The Winningest World Cup XC Mountain Bikes Over the Past 3 Seasons

We wanted to find out which mountain bikes and brands are the most dominant on the XCO World Cup circuit. Here they are.
Kate Courtney on her way to winning the opening round of the 2019 World Cup on the Scott Scale. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

World Cup cross-country racing is having a moment. It seems to have shed its image of mountain bikers wearing poorly fitted Lycra kits riding down tame gravel path courses on bikes with 600mm-wide handlebars (with bar ends).

Red Bull has invested massively into the sport, the courses, and the athletes. Viewers can turn on their smart TVs and watch races on a Saturday or Sunday morning from across the world and see athletes battle for a strategic pass, ride out a rock garden with one leg off the pedal, or beat someone to the line by a hair in a sprint finish.

The technology and engineering behind new mountain bikes has no doubt pushed the limits of what’s possible. If you watch a World Cup from 20 years ago and then watch one now, the athletes back then almost look a little awkward aboard their ancient bikes. Since then, cross-country bikes have become lighter, their geometry has progressed and become more relaxed and modern, suspension travel has grown, and thank goodness, the handlebars are wider.

Nino Schurter on the Scott Spark in Lenzerheide. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

With that in mind, we wanted to see which bikes are currently the most dominant on the XCO World Cup circuit. There is a clear winner. This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that we can say it’s the fastest XC bike. It actually suggests a few other things, because there are numerous variables to consider. Athletes change sponsors, brands shut down or start new racing teams from year to year, some brands have bigger teams, and other brands just invest more in the discipline.

For the past several weeks, I’ve been looking at photo stories from years prior, watching video recaps, and creeping on athletes’ Instagram photos like a jealous ex-, to identify which bike they rode in each round, as some switch between hardtails and full-suspension XC bikes. We’ve looked at the prior three complete seasons, including World Championship rounds, starting in 2016 and ending in 2018.

(Scroll down to the bottom of the article to see the full XC World Cup results from 2016-2018, including annual tallies by bike.)

The most winning bikes – or teams

Photo: Scott Sports
  1. Scott Spark: 50 Wins from 2016 – 2018
  2. Specialized S-Works Epic full-suspension: 48 wins from 2016 – 2018
  3. Kross Level: 19 wins from 2016 – 2018
  4. Trek Procaliber: 18 wins from 2016 – 2018
  5. Trek Top Fuel17 wins from 2016 – 2018 (will see more with Jolanda Neff)
  6. Cannondale Scalpel15 wins from 2016 – 2018 (none in 2016)
  7. BMC Four Stroke: 14 wins from 2016 – 2018 and consistent in every season. / Ghost Lector: 14 wins from 2016 – 2018 (all in 2018)
  8. Felt Nine: 13 wins from 2016 – 2018 (all in 2016). Model changed to Doctrine, but they lost Sina Frei in 2018.  American Eagle Atlanta: 13 wins from 2016 – 2018
  9. BH Lynx: 11 wins from 2016 – 2018
  10. Scott Scale: 10 wins from 2016 – 2018 / BMC Teamelite: 10 wins from 2016 – 2018

Analysis

The results above are overwhelmingly tipped in favor of Specialized and Scott. Sam Gaze, Jaroslav Kulhavy, Kate Courtney, and Annika Langvad have all driven the Specialized Epic to the podium many times over the years. This year will be interesting though, as Courtney has left Specialized. However, the brand has strong U23 riders like Simon Andreassen and Alan Hatherly. Sam Gaze is late to start the World Cup circuit due to a concussion at the Absa Cape Epic. He missed the start in Albstadt and finished in 116th in Nove Mesto. Annika Langvad broke her hand in a local race, and as of June 2 she will need about four weeks of recovery time according to this Instagram post. It’s likely that she will miss the next round in Vallnord, Andorra.

As mentioned, Scott-SRAM picked up Kate Courtney and Lars Forster, so the Scott team will likely see even more wins. They started the season off with a bang, and Courtney proved she is a real contender in the women’s elite category aboard the Scott Scale in Albstadt and then she won the following weekend aboard the Spark in Nove Mesto. Schurter started a little behind the power curve and ended up in 6th place in Albstadt and finished 2nd in Nove Mesto.

The Ghost squad, which started in 2011 as an all-women’s team, and dominated in 2018 with numerous wins, picked up Marika Tovo for 2019. Frei is now racing in the women’s elite category and had a huge 4th place finish in Nove Mesto.

Maja Wloszczowska racing the Kross Level in Val di Sole. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

The Kross team may see some results level off after losing Neff to Trek, but Maja Wloszczowska will still be riding Kross, now as the main athlete for the team. Unfortunately she sat the Albstadt round out, and will probably be out for Nove Mesto also, according to an Instagram post.

What role does the bike play?

For a deeper look at the dominant, winning results that Specialized and Scott have amassed over the years, I reached out to both brands with a set of questions to understand how the bikes have contributed to those results over the years.

Scott didn’t respond, but Todd Cannatelli of Specialized gave us some insight as to how the Specialized Epic and the Specialized Factory Racing team have done so well.

Jaroslave Kulhavy on the Specialized S-Works Epic in La Bresse. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

The Specialized S-Works Epic full-suspension is very dominant in the World Cup circuit. [Clearly this isn’t] solely [due to it] being a faster bike, but rather a [part of a] team that heavily invests in XCO racing. How has the Specialized S-Works Epic gained so much traction on the World Cup circuit?

At Specialized we have always emphasized “made in racing” as our philosophy for top performance products like the Epic. In order to effectively develop the best racing products, we need a powerful factory team that we can utilize early in development, and to back up products with race wins when they become available. We may not be able to attribute the wins on an Epic to being the fastest bike, but between in-race development under real racers, bringing athletes along the development cycle, and delivering exactly what the courses demand, we play all the right cards to be the fastest on the XC track.

How does having top pros race the bike work from a marketing aspect?

This one is two-fold.  Having athletes that can bring home results on the Epic shows the bike is capable at the highest level. Our athletes capped their 2018 season with a number of wins at XC World Champs in Elite Women and U23 Men and Marathon World Champs for Elite Women. Having top pros on the Epic also helps us push the product to the edge to develop it further for the next evolution.

What makes the Specialized S-Works Epic different from other XC bikes?

Our Brain suspension is the most obvious and visible difference. Featured in both the rear shock and the fork, it’s the only suspension system that knows the difference between input from the rider or input from the terrain. The system is built around a brass mass with a small spring that keeps it suspended to close ports for oil flow. When the rider pedals, the spring continues to press that brass mass upwards and in place, never exposing the ports and allowing oil to flow.  This keeps the suspension firm.  But when the rear wheel hits a rock or bump in the trail, the weight of the brass mass keeps it in place, the springs collapses, and oil ports are exposed, allowing oil to flow freely and for the suspension to absorb the impact.  When the wheel returns, the brass mass is back in place and oil is restricted.  All of this occurs in fractions of a second.  This leaves the rider to focus on riding, rather than flipping a lever on the handlebar or shock to open or lock their suspension. The Brain 2.0 on the current Epic is leaps and bounds more advanced than previous generations with a faster and smoother transition from firm to plush.

The Epic also has very capable geometry that allows the bike to handle the more technical terrain XCO courses are bringing these days. The courses are rougher and the speeds are higher.  We developed the current Epic with that in mind.

What are a few major changes the S-Works Epic has seen over the years?

Suspension evolution and geometry are the two most notable changes specific to the Epic. Between increasing the rear shock damping quality and BRAIN (inertia valve) sensitivity, we have the most efficient package that never needs extra levers on the bars, so riders are not distracted from chasing down the finish line with full focus. The suspension is firm and efficient when necessary, but eats up the rough parts of the course without needing to activate the shock. XC geometry evolution is a hot topic these days as riders continue to push the boundaries of what XC bikes were intended for. Epic is among the first to things like shorter stems and alternative fork offsets to increase stability and rider confidence, common attributes that create a significantly more capable bike.

What is the Specialized XCO team hopeful for in the future?

Developing young talent and developing better product. Our roster is relatively young.  Simon Andreassen and Christopher Blevins are both in U23 (2019 being Christopher’s first U23 season). Laura Stigger, who we support on her own program is also first-year U23. Alan Hatherly is first-year Elite. Sam Gaze and Annika Langvad round out our Elite male and female riders, with Annika being the most seasoned of them all. It’s pretty exciting to bring up these younger riders who are at the start of their professional careers, as well as help take athletes like Sam and Annika to the next level.

We’re also looking forward to tapping into all of the broad talent we have on the team to drive our product. It’s a pretty interesting opportunity to be able to tap into fresh perspectives on new product.

Conclusion

In the end, I think most would agree there’s a lot more to winning XC races than the bikes the racers choose. While riders on the Specialized S-Works Epic and the Scott Spark have notched the most World Cup XC wins over the past few years, even the brands themselves admit there are a lot of variables at play.

Both companies are heavily invested in the sport of cross-country racing and have been for a long time. Both most likely have more financial means to invest in World Cup racing than smaller bike brands. Considering that there is a feedback loop between the athletes that race the bikes, and the engineers that develop them, Scott and Specialized no doubt have the best feedback available to develop winning cross-country bikes.

2016-18 World Cup XC race results

2018 results

Stellenbosch, South Africa, 3/10. Photo: Cannondale.

Stellenbosch, South Africa, 3/10. Photo: Cannondale.

 2018 World Cup Results
Stellenbosch, South Africa, 3/10
Men’s Elite 
1Sam GazeSpecialized S-works Epic FS
2Nino SchurterScott Spark
3Maxime MarroteCannondale Scalpel SI
4Mathieu van Der PoelCanyon Lux
5Titouan CarodBMC Four Stroke
Women’s Elite 
1Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Pauline Ferrand PrevotCanyon Lux
3Anne TauberAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
4Helen GrobertCannondale Scalpel Si
5Maja WloszczowskaKross Level HT
Men’s U23 
1Petter FagerhaugScott Spark
2Ben OliverGiant XTC
3Neilo Perrin-GanierBMC Four Stroke
4Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
5Pierre De FroidmontMerida Ninety-Six
Women’s U23
1Malene DegnGhost Lector
2Sina FreiGhost Lector
3Evie RichardsTrek Top Fuel
4Helene ClauzelBH Lynx
5Loana LecomteSunn Prim HT
Albstadt, Germany 5/19
Men’s Elite 
1Nino SchurterScott Scale
2Stephane TempierBianchi Methanol
3Mathieu van Der PoelCanyon Exceed
4Maxime MarrotCannondale FS-I
5Jordan SarrouBH Ultimate Evo HT
Women’s Elite 
1Jolanda NeffKross Level HT
2Yana BelomoynaAmerican Eagle Atlanta
3Anne TauberAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
4Alessandra KellerThomus Tomcat HT
5Elisabeth BrandauRadon Jealous HT.
Men’s U23 
1Joshua DubauSunn Prim HT
2Antoine PhillipBMC Teamelite
3Jonas LindbergTrek Top Fuel
4Petter FagerhaugScott Scale
5Fillipo ColumboBMC Teamelite
Women’s U23
1Sina FreiGhost Lector
2Evie RichardsTrek Procaliber
3Malene DegnGhost Lector
4Chiara TeocchiBianchi Methanol
5Marika TovoTrek Top Fuel
Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Rep., 5/26
Men’s Elite 
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Anton CooperTrek Top Fuel 
3Maxime MarotteCannondale Scalpel
4Lars ForsterBMC Four Stroke
5Manuel FumicCannondale Scalpel
Women’s Elite 
1Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Jolanda NeffKross Earth
3Pauline Ferrand PrevotCanyon Lux
4Emily BattyTrek Top Fuel
5Maja WloszczowskaKross Level HT
Men’s U23 
1Vlad DascaluProtek Victoria HT
2Filippo ColomboBMC Four Stroke
3Alan HatherlyS-Works Evo
4Petter FagerhaugScott Spark
5Joshua DubauSunn Prim HT
Women’s U23
1Sina FreiGhost Lector
2Malene DegnGhost Lector
3Marika TovoTrek Top Fuel
4Ronja EiblSimplon XC FS bike
5Nicole KollerScott Spark
Val di Sole, Italy, 7/6
Men’s Elite 
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Gerhard KerschbaumerTorpado Matador
3Mathieu van Der PoelCanyon Lux
4Henrique AvanciniCannondale Scalpel
5Florian VogelFocus Raven
Women’s Elite 
1Maja WloszczowskaKross Level HT
2Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
3Jolanda NeffKross Level HT
4Pauline Ferrand PrevotCanyon Lux
5Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjaaMerida Big-Nine
Men’s U23 
1Petter FagerhaugScott Spark
2Joshua DubauSunn Prim HT
3Vlad DascaluProtek 29FSTeam
4Colombo FilippoBMC Four Stroke
5Christopher BlevinsSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
Women’s U23
1Sina FreiGhost Lector
2Evie RichardsTrek Procaliber
3Malene DegnGhost Lector
4Isla ShortFelt Doctrine HT
5Ronja EiblSimplon XC FS bike
Vallnord, Andorra
Men’s Elite 
1Gerhard KerschbaumerTorpado Matador
2Nino SchurterScott Spark
3Mathieu van Der PoelCanyon Lux
4Henrique AvanciniCannondale Scalpel
5Jordan SarrouBH Lynx
Women’s Elite 
1Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjaaMerida Big Nine
2Jolanda NeffKross Level HT
3Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
4Anne TauberAmerica Eagle Atlanta HT 
5Maja WjoszczowskaKross Level HT
Men’s U23 
1Joshua DubauSunn bikes
2Antoine PhilippBMC Teamelite
3Filippo ColomboBMC Four Stroke
4Vlad DascaluProtek 29FSTeam
5Jofre Cullell EstapeMegamo Track
Women’s U23
1Sina FreiGhost Lector
2Evie RichardsTrek Top Fuel
3Malene DegnGhost Lector
4Rocio del Alba Garcia MartinezMondraker Podium
5Marika TovoTrek Procaliber
Mont Saint Anne, Canada, 8/10
Men’s Elite 
1Mathias FlueckigerThomus Lightrider
2Gerhard KerschbaumerTorpado Matador
3Titouan CarodBMC Four Stroke
4Maxime MarotteCannondale Scalpel
5Luca BraidotOlympia F1X
Women’s Elite 
1Jolanda NeffKross Earth
2Annika LangvadS-Works Epic
3Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
4Yana BolomoinaAmerican Eagle Atlanta
5Anne TauberAmerica Eagle Atlanta
Men’s U23 
1Alan HatherlyS-Works Epic FS
2Christopher BlevinsSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Jose Gerardo Ulloa ArevaloFinnix FS Bike
4David NordemannAmerican Eagle FS Proto
5Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
Women’s U23
1Sina FreiGhost Lector
2Evie RichardsTrek Top Fuel
3Malene DegnGhost Lector
4Marika TovoTrek Top Fuel
5Nicole KollerScott Spark
La Bresse, France, 8/26
Men’s Elite 
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Gerhard KerschbaumerTorpado Matador
3Maxime MarotteCanyon Lux
4Mathieu van Der PoelCanyon Lux
5Victor KoretzkyBH Lynx.
Women’s Elite 
1Jolanda NeffKross Earth
2Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
3Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
4Pauline Ferrand PrevotCanyon Lux
5Alessandra KellerThomus Lightrider
Men’s U23 
1Petter FagerhaugScott Spark
2Jofre Cullell EstapeMegamo Track
3Simon AndreassenS-Works Epic
4Joshua DubauSunn Prim HT
5Tobias JohannessenCannondale Scalpel
Women’s U23
1Sina FreiGhost Lector
2Evie RichardsTrek Top Fuel
3Ronja EiblSimplon XC FS bike
4Marika TovoTrek Procaliber
5Haley BattenOrbea Alma
Lenzerheide, Sweden, 9/8 XCO World Champs
Men’s Elite 
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Gerhard KerschbaumerTorpado Matador 
3Mathieu Van Der PoelCanyon Lux 
4Henrique AvanciniCannondale Scalpel 
5Florian VogelFocus O1E
Women’s Elite 
1Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic FS 
2Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS 
3Emily BattyTrek Top Fuel 
4Jolanda NeffKross Earth 
5Maja WlosczczowskaKross Earth
Men’s U23 
1Alan HatherlySpecialized S-Works Epic FS 
2Christopher BlevinsSpecialized S-Works Epic FS 
3David NordemannAmerican Eagle Proto FS 
4Petter FagerhaugScott Spark 
5Jonas LindbergTrek Top Fuel
Women’s U23
1Alessandra KellerThomus Lightrider 
2Sina FreiGhost Lector
3Marika TovoTrek Top Fuel 
4Ronja EiblSimplon XC FS Bike
5Caroline BoheMerida Big Nine

Emily Batty racing the Trek Procaliber in Val di Sole. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool/ Bartek Wolinski
Mathias Fluckiger sending it in Mont Sainte Anne. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool
Gerhard Kerschbaumer and Nino Schurter battling it out in Lenzerheide. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

2018 season totals

  • Ghost Lector: 14 
  • Scott Spark: 13
  • Trek Top Fuel: 13
  • Specialized S-Works Epic FS: 12
  • Canyon Lux: 10
  • Cannondale Scalpel: 9
  • Trek Procaliber: 8
  • BMC Four Stroke: 7
  • Kross Level: 7
  • Kross Earth: 5
  • Sunn Prim: 5
  • Torpado Matador: 4
  • American Eagle Atlanta: 4
  • BMC Teamelite: 3
  • BH Lynx: 3
  • Merida Big Nine: 3
  • Simplon XC FS bike : 3
  • Thomus Lightrider: 3
  • Megamo Track: 2
  • Scott Scale: 2
  • Bianchi Methanol: 2
  • Protek 29FSTeam: 2
  • Giant XTC: 1
  • Merida Ninety-Six: 1
  • Canyon Exceed: 1
  • Cannondale FS-I: 1
  • BH Ultimate Evo: 1
  • Thomus Tomcat: 1
  • Radon Jealous: 1
  • Protek Victoria HT: 1
  • Focus O1E: 1
  • Focus Raven: 1
  • Felt Doctrine: 1
  • Mondraker Podium: 1
  • Orbea Alma: 1
  • American Eagle FS Proto: 1

2017 results

Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic 5/20.Photo: Jen Kasl / Red Bull Content Pool
 2017 World Cup Results
Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic 5/20
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Stephane TempierBianchi Methanol
3Maxime MarotteCannondale Scalpel
4David ValeroMMR Kenta 29
5Jordan SarrouBH Lynx
Women’s Elite
1Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Sabine SpitzWiaWis FS Proto
3Linda IndergandFocus O1E
4Maja WjoszczowskaKross Level HT
5Yana BelomoynaAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
Men’s Juniors
1Petter FagerhaugScott Spark
2Martins BlumsSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
3Sebastian Carstensen FiniAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
4Sasu HalmeFocus O1E
5Gioele BertoliniBMC Teamelite
Women’s Juniors
1Kate Courtney Specialized S-Works Epic FS
2Evie RichardsTrek Top Fuel
3Sina FreiFelt Doctrine
4Anne Marie WorstStevens Sonora
5Lena GeraultBH Lynx
Albstadt, Germany 5/27
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Scale
2Mathieu van der PoelStevens Jura
3Anton CooperTrek Procaliber
4David ValeroMMR Rakish 29
5Maxime MarotteCannondale F-Si
1Yana BelomoinaAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
2Maja WjoszczowskaKross Level HT
3Jolanda NeffKross Level HT
4Linda IndergandFocus Raven
5Bec HendersonScott Scale
Men’s Juniors
1Nadir ColledaniTorpado Ribot
2Georg EggerScott Spark
3Peter DiseraNorco Revolver HT
4Gioele BertolineBMC Teamelite
5Martins BlumsSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
Women’s Juniors
1Evie RichardsTrek Procaliber
2Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic HT
3Sina FreiFelt Doctrine
4Marlena DrozdziokScott Scale
5Nicole KollerScott Scale
Vallnord, Andorra 7/1
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Mathias FluckigerRadon FS Proto
3Jordan SarrouBH Lynx
4Sam GazeSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
5Florian VogelFocus O1E
Women’s Elite
1Yana BelomoynaAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
2Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works FS
3Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjaaMerida Big Nine
4Linda IndergandFocus O1E
5Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
Men’s Juniors
1Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Alan HatherlySpecialized S-Works FS
3Martins BlumsSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
4Nadir ColledaniTorpado Matador
5Vlad DascaluCube AMS 100
Women’s Juniors
1Sina FreiFelt Doctrine
2Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Evie RichardsTrek Procaliber
4Rocio del Alba Garcia MartinezMondraker Podium
5Martina BertaBH Lynx
Lenzerheide, Switzerland 7/8
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Stephane TempierBianchi Methanol
3Maxime MarotteCannondale Scalpel
4David ValeroMMR Kenta 29
5Jordan SarrouBH Lynx
Women’s Elite
1Annie LastSilverback Sesta
2Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjaaMerida Big Nine
3Yana BelomoynaAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
4Jolanda NeffKross Level HT
5Helen GrobertCannondale Scalpel
Men’s Juniors
1Martin BlumsSpecialized S-Works HT
2Maximilian BrandlScott Spark
3Colledani NadirTorpado Ribot
4Sebastian Carstensen FiniAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
5Vlad DascaluCube AMS 100
Women’s Juniors
1Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Sina FreiFelt Doctrine
3Evie RichardsTrek Top Fuel
4Haley BattenOrbea Oiz
5Martina BertaBH Lynx
Mount Saint Anne, Canada 8/5
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Stephane TempierBianchi Methanol
3Gerhard KerschbaumerTorpado Matador
4Titouan CarodBMC Fourstroke
5Maxime MarotteCannondale Scalpel
Women’s Elite
1Yana BelomoynaAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
2Pauline Ferrand PrevotCanyon Lux
3Catharine PendrelOrbea Alma
4Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
5Irina KalentievaScott Spark
Men’s Juniors
1Martins BlumsSpecialized S-Works Evo HT
2Nadir ColledaniTorpado Matador
3Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
4Quinton DiseraNorco Revolver FS
5Simon VitzthumBischi XC bike
Women’s Juniors
1Kate CourtneySpecialized Epic S-Works FS
2Sina FreiFelt Doctrine
3Lucie UrrutyScott Spark
4Haley BattenOrbea Oiz
5Nicole KollerScott Spark
Val di Sole, Italy 8/26
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Stephane TempierBianchi Methanol
3Julien AbsalonBMC Four Stroke
4Jaroslav KulhavySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
5Lars ForsterBMC Teamelite
Women’s Elite
1Jolanda NeffKross Level HT
2Yana BelomoynaAmerican Eagle Atlanta HT
3Maja WloszczowskaKross Level HT
4Irina KalentievaScott Spark
5Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
Men’s Juniors
1Nadir ColledaniTorpado Matador
2Martins BlumsSpecialized S-Works HT
3Petter FagerhaugScott Spark
4Georg EggerScott Spark
5Vlad DascaluCube AMS 100
Women’s Juniors
1Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Sina FreiFelt Doctrine
3Evie RichardsTrek Procaliber
4Isla ShortSilverback Superspeed 29
5Martina BertaBH Ultimate
Cairns, Australia 9/8 World Championships
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Jaroslav KulhavýSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Thomas LitscherFelt Edict
4Henrique AvanciniCannondale Scalpel
5Manuel FumicCannondale Scalpel
Women’s Elite
1Jolanda NeffKross Level HT
2Annie LastSilverback Sesta
3Pauline Ferrand PrevotCanyon Lux
4Maja WjoszcxowskaKross Level HT
5Irina KalentyevaScott Spark
Men’s Juniors
1Sam GazeSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Alan HatherlySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Maximilian BrandlScott Spark
4Sebastian Fini CarstensenAmerican Eagle Atlanta
5Milan VaderCanyon Exceed
Women’s Juniors
1Sina FreiFelt Doctrine
2Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Alessandra KesslerRadon Full-suspension
4Barbora PrudkovaSuperior Bikes Team29
5Rocio Del Alba Garcia MartinezMondraker Podium

Batty and Neff battle in Vallnord, Andorra. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool
Yana Belamoina in Lenzerheide. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

2017 season totals

  • Specialized S-Works Epic FS: 17 
  • Scott Spark: 17
  • American Eagle Atlanta: 9
  • Kross Level: 8
  • Felt Doctrine: 7
  • Specialized S-Works HT: 6
  • Trek Procaliber: 6
  • BH Lynx: 6
  • Cannondale Scalpel: 6
  • Torpado Matador: 4
  • Scott Scale: 4
  • Bianchi Methanol: 4
  • Focus O1E: 4
  • Cube AMS100: 3
  • BMC Teamelite: 3
  • BMC Four Stroke: 2
  • Mondraker Podium: 2
  • Orbea Oiz: 2
  • Silverback Sesta: 2
  • Torpado Ribot: 2
  • Trek Top Fuel: 2
  • Canyon Lux: 2
  • Merida Big Nine: 2
  • MMR Kenta 29: 2
  • Radon Full Suspension: 2
  • Silverback Superspeed 29: 1
  • Focus Raven: 1
  • Orbea Alma: 1
  • WiaWis: 1
  • Stevens Sonora: 1
  • Stevens Jura: 1
  • Cannondale F-Si: 1
  • Felt Edict: 1
  • Norco Revolver FS: 1
  • Norco Revolver HT: 1 
  • Bischi: 1
  • Canyon Exceed: 1
  • Superior Bikes Team29: 1
  • BH Ultimate: 1

2016 results

Julien Absalon racing the BMC Four Stroke in Cairns, Austraila, 2016. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool
 2016 World Cup Results
Cairns, Austraila 4/23
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spark
2Maxime MarotteBH Ultimate 29
3Julien AbsalonBMC Four Stroke
4Mathias FluckigerStockli Morion
5Florian VogelFocus O1E
Women’s Elite
1Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Linda IndergandFocus Raven
3Rebecca McConnellTrek Procaliber
4Catharine PendrelOrbea Oiz
5Sabine SpitzWiaWis Full-Suspension
Men’s Juniors
1Sam GazeSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
2Romain SeigleFocus Raven
3Titouan CarodScott Spark
4Sebastian Carstensen FiniSuperior Bikes Team 29
5Gioele BertoliniBMC Teamelite
Women’s Juniors
1Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Catherine FleurySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Olga TerentyevaUnknown
4Andrea WaldisOrbea Alma
5Holly HarrisMerida Big Nine
Albstadt, Germany 5/21
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Scale
2Julien AbsalonBMC Teamelite
3Maxime MarotteCannondale F-Si
4Jaroslav KulhavySpecialized S-Works FS
5Lars ForsterBMC Teamelite
Women’s Elite
1Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Era FS
2Jenny RissvedsScott Scale
3Catharine PendrelOrbea Alma
4Sabine SpitzWiaWis Hardtail
5Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjaaMerida Big Nine
Men’s Juniors
1Sam GazeSpecialized S-Works HT
2Titouan CarodScott Scale
3Marcel GuerriniFocus Raven
4Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
5Milan VaderCanyon Exceed
Women’s Juniors
1Sina FreiFelt Nine
2Evie RichardsFelt Nine
3Anne TauberFelt Nine
4Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works FS
5Chiara TeocchiBianchi Methanol
La Bresse, France 5/28
Men’s Elite
1Julien AbsalonBMC Four Stroke
2Maxime MarotteBH Ultimate 29
3Victor KoretzkyBH Ultimate 29
4Nino SchurterScott Spark
5Jaroslav KulhavySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
Women’s Elite
1Jolanda NeffStockli Beryll HT
2Catharine PendrelOrbea Oiz
3Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
4Katerina NashOrbea Alma
5Maja WloszczowskaKross Level
Men’s Juniors
1Titouan CarodScott Scale
2Romain SeigleFocus Rave
3Sam GazeSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
4Marcel GuerriniFocus Raven
5Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
Women’s Juniors
1Sina FreiFelt Nine
2Evie RichardsFelt Nine
3Anne TauberFelt Nine
4Nicole KollerSpecialized S-Works HT
5Jana CzeczinkarovaTrek Procaliber
World Champs, Nove Mesto na Morave, 6/28-7/3, 2016
Men’s Elite
1Nino SchurterScott Spar
2Jaroslav KulhavySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Julien AbsalonBMC Four Stroke
4Cink OndrejMerida Ninety Six
5Stephan TempierBianchi Methanol FS
Women’s Elite
1Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS 
2Lea DavisonSpecialized S-Works Epic FS 
3Emily BattyTrek Top Fuel 
4Maja WjoszczowskaKross Level HT 
5Catherine PendrelOrbea Oiz
Men’s Juniors
1Sam GazeSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
2Victor KoretzkyBH Lynx 
3Marcel GuerriniFocus O1E 
4Georg EggerScott Spark
5Arnis PetersonsSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
Women’s Juniors
1Jenny RissvedsScott Spark 
2Sina FreiFelt Nine 
3Alessandra KellerStockli Trail2Rio 
4Evie RichardsTrek Top Fuel
5Malene DegnCanyon Exceed
Lenzerheide, Sweden 7/9
Men’s Elite
1Julien AbsalonBMC Teamelite
2Nino SchurterScott Spark 
3Maxime MarotteBH Ultimate 29
4Victor KoretzkyBH Lynx
5Mathias FluckigerStockli Morion
Women’s Elite
1Jenny RissvedsScott Spark
2Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Jolanda NeffStockli Beryll HT
4Katerina NashOrbea Oiz
5Maja WloszczowksaKross Level HT
Men’s Juniors
1Titouan CarodScott Spark
2Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Sam GazeSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
4Arnis PetersonsSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
5Georg EggerScott Spark
Women’s Juniors
1Sina FreiFelt Nine
2Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Anne TauberFelt Nine
4Nicole KollerSpecialized S-Works Epic HT
5Ramona ForchiniUnknown
Mont Sainte Anne, Canada 8/6
Men’s Elite
1Julien AbsalonBMC Four Stroke
2Victor KoretzkyBH Ultimate 29
3Mathias FluckigerStockli Morion
4Mathias StirnemannScott Spark
5Jordan SarrouBH Ultimate 29
Women’s Elite
1Catharine PendrelOrbea Oiz
2Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjaaMerida Big Nine
3Emily BattyTrek Procaliber
4Annika LangvadSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
5Katerina NashOrbea Oiz
Men’s Juniors
1Titoaun CarodScott Spark
2Antoine BouqueretScott Spark
3Lukas BaumMusing HT
4Andri FrischknechtScott Spark
5Ben ZwiehoffBergamont Fastlane Team 29er
Women’s Juniors
1Sina FreiFelt Nine
2Anne TauberFelt Nine
3Chiara TeocchiBianchi Methanol CV
4Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works FS
5Ramona ForchiniUnknown
Vallnord, Andorra 9/3
Men’s Elite
1Julien AbsalonBMC Four Stroke
2Ondrej CinkMerida Ninety-Six
3Pablo Rodriguez GuedeMMR Rakish 29
4Maxime MarotteBH Ultimate 29
5Stephane TempierBianchi Methanol
Women’s Elite
1Jolanda NeffStockli Morion
2Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjaMerida Big Nine
3Catharine PendrelOrbea Oiz
4Jenny RissvedsJenny Rissveds
5Maja WloszczowskaKross Level
Men’s Juniors
1Marcel GuerriniFocus O1E
2Simon AndreassenSpecialized S-Works Epic FS
3Titouan CarodScott Spark
4Maximilian BrandlScott Spark
5Antoine BouqueretScott Spark
Women’s Juniors
1Sina FreiFelt Nine
2Anne TauberFelt Nine
3Nicole KollerUnknown
4Barbora PrudkovaUnknown
5Kate CourtneySpecialized S-Works FS

Catherine Pendrel on the Orbea Oiz in Vallnord. Photo: Matthew Delorme / Red Bull Content Pool

2016 season totals

  • Specialized S-Works Epic FS: 19 
  • Scott Spark: 17
  • Felt Nine: 13
  • Specialized S-Works HT: 9
  • BH Ultimate 29: 7
  • Orbea Oiz: 7
  • BMC Four Stroke: 5
  • Focus Raven: 5
  • Scott Scale: 4
  • Bianchi Methanol: 4
  • Merida Big Nine: 4
  • Trek Procaliber: 4
  • Kross Level: 4
  • Orbea Alma: 3
  • BMC Teamelite: 4
  • Stockli Morion: 4
  • Focus O1E: 3
  • Stockli Beryll: 2
  • Trek Top Fuel: 2
  • Merida Ninety-Six: 2
  • BH Lynx: 2
  • Canyon Exceed: 2
  • WiaWis FS: 1
  • Stockli Trail2Rio: 1
  • WiaWis HT: 1
  • Cannondale F-Si: 1 Superior
  • Bikes Team 29: 1
  • MMR Rakish 29: 1
  • Bergamont Fastlane Team 29er: 1
  • Musing HT: 1