Current UCI world champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) tackled the challenging Pietermaritzburg course on a full-suspension Specialized S-Works Epic 29er
Julian Absalon (Orbea) went old-school with his 26in-wheeled Orbea Alma in Pietermaritzburg
Julian Absalon (Orbea) finished fourth using SRAM’s new XX Grip Shift
Like many cross-country racers in Pietermaritzburg, Julian Absalon (Orbea) ran a 1×10 drivetrain – with just the big ring in this case
Julian Absalon’s (Orbea) Orbea Alma was equipped with a RockShox SID World Cup BlackBox fork in Pietermaritzburg. Check out the spare master link taped to the hydraulic lockout hose
Julian Absalon (Orbea) sneaked in a set of tubular Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels wrapped in Dugast tires – conspicuously covered in giant Hutchinson logos, of course
Not only have 29in wheels taken hold in the World Cup but so have single-ring drivetrains, as seen here on Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly
720mm-wide, flat carbon bars with contrasting-color ESI Racer’s Edge grips on Lukas Flückiger’s Trek Superfly
Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) single-ring setup for Pietermaritzburg, featuring a Shimano XTR crank and chainring secured with a cSixx carbon fiber chain guide
The Fox 32 Float 29 80 FIT Terralogic fork on Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly
cSixx are a relatively new company based in South Africa who specialize in carbon fiber chain guides
World Cup bikes need to be light but racers value function too, as evidenced by Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly
Trek World Racing were yet another team in Pietermaritzburg using ultralight carbon fiber tubular wheels and tires made by Dugast
Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) race wheels are built with Bontrager’s latest prototype hubs laced to Trek-built carbon fiber tubular rims
Trek World Racing used custom tubular tires built by Dugast with Bontrager treads
Shimano’s XTR Shadow Plus rear derailleur keeps things running quietly on Lukas Fluckiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly
A 140mm rear rotor, titanium hardware and a through-axle on Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly
Much of the Cannondale Factory Racing team went with tubular wheels and tires but Jeremiah Bishop instead stuck to his familiar tubeless clincher tires – wrapped around new 29in versions of Mavic’s Crossmax SLR wheels
Spencer Paxson’s (Kona) new Kona King Kahuna carbon 29er hardtail weighed 10.18kg (22.44lb) in Pietermaritzburg
Kona privateer Spencer Paxson’s setup is impressively versatile. Here, he’s using Easton’s tougher Haven Carbon bars instead of lighter-weight, less durable or narrower options
SRAM XX controls and custom etched lock-on grip collars on Spencer Paxson’s Kona King Kahuna
A SRAM Quarq power meter on Spencer Paxson’s Kona King Kahuna. Shimano XTR pedals are fitted here but according to Paxson, only because his sponsor-provided CrankBrothers pedals didn’t arrive in time for the race
Carbon dropouts and post mount caliper tabs on Spencer Paxson’s Kona King Kahuna
Spencer Paxson (Kona) is running through-axles front and rear on his Kona King Kahuna
Spencer Paxson (Kona) had more aggressive Maxxis Beaver tires fitted a couple of hours before the start of the race in anticipation of rain
Team Sky rode these new Boardman carbon hardtails in Pietermaritzburg
Team Sky’s Boardman machine is built with a tapered head tube – but there’s a straight steerer fitted here
Looped stays on the new Boardman carbon hardtail are presumably intended to deliver a slightly softer ride
Words of encouragement on the back of Marco Aurelio Fontana’s (Cannondale Factory Racing) number plate
More words of encouragement on the back of Manuel Fumic’s (Cannondale Factory Racing) number plate
Ag2r-La Mondiale road racer Jean-Christophe Peraud is making a run for a spot on the French Olympic team aboard this Lapierre
South African company cSixx provided the last-minute solution for many a World Cup racer’s 1×10 drivetrain needs, as seen here on Jean-Christophe Peraud’s Lapierre. The team apparently couldn’t get a hold of the correct size on such short notice, though, so a chunk of rubber serves as an emergency shim
We ran into Trek Advanced Concepts Group wizard Ray Waxham in Pietermaritzburg, complete with his custom painted Trek Superfly 100
Check out the name decal on Trek Advanced Concept Group man Ray Waxham’s Trek Superfly 100
Ridley made an appearance in Pietermaritzburg as well, with this carbon 29er
Internal routing on this Ridley carbon 29er hardtail
Ridley follow the ‘big chainstays, slim seatstays’ model on this carbon 29er
We’ve already brought you loads of tech news from the first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup of 2012 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa but we still have a few things to show you from the pits.
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Included in this round-up gallery are more single-ring and tubular wheel setups on the cross-country rigs, a possible new carbon hardtail from Boardman Bikes, and in-depth looks at the bikes of Lukas Flückiger (Trek World Racing), Julian Absalon (Orbea) and Kona privateer Spencer Paxson.
Team sky rode these new boardman carbon hardtails in pietermaritzburg:James Huang/BikeRadar
