We look at the most exciting XC bikes heading to the Paris Olympics

By Nick Clark

Published: Friday, 29 March 2024 at 16:00 PM


Cross-country racing will be the only mountain bike discipline represented at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Each year brings a host of new cross-country bikes with updated geometries and interesting new designs that aim to increase performance, but Olympic years always see more.

As the biggest shop window in sport, brands generally showcase key tech at the Olympics, with a greater focus put on R&D to show what they are capable of.

Luckily for us, this means there’s plenty of new tech being launched, and it’s not just the reserve of racers.

We’ve seen RockShox Flight Attendant get a cross–country makeover, with an algorithm adding Active Ride Dynamics, which automatically switches the suspension into open, pedal and lock modes.

Some of the bikes below feature the new system, which works similarly to the SR Suntour Tact and Fox Live Valve systems.

Components aside, here are some of the hottest XC bikes for 2024.

Specialized Epic 8

The Specialized S-Works Epic 8 is the top-of-the-range model. – Specialized

Named after the multi-stage Cape Epic race in South Africa, the Epic is one of the best-known XC bikes. The eighth-generation bike was released last month and features 120mm of suspension travel, but is made slightly more aggressive by a sub 66-degree head angle.

As is the case with many modern cross-country bikes, the Specialized Epic 8 features flex-stay suspension. This uses the bowing of the carbon fibre tubing in the rear triangle to provide articulation to the linkage.

Specialized S-Works Epic 8 full suspension mountain bike has SRAM's XX SL AXS Transmission
The thin seatstays of the Epic 8 provide the flex needed for the linkage to operate. – Specialized

This enables the bikes to be made lighter because fewer bearings are required in the linkage. 

Specialized claims this improves power transfer and stiffness.

The Epic 8 S-Works frame shaves 76g off the previous generation.

Specialized S-Works Epic 8 full suspension mountain bike Flight Attendant adjustment on the fork
An app offers increased adjustability to Flight Attendant. – Specialized

The S-Works model also comes with RockShox Flight Attendant, which replaces Specialized’s Brain technology that has followed the evolution of the Epic up until now.

We were impressed by the Specialized Epic 8’s efficiency, giving it a 4.5-star rating when we tested it.

Yeti ASR

ASR T3 XO Transmission full suspension mountain bike
Yeti has given the bike internal cable routing that avoids the headset. – Josh Conroy

The ASR marks Yeti’s reintroduction into cross-country after nearly a decade-long hiatus. 

With a traditional cross-country frame design that sees the rear shock positioned high in the frame for increased bottle storage, the Yeti ASR balances 115mm of rear suspension travel with a 120mm fork.

ASR T3 XO Transmission full suspension mountain bike
A top-mounted rear shock leaves plenty of space for bottles. – Josh Conroy

The suspension comes in the form of a single-pivot system, which also uses flex stays in the rear triangle.

The head angle is 66.5 degrees, with the top-spec frame using Yeti’s Turq carbon layup, which is said to offer greater compliance at a reduced weight.

Yeti says the ASR is the lightest full-suspension frame it has ever built.

Like the Epic 8, top-end models use RockShox’s new Flight Attendant system.

Cannondale Scalpel

Cannondale Scalpel full suspension mountain bike
The Scalpel just looks fast. – Cannondale

Cannondale’s Scalpel is synonymous with cross-country racing, and the US-based brand has updated the bike for this year.

The new bike has seen a full update, including an increase in suspension travel to 120mm and a redesigned geometry more befitting of ever-more technical cross-country race courses.

Cannondale Scalpel 1 full suspension mountain bike has a lefty fork
A compression circuit can be adjusted at the top of the Lefty fork. – Cannondale

Cannondale has continued to spec the Scalpel with its one-sided Lefty fork. The top-of-the-line LAB71 model uses the Lefty Ocho Carbon fork with a neat TwistLoc lockout.

As with the previous model, the Scalpel continues to use flex-stay suspension at the rear.

Pinarello Dogma XC

Pinarello Dogma XC cross-country bike with Tom Pidcock's paint work.
The bike has been teasing buyers since last year. – Pinarello

Launched last year, the Dogma XC has had a year of riding under Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of team Ineos Grenadiers.

The bike is yet to be made available to the public, but it’s expected to be available for purchase soon and eligible to race in Paris.

Pinarello Dogma XC rear triangle.
No bridges means wider tyres. – Pinarello

With a patent-pending rear triangle, which sees two distinct ‘semi-triangles’ attached to a main rotation point moulded into the carbon frame, the bike looks unique, with no bridge between the seatstays and chainstays.

The Dogma XC has been a test bed for SR Suntour’s Tact suspension system, with Pidcock putting both bike and suspension through their paces.

Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail

Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail
The Crossfire Trail is the brand’s longest-travel XC bike. – Lee Cougan

Lee Cougan may be a name many are unfamiliar with, but the brand has recently released the Crossfire Trail, a 120mm cross-country bike aimed at the meatier end of the discipline.

Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail linkage bearings
Large linkage bearings are said to aid stiffness. – Lee Cougan

The bike gets the brand’s Structural Crossbar System suspension. This sees flex-stay suspension provide articulation and a rear shock that’s mounted in line with the bottom bracket, leaving a hollow section through the down tube.

Lee Cougan Crossfire Trail hollow bottom bracket
The shock mount features inside the down tube. – Lee Cougan

This is claimed to lower the centre of gravity, improving handling while increasing stiffness in the bottom bracket area.

Its 67.5-degree head angle is bang-on, compared to the majority of cross-country bikes and should provide good cornering characteristics.