Team Rumours 2017
Team Rumours Summed Up
It’s been hard to keep up with the team changes this year. This video might help –
Alex Marin to Madison Saracen
Madison Saracen Factory Team welcome Alex Marin, who will join Marc Beaumont, Matt Simmonds and Matt Walker to complete the 2017 roster.
Previously part of the Giant Factory Racing Team Alex was a regular fixture on the junior world cup podium in 2015 and went on to establish himself at the highest level in his first year of elite racing.
The Spaniard scored two world cup top-20s in 2016 – 16th in Lenzerheide and a career best 13th at Fort William – and team manager Will Longden hopes that this year Alex can continue to develop.
“I’m excited to welcome Alex Marin. He’s a true racer and he brings an enthusiasm and passion to the team that we all relate to and are inspired by. I’ve watched him at the world cup races and he has great natural style. He also had some really strong results as a junior and a first year elite rider and we want to help him hone those skills and work with our great set up to find consistency and enjoy his racing. His personality really fits in well with the rest of our team of Matt Simmonds, Marc Beaumont and Matt Walker and I think it’s going to be a great year for the Madison Saracen Factory Team.”
Alex has already been testing the new Saracen Myst Carbon on his home trails
“Coming into the 2017 season, I feel like I have more to give at the races. The last three years on the world cup circuit went well and my first year elite I had some good results as well, but as I said, I thought I could be more consistent with those good results. Madison Saracen was the team that I felt I could fit in with, being a team close to where I live and with great people around; people that make me feel like I can give my 100% with no doubt. I have to say that the bike is the best I’ve ever tried, a stable bike that makes me feel I can go faster under control. I feel really stoked and excited about joining the team and I’m looking forward to the next race already!” – Alex Marin
Madison Saracen will prepare for the 2017 World Cup with a series of races in Portugal through March, and with the opening round of the British Downhill Series in early April.
Tahnee Seagrave hooks up with Redbull
Ellsworth Announces Brian Lopes as Team Rider and Brand Champion
Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles announced today that MTB legend Brian Lopes will join the Ellsworth Handcrafted sponsored rider roster as part of a multi-year contract. Lopes will be riding in over 12 U.S. and Canadian events, including Sea Otter Classic, EWS Colorado, Crankworx Whistler, and EWS British Columbia on Ellsworth’s newest enduro platform- the Rogue Sixty- built with Active Energy Efficient Suspension. He will shred on Ellsworth’s entire MTB line for his racing and mountain bike adventures around the globe.
With over four decades of professional racing experience, Lopes “Flyin’ Brian” brings the legacy of Ellsworth’s proven suspension and MTB design back into the forefront of professional racing. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with a handful of cool mountain bike companies over my 25-year career, but I’ve never been as excited as I am to start this new venture with Ellsworth. I’ve been testing the new Rogue 60 – it’s amazing. The suspension design is so active and supple, yet the bike pedals with what feels like virtually no energy loss. And the rear end is one of the stiffest I’ve ever felt. Ellsworth’s hex tapered axle & rocker locker, which replaces tradition shock eye hardware, are just a couple of unique and very effective design elements that I don’t believe I’ve ever seen on other bikes in the market.” – Brian Lopes
Neko Mullaly moving on?
Josh Bryceland quits World Cup racing for 2017
With rumours about Josh Bryceland packing it all in for 2017, Ratboy sets the record straight and lets us in on his 2017 plans which don’t include the World Cup Series! From the Rats mouth.
Loic Bruni looks to be moving over to Ohlins Suspension for 2017
Norco Factory Racing say goodbye to Harry Heath and Fraser McGlone
Harry Heath is off to pastures new outside of Mountain Biking and Fraser McGlone is going elsewhere for a new ride. Norco Factory Racing wave goodbye and say their thanks in their new edit, More Here
Norco Factory Racing says good bye to Harry and Fraser from Tom Gaffney on Vimeo.
NS Bikes Rebrands
NS Bikes enters the fold with Carina Cappellari, Slawek Lukasik, Noel Niederberger, Lutz Weber and Moritz Ribarich
Andrew Neethling Parts Company with Polygon UR
Manon Makes the Move to Radon
Manon Carpenter has made the bold move to Radon Bikes. The new Downhill Team is made up of Johannes Fischbach and Faustin Figaret in the UCI DH World Cup and Crankworx World Series. Raphaela Richter will complete the team. Under the management of former 4X World Champion Joost Wichman the team has its focus on World Cup podiums and a strong media presence. More here
Fabien’s New Project
Looks like a new Canyon Downhill Team is all set to go with Fabien at the helm. But who are the riders? Troy in the middle?
Canyon putting a DH Team together for 2017?
Fairwell Joe Smith
Where next for Joe Smith?
With the CRC team not being what it was moving into 2017, where will Joe be riding next season? It won’t be with CRC that’s for sure.
Troy Says Goodbye to Specialized
After seven years, Specialized bikes say farewell to Troy Brosnan.
Seven years….
Seven years of exhilarating highs.
Seven years of lifelong memories.
Seven years with two World Championships and countless podiums.
Seven years and one hell of an unforgettable ride.
Thank you, Troy, for entertaining and inspiring us all with your passion, talent, and unrivaled dedication over the past seven years. May the next seven see you continue to amaze and achieve
What’s the score Ratboy?
Ruaridh Cunningham and Reece Wilson will not race for Unior Tools Team anymore
End of Scottish Era for Unior Tools Team
Ruaridh Cunningham and Reece Wilson have different backgrounds and racing history, but passion for mountain biking and racing made them both internationally recognizable Scottish gravity riders. For several years they have been one of the backbones of Unior Tools Team’s World Cup program, but the time has come to give each other one last high-five in the same jerseys and wish each other all the best in the next season.
Ruaridh Cunningham strengthen Unior Tools Team back in 2013 and remained team’s strongest downhill weapon till this day. First season on the team was rough – injury prevented Ruaridh to race for bigger part of the season and get back into top-20 in the World Cup. From there on it went much, much better – in 2015 he was 20th in Lenzerheide and Windham, but the absolute highlight of the season was victory on Red Bull Hardline, the hardest downhill race out there. Fast forward to 2016 and he’s top-20 in Lourdes and Mont-Sainte-Anne and 9th in Lenzerheide, his best ever. 2nd place finish on Hardline was a little bit disappointing, but still a cheery on top of fantastic season. During this time Ruaridh also stepped on the podium of many iXS EDC, BDS and SDA events, two of those times he was on top of the podium.
Ruaridh Cunningham: “I’ve really enjoyed the last 4 seasons with Unior and we’ve had some awesome times along the way. They have been nothing but supportive from the very beginning and I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to race for them. I’d like to thank Tine, Grega and Rok as well as all the other riders, staff and sponsors for their support over the years and look forward to seeing them at the races again in 2017.”
Reece Wilson doesn’t have a typical downhill career, in fact this young talent switched from motocross to bicycle just couple of years ago. Ruaridh was the one that first recognized his talents and took him under his wing, and in return he got a great training partner.
His determination to go all the way to the top shined the brightest on home track in Fort William where he surprised everybody with 12th place in 2015 World Cup qualifications. His final result was not as good, but he still has an impressive collection of results, including 25th from MSA and 26th from Val di Sole in 2015 and 30th place from Leogang in last season. Unfortunately 2016 was a season full of crashes and Reece spent more time with doctors than with his riding buddies.
Reece Wilson: “I feel like a young bird fledging the nest this year. The guys at Unior took me under their wing from my second year of racing and supported me right up to where I am today! It’s been a truly amazing experience, I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done and what we’ve achieved together. It’s time for me to move onto the next chapter of my career, which is scary but dam exciting! Again, massive thanks to everyone at the Unior Tools Team for the help, love and support. I wish everyone all the best.”
Grega Stopar, team manager: “Both Ruaridh and Reece are great talents and good friends. When Ruaridh first joined the Unior’s team in 2013 the level of professionalism of the whole team went up for couple of levels. He asked for more, but gave knowledge and results in return. His attention to details is amazing, he’s focused on nothing else than that last run on Sunday. When Reece officially joined us we knew that we have a strong combination of experience and fresh energy. Reece also has that looks-so-easy attitude that will get him on the podium. What has always been important for us, Unior and our sponsors is that they are not just racing downhill, they are great ambassadors of mountain biking. We had good and bad times together and of course we don’t like letting them go, at the same time it will be great to see how they develop further.”
Unior Tools Team will have Jure Žabjek, 2015 European DH Champion, and Žiga Pandur on the DH squad, Tanja Žakelj will be team’s solo rider in cross-country. New riders for 2017 season will be announced in January.
#WorldOfUnior
Four in the Syndicate?
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Nathan Rennie syndicate comeback!