Specialized Epic 8 vs Pinarello Dogma XC: Two Elite Level XC Race Bikes Compared

With the Paris Olympic Cross Country race fast approaching, Sarah Moore took two potential gold medal winning bikes and pitted them head to head. Which bike comes out on top, the S-Works Epic 8 or the Pinarello Dogma XC?
Supported by 👉 Trailforks Pro: b.link/v63weq
Get unlimited access to all the best mountain biking trails by clicking the link above.
More Pinkbike videos:
A Throwback to The Golden Era of Mountain Bikes | Classic Bike At Crankworx
• A Throwback to The Gol...
Why Is Crankworx A Big Deal For Pinkbike?
• Why Is Crankworx A Big...
Revealing The 2024 Joyride Slopestyle Course: First Hits AND Course Walkthrough | Crankworx Whistler
• Revealing The 2024 Joy...
Pinkbike Merch - pinkbike.link/...
Subscribe for more content from the pulse of mountain biking.
Website - pinkbike.com
Podcast - pinkbike.link/...
Instagram - / pinkbike
Facebook - / pinkbikecom

[@emilioformenti5870]

Please do another xc bike round up with supercaliber and s works epic wc and other amazing modern xc bikes

[@assafmizrahi1270]

In reality, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot won the gold medal on Pinarello's hardtail with more than 3 minutes advantage

[@Leo-ss2gb]

In reality, she would have even won on a bike from walmart. Really curious for next year with her moving to road racing and Demi Volering switching teams. Will be a major shakeup!

[@lukashorak2317]

Yeah she won clean af

[@CycleXplorer]

Love the Specialized but hoping for a double pinarello victory, go Tom!

[@RatluBoogerbag]

I disagree. Unless something really unnatural happens, only the Dogma will be winning gold medals. The Specialized riders have only won world cups when PFP and Pidcock haven't been present.

[@peterpitterman2463]

I´m not 100 percent sure but I think Christopher Blevins was on an S-Works Epic World Cup and not on the S-Works Epic 8 when he won the WC in Brazil.

[@CarlosRamirez-oz7pc]

You answered all my questions! 👍🏼

[@jules263]

Excellent review, well done. Toms Dogma at the Paris Olympics ran a full electronic suspension, what kind of magic is this? Also his wheels and seat stem were totally different. Pinarello are saying spring 2025 for that particular Dogma to launch 🚀

[@redlegds_adventures]

bike or the rider? I'd say bike is a part of it, its more the rider

[@qwerty6789x]

its always the rider

[@peterpitterman2463]

"I raced the Epic World Cup at the first round and then Epic 8 at the second." Pinkbike interview from May 1st ;-)

[@taylerthompson7559]

Can we take a moment to talk about how sick the Olympic course is imo

[@lukashorak2317]

Sick like boring and hated by riders or?

[@taylerthompson7559]

@@lukashorak2317 sick as in cool. I would like to ride it personally. Maybe for a pro it would be boring.

[@sx5r]

I am wondering why the elite races do not make better use of lightweight parts more often. I am not talking about leaving out screws. But there are wheel sets under 1000g with 30mm rims and many are riding Dt Swiss 1200 30mm with about 1400g. (afaik Tom and Pauline both used Berd spokes, that at least is a nice boost for the new lightweight spokes ^^). Or Hopp Carbon parts? He offers almost 100g off the SRAM Transmission derailleur. I myself had the seatclamp of my Fox transfer molded in carbon and increased the length of the rails (by Christoph Hopp ^^) - it's now stiffer and still lighter than the original ... and I have a significantly reduced strain on my saddle rails. I could continue ... I saw pictures with World Cup bikes on a scale. None of them were below 10kg, some close to 11kg. You can get to 9.3 with dropper seat post, 30mm rims and tire inserts. Yes, I know about Sponsors and stuff. But we are talking about weight savings of 10-15% with no loss in performance. 🤔🤐

[@samblenkharn8099]

My guess is it's down to sponsorship.

[@TRG36]

Riders win, not bikes

[@thescienceofrandom309]

Bikes matter though

[@gravelDave]

Ok he can ride my 1994 Claud Butler shimano 3x8 then.

[@TRG36]

@@gravelDave same results if everyone else is also on a similar bike

[@TRG36]

@@thescienceofrandom309 only if there's a significient difference. Most are pretty close to the same.

[@gabormolnar6126]

Teams, teams win

[@Joe-hw4xq]

Pidcock could win on a super cycle.

[@bicikircho]

this video looks exactly as all the corporate compliance videos I ever went thru in 25+ years. only thing left out, was the final questionnaire: "who do you think will win the MTB gold medal?" A) a cyclist B) a mountain biker C) Frodo D) all of the above. what have been done to pinkbike? :facepalm:

[@jacobmathis5686]

Specialized riders will probably be riding the Epic WC at the Olympics. The Epic WC is a better choice for most amateur racers.

[@mtb4life817]

The Spesh athletes are riding the epic World Cup and Pauline is riding the dogma hardtail

[@NrmlGuyNJ]

LOL and they took gold and silver in w Men’s XC today!😊🎉

[@Grrg]

Steep bikes also help with road tactics, and with a tame course decending is for rest not enduro like some of the world cup this year

[@madjh8]

Pinarello has never took MTB serious, and speciallized is vehind in tech now. They abandom the brain and now they are not different from other brands. I will choose, well I have choose other better options. I love my SB5T and Element ❤

[@edmundhodgson2572]

We all know its about the engine....

[@dimazyuryaev7278]

Specialized interior is a waaay more attractive...

[@mioszbrzozowski4657]

what a shocker

[@jacobmathis5686]

Welp, just like I said, the Specialized riders rode the Epic WC, not the Epic 8. Pauline won on a hardtail and Tom Pidcock rode the full sus that was perceived to be too stiff by some. Proof you don’t need 120 mm travel to go fast 💨

[@streddaz]

The Epic 8 is more of a Backcountry bike than a race XC bike.

[@christianborris6754]

Maybe I do want 4 cinnamon poptarts strapped to my bike.

[@thescienceofrandom309]

Specialized now has a model Of the epic 8 that is down to 5k

[@gravelDave]

and now with 20% off in Europe...

[@silver_c1oud]

Bias Towards specialized Especially people who ride a lot of Trail Pinerello for the Win im sick of XC Bike more like Trail Bikes

[@adissonwatleyMTB123]

Haley and Chris and victor are all on the World Cup… not the epic 8.

[@nathantoney.1501]

I thought Yolanda pulled herself out due to breathing issues?

[@budycelyn]

she did, sina frei has her place

[@justinh7099]

"Lightness" lol

[@ivanteo1973]

I don’t have any of these bikes. No wonder I can’t win any Olympics.

[@Dryb1as]

Bikes don't win medals, it's the riders who ride them

[@awesomeoberks]

Others cross country bikes are available….

[@dombelfield881]

Don’t be sleeping on Sam gaze…..

[@gravelDave]

He is 20 in the World cup rankings and dropping. Unless this is the target race of the entire season i cant see it happening.

[@dombelfield881]

@@gravelDave 2 gold medals at commonwealth games, xcc world champ, marathon world champ, silver medal last world champs XCO, crash this year which made him drag a couple races this year but apart from that a pretty good season. I’d definitely think it’s a target race.

[@samblenkharn8099]

​@@dombelfield881fair comment. He was up there at the sharp end of the race.

[@KingLeon2k]

first i think

[@GiorgioCamozzi]

pretty sure they'll be riding the epic WC and not the epic 8 tho

[@pepeanza6187]

Is not the bike dont try to sell that history you put Tom pidcock In any bike and he Is goin gold

[@vlbz]

I'd rather by an electric bike, a dirt bike, and maybe a gravel bike for that money. And keep the change for a nice holiday.

[@BaldKiwi117]

You're also not an Olympic athlete. Not sure what your point is.

[@fasttimes188]

lol pinarello won gold

[@MrSubter1]

The Olympics suck.

[@Cracke007]

epic 8 was not in the olympic

[@jazzunit8234]

rider wins not the ride. diy carbon f100 diy build best generic parts would win 100% of the time

[@juanhidalgo7043]

I ride stiff bikes. I have been riding pinarello road bikes for 12 years now. I only ride pinarello for races so no brainer I choose pinarello. I have never own a specialized road or mountain bikes and I have no interest on specialized brand. There are other brands better than specialized. I probably would go with an ibis EXIE USA hand made version if I had to choose between specialized or other brands. To me, pinarello is the sexiest bike. I do agree, riders win races not bikes.

[@jimmyj3054]

So no Friday fails? We already lost Saturday and Sunday please don’t take away my FF to.

[@palpatine1975]

It doesn't matter which bike is better, ultimately most of us cant afford them.

[@Bierce88]

is anyone actually watching that garbage? seriously

[@samblenkharn8099]

The track was very tame but the men's race was one of the most exciting I've ever watched, just because of how it unfolded.