8 XC Bikes From The Nove Mesto World Cup Pits

Sep 30, 2020
by Ross Bell  
Finally we can go racing! The XC World Cup has rolled into the familiar stop of Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic for a doubleheader event before World Champs in Austria next week. The Pinkbike photographers have been snooping around the pits (socially distant of course) and managed to grab a selection of bikes that were lurking in the team tents.


Andrew L'Esperance's Norco Revolver


Norco Factory Racing s Revolver FS. It features all the new Sram goodies with DT wheels rolling on Kenda s and carbon stem and bar.
Norco Factory Racing's Revolver FS. It features all the new SRAM goodies with DT wheels rolling on Kenda tires and Beast Components' carbon stem and bar.

When the sun hit s just right the team colors pop
When the sun hits just right.
RockShox SID up front takes care of the bumps.
RockShox SID up front takes care of the bumps.

Beast Components take care of steering and holding on.
Beast Components take care of steering and holding on.
Another Sram AXS XX1 build with a power meter and a 36 tooth ring. Kenda Boosters wrapped around DT Swiss XMC 1200 wheels.
Sram AXS XX1 build with a power meter and a 36 tooth ring. Kenda Boosters wrapped around DT Swiss XMC 1200 wheels.


Emily Batty's Trek Supercaliber


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Batty runs a size small frame.

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A RockShox SID up front with 95 PSI.
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Dropper posts are common place in the XC pits these days.

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Trek raised some eyebrows last year with their unconventional suspension design on the new Supercaliber.
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Slam that stem, and check out that lever position!


Henrique Avancini's Cannondale Scalpel


Henrique Avancini
The new Scalpel was launched earlier this year and Henry hopes it can help propel him to his first World Cup win.

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photo
The Lefty will always stand out from the crowd.

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Remote lockouts are used front and back.
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Henrique is certainly proud to fly the Brazilian flag wherever he races.


Pablo Rodriguez's BH Lynx


Pablo Rodriguez s BH NAME is a well kitted orange machine. Even the decals on the wheels were custom to match.
Pablo Rodriguez's BH Lynx is a well kitted orange machine. Lots of matchy-matchy.

Pablo s bike is Fox sprung front and back.
Pablo's bike is Fox sprung front and back.
A Divine dropper post will help with the steeper shoots and rowdy decents.
A Divine dropper post will help with the steeper chutes and rowdy decents.

The BH has a Shimano XTR drivetrain and a Rotor Kapic crank QRing 36T oval ring and a power meter.
The BH has a Shimano XTR drivetrain and a Rotor Kapic crank, QRing 36T oval ring, and a power meter.
BH is using a split pivot design.
BH is using a Split Pivot design.


Nadir Colledani's MMR Kenta


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Italian racer Nadir Colledani's MMR Kenta sitting pretty after practice.

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The Kenta has a flex-pivot suspension layout.
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That's some fast rolling rubber strapped on for short track.

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AXS keeps the cockpit looking tidy.
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A top guide for a little extra security, a dropped chain is certainly not what you want in the middle of an XC race.


Victor Koretzky's Orbea Oiz


Victor Koretzky
The bike Victor Koretzky took to second place in yesterday's short track race.

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How many watts do these cranks see in the last dash to the line?
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Cockpit setups vary massively in the XC field; as things go this looks like a pretty "normal" setup!

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Definitely one of the nicest looking bikes in the field.
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Michelin rubber keeps Koretzky rolling fast.


Sina Frei's Ghost Lector


Sina Frei s new Ghost Lector with a cutsom hand painted design by Cento Canesio a graphic design artist from Italy. Each team member is sporting a graphic that includes their interests and things related to their countries of origin.
Sina Frei's new Ghost Lector with a custom hand painted design by Cento Canesio, a graphic design artist from Italy. Each team member is sporting a graphic that includes their interests and things related to their countries of origin.

Sina s got her name stamped onto her foam grips.
Sina's got her name stamped onto her foam grips.
More details from the swingarm.
More details from the swingarm.

Note that this bike is technically unreleased. Here s a glimpse into the lower suspension design.
Note that this bike is technically unreleased. Here's a glimpse into the lower suspension design.
It would be a shame to ruin this graphic but also so sweet to have on your bike.
It would be a shame to ruin this graphic but also so sweet to have on your bike.

Ghost is using this bike as a mule for testing linkages and angles.
Ghost is using this bike as a mule for testing linkages and angles.


Annika Langvad's Specialized S-works Epic


Annika Langvad s S-worrks Epic. The entire specialized team has gone red this year and red is fast.
Annika Langvad's S-works Epic. The entire Specialized team has gone red this year and red is fast.

Sleek linkage on the Specilialized.
Sleek linkage on the Specialized.
The Brain system is still present on their XC race bikes. It was setup as firm as can be for XCC and will probably be softened up a touch for finals.
The Brain system is still present on their XC race bikes. It was setup as firm as can be for XCC and will probably be softened up a touch for finals.

Sram s XX1 AXS with power meter. She s running a 32T chainring up front. The Roval Control SL wheels are laced to 2.3 wide Renegade Control s.
Sram's XX1 AXS with power meter. She's running a 32T chainring up front. The Roval Control SL wheels are laced to 2.3 wide Renegade Controls.
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A RockShox SID upfront.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks XC Bikes Bh Cannondale Ghost Norco Orbea Specialized Trek Annika Langvad Emily Batty Henrique Avancini


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52 Comments
  • 54 0
 I wonder if Colledani's wheels are prototypes, there's something about them, just can't really put my finger on what it is exactly?
  • 25 1
 It's like NASCAR - might as well make the logos nice and big so that fans can see them from miles away (Prototype is the brand name).
  • 19 0
 @mikekazimer: Shoot, jokes on me I guess hahahaha. Guess it's like the BMX brand Stolen.
  • 23 2
 XC bikes just look cool. I dont ride XC much but I kinda wish I did now.
  • 15 1
 "Slam that stem, and check out that lever position!"

Well she has to slam it, the stack height on that frame is ridiculous for a size small.

We heard lots about downhillers and enduro racers doj g times testing with 29ers and now mullets, so I guess we have to assume XCers did to, but kinda surprised we don't hear more about it. You'd think there would have been to a of articles about 29ers actually proving out to be noticably faster for each and every XCO racer. Especially in XCO, where bike fit and body position are so important. Nino was pretty much the last one to go to 29er because he couldn't get the bar height he wanted, and he continued to win on 27.5 while Scott caught up to him with the 29er design. I'm constantly surprised how many smaller riders seem to throw fit and position out the window just to have the bigger (and heavier, yes not a ton, but these riders count single digits grams...) wheels.
  • 2 0
 Clearly, she needs an even steeper drop stem on that frame. Her bars are level with her seat.
  • 3 0
 Throw into that mix Absalon who was the last to abandon 26inch.
  • 2 0
 @Feideaux: When did he give the 26 up?
  • 3 0
 @bikeman5: IIRC,in his last year riding for Orbea whiich was 2012. It has always bugged my that Schurter is credited with being the small wheel holdout when an even better example of it was Absalon Smile
  • 10 0
 The mullet setup is really only good for harder cornering and avoiding tire buzz on the ass in the steeps. I wouldn't imagine it being beneficial in an XC scenario but who knows, science could prove me wrong...
  • 3 0
 She notably stuck to 27.5" for lower front end until they stopped making them. But Emily is a bit of a setup outlier generally (see the earlier article about the various SuperCaliber setups on the Trek team).
  • 4 0
 Well, 29 actualy runs smoother thanks to physics, so the bike needs a little bit less of suspension travel and the tiny bump robs less energy from the wheel. Then, there is no denying that you need a higher stack height to acomodate all that wheel and suspenions. Nowadays the trend is going up in size on the tires as well, another proven way to reduce rolling resistance on irregular terrain (tires absorbs little bumps that would rob energy from the cyclist). So while the tiny wheel would be faster to accelerate, the bigger one is easyer on the rider to maintain speed. By the size of those chainrings, they are certainly not going slow!
Meanwhile i'm still rocking my 26er!
  • 1 3
 @Notmeatall: Yes, we know the theory of big wheels. I'm talking about real-world actual testing. Like I said, I'm sure it happened, but it just didn't seem as big a deal in the XC world, where from the outside it looked like everyone just jumped on 29er ASAP, as opposed to in DH and enduro where we heard a lot about back-to-back timed testing, and many of the smaller riders actually stuck with 27 or went back to 27 rear as soon as they could. Those riders that went back often said it was about bike fit and positioning as well as feeling comfortable on the bike. Some of those XC setups look to have tossed out the book on fit and position in the name of just getting to big wheels, and that seems odd.
  • 2 0
 I'm just waiting for these things to get so big, they'll have to implement a ban on milk crates at the start gate like in AMA Supercross late 80's.
  • 1 1
 The lever position is what freaks me out! I used to run them down like that but after getting into moto back in the 90s, where levers are generally fairly high, I raised my MTB levers up and up until they are just below horizontal...I cant ride a bike with low levers anymore...I *think* I'm better off for it, but I'm also not racing WC events, although she does seem to be out outlier relative to many pros
  • 2 1
 @RadBartTaylor: Some of my friends have been moving to lower lever positions as their bikes get longer to try to force themselves to weight the front end when cornering. Her position doesn't look that crazy to me.
  • 2 0
 @nattyd: still wanna centered over the bike, if you gotta move levers down to put yourself in the right position you are not on the right bike.
  • 1 0
 @RadBartTaylor: I don't know that they aren't accomplishing that goal. In an XC position with your back pretty much flat and the levers at ~45°, you're probably pretty centered in the bike with neutral wrists. Also, presumably the more you're descending, the more you have to be back on the bike to be centered between the wheels. So, it makes sense to me that enduro riders would want their levers higher than XC riders.
  • 1 0
 @nattyd: its extreme even relative to the other XC bikes...just look at em, her levers are almost in line with her headtube. Again, it works for her, obviously, but like I said, I couldn't do that.
  • 16 0
 What are those Michelins on the Orbea? Gravel tires?
  • 5 0
 What is gravel if not old school XC?
  • 13 0
 It's cool how clean all of these builds are. Pro mechanics deserve more credit for keeping bikes looking and working perfectly.
  • 8 0
 These rigs all look awesome in their own way but Andrews revolver looks esp sweet.
  • 7 0
 Anyone else think the Ghost was next to a Detomaso Pantera? Spoiler alert! Ha ha!
  • 1 0
 Damn, you got me there Big Grin
  • 6 0
 With improved Geo XC bikes are actually a lot more fun than they used to be.
  • 5 0
 NORCO vs. Ghost...so rad! Tough call!
  • 8 3
 #1 Norco
#2 Ghost
#3 S-works
#4 Trek
#5 Orbea
#6 BH
#7 Cannondale
#8 MMR
  • 1 0
 The MMR is so ugly that I kinda like it.
  • 4 0
 That Norco with its raw polished frame is sexy AF! That Ghost is very nice as well.
  • 10 0
 A little bit of jewler's rouge, a rag and some elbow grease will bring out the metallic luster of any carbon fiber frame.
  • 1 0
 I always love the really cool paint jobs on these bikes and the Batty/Schurter bikes also posted today. Then they ride in mud. I just refreshed my bike quiver. 3 old bikes out, two new builds in. Didn't have paint jobs quite like these but they sure looked shiny and awesome on Day 1. A few rides later, they're just as dirty as the old bikes. I long ago gave up on cleaning the whole bike after a ride, so I just brush off the SoCal dust from the drivetrain and put 'em back in the shed. My novice neighbor bought himself a very expensive new Santa Cruz and he hoses the whole thing off after every ride. He came over the other day and asked me why the headset was so stiff - the bearings were totally rusty. I told him he either needs a full-on mechanic crew like Batty and Schurter or to put the hose away.
  • 1 0
 @clicker My best guesses.....
Andrew L'Esperance's Norco Revolver > HT M1T
Emily Batty's Trek Supercaliber > Crank Bros. Egg Beater 11
Henrique Avancini's Cannondale Scalpel > Shimano, Probably XTR.
Pablo Rodriguez's BH Lynx > Shimano XTR.
Nadir Colledani's MMR Kenta > Shimano, Probably XTR.
Victor Koretzky's Orbea Oiz > Look X-Track Race Carbon Ti
Sina Frei's Ghost Lector > Crank Bros. Egg Beater 11
Annika Langvad's Specialized S-works Epic > Look X-Track Race Carbon Ti
  • 4 0
 Fantastic pictures,thank you!
  • 2 0
 I'd be interested in who runs the SID SL and who runs the beefier (35) SID in the coming races. It's not so easy to simply tell by the photos...
  • 1 0
 Nino is running SID 35 110mm
  • 1 0
 On Nadir Colledani's MMR Kenta, what is the reason for the wireless shifter on the left side of the bars? No AXS dropper, so is it shifting the rear from both sides? Something new related to locking out suspension?
  • 4 2
 People complaining about slack seat tube angle on enduro bikes, but look at that S-Works...
  • 7 0
 It only looks ultra slack because the front wheel is propped up.
  • 1 0
 The Trek as well, the seat rail position shows everything.
  • 1 1
 @Austink: Might be true, but its also true that seat rail position shows a lot as Giles writes above.
  • 2 0
 Slacker seat angle is more problematic on longer travel bikes and with the more sag you use, so less problematic on XC race bikes, but I'm sure we will start to see steeper seat angles in the next year or two, the XC market is slower to adopt changes coming from the long travel side of things
  • 1 0
 @GilesSTurner: Emily has always slammed her seat all the way forward.
  • 1 0
 Let's talk about the bike rack setup over the fifth wheel of the semi truck in the Ghost photo. Coolest shuttle vehicle ever?
  • 3 2
 No dropper, this is disgusting. Short seat tube with short dropper, this is disgusting.
  • 1 0
 Interesting how most of the XC bikes pictured here share a very similar suspension layout.
  • 2 0
 They will race the uber muddy course with these almost slick tires ?
  • 1 0
 Yeah, it's crazy. Nino was still on Aspens.
  • 1 0
 Flückiger used Thunderburts -- super minimalistic knobs. (see separate article)
  • 1 0
 Wild ! Henrique is rolling the ENVE G23 Gravel rims on his Scapel set up.
  • 1 0
 Can anyone do a rundown of the pedals on each bike?
  • 1 0
 some online shops already list the new lector and a new riot enduro.







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