Such was the elegance of some of Lapierre’s early downhill bikes that they were a simple shoe-in for the cover of this magazine. A mix of gold and silver and a dash of French curvature meant the early bikes were much sought after. The suspension was reasonable, yet the lack of sizing got us into heated discussions with the boys from Dijon. The current bike has always been okay, and Bruni and Blenkinsop have taken it to some great heights, yet it is this new bike that has really caused a stir, one that has won Emmeline Ragot a World Cup race. It’s also a move back to aluminium, a return to simplicity with a simple progressive linkage. Lapierre have built a world-beater.

PRICE: £5199.99
HOTLINES UK 01313 191444
WWW.LAPIERRE-BIKES.CO.UK