Giant Bicycles (Taiwan) - Six months ago Leonardo Páez rode his Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 to the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championship title in Grächen, Switzerland. The Colombian conquered the 70km alpine course to earn the gold medal and rainbow striped world champion’s jersey. This year Páez has Giant on his side again, with several custom-painted bikes to choose from depending on the course and conditions.

For technical alpine courses, Páez’s go-to option is once again an Anthem Advanced Pro 29 with Maestro rear suspension. This superlight full-suspension machine is engineered with Advanced Composite material and aggressive XC geometry for fast climbing and acceleration, plus the smooth stability of 29-inch wheels. The Maestro rear suspension setup gives Páez 90mm or smooth travel and features a trunnion mount shock with a lower leverage ratio for efficient pedaling and braking performance.

Beyond the stunning new frame finish, Páez has made a few changes to this year’s bike, including a switch to a RockShox SID Carbon 100mm suspension fork and a lightweight Space Carbon wheelset. He has also updated the drivetrain to the SRAM XX1 AXS wireless electronic setup and is once again running Maxxis tires—typically an Ardent Race, Aspen or combination of both depending on the terrain. Other component choices include a Selle Italia SLR saddle, SRM carbon cranks with a power meter, and Leonardi Factory handlebar.