Set to be another of the lightest XC frames on the market, Mondraker aims to give XC racers the best possible advantage with the new 2021 Podium.

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To get the Podium down to a claimed featherweight 775g (in a medium) Mondraker has used a Minimal Concept Designed paired with a Stealth Air Carbon layup. It's made from high modulus fibers which are meant to be stiffer and achieves a cleaner hardtail frame that's more compliant and purposeful. 

As with the brands' gravity orientated bikes, the new Podium gets Mondrakers famed Forward Geometry, as well as a bunch of other geometry tweaks. On a Large, the Podium receives a 463mm reach, then on all sizes a 68.5° head angle, 430mm chainstays, and a 74.5° effective seat tube angle.  

Mondraker has been careful to spec the new bikes with the right kit. At the top of the range, the Podium RR SL and RR models get a Mavic CrossMax carbon SLR wheelset and SRAM XO1 and GX Eagle drivetrains. The two top of the range models come equipped with RockShox' SID fork with a 100mm of bounce and brakes from SRAM in the form of the Level TLM with 160mm rotors.

Along with those two models, Mondraker offers two more wallet-friendly builds, the R and base model. They get DT Swiss XR1700 wheelsets with Shimano Deore shifting, XT brakes on the R, and SRAM Level TLMs on the base model.

The new Mondraker Podium is available in four sizes from S to XL and comes in model-specific colourways.

If a super lightweight build tickles your fancy, prices start at £3,800 for the base model and they go up to £7,900 for the top build.

• www.mondraker.com

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