Aldridge will race again with Fox's electronic shock absorber in the World Championships: Cannondale unveils its customized Scalpel bikes
The Cannondale Factory Racing team has presented the exclusive Cannondale Scalpel that their riders will be using at the 2025 MTB World Championship taking place these days in Valais, Switzerland. Five completely customized bikes in which Charlie Aldridge once again chooses a Fox electronic shock absorber to compete.
Cannondale presents its exclusive Scalpel for the 2025 MTB World Championship
Luca Martin (France), Charlie Aldridge (United Kingdom), Cole Punchard (Canada), Jolanda Neff (Switzerland), and Ana Santos (Portugal) will debut in competition with unique bikes, hand-painted by artist Rob Nicolas and inspired by the colors and symbols of their respective countries. The result is a collection of frames that blend contemporary art, graphic minimalism, and racing DNA.
Cannondale has played with the idea of balanced asymmetry, integrating broken lines, gradients, and subtle contrasts to reinterpret each rider's flag in a modern key. It's not just about painting the national colors. The result is evident, each Scalpel seems to be in motion even when standing still.
Luca Martin (France): clean lines in white, blue, and red that evoke classic French aesthetics. Among its graphic details, a rooster, a national symbol, stands out.
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Jolanda Neff (Switzerland): her Scalpel combines red with white in a blurred pattern. The white cross, the host country's emblem, stands out on the top tube.
Charlie Aldridge (United Kingdom): abstract interpretation of the Union Jack with strokes in red and blue on a broken white background. From his setup the chosen shock absorber that we have been talking about for a few days stands out.
Cole Punchard (Canada): intense white and red splattered with semi-hidden maple leaves among the gradients of the top tube.

Ana Santos (Portugal): red on the upper part and green on the pedal area and Leftie fork protector reflect the Portuguese flag well.

The first opportunity to see these bikes in action will be on Tuesday, September 8 at the Short Track World Championship in Zermatt, on Saturday 13, in Crans Montana, it will be the turn of the women's XCO, and on Sunday 14 of the elite men.