Pinarello has got off to a blaring start at the 2024 Olympics, with Tom Pidcock today joining Pauline Ferrand-Prévot taking gold in cross-country mountain biking.
In doing so, Tom Pidcock won Team GB's second gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics after a nail-biting race saw him initially lose over 30 seconds due to a puncture early on.
Unlike Ferrand-Prévot, Pidcock opted for the full-suspension Dogma XC instead of the Dogma XC HT hardtail.
Back-to-back gold for Pidcock
Pinarello reentered the mountain bike scene after the Ineos Grenadier rider took Gold on an unbranded BMC Fourstroke in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, releasing the Dogma XC in May 2023. Pidcock is said to have been closely involved in the Dogma XC’s development.
The bike features a novel split rear triangle that removes the need for bridges between the chainstays and seat stays. This is said to aid in mud clearing.
This boosts tyre clearance, with space for 2.35in tyres.
The rear end uses flex stays, which enables the suspension to articulate while removing the need for another set of pivot bearings.
Many cross-country mountain bikes have adopted this for weight savings and increased rigidity.
Pidcock used SR Suntour’s Tact electronic suspension system, which controls the low-speed compression on the 100mm Axon 34 Werx Boost EQ fork and Edge TT rear shock to provide a more efficient pedalling platform.
Unlike RockShox’s Flight Attendant, the Tact system only uses one sensor on the crown of the fork to detect gradient, weightlessness and vibrations, altering the suspension accordingly.
We’re unsure what suspension travel Pidcock was using in his frame (the Dogma XC is compatible with 90mm or 100mm rear shocks).
Pidcock’s bike rolled on Princeton Carbonworks P1, wheels which feature the brand's signature multi-depth rim profile.
The wheels also use Berd spokes, which are made from polyethylene to save weight and were booted in Continental Race King tyres.
Shimano’s XTR mechanical mountain bike groupset was used alongside XTR hydraulic disc brakes.
Pinarello’s in-house component manufacturer, Most, provides the integrated carbon handlebar with ESI foam grips used to cushion the blows.
A Vertical Helium Dropper Post dropper post is used, with Pidcock often running it at 60mm of drop.
Pidcock’s bike featured a custom paint job for the games, with the sides of the head tube featuring a Union Jack motif.
Alongside his Team GB skinsuit, Pidcock appeared to be wearing Specialized S-Works Recon mountain bike shoes, a Lazer Z1 helmet and Sungod glasses.
Pidcock had to pull out of the Tour de France last month after contracting coronavirus, but his dominant display today was proof enough that he is still one of the fastest men between the tapes.
Ferrand-Prévot prevails
For the women's event, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot rode the Dogma XC HT to victory.
This season marks the last for Frenchwoman in mountain biking, as she switches back to road racing next year.
It is unconfirmed who she will be riding for, with her current team Ineos Grendiers not having a women's team, making it impossible for her to complete her goal of racing the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
For her swan song, Ferrand-Prévot chose to forgo rear suspension, choosing a hardtail mountain bike for the Paris course.
As they are in the same team, Ferrand-Prévot also had a say in the development of the Dogma XC with both Pidcock and Ferrand-Prévot spotted on prototype bikes at the start of last year’s season.
It took some time for the bikes to make it to market – a condition every bike must meet in order to be allowed in the competition.
Ferrand-Prévot appears to have made do without SR Suntour’s Tact system, instead opting for a mechanical lockout of her Axon 34 Werx Boost EQ fork.
She also used Princeton’s P1 wheelset and Continental Race King tyres.
Ferrand-Prévot also rode a custom-painted bike for the event, with the French tricolour featuring on the headtube.
As well as her French national team skinsuit, Ferrand-Prévot was wearing overshoes that rose to the height of her midcalf for added aerodynamic gain.
