XC Tech Rambles: Val Di Sole World Cup 2024

As we walked around the XC pits at Val Di Sole, we were on the lookout for the latest tech on display. Each brand had their own unique theme when it came to remote lockouts, with custom decals catching our eye at Manitou and a busy day in store for Fox.

Remote lockouts seemed to be a popular feature, with Fox showcasing their Grip SL damper. 3D printed tools were also being used to make maintenance tasks easier, with finishing touches being applied to a lower service before the Fox team wrapped up for the day. Ineos had also made an appearance with their dedicated XC truck, bringing a touch of World Tour road racing to the event.

Cannondale’s new Scalpel was ready to hit the trails, while Specialized bikes were equipped with data loggers for performance analysis. Close inspections were taking place at Specialized, while Cube showed off an impressive paint job under cover. The Trek team was using Flight Attendant, with fresh shocks getting a quick tune-up before heading out to teams for use.

DT Swiss forks featured interesting design elements, while LIV had crowns ready for fork service. Tire choice would be crucial if more rain fell at Val Di Sole, with Lapierre putting in a lot of work and building fresh XC wheels. The toolboxes were meticulously organized, and Flight Attendant was a common sight in the pits.

Manitou introduced a new tool, the Andreani Fork Bushing sizing tool, to simplify a previously challenging task. The Euro Champ paint jobs stood out among the competition, while prototype Pirelli tires caught our attention. It was a busy day in the Orbea and SRAM pits, but help was always available from the dedicated team members. With a final fork lockout and some service still underway, the XC pits at Val Di Sole were abuzz with activity and innovation.