The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are here and the best mountain bikers on the planet are straight into action this weekend with the XCO (Cross-Country Olympic) races scheduled for July 28th and 29th. Tom Pidock and Jolanda Neff will defend their gold medal titles, but there will be plenty of other riders looking for their shot. It's also the opportunity for mountain bike brands and sponsors to have their products win a gold medal too.
I've been looking around at some of the best XC mountain bike products that will be in action over the weekend, and are likely to feature in the Men's and Women's races. If you fancy channeling your inner Tom Pidock or Jolanda Neff, below are the money-is-no-object products you'll want to consider from bikes to mountain bike helmets, shoes, sunglasses and more...
If you want to watch the races, our how to watch live Olympic cross-country MTB racing article has all the information you need. It also has the riders we're tipping for gold medal success. And if you fancy checking out some more affordable kit, see our article on the best budget XC gear.
Olympic XC bikes
Pinarello Dogma XC
Tom Pidcock is the defending Olympic XCO champion, and also the current cross-country world champion, so his bike is a good starting point for the best XC racing bike. Pidcock won his Olympic title racing an unbranded BMC Fourstroke bike because his bike sponsor Pinarello didn't make an MTB at the time.
With input from Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Pinarello designed the Dogma XC – which is officially the fastest XCO race bike in the world, having won two XCO world titles in Scotland last August.
The Dogma XC is now available for us mere mortals with a whopping price tag of $13,000 / £12,000 / €13,500. Our ultra-experienced test editor Guy Kesteven flew out to Italy earlier this year to find out what the Dogma was all about. Guy found that while the Dogma XC felt extremely stiff, climbed like a dream, delivered maximum power transfer and was rapid on rolling trails, he found the ride position sketchy on descents and the geometry made for some nervy riding on technical sections.
With the launch of the Dogma XC, Pinarello achieved its aim for the bike – world titles and a machine designed exactly how Pidcock and Prévot wanted. You'll have to have serious riding skills and a big wallet if you want to line up at a local race on this bike though.
Specialized S-Works Epic 8
Specialized like Pinarello claims its new Epic 8 is the "fastest XC race bike in the world", but with two world titles in the bag, the Dogma seems to have the more legit claims for the title. The two bikes will go head to head this weekend and an Olympic gold medal mighty just be around the corner for the Epic, because the number one XCO rider in Men's Elite, Victor Koretzky, the winner of the Test Event at the Elancourt Hill track will be on board the S-Works Epic 8.
Other strong candidates throwing their legs over the Epic 8 are Team USA riders Christopher Blevins and Haley Batten who are strongly fancied for podium places along with Laura Stigger, a former world champion.
The S-Works Epic 8 is priced at $14,500 / £12,000 / €14,500, which is pretty much the same price point as the Dogma. Guy Kesteven gave the bike top marks when he reviewed the Epic, saying the next-level technology, frame, geometry, and suspension make it an exceptional XC race bike.
Olympic XC helmets
Kask Elemento
The Kask Elemento is a top-of-the-range XC helmet from the Italian helmet manufacturers. It's got World Championship-winning form too – worn by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot to victory in last year's XCO World Championships in Glentress, Scotland.
The Elemento is packed with cutting-edge 3D-printed technology and has advanced safety construction for MTB, gravel, and road riding. Multipod internal padding is Kask's answer to a MIPS system, developed using their own Rotational Impact WG11 Testing. It's constructed using a composite technopolymer called Fluid Carbon 12 which makes it lightweight at 309g (large). This material is also claimed to be more resistant to stress than standard plastics. Kask also adds that the Fluid Carbon 12 outer shell is capable of absorbing more impact energy and will distribute that force evenly across the helmet.
The Kask Elemento is priced at $400 / £335 / €375.
Lazer Z1 KinetiCore
Tom Pidcock will be racing in the Lazer Z1 KinetiCore helmet in Paris. The Z1 is the brand's top-of-the-range helmet and integrates Lazer's patented KinetiCore protection technology, engineered to be lightweight (220g), with excellent ventilation, and provide high levels of safety.
KinetiCore is Lazer's answer to the MIPS safety system and as a result, the Z1 gets a 5-Star Virginia Tech protection rating. Strategically placed vents, inclined bridges and a floating headband make the Z1, Lazer claims, the best MTB helmet in class for ventilation.
The Lazer Z1 is priced at $280 / £230.
Specialized S-Works Evade 3
The Specialized S-Works Evade 3 helmet has been around for a while now and Specialized say its third-generation version is the best yet. You'll see it being worn by loads of the best XC riders during the Olympic games and is a World Cup regular worn by the Specialized Factory Racing team riders.
The Evade 3 now has superb cooling credentials and the improved airflow system doesn't compromise aerodynamic performance. So it's lightweight at just 300g (large), comfortable and suitable in loads of different riding conditions.
Safety features include the MIPS Air Node safety system. Air Node is MIPS' lightest and most ventilation-focused safety solution to date. There is also dual-density EPS foam which further protects during any impacts, and the polycarbonate shell wrap outer creates a striking finish and enhances durability.
The RRP for the Specialized S-Works Evade 3 is $300 / £275 / €330.
Olympic XC pedals
Shimano XTR
When it comes to XC pedals, Shimano’s XTR pedals are still one of the best mountain bike pedals you can get. They've been around forever and I've been riding Shimano SPD pedals for years, the XTR models are the top-tier XC pedals and are last summer's XCO World Championship-winning pedals ridden by Tom Pidcock.
The latest version is sleeker, lower, and lighter (312g), and has improved mud clearance, but at the heart of it is still the crisp buttery-smooth engagement and race-ready performance you'd expect from XTR, and are priced at $179.99 / £139.99.
There are many other MTB pedals from other brands out there, like the Hope Union RC which might be arguably better too. But what you get with the XTR, is a pedal so good that it's tough to look past it for versatility and ease of use. As our tester, Sean Fishpool said in the review, "It’s hard to imagine anyone ever regretting buying these pedals".
Olympic XC MTB shoes
Shimano XC9 S-Phyre
Shimano XC9 S-Phyre is designed specifically for cross-country racing and will be the shoe of choice for many of the XCO riders competing at the Paris Olympics. They come with a premium price tag but you get a shoe that delivers comfort and performance. Shimano says the XC9 is "engineered to fit" and its one-piece upper provides enhanced instep rigidity and a claimed glove-like fit. Dual Boa Li2 dials feature a two-way micro-adjustability for fine-tuning fit.
The Ultread compound makes the sole lightweight, durable and grippy and minimizes weight at just 295 grams per shoe. The stiffness rating of 12 is equivalent to Shimano's performance road shoes so the XC9 delivers maximum power transfer and makes them a top shoe chosen by some of the best XCO riders. Premium performance comes priced at $450 / £319.
Olympic XC sunglasses
Most of the pro riders racing in the XCO will be tied into the sponsor's product when it comes to the eyewear they wear. For us normals, the choice of the best mountain bike sunglasses is huge and varied and comes down to personal preference with the look of the shades being almost as important as the performance they deliver.
Sunglasses brand Sungod is the eyewear sponsor for the Ineos Grenadier's team and has recently launched Signature Series editions for Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and both riders have won their world titles wearing Sungods. I've used a few versions of Sungods in the past and they are highly customizable MTB glasses that come with a lifetime guarantee. There is a ton of choice though from some of the world's leading brands like Oakley and its Sutro range and Kask's sunglasses partner Koo and its Spectro and Demos.
Olympic XC tires
The best XC tires prioritize speed over puncture protection and deliver plenty of grip that suits the conditions they are designed for. Recently launched and aimed specifically at a shot at an Olympic gold medal is the Hutchison Python Race tire. It's been developed in collaboration with the Decathlon Ford Racing Team, and these new tires are claimed to be super lightweight, offer enhanced puncture protection, and are ready for modern XC racing.
Decathlon Ford Racing requested the lightest and fastest possible tire and the Python Race is said to be a class-leading 600g tire built entirely for speed and is the fastest rolling tire in Hutchinson's MTB range.
Other tires worthy of consideration are the Maxxis Aspen and the Specialized S-Works Fast Trak, both highly capable XC tires with plenty of proven race-winning performance.
