2022 Mountain Bike Team Rumors

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Hyperpower! 12/21/2021 4:13am
12/21/2021 4:13am
peter.p.lloyd wrote:
I'm just going to say it. It's Commencal 21 going pop. As you were.
Angel did blur his bike on this photo he posted yesterday…


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bizutch
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bizutch 12/21/2021 5:36am
12/21/2021 5:36am Edited Date/Time 12/21/2021 5:36am
Aksel_Lfft wrote:
In one year timeframe, the syndicate lost its 2 young guns. For Loris it was kinda different way of thinking/approach than Peaty. Could it be the...
In one year timeframe, the syndicate lost its 2 young guns. For Loris it was kinda different way of thinking/approach than Peaty. Could it be the same for Luca ? Maybe he is feeling it doesn't work and wants fresh air ?
Bebop.Skibble wrote:
I came here thinking the same thing. There were some murmurings that there was something up between Loris and Peaty. Loris starts over on a new...
I came here thinking the same thing. There were some murmurings that there was something up between Loris and Peaty. Loris starts over on a new team & new bike, and look what happened.
Luca when he first signed was seemingly always the last man down the hill those first few years, then it tapered off. (granted there were injuries).
I dunno, when I watch the SC video's this last year, it's still a lot of Peaty wanting to be behind the lens.
Pretty sure Loris had to do with income versus expenses & Trek wanted to spend more than Santa Cruz.

Just like in any other pro sport, every budget only has so much money for an alpha.

In Fearon's case, I'm excited for the guy. Flat pedals on single pivots is not as easy as he makes it look. Really hope he gets to race for an FSR or other de-coupled pivot brand. Pedal kickback on flats in DH is way harder on single pivots.

Am I wrong in remembering Fearon and Luca spending an Aussie summer together? Maybe both to Canyon?
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Ahab
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Ahab 12/21/2021 6:05am
12/21/2021 6:05am
I wonder if Shaw lost his seat to a not-retiring goat.

I think the change will be good for him. Can't wait to see where he lands.
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Bobodaclown 12/21/2021 7:36am
12/21/2021 7:36am Edited Date/Time 12/21/2021 7:37am
BHowell wrote:
The YT Mob is officially [url=https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/YT-Mob-Announces-It-is-Taking-a-Break-From-World-Cup-Racing,39575/BHowell,45918]Taking a Break.[/url]
The YT Mob is officially Taking a Break.
It is a shame. Fast riders on the market...

Wonder what Martin will be up to...a new team or a search for talent to nurture.
willsmooth18 12/21/2021 7:43am
12/21/2021 7:43am
Erik Fedko out of Rose Bikes. To Trek maybe ?
MPH24
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MPH24 12/21/2021 7:58am
12/21/2021 7:58am
Ahab wrote:
I wonder if Shaw lost his seat to a not-retiring goat. I think the change will be good for him. Can't wait to see where he...
I wonder if Shaw lost his seat to a not-retiring goat.

I think the change will be good for him. Can't wait to see where he lands.
You can say what you want but the syndicate is Greg's team until he doesn't want to do it anymore. I totally get a younger rider not wanting to hang around and see when Greg wants to hang it up. Especially, if there is a team out there willing to pay more money or comparable money where the rider can have more of a spotlight.

All of that said, it is really hard to draw any conclusions when we have no idea what the money is...
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Pablo Picasso 12/21/2021 8:52am
12/21/2021 8:52am
Connor Fearon off Kona........ its got to be Pivot for him
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groghunter
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groghunter 12/21/2021 9:24am
12/21/2021 9:24am Edited Date/Time 12/21/2021 9:24am
Ahab wrote:
I wonder if Shaw lost his seat to a not-retiring goat. I think the change will be good for him. Can't wait to see where he...
I wonder if Shaw lost his seat to a not-retiring goat.

I think the change will be good for him. Can't wait to see where he lands.
MPH24 wrote:
You can say what you want but the syndicate is Greg's team until he doesn't want to do it anymore. I totally get a younger rider...
You can say what you want but the syndicate is Greg's team until he doesn't want to do it anymore. I totally get a younger rider not wanting to hang around and see when Greg wants to hang it up. Especially, if there is a team out there willing to pay more money or comparable money where the rider can have more of a spotlight.

All of that said, it is really hard to draw any conclusions when we have no idea what the money is...
yup. if you aren't Greg, then by the time you work your way up to a team at that level, you've got a timer running on your career. lots of WC racers retire in their early thirties, and some even earlier (not meaning Bryceland, but people who retire for actual performance reasons.) If you don't think you've got 20 years in you to be competitive, you don't have time at 25yo+ to wait around for Greg to retire.
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TuTh Rider
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TuTh Rider 12/21/2021 9:52am
12/21/2021 9:52am
mfoga wrote:
Still surprised by the Luca situation when only few months ago SC brought his brother in to be team manager of the union team. But its...
Still surprised by the Luca situation when only few months ago SC brought his brother in to be team manager of the union team. But its weird it almost seems like that is no longer the case as there is no mention of that anywhere else but the post here now.
bizutch wrote:
If you paid close attention during the 2021 World Cup campaign, there was what seemed like a distinct lack of teamwork between Luca and GM. Maybe...
If you paid close attention during the 2021 World Cup campaign, there was what seemed like a distinct lack of teamwork between Luca and GM. Maybe it was just how the videos appeared after production or if it was just intentional to give each their own separate filming opportunities?

But every time I watched track walk, they did their own thing and weren't filmed together sharing lines. Maybe Luca wanted out of GM's shadow and primary focus on his own program as opposed to second fiddle?

One of the worst things that could happen when we used to race was that the team I was on, you start riding like each other and your race times will reflect it. Kind of gets in your head that you have GOT to change your track partners up if you're going to break loose from your teammates on the clock.
This has some legs I think. Syndicate lost two good young riders and keeping the legends. All speculation, but I wonder if the ball busting that seems to go on and some prior references to some kind of mind games that Greg would do with Loris got to be too much for Luca.

Luca had to see a different style that Trek runs with Loris and Jolanda and that had to make him think. Luca was running hot until that early season crash. Maybe the Syndicate didn’t provide the support he thought he should get - or something similar that Jolanda received from Trek after her huge crash in NC.

I am a SC fanboy, but wish Luca the best and hoping he gets on the box with his new team in 2022.
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DexterBex
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DexterBex 12/21/2021 9:55am
12/21/2021 9:55am
No rumours on David Trummer? He's got to be one of the quickest guys without a mention in here.
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bizutch
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bizutch 12/21/2021 10:04am
12/21/2021 10:04am
mfoga wrote:
Still surprised by the Luca situation when only few months ago SC brought his brother in to be team manager of the union team. But its...
Still surprised by the Luca situation when only few months ago SC brought his brother in to be team manager of the union team. But its weird it almost seems like that is no longer the case as there is no mention of that anywhere else but the post here now.
bizutch wrote:
If you paid close attention during the 2021 World Cup campaign, there was what seemed like a distinct lack of teamwork between Luca and GM. Maybe...
If you paid close attention during the 2021 World Cup campaign, there was what seemed like a distinct lack of teamwork between Luca and GM. Maybe it was just how the videos appeared after production or if it was just intentional to give each their own separate filming opportunities?

But every time I watched track walk, they did their own thing and weren't filmed together sharing lines. Maybe Luca wanted out of GM's shadow and primary focus on his own program as opposed to second fiddle?

One of the worst things that could happen when we used to race was that the team I was on, you start riding like each other and your race times will reflect it. Kind of gets in your head that you have GOT to change your track partners up if you're going to break loose from your teammates on the clock.
TuTh Rider wrote:
This has some legs I think. Syndicate lost two good young riders and keeping the legends. All speculation, but I wonder if the ball busting that...
This has some legs I think. Syndicate lost two good young riders and keeping the legends. All speculation, but I wonder if the ball busting that seems to go on and some prior references to some kind of mind games that Greg would do with Loris got to be too much for Luca.

Luca had to see a different style that Trek runs with Loris and Jolanda and that had to make him think. Luca was running hot until that early season crash. Maybe the Syndicate didn’t provide the support he thought he should get - or something similar that Jolanda received from Trek after her huge crash in NC.

I am a SC fanboy, but wish Luca the best and hoping he gets on the box with his new team in 2022.
TuTh Rider ...you're adding way too much drama to a simple contract negotiation.

The two major reasons riders change teams in this sport are opportunity and a simple desire to not become stagnant in one program if you're looking for that 1/10th of a second you desperately want to find.

Either money talks or change inspires.

That's why I referenced the distinctly separate track walks. If you've ever trained with the same group of guys on the same equipment and seen your results not vary from theirs, you get it. Purely a mental need to do something different.

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mtbman99 12/21/2021 10:09am
12/21/2021 10:09am
You also have to remember SC is no longer the SC of old. They are owned by PON which also owns several other bike companies. GT and Cannondale so how much money should one company invest in racing.....
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raozaki
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raozaki 12/21/2021 11:15am
12/21/2021 11:15am
BHowell wrote:
The YT Mob is officially [url=https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/YT-Mob-Announces-It-is-Taking-a-Break-From-World-Cup-Racing,39575/BHowell,45918]Taking a Break.[/url]
The YT Mob is officially Taking a Break.
Kinda the end of a downward pointing spiral of the lase years in my mind.
First they drop Gwin out of nowhere, then lots of freeriders are left standing in the rain and now another nail in the coffin.
Seems like they proved what they had to prove (Tues is a DH worthy bike, Tues is a freeride bike, YT as young talent brand with that worldwide casting thing) and now pull the plug on it all.
Just seems to me you could do it more gentle?
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bb rides 12/21/2021 11:46am
12/21/2021 11:46am
DexterBex wrote:
No rumours on David Trummer? He's got to be one of the quickest guys without a mention in here.
i wonder where he is going. there is a free spot available at an austrian team, MS Mondraker. I think he would be a good fit. Trummer and the Bulldog would make an awesome team!
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bulletbass man 12/21/2021 11:52am
12/21/2021 11:52am
I think yt has realized they will sell out of bikes regardless of their reputation with “core riders” now they are established. Especially in the current market of Covid.

I’d also guess they may not have been in a position to secure as product as they would’ve liked for the next few years. Maybe they will launch another dream team if sales slip and inventory is back to normal.
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thomas.gehrig 12/21/2021 12:36pm
12/21/2021 12:36pm
I think in YTs case it is mostly that they have to wonder themselves what the return on investment is. Racing is expensive, managing a team is expensive, flying riders all over the world for one weekend is expensive.

Most companies are starting to notice that racing might not be the best endeavor to be a successful brand. A downhill world cup victory might not translate to downhill bike sales. Especially when companies can see that sponsoring just certain key athletes or influencers might draw more traffic or attention to their brand...
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BlazersDad89
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BlazersDad89 12/21/2021 12:50pm
12/21/2021 12:50pm
Yeah, it's interesting to see how YT is choosing to leave the pointy end of racing(both DH and Enduro). Helps emphasize how much some of these other brands(Commencal, Canyon and Mondraker come to mind) actually love racing and are willing to make that investment into it.

Also, any news on Florian since leaving Trek? Feel like there's a few big names in Enduro that I suspect are looking for new contracts. Jose Borges seems like a forgotten Top 10 rider.
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brash
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brash 12/21/2021 1:25pm
12/21/2021 1:25pm
thomas.gehrig wrote:
I think in YTs case it is mostly that they have to wonder themselves what the return on investment is. Racing is expensive, managing a team...
I think in YTs case it is mostly that they have to wonder themselves what the return on investment is. Racing is expensive, managing a team is expensive, flying riders all over the world for one weekend is expensive.

Most companies are starting to notice that racing might not be the best endeavor to be a successful brand. A downhill world cup victory might not translate to downhill bike sales. Especially when companies can see that sponsoring just certain key athletes or influencers might draw more traffic or attention to their brand...
No one is selling DH bikes though, We always say DH is the F1 of the sport, and manufacturers aren't doing F1 to sell road cars either I'd imagine.

It's about pushing the boundaries. Developing better, faster, stronger bikes. For the sheer fucking love of the sport. Take for instance the new specialized enduro, with arguably one of the best rear suspension platforms on the market was a trickle down of tech from the new demo design. All those New SC bikes that look the same are trickle downs from V10's etc etc.

Maybe YT don't have that drive, maybe that's not their direction in the scheme of things, but leaving poor davey boi and dak high and dry doesn't bode well with people either.
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mfoga
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mfoga 12/21/2021 2:08pm
12/21/2021 2:08pm
That's two years in a row Dakota was left high and dry.
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metadave
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metadave 12/21/2021 2:56pm
12/21/2021 2:56pm
thomas.gehrig wrote:
I think in YTs case it is mostly that they have to wonder themselves what the return on investment is. Racing is expensive, managing a team...
I think in YTs case it is mostly that they have to wonder themselves what the return on investment is. Racing is expensive, managing a team is expensive, flying riders all over the world for one weekend is expensive.

Most companies are starting to notice that racing might not be the best endeavor to be a successful brand. A downhill world cup victory might not translate to downhill bike sales. Especially when companies can see that sponsoring just certain key athletes or influencers might draw more traffic or attention to their brand...
brash wrote:
No one is selling DH bikes though, We always say DH is the F1 of the sport, and manufacturers aren't doing F1 to sell road cars...
No one is selling DH bikes though, We always say DH is the F1 of the sport, and manufacturers aren't doing F1 to sell road cars either I'd imagine.

It's about pushing the boundaries. Developing better, faster, stronger bikes. For the sheer fucking love of the sport. Take for instance the new specialized enduro, with arguably one of the best rear suspension platforms on the market was a trickle down of tech from the new demo design. All those New SC bikes that look the same are trickle downs from V10's etc etc.

Maybe YT don't have that drive, maybe that's not their direction in the scheme of things, but leaving poor davey boi and dak high and dry doesn't bode well with people either.
I think Commencal sells a shit ton of DH bikes compared to everyone else. It’s pretty much the only DH brand you see in new numbers in Canada other than Norco and then some YT’s, Demo’s and a smattering of others. I’d be interested to hear about other area’s but DH sales seem to be alive and well at Commencal from what I’ve seen. I see more Commencal DH bikes than I do trail bikes.
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bizutch
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bizutch 12/21/2021 4:58pm
12/21/2021 4:58pm Edited Date/Time 12/21/2021 4:59pm
At one point in time, every rental fleet you saw and every privateer DH racer was on a Giant.

It sounds like they're coming out with their Glory again. I've always felt like DH bikes sold the rest of the lineup.

Nobody's reposting 5 year old runs of DarkFest or EWS footage or Nino punching some epic technical attack to pass the competition.

It's all Gwin, Hart's balls, etc.

Everyone rides trail bikes down the mountain with the thought that they're doing their own form of World Cup Downhill race.

YT just isn't dependable. Maybe they'll figure it out eventually, but the people I'm rooting for are Dak (Captain Potty Mouth) Laughing , Trummer & Whitley. All three deserve a standout year.
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bikerfilmerboy 12/21/2021 5:20pm
12/21/2021 5:20pm
BHowell wrote:
The YT Mob is officially [url=https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/YT-Mob-Announces-It-is-Taking-a-Break-From-World-Cup-Racing,39575/BHowell,45918]Taking a Break.[/url]
The YT Mob is officially Taking a Break.
I have a Jeffsy and am seriously looking into selling it because YT dropped the mob… FOR THE SECOND TIME. I get racing isn’t cheap, maybe not even cost effective, but I’m into companies that put bike sales back into the community/sport… not on some low grade marketing horror film.
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malle
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malle 12/21/2021 10:55pm
12/21/2021 10:55pm
regarding the YT MOB break, Martin himself posted the following in the comment section on that other mtb site:

"Hey Guys, please note this video is a YT production, with no input from 23 Degrees. It's YT that came to us wanting to take a break for their own reasons. Dave and Dak are signing for other World Cup Elite teams, they'll announce in January I assume. Oisin has a ride next year, and I believe Guy has some plans, but not fixed yet. It's true, I've been on the circuit for 26 years straight, so a break, especially after 2 years of covid travel hassles, isn't a bad thing, and for sure I and my race team staff want to be back at the finish line supoorting our new team's racers in 2023."
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The Gap
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The Gap 12/21/2021 11:56pm
12/21/2021 11:56pm
...can´t wait for team announcements and the start of the world cup season! Many riders on new material...fingers crossed for Daveboy on a new rig, wondering where Dak and Luca will ride...
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Bobodaclown 12/22/2021 12:21am
12/22/2021 12:21am
The Gap wrote:
...can´t wait for team announcements and the start of the world cup season! Many riders on new material...fingers crossed for Daveboy on a new rig, wondering...
...can´t wait for team announcements and the start of the world cup season! Many riders on new material...fingers crossed for Daveboy on a new rig, wondering where Dak and Luca will ride...
A fair amount of moves, Connor Fearon as well.

Hope they all find good rides that pay them out good money!
1
wastesport 12/22/2021 2:56am
12/22/2021 2:56am
george brannigan leaving propain??
dak nortan to propain??
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barryjenson 12/22/2021 3:15am
12/22/2021 3:15am
I HOPE joe Barnes finds a new ride
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