The electronics of the Flight Attendant now works with 32” wheels and won at the Cape Epic

The Cape Epic 2026 not only served as a testing ground for 32-inch wheels. It also left one of the first pieces of evidence that electronic suspension systems have already begun to adapt to this new standard. And it did so in the most demanding scenario possible, also with a stage victory.

The RockShox Flight Attendant made its way into 32” MTBs during competition

During the first days of the race, Felix Stehli competed with his 32-inch Stoll equipped with what appeared to be a conventional Intend Samurai XC fork (130/120mm).

However, as the race progressed, images began to appear showing a clear evolution in that setup. The same fork had been modified to integrate an electronic suspension system, specifically the RockShox Flight Attendant, accompanied by the RockShox SID Luxe Flight Attendant rear shock.

This change was not minor. It represented, in practice, the first time a Flight Attendant system was seen functioning on a 32-inch bike in real competition. And it did so winning in one of the toughest races on the calendar, which reinforced its value as a proof of concept.

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On a technical level, there was no official confirmation on how this integration was carried out. But the recent context left some clues. In its latest update (for 2026), RockShox introduced the Launch Control and expanded the system's capabilities with the Charger Race Day 2 Flight Attendant kit, designed to upgrade SID and SID SL forks to the latest version. This kit, compatible with models from 2021 to 2024, may have served as a basis for adapting the system to a 32-inch fork like the Intend.

What was clear was the result. The combination of 32-inch wheels and electronic suspension not only worked but was competitive at the highest level. The stage victory achieved by the Honeycomb 226ERS team confirmed that this integration was not an isolated experiment, but a solution capable of performing under real pressure. Furthermore, although they did not raise their arms again, Stehli and his partner remained among the most active pairs at the front of the race throughout the week, establishing themselves as one of the most visible duos of this edition.

Beyond the technical details that still need clarification, the Cape Epic left a clear signal. The two major lines of innovation in current XC, the increase in wheel diameter and the automation of suspensions, are no longer advancing separately. They have begun to converge on the same bike.