Current UCI World Champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized) tackled the challenging Pietermaritzburg course on a full-suspension Specialized S-Works Epic 29er.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Julian Absalon (Orbea) finished fourth using SRAM's new XX Grip Shift.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Words of encouragement on the back of Marco Aurelio Fontana's (Cannondale Factory Racing) number plate.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
More words of encouragement on the back of Manuel Fumic's (Cannondale Factory Racing) number plate.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Ag2r-La Mondiale road racer Jean-Christophe Peraud is making a run for a spot on the French Olympic team aboard this Lapierre.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
South African company cSixx provided the last-minute solution for many a World Cup racer's 1x10 drivetrain needs, as seen here on Jean-Christophe Peraud's Lapierre. The team apparently couldn’t' get a hold of the correct size on such short notice, though, so a chunk of rubber serves as an emergency shim.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Kona privateer Spencer Paxson's setup is impressively versatile. Here, he's using Easton's tougher Haven Carbon bars instead of lighter-weight, less durable, or narrower options.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
SRAM XX controls and custom etched lock-on grip collars on Spencer Paxson's Kona King Kahuna.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A SRAM Quarq power meter on Spencer Paxson's Kona King Kahuna. Shimano XTR pedals are fitted here but according to Paxson, only because his sponsor-provided Crankbrothers pedals didn't arrive in time for the race.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Carbon dropouts and post mount caliper tabs on Spencer Paxson's Kona King Kahuna.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Spencer Paxson (Kona) is running thru-axles front and rear on his Kona King Kahuna.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Spencer Paxson's (Kona) new Kona King Kahuna carbon 29er hardtail weighed 10.18kg (22.44lb) in Pietermaritzburg.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Spencer Paxson (Kona) had more aggressive Maxxis Beaver tires fitted a couple of hours before the start of the riace in anticipation of rain.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
We ran into Trek Advanced Concepts Group wizard Ray Waxham in Pietermaritzburg, complete with his custom painted Trek Superfly 100.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Check out the name decal on Trek Advanced Concept Group man Ray Waxham's Trek Superfly 100.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Ridley made an appearance in Pietermaritzburg as well with this carbon 29er.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Internal routing on this Ridley carbon 29er hardtail.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A 140mm rear rotor, titanium hardware, and a thru-axle on Lukas Flückiger's (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Shimano's XTR Shadow Plus rear derailleur keeps things running quietly on Lukas Fluckiger's (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Trek World Racing was yet another team in Pietermaritzburg using ultralight carbon fiber tubular wheels and tires made by Dugast.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Like many cross country racers in Pietermaritzburg, Julian Absalon (Orbea) ran a 1x10 drivetrain - with just the big ring in this case.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Julian Absalon's (Orbea) Orbea Alma was equipped with a RockShox SID World Cup BlackBox in Pietermaritzburg. Check out the spare master link taped to the hydraulic lockout hose, too.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Julian Absalon (Orbea) went old-school with his 26"-wheeled Orbea Alma in Pietermaritzburg.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Julian Absalon (Orbea) did, however, sneak in a set of tubular Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels wrapped in Dugast tires - conspicuously covered in giant Hutchinson logos, of course.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Much of the Cannondale Factory Racing team went with tubular wheels and tires but Jeremiah Bishop instead stuck to his familiar tubeless clincher tires - wrapped around brand-new 29" versions of Mavic's Crossmax SLR wheels.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Team Sky rode these new Boardman Bikes carbon hardtails in Pietermaritzburg.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Team Sky's Boardman machine is built with a tapered head tube - but there's a straight steerer fitted here.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Looped stays on the new Boardman Bikes carbon hardtail are presumably intended to deliver a slightly softer ride.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
720mm-wide, flat carbon bars with contrasting-color ESI Racer's Edge grips on Lukas Flückiger's Trek Superfly.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Lukas Flückiger's (Trek World Racing) single-ring setup for Pietermaritzburg, featuring a Shimano XTR crank and chainring secured with a cSixx carbon fiber chain guide.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Fox Racing Shox 32 Float 100 FIT RLC on Lukas Flückiger's (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Not only have 29" wheels taken hold in the World Cup but so have single-ring drivetrains, as seen here on Lukas Flückiger's (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
cSixx is a relatively new company based in South Africa specializing in carbon fiber chain guides.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
World Cup bikes need to be light but racers value function, too, as evidenced by Lukas Flückiger's (Trek World Racing) Trek Superfly.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Lukas Flückiger's (Trek World Racing) race wheels are built with Bontrager's latest prototype hubs laced to Trek-built carbon fiber tubular rims.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Trek World Racing used custom tubular tires built by Dugast with Bontrager treads.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Ridley follows the 'big chain stays, slim seat stays' model on this carbon 29er.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Included in this round-up gallery are more single-ring and tubular wheel setups on the cross country rigs, a possible new carbon hardtail from Boardman Bikes, and in-depth looks at the bikes of Lukas Flückiger (Trek World Racing), Julian Absalon (Orbea) and Kona privateer Spencer Paxson.
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