{"id":52968,"date":"2023-08-14T18:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T16:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=742963"},"modified":"2023-08-14T18:35:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T16:35:36","slug":"5-xc-tech-highlights-from-the-2023-uci-cycling-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/5-xc-tech-highlights-from-the-2023-uci-cycling-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"5 XC tech highlights from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Electronic suspension, Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot’s Pinarello Dogma hardtail and custom paint <\/p>

By Finlay Anderson\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 14 August 2023 at 16:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships brought the world\u2019s best cross-country riders to the legendary trails of Glentress Forest in the Scottish Borders.<\/p>\n

The venue played host to the XC marathon, the hastily scheduled short course champs and all of the XCO events.<\/p>\n

We were on hand to sniff out the best tech raced on the highly technical course. Here are our five top tech highlights from the 2023 XC World Championships.<\/p>\n

RockShox Flight Attendant is coming to XC<\/h2>\n
\"Glentress-XCO-Trek-Supercaliber-0077\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Vlad Dasc\u0103lu\u2019s Trek Supercaliber was equipped with Flight Attendant on both the fork and shock.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

RockShox Flight Attendant<\/a> is an automatic electronic suspension system, which adapts the suspension\u2019s damper to the terrain using sensors in the fork, shock and cranks.<\/p>\n

First released in 2021, it\u2019s currently only available on the brand\u2019s range of trail and enduro suspension<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In June, we spotted a RockShox Flight Attendant-equipped SID fork on Nino Schurter\u2019s Scott Spark race bike at the Lenzerheide World Cup<\/a>, hinting that an XC-focused version was nearing production.<\/p>\n

\"Glentress-XCO-rockshox-flight-attendant-0095\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
It\u2019s safe to say this doesn\u2019t look like an early-stage prototype.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

We managed to get an even better look at the electronic suspension system, including the new Flight Attendant-equipped RockShox SIDLuxe IsoStrut rear shock.<\/p>\n

We spotted a number of teams testing the new tech, including Trek Factory Racing, Specialized Factory and Santa Cruz RockShox Pro Team.<\/p>\n

\"Glentress-XCO-Evie-Richards\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
No electronics here \u2013 Evie Richards stuck to the tried and tested cable-operated lockout.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Interestingly, not every racer with access to the electronic suspension chose to run it on their World Championships bike.<\/p>\n

British favourite Evie Richards, who placed sixth in Saturday\u2019s race, was spotted running a good ol\u2019 cable-operated lockout on both her fork and shock.<\/p>\n

\"Glentress-XCO-rockshox-flight-attendant-0238\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Jolanda Neff\u2019s Trek Supercaliber sported Flight Attendant front and rear.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On the other hand, Richards\u2019 Trek Factory teammate, Jolanda Neff, rode the same new Trek Supercaliber<\/a> bike on the Glentress course but opted to go fully electronic.<\/p>\n

\"UCI<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Luca Schwarzbauer was running a SID\/SIDLuxe combo with Flight Attendant on his Canyon Lux.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ewan Bootman – SNS Group \/ Getty<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Canyon CLLCTV\u2019s Luca Schwarzbauer was another rider sporting the electronic tech. His RockShox\/SRAM-equipped Canyon Lux race bike was specced with a SID Flight Attendant fork and a SIDLuxe Ultimate Flight Attendant shock. The German rider bagged ninth place in the XCO.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two gold medals for the new Pinarello Dogma XC hardtail<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hardtails aren\u2019t dead!<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Despite the trend towards gnarlier courses and many riders switching to full-suspension bikes, this weekend proved there\u2019s still a place for XC hardtails.<\/p>\n

While the vast majority of riders chose to ride full-suspension bikes, Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot went with the new Pinarello Dogma XC hardtail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new Dogma hardtail features Pinarello\u2019s signature asymmetric design, which is claimed to better balance pedalling forces at the rear of the bike.<\/p>\n

Like the full suspension of the bike, a strut bridges the gap between the down tube and seat tube, creating an unusual third triangle above the bottom-bracket shell.<\/p>\n

Pinarello claims this improves the pedalling stiffness of the bike.<\/p>\n

The world champs specialist went on to win gold in both the XCC and XCO on board the new hardtail, despite the course at Glentress featuring some seriously rough technical rock sections and ample rooty passages.<\/p>\n

\"Glentress-XCO-PFP-Dogma-hardtail-0367\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot seems right at home on the new Dogma XC hardtail, winning both the XCC and XCO races back-to-back.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Electronic suspension on Tom Pidcock\u2019s race bike?<\/h2>\n
\"Glentress-XCO-Pidcock-Dogma-0107\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Tom Pidcock took the win in the men\u2019s elite XCO event.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot\u2019s INEOS teammate Tom Pidcock chose to race the full-suspension version of the Pinarello Dogma<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After months of teasing, the bike was released in May.<\/p>\n

\"GLASGOW,<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pinarello can only be happy with its results at the 2023 mountain bike World Championships.<\/span><\/figcaption> Piotr Staron\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

His bike was equipped with SR Suntour\u2019s TACT electronic suspension system<\/a>. Like Flight Attendant or Fox Live Valve, this provides automatic suspension control, though the system is less sophisticated, with only one sensor.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t seem to slow him down, because he went on to take the World Championships title on what was to be a very good day for Pinarello.<\/p>\n

Look at those wheels<\/h2>\n
\"Glentress-XCO-Isla-Short-0119\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Bike Ahead Composites wheels on Isla Short\u2019s Ghost Lector FS definitely look the part.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Hometown hero Isla Short was a firm fan-favourite this weekend.<\/p>\n

Her Ghost Factory Racing Lector FS was one of the most futuristic race bikes on the circuit, thanks largely to the six-spoke monocoque wheels.<\/p>\n

Made in Germany by Bike Ahead Composites, the production Biturbo RS wheelset has a combined weight of 1,349g.<\/p>\n

Despite their low weight, the wheels are also rated for trail riding.<\/p>\n

Eye-catching paintjobs<\/h2>\n
\"Glentress-XCO-rockshox-flight-attendant-0133\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Check out this lovely blue Santa Cruz RockShox Pro Team Blur CC.It wouldn\u2019t be the World Championships without custom paintjobs.<\/p>\n

While the cross-country crowd sometimes forgo elaborate frame art in favour of saving grams, we spotted a few lovely frames that would be rude to ignore.<\/p>\n

The Santa Cruz RockShox Pro Team bikes were sporting a lovely blue paintjob that, while appearing understated from afar, revealed some beautiful details upon closer inspection.<\/p>\n

\"Glentress-XCO-Sam-Gaze-Canyon-Lux-0147\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Alpecin\u2013Deceuninck team had some lovely, minimal tartan highlights on their Canyon Lux race bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Alpecin\u2013Deceuninck\u2019s Sam Gaze was another rider who had a great weekend.<\/p>\n

The tall Kiwi powered to gold in the XCC and almost ended Pidcock\u2019s dream in the XCO, where he came second.<\/p>\n

His Fox and Shimano-equipped Canyon Lux had a sleek paintjob with subtle touches of tartan on the chainstays and top tube.<\/p>\n

\"Glentress-XCO-Jolanda-Neff-flight-attendant-0218\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Jolanda Neff\u2019s Trek had an extra touch of gold this weekend.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Going into the 2023 World Championships as the current Olympic gold medalist, Jolanda Neff\u2019s Trek Factory Racing Supercaliber was adorned with a bit of gold bling.<\/p>\n

The second-generation Supercaliber<\/a> has been updated with longer and slacker geometry, reduced weight and a revised rear shock.<\/p>\n

\"96th<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Schurter was also treated to a custom bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Piotr Staron\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Defending world champion Nino Schurter also had a bling ride. His special-edition Scott Spark RC pays homage to the legendary 1995 Endorphin, Scott\u2019s first carbon fibre bike.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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