oli beckingsale

World's best cross-country racers to battle it out on British soil

My job is winning mountain bike XC races, so I need a fast mountain bike. In fact, I need two fast mountain bikes. Of course I can only ride one at a time, I'm not Ben Hur. I ride for Giant, so I get an XTC Zero carbon hardtail and this Anthem Carbon full suspension bike. It's popular right now for pro XC racers to say they've given up with hardtails, Liam (Killeen) is a good example, but I think they've still got a place. (Oli rode his to a season opening sixth place at the Swiss Cup race in Schaan, Liechtenstein, the day before our shoot). That said, when the course calls for it, I'm on the 3.5inch travel Giant Anthem and, increasingly these days that's more often than not. Why are my bikes fast? Quite a few reasons, but mostly it's the design.