The Scott-SRAM MTB Team are one of the most powerful mountain bike teams on the planet. Not only do they boast both 2016 Olympic champions with Nino Schurter and Jenny Rissveds, but they also have the serious talent of Matthias Stirnemann, Michiel van der Heijden and Andrei Frischknecht. And of course Thomas Frischknecht, their team manager, can fill duties as a rider himself quite handily.
In 2016 Scott Sports unveiled their new Spark and Scale lines, and the team uses the RC models. Both are some of the lightest frames on the market for their class – something that no doubt assists the riders. For 2017, the team’s name changed to Scott-SRAM as SRAM increased their input into the team – including taking care of suspension. The whole team has also moved to Maxxis tyres, something not entirely surprising as we saw Nino Schurter racing on Maxxis for much of 2016, when he got on the new Spark 29 in prototype stage.
Maxxis – the writing was on more than the sidewall over the past 8 months.
A close look at the Scott-SRAM Scale of Jenny Rissveds
In 2017, Rissveds is aboard a Scale 900 RC – so she’s made a moved to 29″ wheels. Rissveds will also be racing a Spark, but let’s look at this model first.
The frame is claimed to be 849, which is incredibly light, and uses Boost spacing in the rear, internal cable routing, has two bottle mounts, and the rear end is designed around compliance.
Rissved’s Syncros stem is slammed, and the bars are run with a negative rise. Rissveds isn’t tall, so getting the bars low enough on a 29″ wheeled bike takes these sort of modifications. Note the mechanical, not hydraulic, lock out. Also the large port for internal routing – which makes a mechanic’s job a lot easier.
FIY this is Rissved’s bike…
Keeping the Scott-SRAM bikes rolling
The Scott-SRAM MTB Team uses SRAM Eagle XX1 group sets, and in the image below you can see the neat internal routing to the rear derailluer, and also the immense height of the chain stay, which also plays a big role in the lateral stiffness of the bike.
A SRAM XX1 Eagle group set.
While DT Swiss may no longer provide the suspension for the Scott-SRAM MTB Team, they are the wheel sponsor, with custom XMC 1200 wheels. The hubs use the DT Swiss star ratchet engagement, and have gold finishing not just to match the Eagle components, but to celebrate the Olympic Gold Medals two of the team riders have earnt. It’s initeresting to see that the team uses centrelock hubs.
You can also see the brake mount is seperate to the frame – this is part of the frame design that allows more vertical compliance through the seat stays on the Scott Scale.
Wheels for Scott-SRAM are from DT Swiss.
A matter of control for the Scott-SRAM MTB Team
Syncros are Scott’s in house brand now, and their carbon handlebars are matched with silicone grips for Rissveds, and her SRAM Level Ultimate brakes have the RockShox lock out lever nestled next to it. The move to the mechanical lever also gives some more mountain options, and it has a longer lever through instead of a push button, allowing for a more natural action.
The fork is the new SID World Cup from RockShox, and with the latest Charger damper this is a great upgrade for the team, no doubt moving to greater reliability than the DT Swiss forks. You can also see the Maxxis tyres, Rissveds has the Aspen model. There’s every chance that the Scott-SRAM team will help Maxxis develop some new tread patterns for XCO.
The new SID World Cup.
Up close with Nino Schurter’s Scott-SRAM Spark
The Scott Spark must be one of the most versatile marathon race bikes around – and of course it’s pretty handy for XCO too! The parts spec is essentially the same as the hardtails, with Boost spacing for the DT wheels, RockShox SID World Cup forks (with a TwinLoc lever), SRAM Eagle XX1 and Syncros parts.
But, there are still some small differences, like Nino’s Xpedo pedals, which are super light
These pedals are super light. Like 215g if they are the Xpedo M Force 8 Ti.
The Scott Spark has a single bottle cage mount, and a Topeak carbon cage is bolted onto the Scott Spark. You can see there is another bolt further up the down tube, to allow for a different mounting position.
Topeak are involved with the Scott-SRAM team for some accessories.
Cockpit of Nino’s Scott-SRAM Spark
Nino also runs his Syncros bars with a negative rise. He’s not tall, and his shift to 29″ wheels seemed to be for the speed required for the Olympics. And while he runs a slammed stem, he gets a little lower this way too.
You can also see the RockShox lock out lever has been adapted for TwinLoc, with a cable going to the SID World Cup, and one to the shock out the back. Which is BlackBox.
A BlackBox shock for the Scott-SRAM Team.
Well there is something in development here. It’s a Trunnion shock – that is the shock bolts mount from the side, and the air can looks a little bigger than a Monarch. Maybe this is to replicate the ride of a Fox DPS? Time will tell. You can also see the micro-guide used for added chain security.
The Maxxis Aspen.
Nino won the Olmypic gold medal on Maxxis, and it’s no surprise Maxxis are now a team sponsor. The Aspen is a fast rolling XC and marathon tyre – but will we see some new prototype treads throughout 2017?
It certainly looks like the Scott-SRAM MTB team are well-equiped for 2017, with solid parts on up-to-date high-performance frames. You can follow the team via their website.
Currently, Scott-SRAM have two teams in the top 10 at the 2017 Cape Epic, aboard the Scott Spark. photo: Shaun Roy