Made for the podium: This is Nino's new racing car

At his World Cup debut in Stellenbosch, serial winner Schurter had to settle for 2nd place for once. But his bike is undoubtedly made for the top step of the podium. Because it is one of the lightest, stiffest and fastest bikes on the racing circuit, the Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup.

The lightweight and stiff, race-proven frame design of the Scott Spark has always appealed to a wide range of riders, from elite cross-country to amateur marathon racers. Although the bike has simple, clean lines, the Spark is equipped with technical highlights, under the hood the Spark reveals a veritable technical firework.

The frame: The benchmark weight of 1779 grams (including shock and hardware) of the Spark RC 900 was not only achieved by using the lightest and most exclusive HMX carbon fibers. But also through a sophisticated carbon lay-up process. The frame consists of 752 individual carbon layers, which are all joined together by hand. An integral part of the frame is the trunnion mount: the shorter shock absorber thanks to this suspension enables a very compact frame and shock absorber package that is compactly integrated in front of the seat tube.

The fork: The 100% Rock Shox SID World Cup Carbon RL3 Charger Black Box fork is paired with a patented TwinLoc suspension system and a special 3-mode shock. This allows the suspension system to be ridden open, tightened or locked out.

The drivetrain: The SRAM XX1 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain is the first choice on Nino's bike. Braking is provided by Sram Level Ultimate, with 160mm rotors on the front and rear brakes. Schurter usually rides a respectable 38-tooth chainring, depending on the course. The standard is a 36-tooth ring.

The attachments: Scott's own Syncros brand is the order of the day here. The saddle, seat post, headset, handlebars, bars and grips all come from Syncros. Nino rides a 90mm stem with a negative rise to keep the handlebars really low. The negative stem and relatively narrow 680mm bars are perfect for starts, which are known for being ridden in tight spaces, while the stem maximizes the benefits of Nino's aggressive riding position. The pedals are Ritchey's WCS V6.

The wheels & tires: DT Swiss supplies the wheels. The super-light XMC 1200 Spline Carbon 29" is the choice for the XC World Cups. Maxxis supplies the tires, Schurter opted for the Maxxis Aspen 2.25" for minimal rolling resistance in Stellenbosch.

www.scott-sports.com