Italian saddle specialist Selle Italia has broadened its long-running SLR family with a new model built specifically for cross-country and marathon mountain biking. The SLR XC made its debut at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, timed to coincide with the discipline it’s designed to serve.
According to the brand, the new saddle has been engineered with lightweight, race-ready riders in mind, prioritising a narrow, precise shape intended to aid power transfer and control over technical, undulating terrain. Selle Italia says the design draws on its existing road and gravel expertise but reworks the padding and shell profile to suit the more dynamic, out-of-saddle riding style typical of XC racing.
Full pricing and availability details are yet to be confirmed, though the brand is expected to release specifications in the coming weeks as it targets both amateur racers and sponsored professionals ahead of the 2026 season.
For our readers, saddle choice remains one of the most personal and consequential decisions in a rider’s set-up, particularly in cross-country racing where sustained climbing efforts and sharp descents demand both comfort and stability in equal measure. With XC’s growing crossover appeal among gravel and road riders seeking off-road thrills, a dedicated saddle option from a brand as established as Selle Italia is likely to draw interest well beyond the World Championships start line.
Sam Allcock is a digital PR entrepreneur and publisher with over two decades in SEO, content and media. He founded PR Fire, the pay-as-you-go press release distribution service, and has worked with brands including Red Bull, Nokia and Liverpool FC. He contributes to HuffPost, HubSpot and The London Economic, and owns a portfolio of news and media titles, of which On Track Magazine is one.
