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If you’ve never ever taken a legal sports supplement before the experience isn’t too far off drinking a Red Bull or a cup of coffee. If anything the advantage is more of a mental placebo effect of feeling just a little more competitive than a drug giving you some crazy chemical advantage. Obviously the other riders are going to be the most biased group that exists but with most the bike media being supportive of Richie and Jared I think giving them the benefit of the doubt is a lot more logical than anything else. Beyond that other than this incident it’s not like drug testing has suddenly slowed richie down. If anything him and Jack have separated themselves from the pack further and were the only ones truly competing for wins last year.
But regards to all that, the past is the past. Jared is passionate about the sport, and has contributed a lot to it over the year. I don’t think mountain biking needs to jump on the ‘cancel society’ band wagon.
We all hope he was innocent, but there is no way any of us can prove if he was innocent or guilty.
And with the prevalence of PEDs in pro sports it’s sullied his reputation.
Unfortunately the ‘tainted supplement’ excuse is rolled out so often with athletes (it is very hard to prove conclusively that either way) rather than fess up to the truth.
As said, hopefully he was innocent but, 🤷🏼
She raced in Spain a week ago so I am not sure if she's back in her home country or still in pre-season training in western europe.
He was definitely fast and was also European champion at one point. If you ever find yourself in the trails of Southern Tirol, look around and you might see a really fast dude in jeans shredding away.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/THIS-IS-US-A-MTB-documentary-ft-A-Pierron-M-Nicole-T-Daprela-H-Frixtalon-T-Estaque,39787/iceman2058,94
I foresee the latter half of this decade to be a constant duel between Yankova and Höll in Women Elite.
Okay, tbh I just wanted an excuse to remind everyone of the funniest post of the year. All hail NoahColorado!
After a decade of racing at the highest levels of downhill and cross-country, a new era for Slovenian team Unior – Sinter Factory Racing begins. Familiar faces Tanja Žakelj, Jure Žabjek & Žak Gomilšček have new teammates – Jaka Remec & Boris Režabek, which means the team is also entering the world of BMX & MTB freestyle.
Team Unior – Sinter Factory Racing is refreshed for the 2022 season – with a new look, new team partners, more events in the calendar, and most importantly, new riders! Jaka & Boris are bringing new disciplines to the team program (and additional wheel sizes!) and lots of positive vibes. They have joined Tanja Žakelj, Jure Žabjek & Žak Gomilšček on the team, each of them will continue to make a big impact on the regional and global racing scene. First to go against the world’s best will be Jure & Žak, on route to Lourdes for the opening round of the UCI MTB World Cup. Tanja Žakelj will also race this Sunday – on the SloXCup race in Vrtojba where strong competition is also expected.
17-year old Jaka Remec has already made a name for himself, especially in 2021 with 10th place at the European BMX Freestyle Championships in Moscow and being accepted among the “Red Bull helmets”. Jaka competes in the Olympic BMX Freestyle and has competitions in Europe, North America and the Middle East on his schedule, with his sights set of course on future Olympic Games.
Boris Režabek is now a seasoned rider on the MTB slopestyle scene and a regular guest on the FMB tour. His tricks are getting bigger and more technical, so he’s ready for more stops of the FMB tour, including Crankworx Innsbruck. He’s also a reigning national pump track champ!
Tanja Žakelj has completed another successful Olympic cycle and is now looks ahead to a more relaxed race schedule. She will compete at an international level, but will not race the whole World Cup schedule. Tanja has accomplished more than most and has the luxury to race on the tracks of her liking, she also has strength and experience on her side and can surprise at any event. Jure Žabjek & Žak Gomilšček meanwhile have full UCI World Cup, iXS European DH Cup and Unior Downhill Cup schedule ahead of them, so another proper season!
This is what riders had to say before the season:
Tanja Žakelj: “I’m realistic about my season campaign, but I’m still looking for a surprise or two. My start of the season was relaxed and went even better than planned. I’m also happy that we accepted younger riders on the development team, who in the future could develop in wonderful ways. Meanwhile I want to be competitive on the biggest events out there, and I will choose which to race as the season develops. My goals are bigger for the second part of the season.”
Jure Žabjek: “I’ve entered the season with the new bike and a different training program. I’ve been spending a lot of time on Canyon Sender and I must say that I like it a lot. I’m also physically stronger and can’t wait for the race in Lourdes. For sure I want to be back in the top-10 on the some of the World Cup races and finish the season in the top-20.”
Žak Gomilšček: “I want to do a step forward and be in the mix on every race of the season. I want to finish the year among top-30 – or higher – in the overall World Cup standings and win the European Cup! The most exciting race on my schedule is Val di Sole, that wild track is made for me and is also a place where I took a junior podium.”
Jaka Remec: “I want to further improve my tricks, learn new ones and do ever harder and more attractive combos. Of course, I also need to perform all of this at the events. I want to go all the way to the World Cup Pro finals and compete against the best, of course I also want to achieve an even better result at the European Champs.”
Boris Režabek: “I’ll spend most of my airtime on the FMB World Tour events, including stops in Switzerland, Germany and Spain, and thus improve my position on the World Tour rankings. Of course, I’ll try to enjoy as much of the whole process. There will be also some time for events in Slovenia! I can’t wait for the start of the season, so I can show what is hiding up the sleeves of my new team jersey.”
Title sponsors of the team are two companies that each made a big impact in their area of the global cycling industry: Unior with a program of specialized cycling hand tools and Sinter with its own production of top-level organic brake pads. The team is also supported by City of Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital with multiple trail centers and pump tracks. Slovenian based support continues with BleedKit.com (disc brake bleeding kits), Bikehanic (bike & suspension service center), Kolektor & Liquishot (cordless sprayer for bike wash) and Nutrispoint (ecological functional sports nutrition). The team also has great support by world renowned brands Fox, Maxima Racing Oils, Royal Racing, 7iDP, Schwalbe, CushCore, Crankbrothers, Lizard Skins, fi’zi:k & Racing Armor Designs.
All team riders have a license from Cycling club Rajd, the largest MTB & BMX club from Ljubljana, Slovenia. The club manages elite & development race teams, runs an MTB & BMX school with more than 200 kids on the program, organized international events and manages Bike Park Ljubljana, BMX Park Ljubljana and city pump tracks.
This team of five riders with more than 50 events in total on the schedule including some of the most prestigious races and competitions, they are also a stable of the Slovenian national team . All of this means that you will for sure hear a lot about Unior – Sinter Factory Racing in the upcoming weeks and months.
- Who are you?
- We are Hard marshmallows, we're the softest!
- Mkay...
First world problems that are not problems, I know.
Mx
The name probably comes from what they did in the early days, i.e. sinter materials, then it grew out from there.
But yeah, it is a bit ironic
FOX RACING ANNOUNCES 2022 UCI DOWNHILL MTB WORLD CUP ROSTER
MARCH 23, 2022 – Irvine, CA – Fox Racing, the global leader in mountain bike safety equipment and apparel is proud to announce our ’22 Global DH Athlete roster heading into the opening round of the UCI Downhill World Cup this weekend in Lourdes, France. The entire industry is absolutely buzzing for racing to return and we can’t wait to get between the tape with some new faces as well as long-time roster staples.
SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE
Well, well what do we have here? The heavy-hitting powerhouse that is the SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE experienced quite a few changes this offseason, and we could not be more stoked to partner up with arguably the most exciting Athlete lineup DH racing has ever seen. Plus, we get to do it all with our fellow Californians from just up the coast – Santa Cruz Bicycles. Joining our Global roster is the GOAT himself, Greg Minnaar (RSA), the classically stylish & proven race winner Laurie Greenland (GBR), Women’s Elite standout Nina Hoffmann (GER) and the young gun, Jackson Goldstone (CAN). With Steve Peat at the helm as Team Manager, this rare mix of experience and youth is bound to keep us all on our toes – and surely on the Podium.
FMD RACING
If you follow the thumping music through the pits, you’ll surely end up at the FMD Racing truck. We’re excited to continue our relationship with the always fun UK based outfit. Leading the charge for FMD is the ultra-talented Tahnée Seagrave (GBR) – a constant threat for race wins with more personality & style than most racers would know what to do with. Tahnée holds it down in Women’s Elite, while Junior Phoebe Gale (GBR) will look to back up her impressive ’21 rookie season. On the Men’s side – Kaos Seagrave (GBR) will continue to hammer the course when he isn’t setting Instagram on fire and Dennis Luffman (GBR) will join him as a first year Men’s Elite with a hefty appetite for speed.
UNION
Speaking of hungry groms, enter the UNION team – a band of upstart rippers with a platform of support from Steel City Media & Santa Cruz Bicycles that will surely have the pits talking. As with Syndicate, we’re also partnering with the complete UNION program. New to the Union but not to FOX is Kiwi born Lachie Stevens-McNab (NZ), who turned heads in the Junior Category throughout ’21 with frequent visits to the podium. Aussie transplants turned Swedes – the brother duo of Oliver Zwar & Ben Zwar return to the UNION in ’22 along with the promising youngster, Ollie Davies (AUS). Last but surely not least – Frida Rønning (NOR) rounds out the UNION crew and will be chasing trophies while she moonlights as a PhD student at the University of Tennessee.
FREE AGENTS
Rounding out the roster are our “Free Agents” – Neko Mulally (USA) and Theo Erlangsen (RSA). Former US National Champ Neko Mulally is on the most alternative route possible for a UCI Downhill Racer and has taken the industry by storm with his all-new Frameworks Racing project. After years of experience with some of the most respected teams in the pits, Mulally has taken it upon himself and a collection of trusted cohorts to build his own bike frames in ‘22. If you aren’t familiar with him and Frank the Welder yet, be sure to check out Neko’s “Frameworks” video series. The “King of Good Times,” Theo Erlangsen is back on the World Cup scene when he isn’t launching +70’ hits at the FEST series. Unfortunately, Theo will miss the beginning of the season due to injury, but we’ll see him out there in no time as the year gets rolling.
All team riders will be using custom FOX race kits based on our Flexair collection, with Rampage Pro Carbon (RPC) helmets, VUE goggles, Raceframe chest protectors, Launch Pro D3O kneepads, plus many other products from our catalog.
AND FINALLY… LOIC BRUNI
No one can forget “SuperBruni,” and we’re excited to continue our relationship with defending World Cup Overall Champ, Loic Bruni (FRA). The likeable Frenchman and captain of the Specialized Gravity team will continue to use his trusted Rampage Pro Carbon (RPC) helmet – the only helmet fit for the champ. Loic has been an integral part of the FOX team for the last five years, and we’re pleased to keep working together and protect his head for the season to come!
MRP is continuing support for Giant Factory Off-Road Team, Trek Factory Racing, Pivot Factory Racing, Nukeproof SRAM Factory Racing, Atherton Racing, and the Cube Factory Team.
As well, we're pleased to welcome Canyon [CLLCTV] FMD and The Union to the roster.
There may be others added, but I think I'm Forbidden from saying anything else.
Let's go racing!
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