Hello Vital MTB Visitor,
We’re conducting a survey and would appreciate your input. Your answers will help Vital and the MTB industry better understand what riders like you want. Survey results will be used to recognize top brands. Make your voice heard!
Five lucky people will be selected at random to win a Vital MTB t-shirt.
Thanks in advance,
The Vital MTB Crew
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.
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?
Blenki confirmed off Norco.
Haha, gotta catch up on posts next time before posting!
Not so much a troll, but it seems like Remy has a contract extension...
Makes more money from selling socks these days.
Nailed it! (At least according to his current story....)
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?
Ye, I bet Jacob will stay on specialized
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.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmMFu8BsZ4Q/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Molloy is also on the move in a similar post!
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?
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.
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."
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.
According to his video yesterday he is still with Propain. I think he was just giving them a shout out.
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.
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/
Greg Williamson to Scott?
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...
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.

Christian Textor on YT next year?
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.
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?
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....
Post a reply to: 2023 TEAM RUMORS