Current UCI world champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) tackled the challenging Pietermaritzburg course on a full-suspension Specialized S-Works Epic 29erJames Huang/BikeRadar
Julian Absalon (Orbea) went old-school with his 26in-wheeled Orbea Alma in PietermaritzburgJames Huang/BikeRadar
Julian Absalon (Orbea) finished fourth using SRAM’s new XX Grip ShiftJames Huang/BikeRadar
Like many cross-country racers in Pietermaritzburg, Julian Absalon (Orbea) ran a 1×10 drivetrain – with just the big ring in this caseJames Huang/BikeRadar
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 hoseJames Huang/BikeRadar
Julian Absalon (Orbea) sneaked in a set of tubular Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels wrapped in Dugast tires – conspicuously covered in giant Hutchinson logos, of courseJames Huang/BikeRadar
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 SuperflyJames Huang/BikeRadar
720mm-wide, flat carbon bars with contrasting-color ESI Racer’s Edge grips on Lukas Flückiger’s Trek SuperflyJames Huang/BikeRadar
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 guideJames Huang/BikeRadar
The Fox 32 Float 29 80 FIT Terralogic fork on Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek SuperflyJames Huang/BikeRadar
cSixx are a relatively new company based in South Africa who specialize in carbon fiber chain guidesJames Huang/BikeRadar
World Cup bikes need to be light but racers value function too, as evidenced by Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek SuperflyJames Huang/BikeRadar
Trek World Racing were yet another team in Pietermaritzburg using ultralight carbon fiber tubular wheels and tires made by DugastJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) race wheels are built with Bontrager’s latest prototype hubs laced to Trek-built carbon fiber tubular rimsJames Huang/BikeRadar
Trek World Racing used custom tubular tires built by Dugast with Bontrager treadsJames Huang/BikeRadar
Shimano’s XTR Shadow Plus rear derailleur keeps things running quietly on Lukas Fluckiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek SuperflyJames Huang/BikeRadar
A 140mm rear rotor, titanium hardware and a through-axle on Lukas Flückiger’s (Trek World Racing) Trek SuperflyJames Huang/BikeRadar
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 wheelsJames Huang/BikeRadar
Spencer Paxson’s (Kona) new Kona King Kahuna carbon 29er hardtail weighed 10.18kg (22.44lb) in PietermaritzburgJames Huang/BikeRadar
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 optionsJames Huang/BikeRadar
SRAM XX controls and custom etched lock-on grip collars on Spencer Paxson’s Kona King KahunaJames Huang/BikeRadar
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 raceJames Huang/BikeRadar
Carbon dropouts and post mount caliper tabs on Spencer Paxson’s Kona King KahunaJames Huang/BikeRadar
Spencer Paxson (Kona) is running through-axles front and rear on his Kona King KahunaJames Huang/BikeRadar
Spencer Paxson (Kona) had more aggressive Maxxis Beaver tires fitted a couple of hours before the start of the race in anticipation of rainJames Huang/BikeRadar
Team Sky rode these new Boardman carbon hardtails in PietermaritzburgJames Huang/BikeRadar
Team Sky’s Boardman machine is built with a tapered head tube – but there’s a straight steerer fitted hereJames Huang/BikeRadar
Looped stays on the new Boardman carbon hardtail are presumably intended to deliver a slightly softer rideJames Huang/BikeRadar
Words of encouragement on the back of Marco Aurelio Fontana’s (Cannondale Factory Racing) number plateJames Huang/BikeRadar
More words of encouragement on the back of Manuel Fumic’s (Cannondale Factory Racing) number plateJames Huang/BikeRadar
Ag2r-La Mondiale road racer Jean-Christophe Peraud is making a run for a spot on the French Olympic team aboard this LapierreJames Huang/BikeRadar
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 shimJames Huang/BikeRadar
We ran into Trek Advanced Concepts Group wizard Ray Waxham in Pietermaritzburg, complete with his custom painted Trek Superfly 100James Huang/BikeRadar
Check out the name decal on Trek Advanced Concept Group man Ray Waxham’s Trek Superfly 100James Huang/BikeRadar
Ridley made an appearance in Pietermaritzburg as well, with this carbon 29erJames Huang/BikeRadar
Internal routing on this Ridley carbon 29er hardtailJames Huang/BikeRadar
Ridley follow the ‘big chainstays, slim seatstays’ model on this carbon 29erJames Huang/BikeRadar
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
