Pinarello returns to mountain biking with the development of the all-new Dogma XC

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tom Pidcock will ride a brand-new full-suspension mountain bike at the UCI XC World Cup round in Nové Město.

INEOS Grenadiers riders Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tom Pidcock will ride a brand-new Pinarello Dogma XC full-suspension mountain bike at the opening round of the UCI Cross-Country World Cup in Nové Město, Czech Republic, from May 11-14.

Pinarello began developing the bike in autumn 2022 and put it through an intense period of testing with Ferrand-Prévot, Pidcock, and the INEOS Grenadiers technical team. The result is a high-performance mountain bike for the World Champion and Olympic Champion, who are preparing for the 2024 Paris Games.

The Dogma XC has already proven itself in races, with Ferrand-Prévot’s victory at the recent Coupe de France and Pidcock’s win at the Swiss Cup last weekend. Further testing will take place throughout 2023, and both riders will continue to be heavily involved in its development.

The Dogma XC will be commercially available in March 2024, and a second hardtail frame is also under development to meet the demands of other World Cup circuits.

With the recruitment of a dedicated in-house R&D and MTB kinematics team, the development of the Dogma XC began with Pinarello’s analysis of Pidcock’s feedback and data from his previous two years of MTB testing and competition.

The study highlighted different requirements from the two champions:

– Extreme stiffness of the rear triangle and bottom bracket shell to provide maximum responsiveness.
– Simple yet progressive kinematics to optimize travel and rebound.
– The ability to adapt suspension travel to the unique demands of each circuit.
– Lightweight combined with exceptional traction and handling capabilities to excel on technical descents.

These findings led Pinarello to integrate the following key elements into the innovative Dogma XC design:

– A unique bottom bracket area: The unique design of the bottom bracket area optimizes stiffness and accommodates an oversized bearing and a pivot point for the rear triangle.

– Flexible chainstays: Theoretically, having only three pivot points on the rear triangle inhibits rear wheel travel, but the Dogma XC’s unique geometry and the integration of flexible chainstays allow for more direct travel. These innovations also save weight, improve stiffness, and ensure a better connection between the rider and the rear wheel.

– Two-piece rear triangle: The rear triangle consists of two distinct half-triangles attached to a main pivot point using a unique design where two pins are molded into the carbon frame (patent pending). This results in:

• the elimination of a classic external “bridge,” which reduces chainstay length and improves handling and responsiveness.
• the elimination of critical mud accumulation areas
• the ability to use wider tires, offering riders a greater choice of options.

Kinematics

The rear suspension kinematics take into account the integration of flexible chainstays to maximize energy transfer during pedaling, provide optimal compression/rebound on technical descents, and allow for maximum rider control.

Friction at each pivot point has also been minimized through the use of a mixed bearing and bushing system. Bushings have been incorporated at point “a” because they are durable enough to absorb the high impacts and low rotational forces imposed on them, while bearings have been integrated at point “b” where opposing forces apply (low impact/high rotation). This reduces energy dispersion, increases rear-end responsiveness, and enhances system durability.

Adjustable Travel

The ability to move the suspension connection point under the top tube allows for the mounting of different rear shocks, with different travel, enabling riders to adapt their bike to the unique demands of each ride.

Cockpit

The custom-designed, fully integrated cockpit saves weight and improves steering precision compared to a two-piece setup. Cable routing is also fully integrated, as is the specific headset bearing, which features a 60° internal stop to prevent the handlebars from twisting too much.

Asymmetry

The rear triangle uses a patented asymmetric design, with the left side reinforced, allowing the bike to counterbalance the greater forces applied to it from the opposite side of the drivetrain. This results in balanced energy transfer, improved speed, and traction.

Technical Specifications

• Carbon fiber front and rear triangles, Ergal aluminum accessories
• Asymmetric frame
• Two-piece rear triangle (patent pending)
• Seatpost diameter: 30.9 mm
• Dropper post compatible with internal cable routing
• Geometry developed for a dual travel setup:
  – Front: 100mm – Rear 90mm (with 190x45mm rear shock)
  – Front: 120mm – Rear 100mm (with 210 x 50mm rear shock)
• Standard mount rear shock with inverted 90° attachment points
• 1×12 drivetrain compatible, 32 T or 40 T chainrings
• Chainline: 55mm
• Maximum crank length: 175mm
• Stages power meter compatible
• Internal TiCr cable routing
• Integrated TiCr headset with 60° internal stop
• `Boost Standard, 12mm diameter thru-axle, UDH compatible
• Flat Mount standard 160 mm, 180 mm compatible (adapter needed)
• Maximum tire clearance: 29 x 2.35 inches
• Two bottle cage mounts

While Ferrand-Prévot’s and Pidcock’s Dogma XCs have the same frame and components, they each have their own custom paint job. The gold accents on Pidcock’s bike are a tribute to the gold medal he won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while the rainbow stripes on Ferrand-Prévot’s model honor her victory at the four XC World Championships in Les Gets, France, last August.

Regarding Nové Město, Pidcock and Ferrand-Prévot both have fond memories of the race, with Pidcock being the last winner after beating Vlad Dascalu in 2022, and Ferrand-Prévot having won it twice before.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot said: “I can’t wait to race the Dogma XC in Nové Město. It’s really cool to work with Pinarello on the bike’s development. My first impression is that they’ve developed a remarkably fast bike. It has a good mix of lightness, responsiveness, and stiffness, and allows for full power output. Pinarello’s engineers are constantly asking for our feedback, and it’s very enjoyable to participate in the bike’s progression. I’m looking forward to the adventure with this bike, and it will be great to finally have the opportunity to ride it at the highest level of competition.”

Tom Pidcock said: “I’m really looking forward to trying the new Pinarello Dogma XC in Nové Město. I first saw it in March, and my initial impressions were positive. It handles brilliantly, is super responsive, and ultimately, fast. It’s a bike that’s still under development, and it will be fun to work with Pinarello to improve it further. I’ve never really been involved in the development process of a bike before, sharing my ideas and suggestions, but it’s something I really enjoy, and Pinarello’s engineers are committed to producing bikes that help us win races.”

Fausto Pinarello said: “Seeing Tom and Pauline race the Dogma XC will be a landmark moment for everyone at Pinarello. We have worked tirelessly over the past few months to build a bike that meets the demands of two of the best mountain bikers on the planet, and we can’t wait to see how they ride it in Nové Město.”

Source: Press Release

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