With the new race season SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing got to ride their new team bikes, Spark RC 900 Worldcup. What better terrain to test them at the World`s toughest stage race, the legendary Absa Cape Epic. Dusty trails and super-dry conditions will be ridden every single day, and the material has to get through the roughest of all conditions.  Olympic Champions Jenny Rissveds and Nino Schurter are equipped with the SCOTT Spark Spark RC 900 Worldcup, a bike which is not only one of the most successful full suspension bikes on the World Cup circuit, it’s also belongs to the  most popular bikes for non-racers. The light and stiff race proven frame design has always appealed to a broad spectrum of riders, from elite Cross-Country and marathon racers to casual enthusiast trail riders. Thanks to numerous tech features, the Spark`s versatility has been in a class of its own for many years. 

“The Meerendal trails were amazing to ride, quite a few technical sections and demanding uphills, a perfect terrain to benefit of the capability of our new Sparks. It`s the start of the season, so we are also excited checking how our new parts on the bikes work- the new Rockshox suspension performed smooth and nicely, so did the entire bike”, says Nino Schurter.

Check out the Team edition of SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing.

Olympic Champions Jenny Rissveds and Nino Schurter are racing the World`s toughest stage race, the Absa Cape Epic, along with their team mates of SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing.

“That was a pretty good kick-off for my partner Matthias Stirnemann and me. It was freaking hot out there at the Prologue, no wind, dry and dusty. However, we managed to finish in second place”, says Nino. SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing now are in 2^nd place behind Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini. “SCOTT-SRAM Young Guns” with Michiel van der Heijden and Andri Frischknecht finished in 12^th.

Jenny Rissveds and her partner Thomas Frischknecht have won the Mixed category with a 1.44 min gap. “We are used to ride together since we always ride the WC courses together and we know each other's riding qualities well. We had a good strategy while passing people. I was leading in the descents and Jenny took the lead in the climbs. Super fun to be out there racing again!" says Thomas Frischknecht. Jenny Rissveds: "This was unexpected. We had some great fun out there, extremely hot but still fun. The track was tough but we enjoyed it. We had a great pace through the whole stage, feels super cool to get the win!"

Photos: Jochen Haar, Michal Cerveny, Greg Beadle, Nick Muzik