Shimano XTR M9000 for Julien Absalon

Pictures have emerged of the Shimano XTR M9000, out of France, on multiple Everything champion – Julien Absalon. While in Cairns for the 2nd round of the XCO World Cup, Absalon was running a 1 x 10 setup, using current generation XTR. Clearly, some of the product is making production.

Absalon was on a 1 x 10 setup in Cairns

The photos do show the new M9000 crank, rear derailleur, cassette and presumably the chain. What’s interesting is the use of a ‘BMC’ branded carbon fibre chain guide, and what looks to be a prototype chainring. The etched product numbers and chain ring size (34t) suggest that Shimano might still be refining their tooth profile – which the use of a  chain guide would support. So maybe this whole group set is a little further off than people expected? What’s here certainly looks well finished (chainring excluded).