Chinese brand X-LAB already has its first MTB, with rumours pointing to a World Cup debut in 2027

X-LAB is about to open a new front. After breaking into road cycling with the XDS Astana and extending its presence to gravel, the Chinese brand has just unveiled its first mountain bike model, which we could see directly in the World Cup next season.

X-LAB is preparing its entry into MTB and there are already rumors placing it in the World Cup

The first images leave little room for speculation about the project. X-LAB has prepared a double suspension XCO bike completely in line with current trends. Mounted and decorated in the colors of Kazakhstan, this bike will make its first competitive appearance during the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where the mountain bike events will take place on September 24 and 25.

The images have been published by the brand itself, which speaks of a "new platform" developed by its R&D department.

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X-LAB is not a small Asian firm trying to make a name in Europe, but the high-performance division of XDS, one of the major Chinese bicycle manufacturers with over three decades of industrial experience.

This muscle is precisely one of the keys to its strategy. The ability to develop and manufacture in-house allows X-LAB to propose high-end bicycles with a particularly competitive pricing policy, something that has already begun to attract attention in road and gravel cycling.

And its international growth is happening rapidly. X-LAB has made the XDS Astana its main showcase in the WorldTour and is also present in the women's professional peloton with LABORAL Kutxa. Its deployment in Europe has also been particularly visible during recent fairs, with an unusual presence for a brand that is still building its recognition outside the Asian market. MTB now seems to be the next piece of that plan.

Its first XC bets on known solutions

X-LAB has not sought to attract attention through extravagant architecture. On the contrary, its first double suspension is based on concepts that have been proving their effectiveness in XCO for years.

The frame uses a single pivot suspension system with flexing stays, an upper link, and a shock positioned under the top tube. We also find a UDH dropout, 29-inch wheels, and internal cabling that enters the frame from the head tube area.

The images also show a fully assembled bike with the SRAM ecosystem, including RockShox suspensions, SRAM XX drivetrain, and Maxxis tires.

More interesting than each of these components is the overall appearance of the set. The level of finish and the absence of clearly experimental solutions suggest a platform ready for sale, although X-LAB has not yet included it in its international catalog.

Rumors point much higher for 2027

The debut with Kazakhstan could be just the first public appearance of a much larger project.

Several rumors already place X-LAB in the MTB World Cup next season, and not precisely through a minor team. The circulating information points to its arrival alongside a well-known structure and top-level cyclists. But for now, there is no official confirmation of that agreement, and the news could still be months away.

But the possibility fits with the strategy that X-LAB is following in other disciplines. The company has not chosen a discreet growth in road cycling, but has directly used the WorldTour to put its bicycles in front of an international audience. Transferring that formula to MTB would logically lead to competing in the XCO World Cup.