Issue #042, Review - October 30, 2020

Nico Vouilloz’s Lapierre Spicy Team on test – full control at all times

The Lapierre Spicy on test belongs to none other than bike legend Nico Vouilloz himself. The bike is tuned to the limit and fully trimmed for racing. We were very curious to see how it would fare in a direct comparison.

In our introduction of the fastest enduro race bike on test you can’t just find our most interesting findings and our overall conclusion, but a good view on all bikes tested.

**Lapierre** Spicy Team | 170/170 mm | 15.26 kg in size L

Just standing there, Nico Vouilloz’s Lapierre Spicy Team screams racing. With hand guards on the bars, prototype downhill tires from Michelin, a coil shock and many other details, the bike is purpose-built for enduro racing. The bike is based on the large Lapierre Spicy Team frame offering 170 mm travel, on which Nico runs a 180 mm RockShox ZEB installed instead of the standard Lyrik, just like the rest of the Zipp Lapierre Collective enduro team, which Vouilloz manages.

It’s no particular surprise to see the bike equipped with SRAM’s flagship AXS drivetrain and dropper post, as well as high-end 29” Zipp 3ZERO MOTO wheels, but we’re a lot more interested in Nico’s tire choice. They’re a set of prototype Michelins, the front tire looking similar to the DH22 and the rear tire reminding us of the Wild Enduro. This tire combination turned out to be the favourite among our test crew! The cockpit consists of a 40 mm stem and a 755 mm carbon handlebar, both supplied by TAG Metals. Rounding the bike off is a set of AVS handguards, which don’t just look incredibly fast but also protect your hands from bushes and branches, or the brake levers in the event of a crash. For the brakes, Nico relies on a SRAM CODE at the rear which he’s combined with a SRAM Guide Ultimate lever and the old CODE calliper up front. According to Vouilloz, this gives him the best combination of power and ergonomics.

**In a league of its own**
The rear suspension of the Lapierre is among the best in our group. It has seemingly endless reserves, responds sensitively and still feels extremely defined.

**Pro mode 1000**
Nothing says enduro racing like the AVS handguards. We’re huge fans of the protectors as they don’t just protect your hands from bushes and branches, but also your brake levers in the event of a crash.

**Comfort and control**
Nico Vouilloz leaves nothing to chance. He has trimmed the bottom of his grips, allowing him to use thicker models with more cushioning without making the grip too thick.

Lapierre Spicy Team

Specifications

Fork RockShox ZEB Ultimate 170 mm
Rear Shock RockShox SuperDeluxe Coil Ultimate 170 mm
Seatpost RockShox Reverb AXS mm150
Brakes SRAM CODE RSC 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle AXS 36 (10-50)
Stem TAG Metals T1 40 mm
Handlebar TAG Metals Carbon 755 mm
Wheelset ZIPP MOTO
Tires Michelin Prototype 2.4"

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 15.26 kg
Wheelsize 29"

Specific Features

Hand Guards and Grip Tape

**Not always better**
The RockShox ZEB shines in rock gardens and whenever you need maximum control. However, the added stiffness tires you out more quickly – we would stick with the Lyrik.

**Particularly quiet**
Nico relies on STFU guides to eliminate any rattling downhill. However, the chain rubs against them when pedalling.

**Extra storage compartment**
Extra storage compartment

The geometry of the Lapierre Spicy Team

The Lapierre Spicy Team is a master of balance. One look at the geometry shows that nothing is out of line. The 465 mm reach is moderate for a size large and the 65° head angle isn’t particularly slack either. The 433 mm chainstays could almost be considered short by today’s standards but they’re a good match for the compact reach. It’s only the slack seat tube angle that we couldn’t get along with, which is something we criticised previously in our review of the Spicy.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	400 mm	430 mm	460 mm	500 mm
Top tube	573 mm	610 mm	639 mm	668 mm
Head tube	90 mm	105 mm	120 mm	135 mm
Head angle	64.5°	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°
Seat angle	75.0°	74.5°	74.5°	74.5°
Chain stays	425 mm	433 mm	433 mm	433 mm
BB Drop	15 mm	28 mm	28 mm	28 mm
Wheelbase	1,163 mm	1,195 mm	1,227 mm	1,258 mm
Reach	415 mm	440 mm	465 mm	490 mm
Stack	602 mm	622 mm	636 mm	649 mm

**Helmet** 100% Aircraft Carbon MIPS | **Goggles** 100% Accuri | **Jersey** Troy Lee Sprint Jersey
**Pants** Troy Lee Sprint Pants | **Shoes** Specialized 2FO Cliplite

Sensitive, defined and seemingly bottomless reserves – the rear suspension is awesome.

Precise, fast and plush – the Lapierre Spicy on the trail

The Lapierre Spicy Team doesn’t require any time to get used to. As soon as you turn onto the trail, you’ll immediately feel at home on this bike. The riding position is compact due to the short reach but despite the low bottom bracket, you don’t feel entirely integrated with the bike, feeling a little more like you’re standing on top of it. However, this didn’t bother us in this case as the performance of the rear suspension is super sensitive yet also very defined. With 160 mm travel, the bike has tons of reserves but it doesn’t offer up its travel too easily, allowing you to carry a lot of speed and generate even more by pumping the bike. Even when you’re riding fast and encounter a big hit, the suspension just soaks it up and keeps the bike stable, carrying on as if it’s being pulled by an invisible string.

The Lapierre is a bike for control freaks, always giving you the upper hand!

At the same time, the Lapierre is very easy to control thanks to its compact geometry. It goes exactly where you want it to and always feels composed. This allows you to position yourself optimally before you enter a corner and thus carry more speed out of it than with any other bikes in the test. This is ideal for long, tough stages or when you’re riding a trail blind. We weren’t quite as happy with the generally stiff front end, which demands a lot of energy from the rider on long descents. We’d switch back to the Lyrik and mount a handlebar with more flex. On the other hand, we have to praise the tires as they offer enormous amounts of grip and perfectly match the character of the bike.

How does the Lapierre compare to the competition?

The Lapierre’s agile and direct handling feels similar to the GT but it’s a lot less exhausting. This is where the added travel pays off without making the bike feel any more sluggish: it’s on a par with Martin Maes’ bike in tight sections, but it keeps up with the composure of the RAAW even at high speeds. It’s as balanced as the Yeti, though unfortunately, you don’t feel as securely integrated with the bike.

Differences from the standard bike:

ZEB fork with 180 mm travel instead of the Lyrik
CODE instead of G2 brakes
Zipp carbon wheels
Michelin prototype downhill tires
TAG cockpit

Conclusion

The downhill performance of the Lapierre Spicy Team previously impressed us in our last group test. It’s super balanced and good-natured, yet extremely fast. The bike manages to find the perfect compromise between composure and agility and is extremely fun to ride. A real race bike!