Last week it was the Yeti ASR, the week before the Specialized Epic and this week, it's the Cannondale Scalpel that's gone under the knife. For 2024, Cannondale has made its flagship XC bike blur the line between trail and cross-country with more capable geometry, more suspension travel and a burlier build kit. Here's everything you need to know.

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The Cannondale Scalpel has been a staple bike on the cross-country circuit since its inception and, in its latest carnation, the brand states that trail capability and race speed are now the same thing. As such, the Scalpel has been draped with more suspension travel than before,  more aggressive geometry and a FlexPivot.

2024 cannondale scalpel hero 71.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Starting with the suspension, the new bike dons 120mm at both ends using what the brand has dubbed Proportional Response Suspension – so the Scalpel should deliver the best suspension performance regardless of the size you choose.

2024 cannondale scalpel hero 2.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Proportional Response Suspension uses Cannondale's latest FlexPivot design, which we saw on the brand's e-MTB, the Moterra SL. It's a flexible chainstay that does away with pivot hardware, such as bearings without sacrificing the true four-bar suspension linkage. However, it allows the brand's engineers to fine-tune how the suspension works and responds to all the things it needs to.

The bike's geometry has received an overhaul, now featuring a 66.6-degree head angle. Complimenting that measurement is a 75.5-degree effective seat tube angle and size-specific chainstays reaching from 434mm up to 446mm. As for the reach measurement – it spans 425mm to 510mm through its four-size range. Cannondale says that these decisions have resulted in more power and traction when climbing combined with more control and confidence at speed.

2024 cannondale scalpel logo 71.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Capability is then boosted through the specification of a dropper post that provides up to 150mm of travel. The bike then utilises the brand's SystemBar XC-One, a one-piece carbon cockpit that Cannondale says is lighter and stiffer than traditional two-piece bar and stems. This handlebar is available on SystemBar models only.

Cannondale is offering the new Scalpel with its Lefty Ocho fork or a RockShox SID combined with SRAM GX T-Type groupsets and Shimano shifting on the wallet friendly builds.

Complete with a full-bling Lab71 build, the Cannondale Scalpel can be picked up from £3,950 up to £10,000 with each bike built around a full carbon frame.

• www.cannondale.com

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