Originally Posted by
DannoXYZ
Yeah, and the top riders also pretty much ride what ever their sponsors give them as well. Specification differences between the bikes are more about that than purely technical advantages.
As far as the top sponsored MTB racers go, most of them have a choice between 26" and 29" wheels as their bike supplier makes both so it is personal preference and the rider's assessment as to which will work better on a given course. It's the same with full suspension vs. hardtails and sometimes a full suspension bike is chosen despite its weight penalty.