Cables, manual locks, and no electronics: that's how Hatherly's Cannondale Scalpel is set up to win the XCO World Championship

The South African Alan Hatherly was already one of the most highly rated XCO cyclists on the grid, but his recent bronze medal at the Olympics and the World Championship he just won in Andorra changes everything. Under his feet, an iconic Cannondale Scalpel that moves away from electronics, but shines again as one of the best mountain bikes of the moment.

Alan Hatherly's Cannondale Scalpel moves away from electronics but continues to win the best races on the planet

The new Cannondale Scalpel 2024 was presented just a few months ago with a significant update that placed the model back at the forefront of XCO. 120 mm of travel front and rear, a renewed geometry and kinematics, internal wiring, and its exclusive FlexPivot system make the new Scalpel a faster mountain bike on the technical circuits of the World Cup.

Alan Hatherly and the Cannondale Factory team compete with Shimano drivetrains, Lefty Ocho fork, and Fox shock, which means not including any of the ubiquitous electronic components that clutter the current scene. Hatherly doesn't even use the new Fox Transfer Neo seatpost. So in his Cannondale Scalpel, we see all the possible wiring and manual locks.

Instead, Hatherly seems to be very meticulous with the adjustments of each component and like a Formula 1 driver, he is able to detect any minimal change. This allows him to obsessively configure his Scalpel to maximize its performance on any circuit.

Full setup of the Cannondale Scalpel with which Hatherly won the 2024 XCO World Championship

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• Frame: Cannondale Scalpel LAB71
• Fork: Lefty Ocho Carbon 120mm 140 psi
• Shock: Fox Factory Series Float SL 120mm with 150 psi
• Handlebar: FSA KFX 720mm
• Stem: FSA KFX 100mm -20º
• Groupset: Shimano XTR M9100, 1x12
• Brakes: Shimano XTR BL-M9100, with 160mm RT-CL900 discs
• Power meter: Stages
• Wheels: FSA carbon prototype with Kevlar spokes
• Tires: Schwalbe Rick 2.4”
• Saddle: Prologo SCRATCH
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer Elite 100mm
• Pedals: Shimano XTR PD-M9100
• Bottle cage: Elite Prism Carbon
• Bearings: CeramicSpeed (hubs, bottom bracket, headset, and pivot points)