2017 Racing Rumors

No idea what's been confirmed about Jack yet but I can tell you you're going in the wrong direction.

I guess that settles Fin Illes' position next season

With all the changes to DH for next year, I was waiting for the UCI to announce that all the Elite trade teams would have to have a female rider, but I think that'll be postponed for the next couple of years.

With that, Warner all but confirmed that Ratboy isn't racing next year while chatting with people at Foxhunt, meaning 2 places are available at the Syndicate. With Luca Shaw almost certain to be filling one of those spots, I think the other will be taken by Vergier or Bruni, depending on which of them is leaving Specialized (Bruni & Vergier Against the World). Maybe Troy will move to Gravity Republic too?

Harry Heath's old spot is still up for grabs at Norco, and it would be good to see one of the privateers coming to join them, maybe Kenta Gallagher or Muddy?

I dunno, I can't see Bruni leaving Specialized/Gravity Rep. as confirmed by the Instagram post above.

I reckon Brosnan will be joining Shaw and Minnaar at the Syndicate.

Vergier will leave Gravity Republic but where to? Canyon with Barel as manager?

Canyon would have the budget to sign a big name but I can't see Troy leaving Spesh, even if he does move to Gravity Republic. Norco will be pushing their new DH rig, and there's plenty of room at YT and potentially CRC/Nukeproof for another rider too.

Specialized Gravity is now announcing the last EVER Bruni and Vergier against the world episode this Friday. Guess this confirms Loris is moving.

Another year with the same issues, lol.
As I did last year here is the information fresh out of the oven.

Sindycate: Minnaar, Vergier, LUCA SHAW. For those who still do not know, Ratboy has withdrawn from the World Cup !!!

YT: Gwin and Angel Suarez, like this season.

Trek: Gee and Rachel continue, but it seems that Vernon has to look team.

Norco: Blenkinsop confirmed and waiting to sign another top rider.

Intense: Dean Lucas, Moir, Nikolas Nestoroff and Luca Cometti will have a new partner, Charlie Harrison.

Scott: Big changes, Brendan continues, but not confirmed Neko and most importantly, Scott did not follow, so velosolutions looking for a new brand.

Specialized Gravity: Bruni and Iles.

Specialized: Looking rider ???

MS Mondraker: The same team, but they said at Eurobike, Canyon will be the team brand.

Mondraker: New Troy Brosnan team ???

Giant: The same team, maybe a girl to be Elite team next year.

Last year I win bets, I'll win this year ??? YES.

I can't see MS leaving Mondraker after this season, and after the riders spent ages developing the new carbon bike. Plus Mr Hart has a bikepark to run now...

I think Giant will take on a big name male rider and/or female as the DH team really hasn't performed as well as expected. Would be good to see Tahnée land a factory ride, although she would also fit in at MS now Ragot has finished.

No surprise on Taylor leaving Trek, but I'm sure he'll land on a good team elsewhere although I'm in the dark there.

Which other juniors will be moving up for next season?

Kade Edwards (junior men) and Mille Johnset (junior women) will join Trek with Gee & Rachel. Vergier with Canyon.

Mille is still 15, so I guess she is still on the development team for another year before stepping up to juniors.

Wonder if Adam Brayton will end up on a full factory ride. He deserves it after the year he's had.

Brayton's said a few times that he wants to stay with Hope as they're the only people that give him the freedom to work, ride whatever bikes he wants, and not to put too much pressure on him at races. If the right offer came along though, who knows?

Kade Edwards is a shout though, he's been pinned this season!

troy to canyon
vergier to syndicate

What about Miranda Miller? Any news about her?

With the results she got in 2016, she'll probably get a good spot and race all world cups. I certainly hope so! Having her on DGR would be nice!

Bryceland 4 enduro 2017.

You're all forgetting about Devinci, they'ld like to sign another top tier racer!

Exactly I heard a murmur that Troy maybe off to Devinci which would be awesome as I think the bike would suit his riding style and its tried and tested on the WC circuit where something like the new Canyon is fairly new

It's a matter of money too don't forget, Devinci are comparatively small next to Canyon, and Troy is a consistent podiumer. That said, it'd be cool to see him ride his namesike bike.

Ill go out on a limb, with a specculator, Minnar to YT

What happens out west, stays out west.

Isn't Vitus also a CRC brand? Maybe seeing if there is another CRC bike that fits him better, or just taking advantage of having more bikes to ride

Correct. Nukeproof doesn't make a proper hardtail XC bike and Sam was racing a 4 day 300km XC race. When he has the freedom to choose from the Vitus brand as it is part of the CRC Nukeproof family, then why wouldn't he choose the best option for him. No chance he's leaving NP next year. They don't currently have anyone at the EWS on their bikes and now Sam just took it to the top step, they will be sure to pay him enough to stay.

No tagging Gstaad or Scott, sign of things to come next year?

^^^interesting!

New form of Team Rumors?
Poem instead of drawings....

http://www.descent-world.co.uk/2016/10/28/team-rumours-what-on-earth/

Once upon time, a boat was sent,
To the south it sailed,
Many sights it saw,
A Trojan horse crossing chasms both far and wide,
In it was stowed a Scotsman,
With shore on the horizon a new vision appeared,
Built with wood working tools from Merthyr,
and able to withstand chemical 86,
A sight of beauty,
a melting of cultures were seen,
Haggis, Croissants, Sushi and Kumara,
The seas flattened,
Dogs took their last supper on alpine heights,
The air was still, but the storm passed by,
Broken suddenly,
A blue oval, roaring like the hounds of hell,
A bull upon its crown and a new fire burning,
After sound came sight,
and smell
A rich mix, departing into the distance and out of our beams,
There we sat, longing , dreaming
50 stars we saw floating over,
a vision of valleys in a princes kingdom,
with that we slept,
knowing,
waiting,
that one day soon,
a winning yeti we could come forth,
and join
the purest church of all.

I'm going to say Trojan Horse is related to Troy moving, chemical 86 is radon, A bull upon its crown is someone sponsored by red bull, Methyr is a town in wales, yeti or rude in DH next year???

What I (think I) get out of it:

The boat that went south and/or the rich mix departing must be ratboy retiring.
Troy to Canyon;
Ruaridh and Manon to Radon;
Rude getting back to DH (with Yeti?)

I love that!

A Kiwi, Scot, Frenchman, and Japanese rider on the same team? Maybe Sushi was referring to Shimano? Or a Japanese bike brand?

Troy to Canyon, but with a scotsman? : Trojan horse crossing chasms, in it was stowed a scotsman

Winning Yeti: Graves or Rude to DH, or Yeti bringing a new DH bike?