2023 TEAM RUMORS

jimmypop
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GU US
12/13/2022 8:52am

This is some stark privilege on display by what are essentially freelance marketing contractors.

Tens of thousands of tech layoffs happened this year, devastating families and disrupting lives for many who will be forced to leave the U.S.

These glorified social media influencers using their platform to complain about this and how Specialized handled it is really something to behold. I'm surprised this program existed on the scale that it did in the first place. 

Reality hits hard when you live with your head in the clouds, I guess.

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Zuestman
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Seattle, WA US
12/13/2022 8:54am
kcy4130 wrote:
 

Remy Metailler off Propain?

I actually read it as just a thank you for two years.... not that he is necessarily off of Propain....

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kcy4130
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MT US
12/13/2022 9:03am Edited Date/Time 12/13/2022 9:04am
kcy4130 wrote:
 

Remy Metailler off Propain?

Zuestman wrote:

I actually read it as just a thank you for two years.... not that he is necessarily off of Propain....

Okay fine, I'll edit again to put the question mark back in. He might just be trolling to generate buzz while negotiating or something? 

Zuestman
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12/13/2022 9:09am

Blenki confirmed off Norco.

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matmattmatthew
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Fresh Prince of Bel Air, MD US
12/13/2022 9:12am
Primoz wrote:

Literally the last few posts above yours are talking about this Smile

Haha, gotta catch up on posts next time before posting! 

12/13/2022 9:19am

Not so much a troll, but it seems like Remy has a contract extension...

12/13/2022 10:32am
Zuestman wrote:

Blenki confirmed off Norco.

Makes more money from selling socks these days. 

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dolface
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CA US
12/13/2022 11:49am

If I recall correctly he’s traveled down there the past few winters to do a ton of road base miles

Nailed it! (At least according to his current story....)

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12/13/2022 11:55am

Vidaurre completely confirmed off Scott lexware.

 

He posted a photo today on the red bull athlete center in L.A

Off to specialized? 100% confirmed?

 

12/13/2022 12:00pm
pinkrobe wrote:
More info via VeloNews: https://www.velonews.com/news/gravel/adventure-no-more-specialized-ends-contracts-with-dozens-of-paid-ambassadors/ I wonder if the cancellation will affect some of the grassroots riders - locally, we've got quite a few trail builders...

More info via VeloNews: https://www.velonews.com/news/gravel/adventure-no-more-specialized-ends-contracts-with-dozens-of-paid-ambassadors/

I wonder if the cancellation will affect some of the grassroots riders - locally, we've got quite a few trail builders that were supported by Specialized.

Would Cody Kelly fall under this? Trying to think of some of the spesh folks that rip. 

hogfly wrote:
Cody is on the Specialized Enduro Team, so it shouldn't affect him. Someone like Jacob Lingemann might be affected, but I doubt it as he's a...

Cody is on the Specialized Enduro Team, so it shouldn't affect him. Someone like Jacob Lingemann might be affected, but I doubt it as he's a pretty valuable "property" right now.

 

Ye, I bet Jacob will stay on specialized 

stoic_machine
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Dildo, Newfoundland CA
12/14/2022 7:54am
PisgahGnar wrote:
Having more fun with the Jesse rumors, especially since he reads these :) . He’s posting that he’s on a flight, normally he is home skiing...

Having more fun with the Jesse rumors, especially since he reads these Smile . He’s posting that he’s on a flight, normally he is home skiing all winter, where could he be going? Joining all the other Canyon athletes at their big gathering in Kempten or Troy and Luca at Fabian’s place in Italy? Jack is noticeably absent from this gathering. 

lloyd506 wrote:
Have not seen Mark Wallace in the videos, or posting much recently.  Wonder if he is the WC veteran going to Norco?

Have not seen Mark Wallace in the videos, or posting much recently.  Wonder if he is the WC veteran going to Norco?

The word on the street is Norco did sign a big name for 2023 and with Fitzgerald gone, blenki gone and I think a very different schedule coming for Elliot Jamison... I think Norco wants to make sure that along with Hemstreet they stay competitive and get a guy who has shown he can be in that top 15.

Mark Wallace to Norco makes a lot of sense and it keeps their whole team BC based which may help with financials as well.

The bigger question is, will Norco have their factory racers run the prototype that McDowell raced last year? Or did they stick with the modified Range.

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hogfly
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Fayetteville, AR US
12/15/2022 6:24am

These Madison Saracen moves were predicted a while back on the Making Up the Numbers podcast. They basically said there's been a lot of team drama/politics (not sure if it's actually the riders or if it's more of a corporate deal). They predicted that Madison Saracen might just run with Matt Walker this year as a "getting it right and shoring it up" year, then expand the following year. They also did mention some of the up-and-coming British juniors as possible team additions, though.

 

kevroberts
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12/15/2022 6:36am
hogfly wrote:
These Madison Saracen moves were predicted a while back on the Making Up the Numbers podcast. They basically said there's been a lot of team drama/politics...

These Madison Saracen moves were predicted a while back on the Making Up the Numbers podcast. They basically said there's been a lot of team drama/politics (not sure if it's actually the riders or if it's more of a corporate deal). They predicted that Madison Saracen might just run with Matt Walker this year as a "getting it right and shoring it up" year, then expand the following year. They also did mention some of the up-and-coming British juniors as possible team additions, though.

 

Yeah, Ive been listening to that podcast a bit more recently.

I guess these are just actual confirmation of what was ultimately rumours beforehand?

1
hogfly
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12/15/2022 6:41am
hogfly wrote:
These Madison Saracen moves were predicted a while back on the Making Up the Numbers podcast. They basically said there's been a lot of team drama/politics...

These Madison Saracen moves were predicted a while back on the Making Up the Numbers podcast. They basically said there's been a lot of team drama/politics (not sure if it's actually the riders or if it's more of a corporate deal). They predicted that Madison Saracen might just run with Matt Walker this year as a "getting it right and shoring it up" year, then expand the following year. They also did mention some of the up-and-coming British juniors as possible team additions, though.

 

kevroberts wrote:

Yeah, Ive been listening to that podcast a bit more recently.

I guess these are just actual confirmation of what was ultimately rumours beforehand?

That podcast is really good, especially with the rumors. They certainly don't mind speculating in a way that a lot of the other podcasts seem to shy away from.

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12/15/2022 8:07am

Wonder if the Madison politics is more with management. Remember how the let Danny hart know they wouldn’t be resigning him? Seems to be a bit if a cock fight

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hogfly
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12/15/2022 8:13am Edited Date/Time 12/15/2022 8:14am
lloyd506 wrote:
Wonder if the Madison politics is more with management. Remember how the let Danny hart know they wouldn’t be resigning him? Seems to be a bit...

Wonder if the Madison politics is more with management. Remember how the let Danny hart know they wouldn’t be resigning him? Seems to be a bit if a cock fight

Yeah, I was curious as well. The way Emi brought it up, made it seem like it's no big secret that there were issues with the team and that people were pretty aware that these riders would be moving on as a result.

 

They also kind of insinuated that the Madison Saracen bike sucks in saying "look what Matt Walker is doing on that bike... just imagine.." and then "It's the rider.. he can ride anything."

 

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12/15/2022 1:14pm

No surprise to hear comments about the Madison Saracen team. I at Fort William and someone (not sure who but looked like management, definitely not a rider) was absolutely losing his sh.t at the mechanics in a public pit. Certainly not someone I would consider working for.

 

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louiesquared
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Bentonville, AR US
12/16/2022 5:59am
kcy4130 wrote:
 

Remy Metailler off Propain?

According to his video yesterday he is still with Propain. I think he was just giving them a shout out.

1
12/16/2022 6:27am

Not a rumor, but some facts: the UCI just announced a bunch of changes to the World Cup for 2023, read all about it HERE

dolface
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12/16/2022 6:56am

Lael Wilcox moving to the racing division on the big S: "Earlier this week, Specialized discontinued their global ambassador program. I’m moving to the racing division. Specialized has been my only bike sponsor and I’ve been riding their bikes since 2015. I’m really grateful to continue."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmNK83rPq13/

1
12/16/2022 9:42am

 Greg Williamson to Scott?

pinkrobe
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Revelstoke, BC CA
12/16/2022 9:49am
dolface wrote:
Lael Wilcox moving to the racing division on the big S: "Earlier this week, Specialized discontinued their global ambassador program. I’m moving to the racing division...

Lael Wilcox moving to the racing division on the big S: "Earlier this week, Specialized discontinued their global ambassador program. I’m moving to the racing division. Specialized has been my only bike sponsor and I’ve been riding their bikes since 2015. I’m really grateful to continue."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmNK83rPq13/

I wonder if Specialized will be extending that offer to any other ambassadors? I haven't seen any commentary from sponsored racers regarding the cancellation of the ambassador program, but I guess it's poor form to bite the hand that feeds you...

1
12/16/2022 3:11pm
iceman2058 wrote:

Not a rumor, but some facts: the UCI just announced a bunch of changes to the World Cup for 2023, read all about it HERE

I was just down in Bentonville, and I saw these riders . They told me that UCI now has a rainbow jersey for them (after they go to DeVeLoPmEnT cAmP) and they are hoping for 2024 Olympics. 

 

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1
japh
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DE
12/17/2022 3:39am

Christian Textor on YT next year?

2
12/17/2022 6:29am
gibbon wrote:
Just listening to Neko on the Downtime podcast. Loic organized a meeting on tuesday to discuss the formation of a riders union (and there is a...
Just listening to Neko on the Downtime podcast. Loic organized a meeting on tuesday to discuss the formation of a riders union (and there is a managers version in the works) to represent the riders concerns rather than just having one rep....who the organizers then ignore.
It appears it's just not us lot who are concerned with the ESO having free reign to carve up-sorry, take to the next level dh for the next 8 years.
The similarity to what's happening in pro surfing with the WSL (private owner) taking over from the ASP (competitor owned/led) is interesting to compare .Short version-entry field cut, mid season relegations, only top 6 go to one final event for the championship.....Nascar'esque bullshit.
veefour wrote:
I can't find qualifying results, but of the 27 UCI WCDH races that Chris Ball entered (according to Roots and Rain) he finished within the top...
I can't find qualifying results, but of the 27 UCI WCDH races that Chris Ball entered (according to Roots and Rain) he finished within the top 30 at 5 of them, his highest placing was 22nd. I wonder, is it thinking about his bank balance that allows him to sleep at night?

I don’t know anything about Chris Ball’s sleeping habits, but if you ever start a race series that grows to the point that the UCI is interested in purchasing it, I think you should at least consider it. 

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12/18/2022 3:35am Edited Date/Time 12/18/2022 3:41am

Let’s not forget that the ews was originally supposed to be a uci event. Chris Ball put it all together for the uci who then pulled the rug from under his feet at the last minute. He went ahead with the series anyway and it’s been such a success that a decade later the uci decided to hand him the keys to the entire World Cup series. I think he should be sleeping just fine knowing how much he’s done for the sport already. It remains to be seen if the new format for DH is a success but so far Chris Ball’s track record in race organisation is sound. 
 

 Edit: To get back on topic - Chris Ball also owns the bike shop that supported Innes Graham at the ews this year. Will he be on the same program next year or get a bump up to nukeproof factory?

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2
dolface
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CA US
12/18/2022 6:45am
jofish wrote:
Let’s not forget that the ews was originally supposed to be a uci event. Chris Ball put it all together for the uci who then pulled...

Let’s not forget that the ews was originally supposed to be a uci event. Chris Ball put it all together for the uci who then pulled the rug from under his feet at the last minute. He went ahead with the series anyway and it’s been such a success that a decade later the uci decided to hand him the keys to the entire World Cup series. I think he should be sleeping just fine knowing how much he’s done for the sport already. It remains to be seen if the new format for DH is a success but so far Chris Ball’s track record in race organisation is sound. 
 

 Edit: To get back on topic - Chris Ball also owns the bike shop that supported Innes Graham at the ews this year. Will he be on the same program next year or get a bump up to nukeproof factory?

Does he want to bump up?

 

 

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12/18/2022 7:10am
dolface wrote:
Lael Wilcox moving to the racing division on the big S: "Earlier this week, Specialized discontinued their global ambassador program. I’m moving to the racing division...

Lael Wilcox moving to the racing division on the big S: "Earlier this week, Specialized discontinued their global ambassador program. I’m moving to the racing division. Specialized has been my only bike sponsor and I’ve been riding their bikes since 2015. I’m really grateful to continue."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmNK83rPq13/

pinkrobe wrote:
I wonder if Specialized will be extending that offer to any other ambassadors? I haven't seen any commentary from sponsored racers regarding the cancellation of the...

I wonder if Specialized will be extending that offer to any other ambassadors? I haven't seen any commentary from sponsored racers regarding the cancellation of the ambassador program, but I guess it's poor form to bite the hand that feeds you...

Nope Lael is the only one, the rest are gone.

I think it's pretty poor form to cancel numerous multi-year contracts in mid December....

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