Nino Schurter's Prototype Scott - XCO World Cup Round 3, La Bresse

May 27, 2016
by Richard Cunningham  
Spotted Nino Schurter s Prototype Scott - La Bresse XCO World Cup 2016


PB photographer Matt DeLorme nabbed some spy shots of Nino Schurter's new whip during La Bresse practice - a sharp looking dual-suspension design that is decidedly different than the Scott Spark that the multi-time XC World Champion has wielded for the past few years. Gone is the top tube-mounted shock and slender swing-link, replaced by a compact seat-tube mounted rocker (looks like it’s made of carbon) and a vertically mounted shock that pivots on a yoke arrangement near the bottom bracket.

The frame is molded with more angular tube profiles and is designed around 29-inch wheels (Nino's preferred hoops are 27.5-inch wheels). Its paint scheme mirrors the present auto-maker trend of painting prototype vehicles in confusing geometric patterns - a foible intended to mask subtle body profiling from photographic documentation. Whatever, comparing the new and old bikes side by side reveals striking differences that cannot be hidden by such trickery.


Nino Schurter s Scott Spark
The older Spark has a straight top tube and a top-tube-mounted shock. Its seat tube junction is a boxed section, and the suspension's rocker is long and slender. Both frames lack a dropout pivot, but the Spark's rear stays are visibly slimmer.
Spotted Nino Schurter s Prototype Scott - La Bresse XCO World Cup 2016
Compare that to the proto's slender, curving top tube, more compact rocker link, and lower stand-over height. Profiles of both seatstays and chainstays have been increased, and the bottom bracket area is also widened. The head angle seems to be one degree slacker.


Spotted Nino Schurter s Prototype Scott - La Bresse XCO World Cup 2016
The rocker nests inside the large, rectangular seatstays to from a low-profile yoke. Nice bit of engineering right there. The rocker is assuredly molded from carbon fiber. And, "oh gosh," there doesn't seem to be ANY provision for a front derailleur.


Spotted Nino Schurter s Prototype Scott - La Bresse XCO World Cup 2016
A look at the re-profiled seat and chainstays. The chainstays have been straightened, while the swingarm pivot location seems to be the same. Note the DT Swiss shock's larger air can and yoke-type lower pivot. Interesting that Nino is running a 12-speed SRAM Eagle drivetrain, but has chosen to ditch the fancy golden chain. Hmmm?


Spotted Nino Schurter s Prototype Scott - La Bresse XCO World Cup 2016
More stand-over room for the pilot and more room for a water bottle on the small and medium-sized frames. All of the internal cable ports are screw-on types.


Spotted Nino Schurter s Prototype Scott - La Bresse XCO World Cup 2016
Another view of the cleverly designed seatstay/rocker pivots, and of the massively wide and reinforced bottom bracket area - which probably isn't stiffness overkill, considering the watts that XC pros are laying down. I counted the chainring teeth and it appears that Nino is smashing the La Bresse climbs with a 36-tooth sprocket up front. Tires are glued-on handmade Dugast tubulars.





Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

137 Comments
  • 150 2
 "The head angle seems to be one degree slacker."

how the hell can you tell from these photos?
  • 67 0
 Squint. And get really close to the monitor. You'll see it.
  • 37 1
 Obviously he was told (off-record) it was a degree slacker but can't say it straight up.
  • 13 0
 @btjenki: nah, I think he has super geo-vision
  • 7 0
 Wait, what? You can't tell from the photos? Pfffffft hahaha. =D
  • 53 1
 *holds protractor up to screen*
  • 3 7
flag bohns (May 27, 2016 at 15:50) (Below Threshold)
 Are u kidding me! You can't see that!! Wowwww!
  • 4 3
 Use a protractor bro
  • 5 16
flag alexlag (May 27, 2016 at 21:31) (Below Threshold)
 That's RC for you, making shit up just because he feels like he really knows what he's talking about.
  • 2 14
flag ichabodchain (May 28, 2016 at 0:12) (Below Threshold)
 I can definitely see that the head angle ls slacker just by looking at the photos. I do deal with angles a lot in my profession so I have a pretty good eye for that stuff. Sweet bike though!
  • 9 0
 It does look slacker, longer and lower......wait....XC is going trenduro. Noooooo! I blame you Aaron Gwin.
"Most people call it enduro, I call it XC" -Aaron Gwin
  • 1 0
 ImageJ can help with that...
  • 3 0
 Loll 1 degrés slacker. ... and the bike is not on flat ground. Your eye is so impressive.
  • 68 2
 Seeing that the bike is on the floor... did the cameraman knock Nino off his bike to get these shots?
  • 15 8
 All the 29er guys are having a heart attack
  • 6 1
 Nino had to run into the woods to relieve himself, saw somebody on the hillside and asked him to hold his bike.... Spyshots...pffff
  • 6 0
 @yetirich: and he still won the race!
  • 20 1
 "It's called the ground when it's outdoors"
  • 4 1
 @enrico650: so everybody?
  • 45 1
 That doesn't look like a proto, it looks like production.
  • 32 8
 And these stupid paint schemes aren't fooling anyone... the bike industry is sooo wanting to be like the car industry sometimes, it's ridiculous.
  • 42 0
 @ka-brap: I always find it funny how they could just label it with some random Chinese sounding word like "Wondercycle" and put a mustache on Schurter while he's practicing and nobody would know the wiser.
  • 5 0
 @PHeller: yeah that's a funny idea
  • 5 0
 His socks have the camo too!
  • 7 1
 @ka-brap: I like the paint. Now if it was completely wrapped in plain black or grey with no Scott logo decals then it'd look like a prototype.
  • 15 1
 @ka-brap: I am at this point positive that the "camo" paint schemes are meant to draw attention to these bikes as opposed to hide them. If they didn't want you to notice or see they wouldn't be out and about and they wouldn't authorize photos. The proto's out at races build anticipation. It's by design.
  • 5 0
 @DARKSTAR63: For sure. The socks even match.
  • 6 1
 @ka-brap: well his helmet has the same paint scheme as the bike and did in Germany as well... pretty sure the helmet isn't a prototype... lol

Here's a crazy idea... maybe it's just a paint job... nothing new for WC racers to have custom helmets and bike paint jobs
  • 3 0
 @brockfisher05: It's a paint job that mirror a "stealth" prototype style covering. Basically, they aren't trying very hard to mask these things: ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb13512285/p5pb13512285.jpg

Matching helmet: image2.redbull.com/rbcom/010/2016-05-22/1331796286997_1/0010/1/550/366/1/nino-schurter-celebrates-his-victory-at-uci-xco-world-cup-rd-2-in-germany.jpg
  • 8 0
 @atrokz: They are prototype socks!
  • 1 0
 @DARKSTAR63: exactly! It's rather pointless to do the camo finish and then let everyone get close up photos of the bike.
  • 1 0
 @DARKSTAR63: look at the canyon sender prototype they did a good job
  • 41 0
 dentists of the world, your old sparks are obsolete. sell them to me for a loss.
  • 4 1
 Epic!
  • 18 0
 Nino always seems to have the smartest set ups, functionality over weight, and the cleanest set up out there in my opinion...
  • 20 0
 I think his results endorse your opinion
  • 2 0
 He also happens to have one of the lightest bikes on the circuit
  • 19 6
 Are you serious Pinkbike ? Don't you even look at the writings on the wheels ? It's not 27.5 anymore, it's now 29 and that's big news coming frome Schurter.
  • 1 1
 Didn't Nino use to run some "real" 27.5" wheels? Read that somewhere a few months ago ... (by real I mean a real 27.5" of diameter, not the actual 650b with it's 27.1")
  • 8 0
 It does say 'The frame is molded with more angular tube profiles and is designed around 29-inch wheel'
  • 3 0
 @JackWatson: Yeah, because it's been rewritten...
  • 11 1
 It's just a Kona Heihei with Scott stickers on it! :-) www.pinkbike.com/news/kona-carbon-hei-hei-dl-first-look.html
  • 2 1
 That's what I said haha
  • 2 1
 That's exactly what I was thinking when I seen it ! It's a kona hei hei race dl carbon with a Scott sticker
  • 7 0
 "Whatever, comparing the new and old bikes side by side reveals striking differences that cannot be hidden by such trickery". LOL, such wit! @RichardCunningham
  • 9 2
 Is it just me or does the suspension rely on the rear triangle flexing a little instead of having another pivot near the rear wheel?
  • 4 0
 Agreed. They've done more than move the shock and link, they changed the entire suspension design.
  • 1 0
 With how little travel the bike has and the fact that it's carbon it seems a practical way for at least sponsored riders to shed some weight. Odd there was no mention it whatsoever though since it's so rare.
  • 1 0
 @taquitos: if you look at the caption on the second photo they do, in fact, mention that the rear triangle lacks a pivot near the dropouts.
  • 1 0
 @djodadof2: as far as pedaling characteristics go, it should be quite close to the old one. It's still a single pivot with the pivot close to the position of the old one. Probably a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I do wonder though if the longer travel bikes (Genius family) will go for a horst link again. In my mind this layout is one of the most efficient layouts for a frame as far as loads go.
  • 2 1
 @Trudeez: I could have sworn the Spark has a pivot so close to the dropout that it's almost a split pivot.
dfp2hfrf3mn0u.cloudfront.net/241/241982_120688_png_zoom_1.jpg
  • 2 3
 @taquitos: What matters for split pivot vs single pivot is where the brake is mounted...
  • 1 0
 @grgsmith: Interesting. I wonder why I didn't actually call it a split pivot then?
  • 1 0
 Fairly common design. Yeti did it a long time ago with small carbon inserts on the seat stay. Cannondale uses it currently, as does giant. I believe salsa has in the past as well. For short travel bikes it works fine, especially with carbon construction getting better.
  • 1 0
 *double post*
  • 7 1
 29 inch wheels, not 27,5 like the old version.
  • 10 5
 if I was about to buy a +10k xc bike I think that new cannondale would get my money.
  • 27 0
 thats a big if
  • 5 18
flag MTBCAM (May 27, 2016 at 10:27) (Below Threshold)
 IMO no XC bike should ever cost that much
  • 17 0
 @MTBCAM: *no bike
  • 5 1
 @colincolin: Good call
  • 3 0
 Looks a lot like that new flex stay carbon Kona that was recently released, especially with that little baby rocker link and 29" wheels
  • 2 0
 Or Yeti, or Cannondale, or Orbea, or...
  • 1 0
 @LeDuke: I was referring to the rocker link and shock design/layout itself. Flex stays have been getting increasingly popular lately as a whole. My buddy has a new Felt Decree and it's amazingly responsive
  • 1 0
 Holy shit this is massive news if Nino is running a 29er instead of 27.5!! Nino has always looked so comfortable on the smaller wheelsize... I'll be pretty disappointing if this becomes his new standard. He probably wants to maximise he chances to win the Olympic medal.
  • 1 1
 You sure?
  • 5 0
 That's a funny looking Kona Hei Hei.....
  • 1 0
 Dunno about the paint job to disguise things call. Didnt his hardtail at the last round in Germany have the same paint job? His helmet definitely had a camo colour scheme.
........here's a thought maybe its HIS colour scheme that is unique to HIM!?
  • 1 0
 nope. before their new foli roadbike was released it had the exact same paintjob
  • 5 1
 i want gumwall tires...love the look
  • 4 0
 gangtsa whitewallllllllllllls, tv antennas in the back...
  • 2 0
 Nino will surely by no means change wheelsizes within one week, hello!!! Next to impossible and most irrational for any pro to do.
  • 1 0
 I wouldn't be so surprised. It looks like the bike is made for what he wants - IIRC the main reason Nino uses 27.5 is that he felt the 29er was too high at the front. This new one for sure has a shorter headtube than the old Spark to bring the stack back down, and he's running his customised setup with -25 stem and no bearing cap. It looks ready to race.
  • 2 0
 @wingguy: Scott Spark does have a weirdly long head tube, it's like an inch longer than other brands XC racers in size large.
  • 2 0
 OK so maybe Nino will be back on his old wheels for the next race :p It was a less than perfect debut!
  • 4 0
 Where is my GOLD chain...to go with my gold cassette!
  • 1 0
 Probably made the smart move and got shimano...
  • 3 0
 looks like the Kona Hei Hei Carbon
  • 1 0
 maybe its the new giant anthem.....same carbon warehouse for both companies. maybe a bit of cost cuts for both giant and scott same frames more or less
  • 1 0
 The Eagle drivetrain is forcing Nino to switch to a bigger wheel size to minimize the possibility of the derailleur hitting a rock or any trail obstacle.
  • 4 1
 i was waiting a new linkage like on the gambler Frown
  • 1 0
 Looks like nice internal routing for the suspension lockout. And that certainly looks large enough to hide a DI2 battery from below.
  • 1 0
 Whats up with the weird green chain link? Something to do with the non gold chain? @RichardCunningham
  • 2 0
 I am pretty sure it is to mark the chain connector / missing link for easy identification if anything happens during the race, just my hunch
  • 2 0
 Does he even use that 50t cog?
  • 2 0
 I think he runs a monster front ring, 38t maybe?
  • 6 1
 @briceps: I think I read last year it was a 36T. Watching him climb hills in person at Windham with a 36T was insane. I had a local race on the same trail with far fewer laps and still struggled with a 30t.
  • 4 0
 @briceps: ahh you just looked at the pictures...."I counted the chainring teeth and it appears that Nino is smashing the La Bresse climbs with a 36-tooth sprocket up front."
  • 2 0
 @mostlyharmless: oh my god I know. I rode Cat3 on the Windham course and I was in my small front ring for half of the race lol. I probably got down to like 24-32 at a couple of spots... that climb was death. It's so insane, even from hundreds of yards away you can tell how fast those guys climb. The bike practically leaps forward every time they turn the cranks.

Met a singlespeeder there 2 years ago who said he raced in 30-18. I don't know how that's possible Frown
  • 1 0
 @ad15: Touche what an animal!
  • 2 0
 My Spark now feels old Frown
  • 1 0
 When your stem's negative rise is so severe that you can't read your bike computer....
  • 2 1
 My comment about 1x being stupid is below threshold? I never knew it was so offensive questioning fashion
  • 3 3
 One water bottle on a Marathon FS MTB?? Bit of a fail. Cannondale Scalpel is looking better than ever!
  • 8 0
 Nino only needs one.
  • 6 0
 @kabanosipyvo: only needs 1lt of the blood of his victims per lap.
  • 2 0
 Still no dropper...
  • 1 7
flag NorCalScoob (May 27, 2016 at 10:30) (Below Threshold)
 Like allot of bikes out now, it likely accommodates a dropper post, but I'd be surprised if any pro ever ran one. Those goons run these FS XC bikes fully locked out on descents anyways.
  • 5 0
 @NorCalScoob: Julien Absalon ran one in the most recent World Cup in Germany.
  • 6 0
 @NorCalScoob: that goon would destroy you.
  • 5 0
 @jclnv: haha love it! Not only would that "goon" destroy him on the ups AND THE DOWNS but he would get home so quick after he would have time to destroy his mother too!!
  • 2 0
 metric shock
  • 2 1
 Yup, quite obvious. Was one of the forst things i noticed too Smile
  • 4 0
 Hopefully. I'm so sick of fractional shocks.
  • 1 0
 What about when the mud will pile up in the hole where the shok is?
  • 2 0
 Dat stem tho...
  • 2 0
 Looks like a Trance
  • 1 0
 It's also species with UberBooost, a new 157mm front axle.
  • 2 3
 Awesome looking setup and everything, but the stems on XC rigs always throw me off.
  • 11 0
 Negative stems mean they are serious. I rode one for a long time, never noticed it. I too, was serious.
  • 2 0
 There is no other way to climb when they are putting down that much power. For the average Joe it's not necessary...
  • 1 0
 With the front end being inherently taller on a 29er a negative stem is even more necessary to get a half decent drop from saddle to bars. Drop is imperative for power transfer with all things considered geometry wise. Hope this helps mate!
  • 1 0
 @bosnianrider: I can imagine, but the overall look just doesn't look right to me Smile .
  • 3 2
 29 pretty sure
  • 3 2
 Did you read? It says 29.
  • 1 1
 I heard he's using 27,5 in the back and 29 in the front? Is correct?
  • 1 0
 dw single pivot
  • 1 0
 xc legsenduro guts :v
  • 3 3
 Can't figure out why XC bikes do nothing for me.
  • 1 1
 So what's Rissveds riding?
  • 14 0
 Me hopefully.
  • 1 0
 *speced
  • 1 1
 Looks like a session.
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