Cedric Gracia (CG Racing Brigade) scored a top-ten finish in Pietermaritzburg aboard this colorful Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The drilled-out blades provide just a hint of extra traction on Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) Hope brake levers.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A small plastic fender guards the rear shock.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Fox Racing Shox DHX RC4 rear shock is neatly tucked away low on the chassis.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cedric Gracia (CG Racing Brigade) ran his Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon in the shorter travel position on Sunday.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Shimano is soon set to update its long-running Saint group with major improvements, including a friction-controlled pulley cage, updated four-piston brakes, XTR-like levers, and 10-speed compatibility.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Most downhillers we saw in Pietermaritzburg used four bolts to attach the rotors.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A Fox DOSS dropper seatpost and a custom finished saddle atop Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Mechanic Kevin Joly trims away the flange on the Lizard Skins grips to free up access to the Shimano Saint shifter.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Two counterrotating links and specific geometry form the basis of Santa Cruz's VPP suspension design.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The front tire is left unclipped, though, so as retain braking performance.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Alloy spiders on the Hope rotors save weight but also add some color on Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Four-piston Hope calipers with titanium hardware on Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon runs with Shimano's current 9-speed Saint group.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) mechanic, Kevin Joly, clips tire knobs in anticipation of fast conditions.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cedric Gracia (CG Racing Bridage) pairs his Shimano Saint crank with a MRP G2 guide and Time pedals.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
170mm-long cranks and a 38T chainring for Cedric Gracia (CG Racing Brigade).(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cedric Gracia (CG Racing Brigade) was among many downhill racers in Pietermaritzburg running a dropper seatpost on the pedaling-intensive track.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Downhill bikes aren't typically set up for use with dropper seatposts so mechanic Kevin Joly gets creative on Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Whereas the rear caliper is fitted with titanium bolts exclusively, the front caliper wisely uses a mix of titanium and steel.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Even the derailleur housing and brake hose colors are coordinated on Cedric Gracia's (CG Racing Brigade) Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The clipped rear tire yields greater rolling speed without overly sacrificing cornering traction.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cedric Gracia (CG Racing Brigade) is one of the most colorful characters on the downhill circuit so it's no surprise that the aesthetics of his Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon matches his personality. What started life as a basic matte black carbon frame is now a flying rainbow of black, red, and yellow – all perfectly coordinated, of course.
Gracia's machine isn't all flash, however, as there's plenty of performance tucked away beneath the bright livery, courtesy of Santa Cruz's well-proven VPP suspension design and light but stiff carbon fiber front triangle (Cedric's bike doesn't sport the new carbon rear end developed last year for the Santa Cruz Syndicate).
Equipment includes Mavic DeeMax wheels, custom etched Hope Tech Evo M4 four-piston disc brakes, a Shimano Saint transmission, a Fox DHX RC4 rear shock and new air-sprung 40 fork, hand-clipped Panaracer tires, and even Fox's upcoming DOSS dropper seatpost.
Total weight as pictured was just over 16kg (35lb).
Check out our image gallery for lots more pictures.
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