{"id":59865,"date":"2024-02-29T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/08662496-a477-43f3-aeed-1ba4d52f980b"},"modified":"2024-02-29T14:00:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T13:00:53","slug":"is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders\/","title":{"rendered":"Is this the new Specialized Epic? Unreleased XC race bike teased by Specialized riders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">Sina Frei, Victor Koretzky and Peter Sagan spotted riding unreleased XC bike <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Tom Marvin\n      <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Thursday, 29 February 2024 at 12:00 PM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>Specialized athletes have been seen out and about on what appears to be a new Epic race bike, with Sina Frei and Victor Koretzky riding an as-yet unreleased cross-country bike. We\u2019ve also seen various posts with Peter Sagan riding what looks to be the new bike.<\/p><p>While speculation suggests the team was riding a new Epic EVO (understandable, because last season many of their racers were riding the EVO version of the current Epic), we believe this might be the new Epic itself, potentially with an EVO model also in the works.<\/p><p>This new bike would join the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/mountain-bikes\/full-suspension-mountain-bikes\/specialized-s-works-epic-world-cup-review\">75mm-travel Epic World Cup<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/specialized-epic-ht-2020\">Epic HT<\/a> models currently in the range.<\/p><p>Here&#8217;s what we know so far.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-this-a-new-specialized-epic\">Is this a new Specialized Epic?<\/h2><blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C3vBNhLsYez\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C3vBNhLsYez\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"\/> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"\/> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"\/> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"\/> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"\/> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"\/><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"\/> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"\/><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"\/> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"\/> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"\/><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"\/> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"\/><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C3vBNhLsYez\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A post shared by Specialized Factory Racing (@specialized_factoryracing)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"\/><p>So, why do we believe this is a new Epic and not a new Epic EVO?<\/p><p>First up, the EVO moniker is generally attributed to longer-travel, burlier versions of Specialized\u2019s bikes, lacking the absolute top-end features of the brand's non-EVO builds.<\/p><p>Take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/reviews\/bikes\/mountain-bikes\/full-suspension-mountain-bikes\/specialized-epic-evo-expert-review\">current Epic EVO<\/a> as an example \u2013 it comes with Ground Control tyres and no remote lockout switch on the stock bike, nor the auto-lockout Brain technology. The current Epic gets the Brain shock and the Renegade rear tyre (far racier than the Ground Control), as well as less <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/how-much-suspension-travel-do-i-need-on-my-mountain-bike\">suspension travel<\/a> front and rear.<\/p><p>The picture of Koretzky, posted by Specialized on Instagram (above), shows a bike being ridden with what we believe to be Renegade tyres front and rear.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve Behr \/ Immediate Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>In addition, the bike looks to have what must now be considered a production-ready version of SRAM\u2019s XC Flight Attendant automatic suspension system. The fork is branded-up as a SID Ultimate (the flagship XC model in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/rockshox-suspension-fork-guide\">RockShox forks range<\/a>), rather than a BlackBox version (BlackBox being SRAM's moniker for prototype components).\u00a0<\/p><p>If the current \u2018attitude\u2019 of the stock EVO is to be continued, we wouldn\u2019t expect to see such race-focused tech on the bike.<\/p><p>On top of this, the current Epic is four years old. It's bang on time for the bike to be updated, especially because it\u2019s an Olympic year.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"5 Reason YOU Should Care About XC\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uyHPbQEQbaY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><p>With many of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/buyers-guides\/best-cross-country-bikes\">best XC bikes<\/a> now coming with 110-120mm of travel, we wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Specialized also jumped on this with its latest bike. <\/p><p>After all, many of the team\u2019s racers have already moved on from the 100mm version of the Epic to the 110mm-travel Epic EVO in 2023, reflecting the ever-more technical nature of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/advice\/fitness-and-training\/cross-country-racing-guide\">XC racing<\/a>.<\/p><p>Specialized is rarely left behind when it comes to tech developments, so it would seem odd if this new bike didn\u2019t feature 110-120mm travel, sitting alongside the 75mm-travel Epic World Cup.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-has-the-time-come-for-an-xc-version-of-sram-flight-attendant\">Has the time come for an XC version of SRAM Flight Attendant?<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/06\/Lenzerheide-XC-tech-gallery-17-028c9b6.jpg\" alt=\"Lenzerheide XC tech gallery \u2013 Nino Schurter's bike\" class=\"wp-image-734090\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/features\/pro-bike\/2023-lenzerheide-xc-tech\">It's been hidden in plain sight for a while<\/a>, but we can now see SID forks from RockShox with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/rockshox-flight-attendant\">Flight Attendant<\/a>. This new bike also appears to have a Flight Attendant body grafted onto a SIDLuxe shock.<\/p><p>There\u2019s no obvious Brain system (Specialized\u2019s own auto-lockout function for fork and shock) in the pictures, so it looks as though SRAM\u2019s electronics are being used to control the suspension.<\/p><p>Flight Attendant has previously been reserved for longer-travel applications, with many wondering if the system will see the light of day in the XC world.<\/p><p>That\u2019s all we know for now, but we\u2019re certainly looking forward to the first World Cup races of the new season \u2013 the XC campaign kicks off in Mairipor\u00e3, Brazil, on 12-14 April \u2013 where we'd expect to see more of the latest tech.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sina Frei, Victor Koretzky and Peter Sagan spotted riding unreleased XC bike <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":59866,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/02\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders.jpg",1800,1200,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/02\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/02\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/02\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/02\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/02\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/02\/is-this-the-new-specialized-epic-unreleased-xc-race-bike-teased-by-specialized-riders.jpg",1800,1200,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Sina Frei, Victor Koretzky and Peter Sagan spotted riding unreleased XC bike","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/59865"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}