Jordan Sarrau's BMC Fourstroke for this season hides a new development by Ohlins

Mountain bike 21/02/26 08:00 Migue A.

The former world champion Jordan Sarrou started his season last weekend in Chelva, where we could see up close the BMC Fourstroke he will compete with this season. It is one of the most advanced and cutting-edge mountain bikes in the World Cup, and this year we have seen that it has some important details. Is it goodbye, for now, to the electronic suspensions from Ohlins?

Jordan Sarrou's BMC Fourstroke for 2026

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The current BMC Fourstroke was introduced in 2023 and represented a significant technological advancement in the XCO market in general. The Swiss manufacturer knows how to carve its own path, and it did so with an even lighter and stiffer frame than its previous version while maintaining the virtual pivot system with a dual linkage, which offers excellent performance due to its traction and separation of forces (braking and acceleration).

Jordan Sarrau's BMC Fourstroke for this season hides a new development by Ohlins — The virtual pivot system with dual linkage and the rear triangle with dual vertical sections give this BMC Fourstroke a unique and highly appreciated performance while riding.

Its rear triangle with a dual vertical section improved the frame's stiffness by 20%, and undoubtedly its major advancement was the Autodrop dropper post system that allows it to be lowered automatically without applying pressure on it. Something that, for now, no other brand has been able to replicate.

Another unique feature of the Fourstroke ridden by the BMC Factory Racing team (at least until now) was the prototype Ohlins electronic suspension system. The team had been racing for several seasons with an Ohlins electronic shock and fork that never made it to market, but the bike Sarrou was riding at Chelva had a new upgrade in which both suspensions are now controlled by a single control unit under the handlebars.

The absence of electronics in the suspension could be a temporary configuration change, but we cannot forget that Ohlins changed ownership last year (it was bought by Brembo), and among its new proposals was to make the products used in competition reach the commercial catalog as quickly as possible. This could have motivated a change in product development to others that can be marketed more easily. Only time will tell.