Julien Absalon's BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016

Sep 3, 2016
by Richard Cunningham  
Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016


Julien Absalon brings his Olympic bike to Andorra - a 29-inch-wheel BMC Fourstroke. The carbon dual-suspension machine was one of the first race bikes on the World Cup XC with a full-time dropper seatpost. Absalon is already one of the top bike handlers in the Pro XC ranks, so the 65-millimeter KS LEV post made the decorated French rider even more of a threat on the World Cup circuit's ever-toughening courses. Reportedly, this may be Absalon's last season. If that is true, we're going to miss him - and especially, the epic battles between Julien and Nino Schurter - two arch rivals who, when their horns were locked, would leave the shattered field in their dust in a single round of the circuit. Absalon is an XC legend.


Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
Fox iCD electronic remote shock and fork controls.

Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
One battery for Shimano Di2 XTR one-by drivetrain and Fox iCD
Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
ICD-equipped Fox 32 Step Cast fork - polished lowers.

Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
Shimano Di2 11-speed rear derailleur. Nothing shifts better.

Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do use a dropper seatpost to race cross country.


Julien Absalon Career Highlights

2016

1st UCI MTB World Cup #5 - Mont-Sainte-Anne
2nd UCI MTB World Cup #4 - Lenzerheide
3rd UCI MTB XCO World Championships
1st UCI MTB World Cup #3 - La Bresse
1st XCO UEC European Championships

2015

2nd UCI MTB World Championships
2nd UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - Overall
1st XCO, XC European Championships
1st French XCO National Championships

2014

1st World Championships, Hafjell (NOR)
1st European Championships, Sankt Wendel (GER)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Overall classification
1st 3 rounds of the UCI MTB World Cup: Pietermaritzburg (RSA), Cairns (AUS) and Albstadt (GER)

2013

1st European Championships, Bern (SUI)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN)

2012

1st UCI MTB World Cup, Houffalize (BEL)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, La Bresse (FRA)
4th World Championships, Saalfelden (AUT)

2011

1st UCI MTB World Cup, Offenburg (GER)
2nd European Championships (SVK)
3rd World Championships, Champéry (SUI)
3rd UCI MTB World Cup, overall classification

2010

1st UCI MTB World Cup, Offenburg (GER)
2nd UCI MTB World Cup, overall classification
5th World Championships, Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN)

2009

1st UCI MTB World Cup, overall classification
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Houffalize (BEL)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Offenburg (GER)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Madrid (ESP)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN)
2nd World Championships, Canberra (AUS)

2008

1st Olympic Games, Beijing (CHN)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, overall classification
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Houffalize (BEL)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Offenburg (GER)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Madrid (ESP)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Bromont (CAN)

2007

1st World Championships, Fort William (GBR)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, overall classification

2006

1st World Championships, Rotorua (NZL)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, overall classification
1st European Championships

2005

1st World Championships, Livigno (ITA)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Madrid (ESP)
2nd European Championships, Kluisbergen (BEL)

2004

1st Olympic Games, Athens (GRE)
1st World Championships, Les Gets (FRA)

2003

1st UCI MTB World Cup, overall classification
1st UCI MTB World Cup, Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN)

1998

1st Junior World Championships, Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN)
Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
KS LEV CI dropper post - 65mm stroke, carbon shaft.

Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
Not much tread. Carbon rims are blacked out. FRM Evo?

Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
Shimano XTR brakes, 160mm rotors.
Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
Conservative, 90-millimeter, zero-rise aluminum 3T stem.

Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016
When only carbon will do...

Julien Absalon s BMC Fourstroke - Vallnord XC World Cup 2016

MENTIONS: @foxracingshox / @shimano / @ContinentalMTB / @ridebmc


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bmc Julien Absalon


Author Info:
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33 Comments
  • 34 1
 That fork is colour is sick!
  • 4 7
 One drawback - it is not coated. So you can actually see oxydation happening ????
  • 14 0
 Could be clearcoated?
  • 3 1
 @ikeizer: I suspect that the team won't care, since it'll only get used for a race or two.
  • 2 0
 Hey FOX nice, now I got new project... polishinnnnnn.
  • 4 2
 Absalon must not have liked that horrible orange color!
  • 2 2
 @vRidge: I wonder if any of their racers like it. It's so obnoxious. Thinking about it now, though... I wonder how much weight those bare lowers save?
  • 3 1
 @Bluefire: Ya, especially the orange forks with the red treks (yuk). I've read somewhere that the paint on frames is a couple hundred grams, so what, maybe 20g or so. That's fairly significant in the weight weenie world.

I saw Absalon was back to orange for the race, must have contractual obligations.
  • 20 0
 that polished fork is awesome. Its funny i used to be easily enticed by carbons sexy curves. But now I find myself more interested in the beautiful machined cnc'd look of bare metal. Or as is the case with the fork the natural look of polished alu. It just looks right. So Fox its time to swap the goofy all orange forks the WC leaders are running for some bare polished ones instead. A bare polished fox 40 would blow my mind.
  • 17 0
 Stem actually says 6 degree on it...
  • 1 0
 Good eye.
  • 11 0
 My tires weren't that clean when they were new and I removed them from their box.
  • 5 0
 Luscious XCO machine. I too love the polished aluminum fork legs; I suspect that they're clear ano'ed.

Its pilot is an uber-stud. It'll be melancholy when his retirement comes.

Thank you for this, and the ongoing, excellent XCO coverage.
  • 3 0
 They're not coated nor anodised. Magnesium by the way.
  • 8 0
 That moment where you wake up one morning and realize that the paint on your forks is slowing you down.
  • 8 0
 The rims are Duke Lucky Jack, not FRM's
  • 2 0
 I confirm.
  • 2 0
 I once went to the trouble to strip the paint (or more likely powder coat) off of a set of magnesium lowers hoping for this same effect. The unfortunate reality is that magnesium oxidizes in no time at all. The lowers looked like crap inside of a week. Bummer.
I then polished them up again, and put some rattle-can clear coat on them. It extended the life of the cool raw look, but still didn't last a season of riding. It was really affected by scratches in the clear. More oxidizing. Damn.

If your lowers are aluminum, go for it.
  • 4 0
 Don't even bother painting the fork to save weight. Awesome that he stuck with running a dropper.
  • 1 0
 Reckon there's still a laqour coat there?
  • 1 0
 @nojzilla: No coating whatsoever
  • 3 0
 There is so many more highlights to his career than this and last season. What about the two Olympic titles and many other World cup and Championship wins?
  • 3 0
 the highlights section scrolls down. Its all there.
  • 2 0
 @scissors888: Thanks, my bad... I was scrolling on the page not just over list...
  • 7 3
 29er for life!
  • 3 0
 But how much does it weigh??
  • 1 0
 @jo1212man and @gsbxcmtb9 those 32 lowers are magnesium not aluminum. But you are both so right, raw is always fresh as.
  • 1 0
 Where did I leave that paint stripper, that bare metal FOX 32 looks the business!!!
  • 2 1
 FOURSTROKE like my LAWNMOWER
  • 1 0
 Those Polished fork lowers are SWEEEET!!!
  • 1 0
 Smile Smile Smile Smile Smile Winner's bike ! Smile Smile Smile Smile Smile

Go on Julien !!
  • 1 0
 what's the weight of his bike set up like this?
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