2023 TEAM RUMORS

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UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Mr.Nally
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Mr.Nally 9/30/2022 12:13am
9/30/2022 12:13am
Tim Horton wrote:
....A worrisome thought. What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail? If so, that would...
....A worrisome thought.

What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail?

If so, that would be horrible, and could start other teams revisiting cost / benefit for MTB team publicity /promotion.
ESO fees not UCI. ESO run the world cup series now.
Zero Cool
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Zero Cool 9/30/2022 2:28am
9/30/2022 2:28am
krabo83 wrote:
fun fact jared rode the stumpy almost exclusively. so what does it tell us about his bike preference?
manny.bike wrote:
Jared shared his experiences in a podcast and was honest about the up and downs. I am trying to recall that the tires were the main...
Jared shared his experiences in a podcast and was honest about the up and downs. I am trying to recall that the tires were the main issue. They were allowed to use only Spezi tyres and they did not work at all e.g. flat tyres and some mud races.

Furthermore, the team structure was not the one that he was looking for.
He was very open and hinest about not liking their tyres in a PB interview years ago. Basically said they were't as good as his Maxxis Minions. Didn't lie about how amazing the Specialized stuff was while hiding behind a Sharpie.
Tim Horton 9/30/2022 7:16am
9/30/2022 7:16am
Tim Horton wrote:
....A worrisome thought. What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail? If so, that would...
....A worrisome thought.

What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail?

If so, that would be horrible, and could start other teams revisiting cost / benefit for MTB team publicity /promotion.
Mr.Nally wrote:
ESO fees not UCI. ESO run the world cup series now.
Thank you, that's actually what I meant.
1
Edthorne
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Edthorne 9/30/2022 7:56am
9/30/2022 7:56am Edited Date/Time 9/30/2022 7:58am
Tim Horton wrote:
....A worrisome thought. What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail? If so, that would...
....A worrisome thought.

What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail?

If so, that would be horrible, and could start other teams revisiting cost / benefit for MTB team publicity /promotion.
Maybe Norco has decided that making an affordable alloy race bike that would be popular among privateers and national racers (a la Supreme) and a more grassroots approach to racing, is a better investment than a factory team.

They could then afford to sponsor more regional and national riders, who would each require a lower level of individual pay (in their eyes), and still offer good advertising on the ground. It does seem like Norco already has some level of sponsorship with a lot of younger Canada Cup and CNES racers in western Canada.
Primoz
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Primoz 9/30/2022 10:25am
9/30/2022 10:25am
Affordable alloy? Sight A1 is 6100 € on their site for Slovenia. In 2020 the same model (same gear, Ultimate suspension, 2022 stuff on the 2023 model too!!, Code RSC, GX drivetrain) was just over 4000 or roughly 4500 € at most. So that's a ~35 % price increase in 3 years...
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Edthorne
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Edthorne 9/30/2022 10:45am
9/30/2022 10:45am
Primoz wrote:
Affordable alloy? Sight A1 is 6100 € on their site for Slovenia. In 2020 the same model (same gear, Ultimate suspension, 2022 stuff on the 2023...
Affordable alloy? Sight A1 is 6100 € on their site for Slovenia. In 2020 the same model (same gear, Ultimate suspension, 2022 stuff on the 2023 model too!!, Code RSC, GX drivetrain) was just over 4000 or roughly 4500 € at most. So that's a ~35 % price increase in 3 years...
That's a fair point, in regards to the price increase on the Sight. Though they were a pretty damn unreal value here in Canada at their old price.

I think it's worth noting that the base model Supreme DH is $6100 CAD. It offers good value for money, but it shows that the entry price to get on a DH bike is a good deal higher than that of any regular trail bike.

Lastly, I'd take a look at the Fluid A1. You get a Factory 34, XT drivetrain, and TRP brakes for 5k CAD. So they clearly are able to put forth something well priced when it suits them, or is demanded by the category.

All that to say, they're pulling out of racing, and probably aren't planning anything cool, but it's fun to speculate.
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SlalomSlayer 9/30/2022 5:49pm
9/30/2022 5:49pm Edited Date/Time 9/30/2022 6:26pm
I can understand why Norco would shut down the downhill program, since it's invested so much and for so many years yet still hasn't won a men's UCI DH race. Best I think was 5th with Blenki 8 years ago?

The XC team on the other hand had some good results on a bike design that 6+ years old.
1
sspomer
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sspomer 9/30/2022 6:29pm
9/30/2022 6:29pm
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement

Press Release.
Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022
Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco has been driven by the energy and spirit that competition has brought to our work. 2022, in fact, has been the Norco Factory Team’s most successful year in its over 30 years of racing – results that we continue to celebrate as the season winds down; which makes this announcement even more heartbreaking:

At the end of the race season, we will temporarily pause the Norco Factory DH and XC team programs.

We understand this decision drastically affects the lives and careers of so many talented people who have contributed to the program’s success. To ensure that all our 2022 team athletes and staff can stay on-track for 2023, we’re advocating on their behalf with our industry partners and colleagues to help secure support for all of them.

This pause will allow Norco to confidently navigate the industry’s pandemic recovery. It’s a pragmatic, but excruciating sacrifice we’ve had to make to ensure that Norco will continue to meet the needs of riders and our dealers long into the future. We’ll continue to ride, engage with our communities, and forge forward as we develop and build innovative mountain bikes, including our next generation of DH and XC platforms.

Thanks to all our riders, support staff, sponsors, and fans for your decades of inspiration. It means the world to us.
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metadave
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metadave 9/30/2022 9:32pm
9/30/2022 9:32pm
sspomer wrote:
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement Press Release. Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022 Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco...
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement

Press Release.
Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022
Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco has been driven by the energy and spirit that competition has brought to our work. 2022, in fact, has been the Norco Factory Team’s most successful year in its over 30 years of racing – results that we continue to celebrate as the season winds down; which makes this announcement even more heartbreaking:

At the end of the race season, we will temporarily pause the Norco Factory DH and XC team programs.

We understand this decision drastically affects the lives and careers of so many talented people who have contributed to the program’s success. To ensure that all our 2022 team athletes and staff can stay on-track for 2023, we’re advocating on their behalf with our industry partners and colleagues to help secure support for all of them.

This pause will allow Norco to confidently navigate the industry’s pandemic recovery. It’s a pragmatic, but excruciating sacrifice we’ve had to make to ensure that Norco will continue to meet the needs of riders and our dealers long into the future. We’ll continue to ride, engage with our communities, and forge forward as we develop and build innovative mountain bikes, including our next generation of DH and XC platforms.

Thanks to all our riders, support staff, sponsors, and fans for your decades of inspiration. It means the world to us.
It makes sense for some teams to do this, other company's folded their teams during the pandemic, but it kind of seems like Norco limped theirs through the worst of it, maybe just for the benefit of their athletes and are now coming out the other end and taking a year or two off to rebuild, release that new bike and get things moving again with a fresh program. Better than suddenly dumping their whole team mid shit show during the last two seasons.
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FullSend
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FullSend 10/1/2022 2:30am
10/1/2022 2:30am
RE Norco shutting down their factory racing program:

They've always had a more "grassroots" approach. I can see them focusing on smaller-scale (Canandian) Privateer support in the future.

I just wish their bikes wouldn't be so ridiculously expensive. Let's wait and see if them dropping all racing efforts will affect prices in a way that's benefitial to the customers.
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veefour
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veefour 10/1/2022 4:46am
10/1/2022 4:46am Edited Date/Time 10/1/2022 4:49am
FullSend wrote:
RE Norco shutting down their factory racing program: They've always had a more "grassroots" approach. I can see them focusing on smaller-scale (Canandian) Privateer support in...
RE Norco shutting down their factory racing program:

They've always had a more "grassroots" approach. I can see them focusing on smaller-scale (Canandian) Privateer support in the future.

I just wish their bikes wouldn't be so ridiculously expensive. Let's wait and see if them dropping all racing efforts will affect prices in a way that's benefitial to the customers.
Between this move and only allowing UK purchasers to get their bikes through that shitbag Mike Ashley, I can't feel sorry for them if they fail to weather the coming storm. Obviously I'm talking about the bosses, not the employees.

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1
Jude_Hall 10/1/2022 5:31am
10/1/2022 5:31am
I’m calling it right now: Jack Moir to Pivot
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4
mike_dee
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mike_dee 10/1/2022 6:04am
10/1/2022 6:04am
Jude_Hall wrote:
I’m calling it right now: Jack Moir to Pivot
Jack and Ed, interesting.
1
gibbon
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gibbon 10/1/2022 7:42am
10/1/2022 7:42am
jason.west.750 wrote:
Gwen going to Trek.
Stacy?
7
FullSend
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FullSend 10/1/2022 7:54am
10/1/2022 7:54am
Jude_Hall wrote:
I’m calling it right now: Jack Moir to Pivot
He's going to YT.

A german magazin wrote that apparently one of YT's media personel essentially confirmed it while talking to them.
2
veefour
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veefour 10/1/2022 8:37am
10/1/2022 8:37am Edited Date/Time 10/1/2022 8:37am
FullSend wrote:
RE Norco shutting down their factory racing program: They've always had a more "grassroots" approach. I can see them focusing on smaller-scale (Canandian) Privateer support in...
RE Norco shutting down their factory racing program:

They've always had a more "grassroots" approach. I can see them focusing on smaller-scale (Canandian) Privateer support in the future.

I just wish their bikes wouldn't be so ridiculously expensive. Let's wait and see if them dropping all racing efforts will affect prices in a way that's benefitial to the customers.
veefour wrote:
Between this move and only allowing UK purchasers to get their bikes through that shitbag Mike Ashley, I can't feel sorry for them if they fail...
Between this move and only allowing UK purchasers to get their bikes through that shitbag Mike Ashley, I can't feel sorry for them if they fail to weather the coming storm. Obviously I'm talking about the bosses, not the employees.

Edit;
It seems Tredz (owned by Halfords) are now the sole UK distributor. Out of the frying pan...
2
repackreminisces 10/1/2022 8:53am
10/1/2022 8:53am
sspomer wrote:
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement Press Release. Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022 Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco...
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement

Press Release.
Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022
Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco has been driven by the energy and spirit that competition has brought to our work. 2022, in fact, has been the Norco Factory Team’s most successful year in its over 30 years of racing – results that we continue to celebrate as the season winds down; which makes this announcement even more heartbreaking:

At the end of the race season, we will temporarily pause the Norco Factory DH and XC team programs.

We understand this decision drastically affects the lives and careers of so many talented people who have contributed to the program’s success. To ensure that all our 2022 team athletes and staff can stay on-track for 2023, we’re advocating on their behalf with our industry partners and colleagues to help secure support for all of them.

This pause will allow Norco to confidently navigate the industry’s pandemic recovery. It’s a pragmatic, but excruciating sacrifice we’ve had to make to ensure that Norco will continue to meet the needs of riders and our dealers long into the future. We’ll continue to ride, engage with our communities, and forge forward as we develop and build innovative mountain bikes, including our next generation of DH and XC platforms.

Thanks to all our riders, support staff, sponsors, and fans for your decades of inspiration. It means the world to us.
Man Norco seems to be the worst all around. Dropping their factory riders. BOOO!!!! The brand reps they had representing them at crankworx Whistler gave me some terrible customer service too. Now I’m sold In never supporting this brand. I also used to work at a norco dealer the bikes never looked that nice compared to other brands we carried.
3
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pinkrobe
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pinkrobe 10/1/2022 9:18am
10/1/2022 9:18am
sspomer wrote:
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement Press Release. Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022 Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco...
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement

Press Release.
Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022
Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco has been driven by the energy and spirit that competition has brought to our work. 2022, in fact, has been the Norco Factory Team’s most successful year in its over 30 years of racing – results that we continue to celebrate as the season winds down; which makes this announcement even more heartbreaking:

At the end of the race season, we will temporarily pause the Norco Factory DH and XC team programs.

We understand this decision drastically affects the lives and careers of so many talented people who have contributed to the program’s success. To ensure that all our 2022 team athletes and staff can stay on-track for 2023, we’re advocating on their behalf with our industry partners and colleagues to help secure support for all of them.

This pause will allow Norco to confidently navigate the industry’s pandemic recovery. It’s a pragmatic, but excruciating sacrifice we’ve had to make to ensure that Norco will continue to meet the needs of riders and our dealers long into the future. We’ll continue to ride, engage with our communities, and forge forward as we develop and build innovative mountain bikes, including our next generation of DH and XC platforms.

Thanks to all our riders, support staff, sponsors, and fans for your decades of inspiration. It means the world to us.
I'm calling it right now: Gracey to Forbidden.
kevroberts
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kevroberts 10/1/2022 2:08pm
10/1/2022 2:08pm
Wonder if this is just Jamie leaving or Trek/SRAM completely pulling the plug?
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Tim Horton 10/1/2022 3:13pm
10/1/2022 3:13pm Edited Date/Time 10/1/2022 3:15pm
"I'll see you at the races", compared to "we'll see you at the races" ?
4
NJPA Rider
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NJPA Rider 10/1/2022 5:57pm
10/1/2022 5:57pm
It seemed very obvious that Jamie was going. He had some bad luck. Tegan had some good results. . So I'm thinking he stays.
faustonef 10/3/2022 12:37am
10/3/2022 12:37am
wild shuffle in XCO mtb teams 2023

Vidaurre to Scott
Colombo (BMC) rumored to Scott
Pauline leaves BMC (maybe Ineos)
Kross-Orlen will stop in 2023. Cink, Wawak, Litscher on the market
Avancini leaves Cannondale
KMC will ride Lapierre bikes after years with Orbea
Sarrou and Sina leave Specialized (rumored to BMC)
Decathlon-Rockrider wants Maxime Marotte
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Erwan_Ghesquiere 10/3/2022 2:11am
10/3/2022 2:11am
sspomer wrote:
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement Press Release. Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022 Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco...
norco teams "paused" is official - here's the press release/statement

Press Release.
Port Coquitlam, BC – September 29, 2022
Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco has been driven by the energy and spirit that competition has brought to our work. 2022, in fact, has been the Norco Factory Team’s most successful year in its over 30 years of racing – results that we continue to celebrate as the season winds down; which makes this announcement even more heartbreaking:

At the end of the race season, we will temporarily pause the Norco Factory DH and XC team programs.

We understand this decision drastically affects the lives and careers of so many talented people who have contributed to the program’s success. To ensure that all our 2022 team athletes and staff can stay on-track for 2023, we’re advocating on their behalf with our industry partners and colleagues to help secure support for all of them.

This pause will allow Norco to confidently navigate the industry’s pandemic recovery. It’s a pragmatic, but excruciating sacrifice we’ve had to make to ensure that Norco will continue to meet the needs of riders and our dealers long into the future. We’ll continue to ride, engage with our communities, and forge forward as we develop and build innovative mountain bikes, including our next generation of DH and XC platforms.

Thanks to all our riders, support staff, sponsors, and fans for your decades of inspiration. It means the world to us.
I would be surprised to see a brand coming out saying they gave up on racing due to stupid entry fees which makes racing even more difficult to justify on a tight communication budget. With this type of money (just the extra cost) you can finance a good web-series for instance, which could create as much if not more visibility for the brand. Especially for second tier team/rider that you rarely see on the podium, racing is worth it communication wise when you win, not when you fill the spreadsheet. But yeah, this statement is as bland and generic as it goes, doesn't really say anything else that broad statement using well accepted covid excuse, doesn't put you in the bad books of UCI, ESO or whoever so they don't burn any bridges for when/if stuff evolves.
1
bmx_background 10/3/2022 8:35am
10/3/2022 8:35am
Jude_Hall wrote:
I’m calling it right now: Jack Moir to Pivot
FullSend wrote:
He's going to YT.

A german magazin wrote that apparently one of YT's media personel essentially confirmed it while talking to them.
Wonder if YT will get SRAM for Moi Moi
DubC
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DubC 10/3/2022 9:46am
10/3/2022 9:46am
Tim Horton wrote:
....A worrisome thought. What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail? If so, that would...
....A worrisome thought.

What if Norco sees the writing on the wall with new UCI fees, and has decided to just bail?

If so, that would be horrible, and could start other teams revisiting cost / benefit for MTB team publicity /promotion.
I have a hard time imagining that this is not coming into play at some level. Id imagine there would be a number of brands taking a serious reevaluation of their DH spend.

High cost of development for DH bikes + low sales volume + lackluster team results + limited marketing buzz from non-race based activities + pending dramatic implosion of bike boom + increased travel costs + increased event cost + questions about ROI/viewership of new discovery run series.

Those are a lot of big question marks for the next 2-3 years. It should come as no surprise to see a number of teams hit the pause button to see how all this plays out.
mtbman99 10/3/2022 9:53am
10/3/2022 9:53am
DubC wrote:
I have a hard time imagining that this is not coming into play at some level. Id imagine there would be a number of brands taking...
I have a hard time imagining that this is not coming into play at some level. Id imagine there would be a number of brands taking a serious reevaluation of their DH spend.

High cost of development for DH bikes + low sales volume + lackluster team results + limited marketing buzz from non-race based activities + pending dramatic implosion of bike boom + increased travel costs + increased event cost + questions about ROI/viewership of new discovery run series.

Those are a lot of big question marks for the next 2-3 years. It should come as no surprise to see a number of teams hit the pause button to see how all this plays out.
Yeah if they where only pulling out of DH racing I could see that but they are pulling out of all racing. Now not that Norco has ever really fielded a top level team to be honest though.

I feel for all the riders especially all the up and coming riders that now need to find new rides.
C-LION
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C-LION 10/3/2022 10:12am
10/3/2022 10:12am
In my view, there is no better way to show/prove the capabilities of a bike than taking part in a competition (racing, freeride competition, etc.). It’s the biggest stage and good results will have a positive impact on sales. Good results in one category (e.g. downhill) can even translate into better sales in other categories (e.g. enduro) in my opinion. Pulling out of racing might be an easy option to reduce costs, but there is a real risk to descend into obscurity.
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