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Then again cross bikes like Super X and Crux have slacker headtube angles than that Grail. And gravel bikes like the Condor Bivio are rather close to road bikes, with the stack too, 593 mm on a 58. Specialized Roubaix is a few cm taller. These have about 70 mm of bb drop too. Diverge also looks a bit like a road bike, though not quite. A confusing time to be alive.
Samuli-
Condor Bivio are rather close to road bikes
that's why I quite like the look of it.
I chose the Grail because the review sites seem to love it, BikeRadar put it top of their list of best gravel bikes
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-gravel-bikes/The Cannondale Topstone is another popular one and that has even slacker angles, 71.2 deg head tube in size large. I have no positive comments about the slack head tubes on the Crux and Super X, I mean it must work for some people but I find the handling weird when you get to 71 degrees like the Super X.
It seems like "gravel" bikes are getting further and further away from road bikes, I guess as manufacturers try and differentiate themselves by having more mounts, more space for bags, more complience, more clearance etc. There's definitely a market for bikes you can build up like this
I just don't think it's nevessary for people who do road rides with a bit of mud thrown in.
Sumo
all size Large
Canyon Grail CF SLX - gravel
head tube angle = 72.5
seat tube angle = 73.5
stack = 688mm
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX - road
head tube angle = 73.3
seat tube angle = 73.8
stack = 592mm
Canyon Inflite CF SLX - cyclocross
head tube angle = 73.5
seat tube angle = 73.5
stack = 593mm