a foot on a steep climb or cross a muddy stretch.
Competition on this segment is already very strong. The Shimano S-PHYRE RX910, for example, focuses on stability around the SPD cleat, while the S-Works Recon pushes the feel of a road shoe translated to a 2-bolt setup. The Charge Pro and Tesca Pro therefore enter a field where stiffness alone isn’t enough: comfort, walkability and real support will decide.
Giant places strong emphasis on a wider fit platform and a roomier toe box. It’s a logical evolution: very high-performing but overly narrow shoes are often excellent for an hour, much less so after four hours of heat, vibrations and repeated accelerations.
The road-going Surge Pro is available in standard D width and in wide W width in some sizes, from 42 to 45. By contrast, the gravel/XC Charge Pro is still listed only in standard D width. Same goes for the Liv models, offered in standard D.
The difference between Giant and Liv isn’t limited to colours or sizing. Liv highlights a last derived from ergonomic research and 3D scans of women’s feet, with a narrower heel, reduced forefoot volume and more toe room.
On both the Macha Pro and the Tesca Pro, this approach targets a more precise fit without having to compensate with excessive tightening. This is often where so-called unisex shoes show their limits: a poorly supported foot can lead to over-tightening, creating pressure points or losing stability during surges.
The Tesca Pro is also positioned as a women’s gravel and XC race shoe, developed with feedback from Liv Racing Collective athletes, including Tessa Neefjes and Melisa Rollins.
The Surge Pro and Macha Pro target road cyclists seeking a very stiff, light and precise shoe. The Surge Pro, developed with Michael Matthews, comes in at 265 g in size 43, with sizes from 40 to 47, three colours and two widths in certain sizes.
The Macha Pro, designed for women and tested with Mackenzie Coupland, is quoted at 230 g in size 39, with sizes from 36 to 42. It features the Wet Layup carbon sole, dual BOA Li2 dials, EvoWrap construction and 3-bolt road compatibility with SRM Power Direct.
All four shoes are announced at the same price: 399 € incl. VAT. It’s a high-end positioning, consistent with a carbon sole, dual BOA Li2 dials and a competition-focused construction, but it puts Giant and Liv directly up against the market’s most established benchmarks.
At this price, the question isn’t just whether the spec sheet is solid. It is. The real question is whether the fit delivers on its promises: long-duration comfort, no pressure points, heel stability, walkability and behaviour in mud for the gravel/XC models.
This new range is interesting because it shows a clear trend: high-end gravel shoes are getting closer and closer to road shoes in terms of efficiency, while still trying to retain real walkability and the ability to handle technical terrain.
On the Charge Pro and Tesca Pro, Giant and Liv tick the expected boxes: carbon, dual BOA Li2 dials, arch support, specific outsole, ventilated upper, 2-bolt interface.
| Year | 2026 |
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