Why are the 2x chainring tooth-count differences between the large chainring and small chainring lower on SRAM RED and Force eTap AXS™ compared to SRAM’s previous road chainring gearing options?

By shifting the gearing range to the rear, we were able to provide a smoother shift and give the rider the ability to spend more time in the sweet spot of the cassette where the one tooth jumps are. This gives the rider greater control over their cadence for a given speed they want to maintain and means you are never trying to find the right gear. When you do make a front shift, the required change in cadence is reduced when the difference between the two chainring tooth counts is reduced as well. That means front shifts require fewer compensating shifts in the rear to maintain a given cadence.