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

Mountain bike 19/10/24 10:58 Migue A.

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 is the new XCO World Champion and thus won the first rainbow jersey of the discipline for South Africa. All this with his inseparable Cannondale Scalpel meticulously adjusted.

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.

The Cannondale Scalpel is once again World Champion and does so without any electronics. All the possible cables for gears, fork, shock, seatpost, and brakes come out of its handlebar. This is Alan Hatherly's bike, meticulously adjusted.

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.

Far from choosing the new Fox Neo, or the Fox Transfer seatpost with Kashima finish, Hatherly prefers the normal, Elite finish because he says it feels more stable. Prologo Scratch M5 saddle

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.

FSA KFX prototype wheels with carbon rims and kevlar spokes. Schwalbe Rick XC 2.4" tires with 15 psi front and 17 psi rear. Shimano XTR brakes with 180mm Ice Tech discs front and 160mm rear- 
FSA KFX Carbon handlebar and stem with 720mm width and 100mm stem with -20º. To his right, the Shimano XTR shifter and above it, the dropper post lever. On the left, the locks for shock and fork
Up front, the 120mm Lefty Ocho Carbon fork with 140 or 150 psi, depending on the circuit, at the rear the Fox Factory Float SL shock with 155 psi. Hatherly usually sets up his fork firm to avoid having to lock it
Complete Shimano XTR 12V drivetrain with 175mm cranks, CeramicSpeed threaded bottom bracket, and also XTR pedals. In the team's Scalpels, the FlexPivot system of the chainstays is exposed unlike in commercial frames

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

 

  • 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)

 

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Nada de electrónica en la Cannondale Scalpel con la que Hatherly se proclamó Campeón del Mundo XCO

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Cabos, bloqueios manuais e nada de eletrônica: assim é a Cannondale Scalpel de Hatherly para vencer o Campeonato Mundial XCO

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Câbles, verrous manuels et pas d'électronique : voici le Cannondale Scalpel de Hatherly pour remporter le Championnat du Monde XCO

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