We had never seen so many prototypes and new bikes together at the XCO World Cup

The XCO World Cup 2026 is bringing one of the largest waves of technical renewals ever seen in the discipline. In just a few weeks, newly presented models, advanced prototypes, and development bikes that are already competing at the highest level have coincided even before hitting the market.

The XCO World Cup 2026 is filled with new bikes: Epic 9, Lux, Oiz, Spark, Lefty, and a grid in full technical revolution

At the beginning of the season, it seemed that the major technical conversation of the year would focus on prototypes with 32-inch wheels. However, the reality of the World Cup has taken a different path. Beyond that debate, what is being seen in the races is a deep renewal of a large part of the XCO mountain bikes on the grid.

Specialized, Canyon, Orbea, and Giant have already presented new platforms. Scott, Cube, Trek, and Lapierre are competing with very advanced prototypes. And Cannondale, while maintaining the Scalpel as a base, has revealed a new generation of its Lefty fork. The result is a technical grid in full transition, with modern XC pushing brands towards lighter, more capable bikes with more travel and increasing integration.

Specialized Epic 9: the new ultralight reference from Specialized Factory Racing

The Specialized Factory Racing has just unveiled the new Epic 9, a bike developed with the goal of eliminating any factor that could slow down the rider in real race conditions. The brand presents it as its lightest, fastest, and most capable XC double to date, with a frame weighing only 1,589 grams in size M, including shock and hardware.

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The Epic 9 maintains 120 mm of front and rear travel, but introduces an 11% reduction in suspension system friction, a revised kinematics, and the Dynamic Trio system with three positions: Wide Open, Magic Middle, and Sprint-On-Lock. In its most exclusive setup, the S-Works Epic 9 Ultralight LTD drops to 8.66 kg, an extreme figure for a dual suspension ready to compete.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR 2027: more travel and adjustable anti-squat

The Canyon XC Racing has been showcasing its new prototype in races for months, and this year the brand has officially presented the new Lux World Cup CFR 2027. The renewal is profound: new frame weighing 1,480 grams, more aggressive geometry, longer wheelbase, 120 mm front, 110 mm rear, and a kinematics more oriented towards current technical XC.

Its major functional novelty is the Anti-Squat Flip Chip system, which allows adjusting the suspension behavior against pedaling depending on the circuit or the setup used. The new Lux has already been validated in competition, with victories from Jenny Rissveds, Luca Schwarzbauer, and Sam Gaze in the Cape Epic 2026 even before its official launch.

Cannondale Scalpel and the future Lefty: a key update before a new generation

The Cannondale Factory Racing continues to compete with the current Cannondale Scalpel, but in Nové Město, it revealed a key development piece: a new Lefty fork not yet officially presented. The current Lefty Ocho has practically remained unchanged since 2018, so this prototype points to a significant evolution.

The new fork maintains the inverted and single-arm concept but features a more streamlined crown, changes in the remote control, a redesigned protector, and a new StopLock area for securing the brake caliper. All team riders are using it in competition, indicating that development is in a very advanced phase.

Orbea Oiz 2027: new frame, more stiffness, and 120 mm as a base

The Orbea Fox Factory Team already has its new Oiz 2027, a bike completely redesigned after three years of development. The platform maintains the DNA of the Oiz but changes the frame, suspension, geometry, and much of its structure to adapt to modern XC.

The OMX frame claims 1,700 grams with shock in size M, incorporates the new Powerspine structure to improve power transfer, and a forged aluminum link that is 30% lighter than the previous one. It maintains 120 mm of travel front and rear, although it allows for a 130 mm fork. It also retains proprietary technologies such as I-Line and Squidlock.

Cube AMS Zero99: the prototype with which Finn Treudler surprised in elite

The Cube Factory Racing is competing with a prototype of what should be the next Cube AMS Zero99. The bike particularly caught attention in Mona YongPyong, where Finn Treudler, the reigning U23 world champion, debuted in the elite World Cup riding among the best in both XCC and XCO.

Technically, Cube seems to maintain a different line from most brands. The prototype retains a Four-Bar suspension system instead of the dominant single-pivot found in many current XCO bikes. It also maintains internal cabling from the head tube and shows a more streamlined link, indicating changes in weight, stiffness, and kinematics.

Scott Spark 2027: the new Racing Concept prototype from SCOTT-SRAM

The SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team has been competing for weeks with a completely new bike, identified only as Racing Concept and clearly distinct from any current model of the brand. Everything points to this being the next generation of the Scott Spark, one of the key platforms of modern XCO.

The prototype maintains the integrated shock concept but seems to modify its internal arrangement and the suspension architecture. The visible upper link disappears, and a possible lower link appears around the bottom bracket. The frame shows more streamlined lines, a new service window for the shock, and Syncros wheels with carbon spokes. For now, official data on weight, travel, and geometry is missing.

Trek-Unbroken XC: a World Cup XCO that may never reach stores

Trek has taken an unusual path with the Trek-Unbroken XC team. The brand officially presented its new XCO prototype, but warned that it may never hit the market. It is neither a Supercaliber nor a Top Fuel, but an experimental platform developed from scratch for current circuits.

The project was born after realizing that the 80 mm of the Supercaliber were starting to fall short in some World Cup courses. Trek developed a 29-inch dual with 115 mm rear suspension, flex stay system, shock positioned under the top tube, and geometry inspired by the efficiency of the Supercaliber but with greater technical capability. Its main function is to act as a competition laboratory.

Giant Anthem Advanced SL 2027: the bike of the world champion is already renewed

The Giant Factory Off-Road Team competes with the new Anthem Advanced SL, a bike that Alan Hatherly used before its official presentation to become the XCO world champion. The new generation represents the biggest leap in the saga in two decades.

The Advanced SL frame weighs 1,530 grams with paint and hardware, increases transmission stiffness by 6%, and adopts the FlexPoint Pro system with 120 mm of rear travel. It also incorporates adjustable geometry via flip chip, total cable integration, space for two bottles, and new Giant wheels with 30 mm internal hookless rims. The range goes from €4,299 to €12,499.

Lapierre XRM in development: new team, new bike, and a total architectural change

The Lapierre PXR Racing has debuted in the XCO World Cup 2026 with a structure inherited from the now-defunct Ghost Factory Racing and a completely new bike. Everything points to this being the next generation of the XRM, a prototype that Anne Terpstra had already successfully used in Chelva before reaching the highest level.

The new platform breaks with the current XRM. The most evident change is in the position of the shock, now located at the bottom of the frame and around the bottom bracket, a solution aimed at lowering the center of gravity and improving stability. It maintains a single-pivot base with flexible stays and seems designed to also work with electronic shocks like Flight Attendant. There are no official travel figures, but everything points to it moving above 100 mm.

A grid that confirms the direction of XCO

The XCO World Cup 2026 is confirming that the evolution of the discipline does not follow a single solution. Some brands opt for ultralight frames, others for more travel, others for adjustable kinematics, and some for prototypes that may never reach the market.

What seems clear is that current XC no longer allows bikes designed only for fast climbing. The circuits are more technical, the descents weigh more in the results, and the ability to maintain speed over rough terrain has become a priority. Therefore, this season is not only important for sports results but also because it may mark the beginning of a new generation of World Cup bikes.