With the Stumpjumper 29er, the S-Works lettering guarantees purebred racing genes, greedy propulsion and lightweight construction at the limit. The carbon fibre chassis already impresses in the laboratory with top values: with 100.1 Nm/° for steering head stiffness, a frame weight of 1298 grams and a whopping 9.6 mm flex in the comfort measurement on the saddle, the Stumpjumper plays in the Champions League everywhere. The stretched riding position also suits the second hunter, allowing plenty of saddle rake and optimum power transfer. On the start lap, I fly up the cobblestone climb in the cradle - in Strava best time.
My thighs are burning, my lungs are gasping for air: only the Stumpjumper is completely unimpressed as it zips through the dusty trail descent that follows - addicted to overtaking manoeuvres and as agile as a startled hare. Only on very fast downhills do you notice the steep steering angle (even for a race hardtail): at 71.2°, the Specialized lacks a little directional stability. Even after ten full throttle laps in the dust, the XTR responds like clockwork to every tap of the right-hand shifter. I didn't use the small 24 t cassette on the undulating lap through the Olympic Park, but the double gear ratio is ideal for marathons. Even the locking of the tight SID fork with 90 mm stroke is taken care of for me: by the Brain system. This means I can concentrate on the essentials of this race right to the end: Pedalling, shifting and steering. The XTR stoppers offer perfectly controlled deceleration. If you miss a braking point, it's your own fault.
Conclusion The S-Works lives up to its reputation: the taut noble racer with emergency kit craves altitude metres and overtaking manoeuvres - the main thing is to be fast.
PLUS Stiff frame, lots of flex/comfort on the saddle, integrated emergency kit, super controllable brakes
MINUS Small brake discs, no chainsuck protection, expensive (frame), steep steering angle
