{"id":16475,"date":"2023-03-01T15:54:29","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T15:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/01\/spotted-a-new-xc-race-bike-from-specialized-2023-epic\/"},"modified":"2023-03-01T15:54:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T15:54:29","slug":"spotted-a-new-xc-race-bike-from-specialized-2023-epic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/01\/spotted-a-new-xc-race-bike-from-specialized-2023-epic\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotted: A New XC Race Bike from Specialized… 2023 Epic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Haley Batten of the Specialized Factory Race Team rode to victory at the Shimano Supercup Massi Banyoles last weekend on what looks to be a new Specialized XC Race Bike. Bikerumor reader, Joe Curran, sent us a video of Haley motoring past on Lap 2, when Haley had already established a lead. Despite the muddy conditions, the video does reveal a frame sock hiding what is likely to be a rear shock that is, given the tight spacing, likely to be somewhat integrated into the top tube. <\/p>\n

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Is this the 2023 Specialized Epic XC Bike?<\/h2>\n

Specialized\u2019s top tube sleeve reminds us very much of that time we spotted Jolanda Neff aboard a prototype Trek<\/a> at the 2019 the Nov\u00e9 M\u011bsto World Cup. It\u2019s undeniable, there are stark similarities. Of course, any shock-frame integration implemented by Specialized will likely be quite different to Trek\u2019s Iso Strut if only to ensure no patent infringement occurs. Without a glimpse underneath the cover, we are banished to the world of wild hypotheses.<\/p>\n