Black and raw carbon for Factory Racing’s spectacular Scalpel LAB71 at Les Gets

The Cannondale Factory Racing arrives at the Les Gets World Cup with a Scalpel LAB71 that is unlikely to go unnoticed. Cannondale unveils a new look for its Scalpel, having practically removed any decorative elements to expose the carbon of its competition bike.

The Cannondale Scalpel LAB71 of Factory Racing goes for raw carbon

“Black in business”. This is how Cannondale presented the new look with which its Scalpel LAB71 will compete in Les Gets. In contrast to the decorations used by the team during this season, this edition opts for a finish completely black where the exposed carbon takes center stage.

The frame, Lefty, wheels, and a good part of the components follow the same dark aesthetic, resulting in a Scalpel that is especially sober and elegant. A decoration that also surely has an advantage on the scale by dispensing with paint.

We do not know if this change in image is simply a special edition for Les Gets or if there is some additional reason behind it. In any case, it arrives in a season that is especially significant for Cannondale Factory Racing.

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A few weeks ago, the brand confirmed that 2026 will be the last year of Cannondale Factory Racing in the World Cup. Cannondale will thus end more than three decades of presence of its official structure in the elite of mountain biking and, starting in 2027, will change its strategy with the launch of Cannondale Rogues, a new program that will combine competition, content creation, and community actions.

A known Scalpel, but ready for the World Cup

Under this new aesthetic continues the current generation of the Scalpel, presented in 2024 and developed precisely with significant participation from the riders of Cannondale Factory Racing.

The  new generation Cannondale Scalpel represented a significant change compared to its predecessor, mainly by adopting 120 mm of travel front and rear and a more aggressive geometry to adapt to the evolution of modern XCO circuits. It also maintains two of Cannondale's hallmarks: the Lefty Ocho fork and the FlexPivot rear suspension system.

In the case of the LAB71, Cannondale uses its Series 0 carbon construction, the lightest in the range. When this generation was presented, the brand declared 1,620 grams for the frame without shock, compared to 1,850 grams for the Series 1 construction used in other carbon versions.

The competition bike of Factory Racing logically deviates from the stock setup and combines components from some of the team's main sponsors.

The Lefty Ocho continues at the front, while at the back we find a FOX Float SL Factory shock. The wheels are Reserve 30 XC SL carbon, and the team uses Schwalbe Rick Race Pro 2.4" tires.

The handlebar and stem set, consisting of the FSA KFX stem and an FSA Prototype handlebar, also stands out.

The setup is completed with a FOX Transfer SL dropper post of 75 mm and a Prologo Nago R4 PAS 3D saddle. In the transmission, a 34-tooth chainring is specified combined with a 9-45 cassette, while braking is handled by Shimano.

Cannondale Scalpel LAB71 Factory Racing setup for Les Gets

• Frame: Cannondale LAB71 Scalpel, raw carbon
• Fork: Lefty Ocho
• Shock: FOX Float SL Factory
• Wheels: Reserve 30 XC SL
• Tires: Schwalbe Rick Race Pro 2.4"
• Brakes: Shimano M-9200
• Transmission: 34T chainring and 9-45T cassette
• Dropper post: FOX Transfer SL, 75 mm
• Saddle: Prologo Nago R4 PAS 3D
• Stem: FSA KFX, 60 mm and -12º
• Handlebar: FSA Prototype