Familiar tech is the name of the game for the biggest XC race of the year. Here’s a look at what’s new.
Piper Albrecht
Mountain Bike World Champs Month is coming to its conclusion this week here in the breathtaking mountains of the Vallis region of Switzerland. The Swiss passion for off-road riding is in full force, starting with Enduro two weeks ago, followed by the Downhill and Cross Country Marathon last weekend. This now paves the way for the discipline in which the Swiss are most successful and in love with: the XCO.
Set in Crans Montana, with an incredible backdrop of the highest mountains in the Alps, racing is set to get underway on one of the more technical tracks on the World Cup circuit. A few changes have been made to the course from the World Cup here last year in the name of safety, but the technicality remains high.
Teams in this race are rather dispersed, often appearing briefly for practice and then disappearing back to their accommodations. As a result, we haven’t got eyes on everything expected to be seen this weekend, but there are a few teases around.
The Weisshorn dominates the view from Crans Montana
Scott-SRAM rider Filippo Colombo tips into the waterfall section, easily the steepest section of the track could be at home on an enduro course.Lighter, light wheels
With bikes already so capable these days, not a lot of changes have been made from a normal World Cup round. However, the Trek Factory Racing team are debuting their Kovee RSL wheels built up with Berd’s polymber rope-like spokes.
Whilst the use of Berd spokes is nothing new on the XCO scene, with Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot winning the Olympics on them last year, this is the first time a major team has used them across the board. With loose dirt, off-camber sections, and more slippery roots than you can imagine on the menu here, traction is going to be in demand and the extra compliance provided by the Berd system should assist in grip.
Bontrager Kovee RSL rims meet Berd kevlar spokes, lightweight and compliant.
Double in that these Kevlar spokes are lighter than steel alternatives, it will make what is already a lightweight wheelset (quoted 1,199g) even more featherweight.
Bontrager RSL hubs have been upgraded with Kogel bearing for a little extra rolling speed, Pirelli XC RC tyres for minimal resistance at the ground.Tyre selection
Wet weather at the start of the week has seen a lot of intermediate style tyres in use searching for extra grip on a course with some properly spicy sections, The sun has been drying out the course and many riders will be back on the ultra fast rolling options. However, in place the dirt remains loose and loamy, more akin to an enduro stage than an XC race.
I’ve heard chatter that some riders will continue to use a more intermediate tread in the front to provide a little more security. While walking the course, I could see sections where a little more tread could save a second or two on the descents each lap; the trade-off in rolling resistance could pay off.
Add in some of the tyre-hungry technical sections, and keeping air in those tyres will play an important role in the results (as it always does).
Punctures are going to be a feature this weekend, some riders are opting to use tyre inserts, unfortunately it didn’t save American junior Benjamin Bravman from disaster.
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