Flip Chip in high position and Magic Middle mode: this is how Haley Batten sets up her new Specialized Epic 9 for Korea

Just a few days after its official presentation, the Specialized Epic 9 will debut in the World Cup with the Specialized Factory Racing team. Haley Batten has been the one to explain how her setup for 2026 and the race in Korea will be.

Haley Batten debuts the new Specialized Epic 9: this is the setup with which she will compete in the 2026 World Cup

Specialized has taken another step in the evolution of competitive XC with the new Epic 9, a platform that reduces weight to the extreme, optimizes kinematics, and improves real efficiency on the circuit. The frame weighs just 1,589 grams, while the suspension reduces friction by 11%, two factors aimed at a direct goal: converting more watts into usable speed on demanding terrain.

The bike maintains a clear focus on modern XC, with 120 mm of rear travel and a geometry that prioritizes stability in technical areas without penalizing acceleration. This is complemented by a three-position suspension system — featuring the well-known Magic Middle mode — which allows for efficient pedaling without sacrificing active suspension when the terrain demands it.

South Korea will be the first real test in the World Cup

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The competitive debut of the Epic 9 will not be long in coming. It will be in South Korea, at the first event of the 2026 World Cup, where the Specialized Factory Racing team will put the new platform to the test in real race conditions. A particularly demanding scenario, with steep climbs and technical sections, that will serve as the first examination to validate the evolutionary leap compared to the previous generation.

In this context, Haley Batten will be one of the riders tasked with debuting the Epic 9, and she has already detailed the setup with which she will compete in this first event of the calendar.

 

 

 

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Batten's bike is based on an S-Works Epic 9, made from Fact 12 carbon, with a setup completely oriented towards competition. The cockpit features the integrated Roval Control, aiming for maximum stiffness and cleanliness at the front. For suspension, it has a RockShox SID Ultimate FA at the front with 120 mm of travel, combined with a RockShox SIDLuxe FA shock also set to 120 mm, both integrated within the Ride Dynamics system.

As she explains, the Flight Attendant system is complemented by the use of the Magic Middle mode, one of the three modes of the shock, as the main pedaling configuration, a logical choice in circuits where transitions between fast and technical areas are constant.

The brake system is based on SRAM Motive calipers with 180 mm discs, a choice that prioritizes power and control on demanding descents. The entire transmission is handled by SRAM, with Eagle Transmission group and integrated Quarq power meter, while the cranks used are 170 mm, a common size in competition to balance cadence and efficiency.

For the wheels, Batten opts for the Roval Control World Cup, one of the lightest sets on the market, combined with Specialized Air Trak tires on both wheels. The setup is completed with a RockShox Reverb dropper post, Power Evo saddle of 155 mm, and HT pedals.

For the Korean circuit, marked by steep slopes, the team has chosen to set the shock's flip-chip in the high position, slightly raising the bottom bracket to improve climbing performance and avoid contact in technical areas.

The debut in South Korea will mark the first real test to see how the Specialized Epic 9 performs at the highest level.