Competing in a World Cup within the United States brings out the animal in Chris Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing). Last 12 months, the quick observe world champion soared to a greater than convincing victory within the elite males’s Olympic cross nation occasion.
Running and Key Movements
Blevins was equally calm however aggressive for the quick observe on the UCI Snowshoe Mountain Bike World Cup. The World Champion performed it cool and stayed with the lead pack for a lot of the race, avoiding a crash from present XCO World Champion Nino Schurter.
On the ultimate lap, Belvins tactically moved from fourth wheel to 3rd and used a muddy and heavy part of the observe to assault the group and transfer into second wheel.
Cool, collected and explosive, Blevins got here out of the draft of Vlad Dascalu and secured the United States’ second win of the weekend on quick observe. The crowd erupted in a lot the identical style as after they gained final 12 months, solely this time Blevins was adorned with the world champion’s unmistakable rainbow stripes.
An epic trip and epic situations
The course was muddy however got here again up as the lads took to the beginning line. Blevins went with the S-Works Epic he took the win on final season, however with some minor tire and saddle modifications.
We noticed Specilided riders on the course using prototype Specialized Storm tires that seem like a wider model of the Dugast Ernest however with wider facet protection.
The 29 x 2.1 tire appeared like a very good choice for girls’s racing however barely overkill for males’s situations.
Belvins went with the newer, extra aggressive model of the Specialized Fast Track 2.3. The tires appeared to have cleared the mud and had sufficient chunk to maintain it slip-free when attacking by means of the heavier mud sectors.
His Specialized S-Works Epic is just about inventory—we watched the mechanics construct it to race. The solely distinction is a customized Rock Shox Brain cartridge that the workforce will get with a barely firmer lockout.
The tires, seat, and wheels (bearings included) are all inventory you should buy, with no tremendous secret behind-the-scenes tweaks. However, the customized paint scheme of the world champion “Champ” might add just a few hundred watts…
Technical specs: Chris Blevins World Champion S-Work Epic:
- Frame: Specialized S-Works Epic FACT 12m Carbon
- Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate Brain (customized tune)
- Shock Absorber: RockShox Specialized Brain
- Handlebar: S-Works Carbon XC
- Stem: S-Works SL
- Grips: Specialized path grips
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS, CeramicSpeed pulley wheels
- Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate
- Pedals: HT
- Position: Specialized Carbon
- Wheels: Roval Control SL,
- Tires: specialised Fast Track inspection
Stay tuned for extra UCI Mountain Bike World Cup bike checks and behind the scenes content material.
