Best wheels for xc racing
The 3 Top Race-Day Choices of NOBL Pros
Cory Wallace
WHEELS: NOBL Ethos XC Wheelset
Bike: 2026 Yeti ASR T4
When it comes to balancing those 1% gains with long-haul reliability, 7-time 24-Hour MTB World Champion Cory Wallace knows what works. For the gruelling BC Bike Race, Cory chose the NOBL Ethos XC wheelset with custom decals by Slik Graphics
A huge advocate of Berd Dyneema spokes for their fatigue-fighting properties, Cory relies on this setup for all of his big XC races. The Ethos XC wheelset is an impressive 1175g, making it the best tool for the job.
cross country
USD $2,199
Wheelset Weight: 1175g |Depth: 18.5mm | Inner Width: 30.0mm
WHEELS: NOBL Signature 36 wheelset
Bike: Giant Anthem Advanced SL
The 2026 BC Bike Race was Carter’s “A-Race” of the season, and choosing the right wheels paid off big time. Finishing the week 3rd overall, with several sprint finishes, Carter was on top form throughout BCBR. Raised in Fernie, BC, Carter is a rugged backcountry mountain biker who has sharpened his speed and fitness for XC.
For the demands of stage racing, Carter chooses the NOBL Signature 36 wheelset. Engineered as the enduro rider’s XC race wheelset, these carbon mountain bike wheels are built tough enough to handle any line without flinching, yet light enough to dominate demanding singletrack climbs and even a sprint finish (there was more than one!).
XC | Trail | All-Mountain
USD $1,499
Wheelset Weight: 1536g | Depth: 18.5mm | Inner Width: 30.0mm
WHEELS: Sinewave TR35 wheelset
Max does it all: Full-time video producer, part-time XC junkie, and unoficially Vancouver Island’s fastest MTB racer with a day job. To win the BC Bike Race Timed Descent Challenge, and achieve a top 5 result overall, Max needed wheels that were both light and resilient to make his mark. For technical XC stage racing, Max trusts a custom set of Sinewave TR35 wheels built on DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs.
Weighing in at under 1450g, this lightweight carbon wheelset features Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes and dependable DT240 EXP hubs. The TR35 rim profile is proven on the most demanding North American XC courses, from BC Bike Race to Moab Rocks and the Breck Epic.
cross country | Trail
USD $1,763.80
Wheelset Weight: 1443g |Depth: 21mm | Int. Width: 30.5/29.5mm
Three key components of XC race wheels
Lightweight Carbon Layup
In XC racing, rotational weight is everything. An ultra-lightweight carbon rim layup saves weight where it matters most, boosting acceleration and climbing efficiency. Every NOBL rim is precision-engineered to meet the specific needs of each riding discipline, and for XC, that means balancing low weight with resilient rim walls.
Berd Polylight spokes are revolutionary for XC racing. Made from Dyneema, these spokes are a fraction of the weight of steel but boast an incredible strength-to-weight ratio. On top of shaving weight, they naturally dampen harsh trail chatter, for energy savings that add up.
28-hole spoke count
We don’t compromise a dependable spoke count to save extra weight on our wheels. A 28-hole spoke count is the ultimate sweet spot for cross-country racing. It delivers the lateral stiffness required to track straight through rough terrain while keeping the overall build competitively light.