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Baron - while ACC might have retired, signing her for the occasional race still would have made sense - even if she isn't as flamboyant and loud as either Warner or Tippie. That she goes way back with Max still didn't stop her from signing with Ibis, so that argument isn't all that convincing - even if the long, low, slack thing might not be her thing. Alas alas, it seems the speculation was off. I didn't check if she rode for Max before i posted.
I guess we will know tomorrow if it is "just" a bike launch on steroids, of if they also have some plans for it to be competitive in the top ranks in the EWS under a big named rider.
happy trails
and please someone repost the same image now for the 50th time...
...co-factory rider peeling-off a berm busting day on the trails??
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Meet the team: Unior Tools & Devinci Bikes Seek DH/Enduro Podiums
February 8th 2018, Chicoutimi - Slovenia-based tool manufacturer Unior and Canadian bike brand Devinci have joined forces in the name of elevating the hustle, this week unveiling their new gravity-enduro team of elite UCI World Cup and Enduro World Series (EWS) racers.
Unior specializes in high-end tools and is no stranger to crafting competitive racing programs. With eight years in the game, the brand’s current lineup includes a mix of apex DH, XCO, BMX/4cross athletes. And by combining forces with Devinci, enduro muscle now enters the fray.
“Unior and Devinci have so much in common, making it easy to build a solid foundation for the new program,” says Grega Stopar, DH/XCO Team Manager. “Both companies share a passion for racing—Devinci with super fast bikes, and Unior with the best tools to keep those machines in top shape.”
Devinci has been cooking up podium-destined frames at its Chicoutimi, Canada headquarters for more than three decades. “Being back on the DH saddle with young and talented athletes is a thrill,” says company founder Felix Gauthier. “Add our outstanding enduro team to the mix and we have the recipe for an exciting season.”
On the DH side of the equation are young rippers Jure Žabjek and Rudy Cabirou. Žabjek, 22, is currently ranked 8th on UCI’s list of elite riders. He’s also a former European DH Champion and a Slovenian National Champ. Teammate Dakotah Norton, from the U.S., is another standout. The trio will be chasing top-10 finishes on UCI World Cup stage, starting next month in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
“I'm excited to be a part of the merger,” says Norton, who shocked onlookers with his ferocious UCI debut last year. “The Unior Tools Team has always had a great reputation, and Devinci has achieved some amazing results on the track with the Wilson design. It’s a match that’s destined for some great results.”
Piloting the Spartan build, on the other hand, Frenchman Damien Oton will lead the enduro charge. And this year, 21-year-old Kiwi phenom Keegan Wright also joins the ranks. As members of the newly formed Unior/Devinci Factory Racing squad, both powerhouses will be vying for podium honors on the EWS circuit in 2018.
“I’m stoked to be heading into my fifth EWS season with Devinci,” says the veteran, Oton. “Together we’ve built more than a partnership; we’re a family—and I salute Unior as the newest member of it all.”
Another key piece to the collab is Olympian XCO racer Tanja Žakelj, one of the fastest female mountain bikers on the planet. And Kevin Bergin and Filip Flisar will be representing the team on the 4X Pro Tour and at select BMX races. All on Devinci bikes, all with support of Unior tools, all with one goal: to deliver best possible results.
Next to Unior Bike Tools & Devinci Cycles, team partners are SRAM, Rock Shox, Maxxis, Race Face, City of Ljubljana, Lizard Skins, HT, SDG, Motorex, Mudhugger, Sapim, CamelBak, FSA, e*thirteen, Stan’s No Tubes. Enduro team will use Fox wear & helmets, downhill team will have Alpinestars wear & Leatt helmets.
Keep up with Unior/Devinci Factory Racing on social media and at the official website:
Facebook @uniordevinci
Instagram @uniordevinci
www.uniordevinci.com
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WD-40 BIKE® Partners with Rémy Métailler
WD-40 BIKE® is the chosen lubrication and cleaning product of elite international mountain bike “freeracer” Rémy Métailler.
From riding through houses in urban downhill races around South America, to soaring off Utah’s vast cliffs, threading unique lines in Whistler Bike Park or getting way off piste in his French homeland, Rémy Métailler continues to prove to be one of freeride mountain biking’s most versatile talents.
For 2018, Métailler’s competitive focus will be to once again conquer freeride’s most opposite events: Red Bull Rampage’s raw big mountain terrain and then the concrete alleyways and staircases of the international city downhill circuit’s wildest downtown races.
“Rampage will be my main focus,” says Métailler, “If I am invited [again]. Then I will focus on Puerto Vallarta and Taxco Urban DH races,” as he kicks off the 2018 International MTB race season this weekend at the Cerro Abajo Urban Downhill Race in the streets of Valparaiso, Chile.
Rémy Métailler’s Career Highlights
Champion — Red Bull Down Taxco 2017
Runner-up — Down Puerto Vallarta 2017
10th Place — Red Bull Rampage 2015
Preparing for the unique demands of an urban DH race like Valparaiso, Métailler makes several key adjustments. “I usually ride much stiffer settings,” claims Métailler, “Sometimes a semi-slick tire and even a narrower handlebar, if the course necessitates.” And Métailler has finished first or second in the last two urban DH events of 2017…
Métailler has achieved career-best results amid the hot, arid summer months in Utah, Mexico and beyond, and credits a few simple bike prep suggestions. “We travel a lot,” says Metailler of his 2018 schedule’s demands, “I always bring WD-40 BIKE® Wash and Dry Chain Lube — faster gear changes,” says Métailler, “Reliable pedaling is necessary. Plus, less drivetrain noise is nice!”
About WD-40 Brand®: Think back to your first bicycle. Your second…and beyond. Chances are, WD-40® Multi-Use Product was there. Now, a whole new line of bike-specific products is ready to ride: WD-40 BIKE®. Developed for the whole bicycle, WD-40 BIKE® has been meticulously tested to provide superior cleaning, lubrication and protection. When it comes to total bike care, trust the name that’s been there all along. WD-40 BIKE®.
Follow Métailler on Instagram to keep up with his racing, freeriding and world adventures.
Photos: @bikeworldtv
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Canyon Factory Racing DH Blends Proven Veterans with Aspiring Young Weapon
KOBLENZ, 08.02.2018 — Canyon Factory Racing DH enters a new season of World Cup battles with a lethal roster of returning riders and a fresh face. Troy Brosnan returns as the anchor of the roster after a successful 2017 campaign which saw him depart from the elusive 1-win club by taking the win at the Andorran round of the UCI World Cup. This win vaulted him to a 2nd place overall finish in the UCI World Cup, a career best for Brosnan.
"Last year was started with a lot of unknowns, a new team and a bike that have not set foot on a World Cup podium. In the end I was really blown away how well the whole season went. Spending the year riding with Mark at the World Cups was a key factor in my successful season and when he got on the podium it was just as awesome if I was there myself. This off-season I really put the hard work and I know that this season is going to be bigger and better."- Troy Brosnan.
23-year-old Canadian Mark Wallace re-upped with Canyon Factory Racing in November after a standout season which was highlighted by an opening round 2nd place finish in Lourdes, France. Wallace backed this with a consistency-filled season including three top ten finishes on route to an 8th place in the overall standings.
New to the program is sixteen-year-old Australian Kye A’Hern. Coming off impressive results at Crankworx Whistler where he claimed the Prince of Crankworx honor highlighted by his commanding win the Canadian Open DH.
“I am really happy to be on board with Canyon for the next two years and build on last season’s momentum. Last year was a great experience and the Sender was amazing. Next year Kye will be joining Troy and I and after our first camp last month I am really looking forward to seeing what he can bring.”- Wallace commented.
The 2018 UCI World Cup season kicks off in April on Lošinj a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea known for its striking bays, rich vegetation and a heinously rocky downhill track. The season peaks at the World Championships in Lenzerheide Switzerland, where in 2017 World Cup action Brosnan narrowly missed the win by a mere 0.162 of a second. Canyon Factory Racing’s focus this season will be the UCI World Cup series as well as select Crankworx events.
Team Manager Gabe Fox says “The season is going to be exciting, heading into a season with two young top ten ranked riders is a great position to be in. I expect Troy and Mark to continue to challenge for World Cup wins.”
Reliable, cutting-edge equipment is crucial to race day success and Canyon Factory Racing DH is proud to partner with industry leaders in their respective categories. In 2018 the team is proudly supported by SRAM, RockShox, Mavic, Dainese, Maxxis, Troy Lee Designs, Ergon, Crankbrothers, E-13, Acros and Mucoff.
“Our Factory Teams play a crucial role in driving product innovation via exchanges between the R&D department and team riders. It allows us to make key developments in kinematics, geometries, and detect any issues long before they reach the market. To me the teams are much more than a simple promotional tool, they draw people to the sport and keep the scene and products evolving. It was unbelievable to see the Sender take a World Cup win under Troy in its first year on the circuit, we can’t wait to see what 2018 brings.”- Daniel Oster, Canyon MTB Product & Brand Manager.
“We look forward to the continued partnership with Canyon Factory Racing DH. Troy and Mark have been SRAM and RockShox athletes since the beginning and a huge part of SRAM's gravity family. We're super stoked to continue supplying the boys with the highest level, race tuned suspension, brakes, and drivetrain components and to build on last season's outstanding results. SRAM's commitment to gravity racing can be highlighted by this partnership and our mutual push to put riders on the top of the podium.”- John Dawson, SRAM MTB Sports Marketing Director.
About Canyon Bicycles GmbH
What started life in founder Roman Arnold’s garage as Radsport Arnold has evolved into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of road, mountain, triathlon, fitness, urban and kids’ bikes. Officially renamed in 2002, Canyon works hand-in-hand with the best athletes on the planet to produce an array of award-winning bikes that embody a pure passion for riding. With a strong reputation for true innovation, implementing leading technologies, clean and clear design as well as the highest standards in quality and service, Canyon continues to expand worldwide, selling more bikes outside of its native Germany than within since 2008. As a pioneering direct sales brand, Canyon products are exclusively available online at www.canyon.com.
Photos by Boris Beyer, @maddogboris
Unno team confirmed with Williamson and Vernon.
http://uci.ch/mountain-bike/teams/
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