Keegan Swenson's S-Works Epic 9 rainbow for Leadville

Keegan Swenson will arrive at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB 2026 with two conditions that make all eyes turn back to him: he is the current world champion of XCM and the reigning Leadville winner. After leaving Santa Cruz and signing with Specialized for the 2026 season, the American will face this edition on the new S-Works Epic 9, although with a very special decoration that transfers the rainbow colors of the world champion to his new bike.

All the photographs accompanying this article are by Josh Weinberg for SILCA, one of Swenson's personal sponsors and the brand that has detailed the bike with which he will defend his victory in Leadville.

Keegan Swenson swaps the road handlebar for a much more discreet solution

Swenson's bike is particularly interesting because it shows how he has adapted his setup to the new Leadville regulations. In 2025, he won the race using a striking road handlebar, a solution that allowed him to adopt much more aerodynamic positions during the numerous fast kilometers of the race. However, the organization has banned this type of handlebars for 2026. Here we already told you how the cyclists themselves requested that they be banned.

The result is that this year Swenson presents a bike that is quite a bit more "normal." At least at first glance.

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The S-Works Epic 9 maintains a conventional flat handlebar, but in the inner area of the handlebar, we find two small sections covered with road handlebar tape, thus creating an additional point to rest the hands.

Alongside them are also two SRAM Blip buttons, so Swenson can place his hands near the center of the handlebar during long flat stretches and continue shifting gears without having to constantly return to the conventional position.

The idea is to adopt a somewhat more aerodynamic position, but maintaining a much more conventional MTB handlebar than the one used last year.

Also noteworthy is the aggressive stem with -30° of tilt, another decision clearly aimed at achieving a low front position.

A S-Works Epic 9 with rainbow colors

Swenson's team change during the winter made it particularly interesting to know what bike he would use to defend his victory. Specialized has prepared for him a S-Works Epic 9 FACT 12 Carbon customized with the rainbow bands that identify the current world champion.

Swenson won the XCM world title in 2025 and can now show those colors throughout the season. Specialized has integrated them onto the carbon frame of his Epic 9, creating an exclusive bike for the American.

Beyond the decoration, the setup is completely oriented towards performance in Leadville, a race where rolling efficiency and weight are of enormous importance due to its long climbs and fast stretches at high altitude.

A mysterious RockShox SID Flight Attendant without logos

The fork is one of the details that stands out in this setup. Swenson uses what appears to be a RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant of 120 mm, but the fork appears completely clean and without the usual identifying decals of the model.

This is not the first time we have seen something similar among official riders. In the World Cup, we have also observed similar setups on bikes of cyclists like Jenny Rissveds, and the absence of identification inevitably opens the door to think that RockShox could be using certain riders to test new material.

Behind we find a RockShox SIDLuxe Flight Attendant of 120 mm, equipped with Ride Dynamics and the Magic Middle mode, thus completing an electronic suspension system capable of automatically managing its operation during the race.

Roval Control World Cup, SRAM Transmission, and a chainring to go fast

The rest of the setup also makes few concessions. Swenson uses Roval Control World Cup, Specialized's competition XC wheels, combined with Specialized Air Trak tires.

The transmission is handled by SRAM Eagle Transmission and another detail clearly adapted to the characteristics of Leadville is a considerably large chainring that, without having it confirmed, we could say is 40T.

The set also incorporates a integrated Quarq power meter and SRAM Motive brakes. Swenson also does not need a dropper post for this course and opts for a rigid post, accompanied by a Specialized Power Evo saddle.

On paper, therefore, the bike with which Swenson will try to win Leadville again is quite a bit less extravagant than the one from 2025. There is no road handlebar or large aerodynamic solutions in sight. But details like the inner Blips, the handlebar tape, the -30° stem, or the chainring make it clear that it is still a bike specifically prepared for one of the fastest and most particular MTB events on the calendar.

Keegan Swenson's S-Works Epic 9 setup for Leadville 2026

• Frame: S-Works Epic 9 FACT 12 Carbon
• Cockpit: flat handlebar with inner areas covered in road tape, SRAM Blip buttons, and -30° stem
• Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant, 120 mm, without identifying decals (possible prototype)
• Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Flight Attendant, 120 mm
• Brakes: SRAM Motive
• Transmission: SRAM Eagle Transmission
• Power Meter: integrated Quarq
• Wheels: Roval Control World Cup
• Tires: Specialized Air Trak
• Post: rigid
• Saddle: Specialized Power Evo