2023 TEAM RUMORS

Chris akrigg on whyte bikes

It's been a long time since I've seen anything from Akrigg. Hope this deal is good for him!

Seems his main priority is being a father these days but he’s still putting out a couple killer edits a year.

Confirmed on Instagram today.
https://www.instagram.com/stories/gee_atherton/3053062964731950125/

(weird that the previous press release just mentioned Galfer)

 Miranda miller definitely on a santacruz

On Santa Cruz, or on a Santa Cruz?

Just like this one, dropped a few hours ago:

Trek Factory Racing moving from Title to Burgtec for seats and cockpit.

Doesn’t sound like it should be too hard to convince yourself you need the dh casing then…

So, riding whatever tf bike she wants then? That’s dope. 

Pretty sure Richie is going DH with Yeti

UK freeride legend Chris Smith joins Haibike:

HAIBIKE welcomes Mountain Bike legend Chris Smith and professional E-MTB racer Rob Williams

Smith will be riding  the Lyke and Hybe in 2023, and Williams will be racing the ALLMTN CF SE throughout the E-EDR and E-MTB XC World Cup

7 March, 2023. Haibike - original pioneers of e-bike technology, innovation and performance, today announced a partnership with ex-professional freestyle mountain biker, four cross national champion, BMX rider and downhiller Chris Smith and European Enduro Champion Rob Williams.

Haibike’s vision to make e-cycling adventures accessible to all can be seen in the wide variety of products on offer; from long travel trail eMTBs to trekking leisure bikes, there is a perfect e-bike to suit every rider, regardless of skill level. Working with both Chris and Rob enables Haibike to showcase this variety perfectly, from the local trails in Somerset to the rugged terrain around the world at the E-MTB XC World Cup and E-EDR series.

Chris has been presenting to the audiences of EMBN for the last 4 years and boasts a wealth of experience spanning the last two decades. He has been riding professionally for nearly 20 years across all bike disciplines, all over the world. Chris has seen the sport grow from strength to strength and remains dedicated to the EMTB market where he will be working closely with the Haibike family.

Chris said: “I’m super excited to be joining the Haibike family, It’s a brand that has been at the forefront of the EMTB game since 2010 and pioneered the first performance EMTB! To this day they have been making massive moves forward within the industry. I’ll be riding the lightweight Lyke and the big hitting Nduro, depending on the riding style I choose - a big mountain adventure in the middle of nowhere conquering new ground, or cramming in as many runs as I can at the bikepark, I can’t wait to get out there!”

Haibike UK Team said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Chris to the Haibike team, he has been an integral part of the mountain bike community for as long as we can remember and we were chuffed to see the progression he brought to E-MTB through his work with EMBN. When the opportunity arose to work with Chris we couldn’t refuse. The way he effortlessly shows what e-mountain bikes are really capable of is awe inspiring. Chris brings a wealth of knowledge alongside his obvious talent, and we can’t wait to see him riding even more of our portfolio of machines”. 

Chris will be joined by professional E-enduro rider and former European Enduro Series Champion - Rob Williams. Rob is based in South Wales and will be racing on the Haibike ALLMTN CF SE  throughout the season targeting the 6 round E-MTB XC World Cup starting in Monaco 21-22 May and the E-EDR (UCI Mountain Bike E- Enduro World Cup) starting in Finale Ligure 3-4 June.

Williams said: “It's great to be part of a brand that solely focuses on Ebikes. This support is helping me to reach another level in my racing and riding. I see e-biking growing massively, with more and more varied events. In the E-EDR my targets are to achieve some top 10 DH stages and power stage wins. I'm excited about the EMTB-XC World Championships and will do everything to be in great shape for that race.”  

Haibike UK Team said: “Rob is a super talented rider who’s quietly been putting down serious race runs on the ebike circuit for several years. Rob’s passion and dedication comes through in his riding, and we’re stoked to see him already at home on the ALLMTN CF SE model. We can’t wait to see what he brings to the Haibike team. The future looks fast!”

Rob will sit alongside Professional EMTB racers Andrea Garibbo and Léa Deslandes, Alia Marcellini and Anna Spielmann who are all competing for HAIBIKE in the 2023 season. 

Haibike is also working closely with professional MTB Athlete Tom Cardy and Kara Beal who will be riding and sharing their experiences across a range of Haibike’s over the next 12 months.

Say whaaat?

 Probably more infos tomorrow…

I hope it's a more expensive e-bike!

Cedric Gracia is riding for Giant from now on.

Seen in Max Hartenstern's instagram story

I'd love to see Cedric and Rob Warner in a video series.  I hope Giant makes it happen.

and she chooses to ride a santa cruz??? must be high on marple syrup or something.

Rude back to DH confirmed!

Quote at bottom of Yeti video: "IT’S BEEN HUMBLING SEEING YETI WORK HARD TO BRING A DH RACE BIKE TO LIFE WITHOUT COMPROMISE. AFTER LEAVING THE SPORT ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO IT’S EXCITING TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED WITH ANOTHER YETI SPECIAL PROJECT.  RACING ENDURO OVER THE PAST DECADE HAS BEEN REALLY FULFILLING, BUT I AM EAGER TO EXPLORE DH AGAIN. I WANT TO PUSH MYSELF AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND GET IN TUNE WITH THAT DH MENTALITY AGAIN AND IDEALLY BRING THOSE BENEFITS OVER TO ENDURO. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, I JUST WANT TO GET ON A DH BIKE AGAIN AND HAVE SOME FUN.”

Not sure if that means he will be DH full time or just hopping in a few races when timing aligns but definitely sounds like we will see Richie on the circuit at some point this season.

I wonder if the enduro riders will have a (very small) advantage with dh moving to a semi final then final run format? Probably not a very significant advantage, and it likely wouldn't last for very many rounds before dh guys adapt to it.

Water bottle mount on the Yeti DH frame confirmed.

Sam Hill and Richie Rude back to racing DH, awesome.

Related, on Payson Mcelveen's podcast recently, Martin Maes said he sees himself going to DH full time as soon as he wins an EWS overall. I'm paraphrasing a bit there, but that's essentially what he said.

Mass exodus from the enduro discipline. Seems driven by a combination of enduro not being what it was when it started and riders seeing the DH game as being the future as far as exposure and potential to get that cheese!!!

This influx of fast Enduro/ex-DH guys back into DH might be one of the more interesting storylines heading into 2023. Better drink that Rhino Power up boys....this game ain't the same as when you left! If Sam pulls a podium out of his hat this year, that would be so freaking rad. 

Don't know if I'd call it a "mass exodus"--more like a couple of guys who have basically achieved as much as can be achieved in the discipline looking for some new challenge and inspiration. Still cool, though.

 After a little enhancement…

(click to enbiggen)

 there you go

Looks like a session

My theory is that these guys feel that, with the new format, top 30 riders are going to see an increase in exposure and potential revenue. They're all betting that, while they may not be on the podium repeatedly, they can be in the top 30 repeatedly. It seems that ESO/Discovery want to focus in on 30 riders who are the main story and the "elite" and all of these Enduro dudes are excited about the possibility of getting in on the opening few years and being in that top 30.

I mean, I'm sure in their minds, they're all gunning for the podium... but there's enough energy and foreshadowing of things to come, that being able to land in the "mains" regularly is going to be good for the career. 

OH... also... most of the dudes that initially moved over to Enduro aren't real stoked on the current direction of enduro for the past couple of years.. and enduro has basically been a side conversation in the entire takeover by Discovery. So.. it's obvious that most of the energy and exposure is headed to downhill instead of Enduro.