While Commencal weren’t the first to break cover on a race version of the 29er downhill bike, they were certainly a brand that was prepared for the switch. The 29er Supreme was first debuted between the legs of George Brannigan, Remi Thirion and Myriam Nicole, but it was Amaury Pierron on the Lac Blanc team that piloted it to the greatest success in Val di Sole.
With a longer reach, travel shortened to 205mm, a new linkage and a frame specifically designed for the bigger wheels, this was not a panicked bodge to capitalise on the big-wheeled trend, but a proper job and a well done one at that. By the end of the season Nicole had her title (although the latter half of the season she reverted to 27.5) and Pierron his comeback podium. The proof was in the pudding.
Just before the snows cloaked La Massana we headed over to Commencal HQ and got a World First exclusive ride on the monster truck and now it’s being released to the public.