As World Cup leader and newly crowned world champion, Nino Schurter is the absolute favourite for the Olympics. This season, he is using 29-inch wheels for the first time - at least in part. "On the fast track in Rio, 29er wheels that roll well are a clear advantage. Now that my Spark is also lighter and has 29er geometry without compromises, there's hardly anything against the big wheels," explains Schurter. Here is our impression after a lap of the race track in Albstadt:
How Nino Schurter rides the Scott Spark 29 RC
The setup of the world champion's brand new Spark RC 29 is surprisingly rideable. We were able to take the 9.58-kilo lightweight rocket for a quick spin on the World Cup course, while the world champion himself accompanied us with his spare bike (and an obvious resting heart rate). Only the saddle cant is extreme with our seat height and the -25-degree stem, because Schurter sits about four centimetres lower.
However, there are no complaints when it comes to the suspension. The days of maximally firm and dead-pumped suspension elements seem to be over. The world champion rides 25 per cent SAG and likes to make the most of the available suspension travel. If you're going to go fully, then make the most of the advantages of comfort and traction.
Especially as the Twinloc lever on the left of the handlebars activates a noticeable platform with a click and locks the fork and shock completely with a further press. "I use the adjustment very often. When I go to the limit in a race, I sometimes have hardly any strength left to press the lever towards the end," reveals Schurter. We would even tune the lightweight DT Swiss carbon fork a little harder (due to the riding position).
With just 1.5 bar at the front and 1.6 bar at the rear, the handmade, flexible Dugast tubular tyres adapt perfectly to the relief of the ground. You get that plus-size tyre feeling - only much more agile. Comfort and a feeling of very good traction are clearly noticeable. The Spark RC is incredibly responsive and offers noticeable stiffness.
What Schurter's team mechanic says
"We are a well-rehearsed team and Nino trusts me blindly. The tyre pressure always has to be just right. He himself only checks briefly before the races whether the axles of the wheels are tightened enough. Tyres, chains and brake pads are tested once in training before the race."
The complete test story on the Olympic bikes of Fumic, Schurter & Co. can be found in BIKE 9/2016.
The complete issue
can also be read in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the issue in the DK-Shop reorder:
