What will XC Pros Ride at the World Championships?
- By Bill Christensen
- Published Aug. 26, 2011
- Updated Dec. 2, 2011 at 9:15 AM UTC
Well folks, the World Cup MTB season concluded last weekend in Val di Sole. Only the notoriously difficult Champéry World Championship remains on the calendar. It sounds like a contradiction, I know; the season’s over except for the biggest single event there is. The one that gives up the rainbow. The final World Championship event before next year’s Olympic Games.
But that’s how it works, so in anticipation of the World Championships (August 31–September 4, 2011), we thought we’d have a look at what some of the top XC guys were riding during stop number seven of the World Cup Series in Val di Sole, Italy, to speculate as to what they will be riding at Worlds. This is not to be comprehensive, just more of an identification of trends—and right now it’s down to two groups of potential winners: the Specialized guys or the Scott guys.
Specialized’s race and World Cup overall winner Jaroslov Kulhauy (with the excellent nickname of “The Dominator!”) was on a new Specialized 2012 S-Works Epic 29 (full suspension), though teammate and perennial fast guy Christoph Sauser was aboard an S-Works Stumpy HT 29 hardtail. They finished first and eighth respectively, while further back in the field their mates Burry Stander and Todd Wells were additionally on the S-Works Stumpjumper HT 29. The Val di Sole course had a ton of climbing, so for Champery they will all have a big decision to make, as the World’s course has way less climbing, but is much more technical with lots of roots and rocks. The safe bet will probably be to run the Epic, but one thing is certain: Specialized is committed to the 29-inch movement.
On the other hand, there were the Scott boys. Nino Schurter in plate #2 finished a close second in Val di Sole, and Florian Vogel finished in third place, both aboard Scott Scale RC’s, carbon hardtail 26-inch bikes (though they do offer it in a 29-inch version). It’s a pretty stark contrast, but for next week they will have the option of running the new carbon Spark RC in either 26 or 29. That’s a full suspension bike with a three-stage dual (front and rear, one lever) remote lockout and otherwise fairly stock SRAM componentry (26/39 front chainrings w/175mm cranks, 11/36 cassette spread). The Specialized and Scott teams each have a hell of a quiver to choose from, but our bet is that riders will opt for full suspension in Champery.
One other interesting thing seems to be clear as well as unique; the Scott guys are going to be on DT Swiss Carbon wheels with Dugast 50c Fast Bird Tubulars. I know, right. Who runs that stuff? Really fast guys, that’s who. Florian helped to design the Fast Birds; they ran them in Val Di Sole, and according to Dugast, “The Fast Bird tread has a low stud in the middle for a low rolling resistance. The studs at the sides are higher for off-camber sections. Because of the different height of the studs and the different rubber compounds, you can ride on nearly every course by changing the tyre pressure.”
Ha-ha, they say “tyre.” Regardless, Florian and Nino seem to be big fans.
While Kulhavy won five out of seven races this year, the Swissies are knocking on his door, with Nino finishing well in second place, way ahead of Absalon and Hermida. We know what’s in each of their quivers for Worlds. We know their preferences. Now it’s off to the races.