Bike check: Kate Courtney's WBR x Worlds Spark RC

Courtney teams up with World Bicycle Relief to unveil the special edition Scott Spark RC

Suvi Loponen

Aug 9 2023

The anticipation is high as the 2023 MTB World Championships kick off in Scotland. Among the elite athletes competing is Scott-SRAM's Kate Courtney. Having secured victory at the World Champs in 2018, she is once again about to make her mark on the world stage. This year, however, Courtney's presence goes beyond the racing tape. Courtney has partnered with World Bicycle Relief (WBR) to unveil a distinctive Spark RC x WBR edition bike, tailor-made for the 2023 World Championships - and up for grabs for one lucky fan.

The collaboration seeks to inspire women and girls to embrace the world of biking and shatter barriers in the cycling realm. World Bicycle Relief, renowned for its mission to empower individuals through the transformative power of bicycles, is focusing its 2023 campaign on championing women racers who are redefining the cycling landscape. The Spark RC WBR edition is a testament to the fusion of design and empowerment.

Born from the motto "Lift as you Climb," the bike features an artistic representation of mountains across its frame, paying homage to Courtney's motivational words. The small details make the bicycle one-of-a-kind, capturing both the essence of competition and the spirit of unity.

The Scott Contessa Spark RC X WBR, Courtney's chosen steed for the Championships, boasts top-tier components, including the all-new RockShox SID Ultimate 3P fork (120mm of travel), SRAM XX T-Type Eagle AXS drivetrain and Syncros Silverton SL carbon wheels, wrapped in Maxxis Aspen tyres.

The bike is built around a carbon HMX Sl custom frame, and completed with the 680mm wide Fraser iC SL combo cockpit and Tofino saddle.

If you think this bike is cool, you can win one. A raffle hosted by global platform VIPrize offers fans the opportunity to win a replica of Kate Courtney's Scott Spark RC World Championship special edition. Only two frames of this model exist—Kate's race-ready bike and the exclusive raffle prize.

With each raffle entry, participants contribute to World Bicycle Relief's mission, which harnesses the power of bicycles to uplift individuals, families and communities.

"Bicycles represent freedom to countless women worldwide. World Bicycle Relief's initiatives place bicycles in the hands of women and girls in remote areas, catalyzing not only physical mobility but also cultural transformation. I am honoured to join the ranks of formidable female athletes supporting this initiative, working towards World Bicycle Relief's ambitious goal of distributing 1 million bicycles by 2025," Courtney said.

viprize.org

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Suvi Loponen

Tech writer

Suvi joined off.road.cc in 2022 as a tech writer and brought in her enthusiasm for gravel and long-distance riding. She's a lover of underbiking and exploring on the bike both on and off-road, especially if it means finding more great cafes and some good viewpoints.