FASTER THAN EXPECTED: The Epic World Cup Pro is the fastest cross-country race bike in the world, thanks to its unmatched combination of efficiency, control, and lightweight design for moderate to challenging trails. World champion Christopher Blevins captured it perfectly: "This bike gives me everything I love about hardtails, plus the control and capabilities of a full suspension." Building this speed machine required a holistic development approach, the invention of a radically new shock, and four decades of off-road experience topped with countless victories. NEW FRAME STANDARDS: To achieve maximum speed through ruthlessly efficient power transfer and precise handling, our engineering team has set and achieved new benchmarks in torsional and bottom bracket rigidity. This feat necessitated an integrated structural approach that combined a structurally superior double-diamond layout with a shock integrated into the top tube, utilizing the most demanding carbon layup in Specialized's history. SHOCKINGLY FAST: The Specialized Ride Dynamics team developed a revolutionary shock technology for the Epic World Cup that offers you the efficiency and responsive feel of a hardtail alongside the control and performance of a full-suspension bike—all with a simple setup. The SID Deluxe WCID shock, developed in collaboration with RockShox, features a unique, independently adjustable positive and negative air spring. This design provides the snap of a hardtail while absorbing tough terrain, maintaining your momentum, and forgiving riding mistakes. The setup can be adjusted for different trails or tailored to your preferences. If you set the Epic WC stiff, it feels like a hardtail, while in a softer setup, it clears obstacles effortlessly. You can choose to adjust the compression settings and easily ride with or without sag. EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE FOR ITS CATEGORY: The rear suspension of the Epic World Cup delivers 75 mm of control and capabilities similar to a bike with much more travel. It’s designed to operate predominantly in or near the topped-out position, yielding the same positive travel as a bike with 100 mm of travel and 25% sag. To further enhance suspension performance, the Specialized Ride Dynamics team adjusted the spring rate to be relatively flat at mid-stroke, allowing it to handle impacts like a bike with longer travel. The size of the Mega Jounce Bumper, a special bottom-out damper, is innovative and plays a crucial role in smoothly managing bottom-outs during strong impacts. WE'VE LOST OUR MINDS: The new groundbreaking SID Deluxe WCID shock ensures a unique blend of support and compliance in the rear, all without BRAIN technology. Meanwhile, the BRAIN is still integrated into the front fork and remains lively. The position-sensitive technology with 15 mm sag offers balanced riding behavior, providing smooth compliance on small bumps while delivering a stiff pedaling platform without handlebar remote for the compression setting. LIGHTER AND STIFFER: Weighing in at just 1,765 grams (painted with shock and hardware), the Epic World Cup leaves the lightest competitors behind. This translates to quicker accelerations, more efficient climbing, and more agile handling—ultimately reflecting in speed. We achieved this lightweight design and impressive stiffness by applying our insights from the development of the Aethos, the lightest production racing bike ever made, including the most advanced carbon layups and tube shapes. THE TOUGHEST COMPETITOR: The Epic World Cup Pro comes equipped with all available Roval Control SL carbon components: a wheelset weighing 1,240 g, a seat post at 180 g, and a cockpit at 250 g (70 mm × 780 mm). These components offer unmatched low weight, stiffness, and control for today’s World Cup courses.