On Top of the Worlds

Images by Michele Mondini

By: Murray Washburn

CFR’s Alan Hatherly takes an historic win at the 2024 Cross-Country World Championships aboard the all-new Scalpel.

Alan Hatherly and Cannondale Factory Racing are on a roll.

With a powerful victory at the 2024 Cross-Country World Championships, Alan became the first South African to ever win the Elite Men’s title, putting a rainbow stamp on an already impressive season.

Hot on the heels of Friday's short-track success, which saw CFR teammate, Charlie Aldrige, take Silver, and Alan take Bronze, the team came into Sunday’s XCO cross-country event with three riders on the front row of the starting grid, riding high and feeling good.

They knew Andorra was a special place for Cannondale Factory racing. Anton Cooper won the U23 Worlds there in 2015. Henrique Avancini won the World Cup XCC in 2018, and Mona Mitterwallner won the World Cup there in 2023. Now it was their turn.

From the gun, the team rode a smart, tactical, and patient, race. They stayed at the pointy end for the first half, marking moves, but mostly keeping their powder dry. That all changed on lap 3.

Charlie and Alan powered to the front, whittling the lead group to just 5 riders, including Victor Koretzky and Olympic champion, Tom Pidcock. On lap 4, Alan took full advantage of his Scalpel’s descending capability and opened a gap on the others on the downhill, forcing Koretzky to chase, with Charlie in 3rd. Alan and Victor went mano a mano for the 5th lap, with Alan leading the whole way, and Aldridge and Pidcock trading places for 3rd and 4th. On the 6th and final lap, Koretzky and Hatherly were going wheel to wheel, with Koretzky attacking and Alan digging deep to stay with him. With one huge final effort, Alan kicked over the top of the long climb out of the woods first, opening a gap that Koretzky was never able to close, and racing to an historic victory.

At the finish, Alan was all smiles. “When I saw the opportunity on the last climb, I took it with two hands and went all in. It was the deepest I’ve ever been in a race. It’s the World Champs and I had to go all in. A dream come true for me, my supporters, the team and my country. Just unbelievable. I’m looking forward to wearing the rainbows!”

Charlie came home just off the podium in fourth, with teammate Simon Andreassen in 11th, making this the most successful Worlds ever for the Cannondale Factory Racing squad. Team manager, and former rider, Mani Fumic summed it up beautifully, “What a day! I’m so proud of the whole team. After all, champions aren’t made overnight—they just get crowned in one. And today, we’re rocking that crown with pride!”

“The full team did an outstanding job in Andorra, both riders and staff. We have a fantastic group of crazy, hard-working people on the team who all have a passion for the sport of MTB and are world-class in what they do. They all earned this win as a team.”

Phil Dixon – CFR Performance Director

PLAY FILM

Compare Products

Add another bike to compare
Specifications

Details

Platform

Details

      Model Name

      Details

          Model Code

          Details

              Frameset

              Frame

              Details

                  Headset

                  Details

                      Rear Shock

                      Details

                          E-System

                          Drive Unit

                          Details

                              Bateria E-System

                              Details

                                  Recarregador E-System

                                  Details

                                      Display E-System

                                      Details

                                          Certifications

                                          Details

                                              Drivetrain

                                              Rear Derailleur

                                              Details

                                                  Front Derailleur

                                                  Details

                                                      Shifters

                                                      Details

                                                          Chain

                                                          Details

                                                              Crank

                                                              Details

                                                                  Rear Cogs

                                                                  Details

                                                                      Bottom Bracket

                                                                      Details

                                                                          Pedals

                                                                          Details

                                                                              Brakes

                                                                              Brakes

                                                                              Details

                                                                                  Brake Levers

                                                                                  Details

                                                                                      Wheels

                                                                                      Front Hub

                                                                                      Details

                                                                                          Rear Hub

                                                                                          Details

                                                                                              Rim Material

                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                  Rim Depth

                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                      Rim Outer Width

                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                          Rim Inner Width

                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                              Rim Type

                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                  Nipple Type

                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                      Wheel Weight

                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                          Dish Offset

                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                              Effective Rim Diameter

                                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                                  Maximum Spoke Tension

                                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                                      Max Tire Pressure

                                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                                          Brake Type

                                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                                              Rider Weight Limit

                                                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                                                  Spokes

                                                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                                                      Spoke Count

                                                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                                                          Spoke Length (NDS-DS)

                                                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                                                              Spoke Type

                                                                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                                                                  Tire Size

                                                                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                                                                      Wheel Size

                                                                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                                                                          Tires

                                                                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                                                                              Front Tire

                                                                                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                                                                                  Rear Tire

                                                                                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                                                                                      Tire Bead

                                                                                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                                                                                          Tire Casing

                                                                                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                                                                                              Tire Protection

                                                                                                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tire Type

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Components

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Handlebar

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Grips

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Saddle

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Seatpost

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Connectivity

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cannondale

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Power Meter

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Speed Sensor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Extra

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Extra 1

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Visibility

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Lights

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Paint

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Details

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Tire Sidewalls

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Details