“This thing gives me everything I could want from a hardtail, plus the control and capability of full suspension." - World Champion Christopher Blevins
The Specialized Epic World Cup Mountain Bike is the ultimate XC race machine, dominating smooth to moderately technical courses with unparalleled efficiency, control, and lightweight design. As World Champion Christopher Blevins puts it, “This bike gives me everything I want from a hardtail, plus the control and capability of full suspension.” This speed demon was crafted through an integrated development approach, featuring a revolutionary shock system and building on four decades of off-road racing excellence.
To achieve maximum speed with precise power transfer and handling, Specialized set new benchmarks in torsional rigidity and bottom bracket stiffness. This was accomplished through a groundbreaking design that integrates a structurally superior double diamond frame layout with a shock nested inside the top tube, combined with the most advanced composite layup in the brand’s history.
The Epic World Cup features a game-changing shock, conceived by the Specialized Ride Dynamics team, that offers the snappy responsiveness of a hardtail while delivering the control and momentum-carrying capability of full suspension. Co-developed with RockShox, the SID Deluxe WCID shock utilises independently adjustable positive and negative air springs, allowing riders to tune their setup from firm to soft, depending on the course or personal preference. This flexibility lets you crush technical terrain or ride fast and firm like a hardtail, all with easy, intuitive adjustments.
Despite offering 75mm of rear travel, the Epic World Cup performs like a longer-travel bike. Designed to ride close to topped-out, it provides the same effective travel as a 100mm bike with 25% sag. The custom Mega Jounce Bumper, an industry first, enhances bottom-out resistance, making it smooth and controlled on even the biggest impacts. The suspension’s flat spring rate through the mid-stroke further optimises bump absorption, giving you the control of a much longer travel bike.
While the new SID Deluxe WCID shock delivers unparalleled rear suspension performance, the BRAIN technology remains a key feature in the fork. Its Position-Sensitive design allows riders to sag into the fork by 15mm, ensuring a balanced ride with small bump compliance and a firm pedaling platform, all without the need for remote lockouts or manual adjustments.
Weighing in at just 1,915g (painted, including shock and hardware), the Epic World Cup is among the lightest in its class. This featherweight frame offers faster acceleration, more efficient climbing, and agile handling, giving you the edge in any race. The frame’s construction draws on techniques developed for the Aethos (the lightest production road frame ever) utilising advanced composite layup and tube shapes for maximum stiffness and minimal weight.
The Epic World Cup is equipped with the Roval Control SL components, including a 1,240g wheelset, 180g seat post, and 250g integrated cockpit. These components deliver unrivaled lightweight performance, stiffness, and control, perfectly suited for the rigours of World Cup racing.
The all-new Epic World Cup frame features Ride Dynamics suspension technology and 75mm of optimised rear wheel travel. Thanks to its innovative shock system, the Epic World Cup delivers unmatched pedaling efficiency and is ready for the roughest descents, no lockout switches needed.
With a SRAM XO transmission that meets the highest demands for shifting performance and durability, the bike is ideal for modern cross-country racing. The SID SL BRAIN fork provides 110mm of suspension travel, discerning between rider and terrain inputs for ultimate efficiency.
The hand-built Roval Control carbon wheels, featuring a modern 29mm internal-width hookless rim, maximise strength, ride quality, and durability while keeping weight to a minimum, making the Epic World Cup the ultimate race weapon.