BikeRadar was in Cairns, Australia, for round two of the UCI mountain bike world cup. While the remoteness of Cairns meant some big names in the cross country discipline were missing, most were there fighting it out on the technical course.
First we spoke with a few industry people in the pits about women's tech, before catching up with Julie Bresset, Jolanda Neff and new Specialized Factory signing, Kate Courtney about their bikes.
The bikes of the fastest cross country women
Random women's tech from the pits of the mountain bike world cup in Cairns, Australia (Anthony Gordon)
Recent Olympic gold medalist and back-to-back world champion, Julie Bresset is certainly always one to beat in the women's field. Riding for the BH-Suntour-KMC team, Bresset is on one trick looking BH Ultimate 27.5 with custom paint. The Ultimate 27.5 features radically shaped frame tubes, with the semi-integrated seat tube as a real stand-out.
SR Suntour do offer some pro-level kit
3D printing or one heck of a paint job?
A brand not often seen at the top-end of the sport, SR-Suntour provide the bikes' suspension. Bresset is on a Axon RL-RC model which features a carbon and magnesium lower construction and titanium 15mm thru-axle. With a claimed weight at over 1,500g, this fork isn't super-light.
Keeping Bresset rolling is a pair of Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels and Michelin Wild Racer'R Advanced rubber in 2.25" width
The rest of Bresset's bike features a mixture of brands, with Shimano XTR doing the shifting at the back and a FSA K-Force crankset holding the single chainring on the front, keeping the chain in place is a E-13 XCX+ chainguide.
We also managed a far closer look at Jolanda Neff's prototype LIV Giant Obsess bike, full story on this coming soon.