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I can think of at least 2 guys who owned parts of bike brands that didn't work there.
Having an equity interest in a company isn't that much of a biggie.
Guys like Dave Weagle had and may still have interest in bike companies while he was/is working with others.
On Finn, keep in mind...Specialized doesn't own the team Finn races for any more than Intense owned MS Racing.
Didn’t AG have part ownership in Intense?
Maybe it's the rider wanting to move somewhere else and not the team dropping him…
Nope, he talked about it in a podcast after his move to Crestline/Gwinracing
No, he was team owner and gave it up when they shut down the team, Joe Breeden purchased it.
Butch, you can really think of 2 world cup riders who owned part of a bicycle brand but raced competitively for a different brand? who are they? that's pretty interesting information.
I doubt so, it really sounds like he is being dropped or the offer isn't as good as he hoped for from the podcast.
Correct, he rides for Pure Agency. But they resigned with Specialized just this year, so he's not going anywhere.
Specialized Gravity Team Confirms Roster, Signs Multiyear Deal with Specialized & Names Gen-S As Development Team - Pinkbike
Yeah I'm not necessarily seeing the logic there from a purely racing perspective. I'd posted before that from the riders who we think are available I'm not sure who would be an upgrade on Dak , possibly Dylan Maples in the sense that he's younger but I don't know how long-term teams are thinking about these things .
Sven on Needles podcast mentioned that Dylan Maples had about 6 offers to choose from so there's obviously teams looking to make changes.
Yeah... he never said anything about "I'm not being renewed" or "I'm being dropped."
Purely speculative, but reading between the lines, that would indicate to me that an offer was made to Dak, but that it probably was a reduction in his previous compensation (which is understandable from Mondraker's point of view when mainly looking at race results this season in comparison to the other riders on the team) and Dak felt he could get a better deal hitting the market (which is also understandable from Dak's point of view... as his 'comeback story' provides a lot of intangible value well beyond race results.)
Once again... pure speculation on my part, though.
But that only mentions that the riders are for 2025 season, so Finns contract could be up. Pure Agency signed a multi year contract with Specialized, not the riders. Hopefully Finn stays and has a proper injury free offseason this time.
I would assume after the last two years, pinky and Ronan both cost a lot more. Could be they are ok with just two elite men. Could also be that Dak knows he probably only has so many contracts left and Mondraker just didn’t make an offer that was appetizing enough.
Dak and Gwin on Gwin Racing. They just have to figure out the money. Pivot may have money, but if the riders aren't a perfect fit with Bernard, it won't happen.
Liked racing with my friends. Didn't like getting stabbed in the back or have butt hurt happen you don't know about and a shuttle/lift be awkward.
I'd rather race on another team & still do laps with friends.
But boy it would be so easy to hop on the production version you both helped develop & just go ride.
Someone mentioned Dak needing a certain bike layout that's unique to just him. I don't hear that when he talks. I hear him saying he wants to be ON whatever his bike for World Cups is as early as possible in off season & get on World Cup speed tracks to dial it in now, not 6 weeks before the 1st race.
Everything he's reiterated just sounds like a guy who wants to get on what he's gotta come to World Cups in the spring with now & not later so he isn't tinkering or guessing up to the last minute. No better feeling than being on your main settings for the coming season in January after you've hit the fastest lines you can hit to make the track blurry & then feel it all "slow down" as you get comfortable.
All these guys would kill to be on the final setup before they start their weight lifting and fitness blocks of training. So when spring comes...they just put the power from a winter of explosive movements to work on a bike that doesn't confuse.
Trek may look very different next year.
Who is renewed with them & who is oddly silent? One of you stalked Oisin's follows. 🙃
To my knowledge, Dave hasn't had any ownership stake in any bike company for quite a while.. He does license his suspension designs to various companies and will provide consulting to help the company achieve the kinematics they are looking for. Why collect one check when you can collect several checks?
I think it's less dropping Dak, more not giving him as much as either Dak hoped for or making some budget for Ronan and Pinky. I have a world of respect to Dak, especially on his comeback journey, and I think he can contend for the win - but put on Mondraker's hat and think about the 3 elite male riders you have :
1. Ronan - Got a win this year, rides crazy (good views), young, redbull helmet, not consistent.
2. Pinky - Pretty consistent in the final top 10, young, has potential, still transitioning into elite imo
3. Dak - Not quite performing at the start of the year but trending up due to a huge injury in the off-season, not young
Let's just say the odds are not stacked in Dak's favor amongst these 3. I do hope that Dak finds a capable bike/team that will enable him to get the win.
Easy as that. It is business.
Interesting. But, Dakota didn't and wouldn't get stabbed in the back by Gwin.
wouldn’t be suprised if mondraker was the one telling Dak his results are why they offering him less. Would be shocked if they are trying to sign a big name. Maybe on the women’s side since points are more of a given but then again only reason Dak didn’t get more points this year was his moto accident. But in a lot of way I’d say it was his best year yet in terms of consistently maxing his potential come race day.
He makes most sense on an American brand anyways. I know mondraker was trying to make a move into us but not sure how that’s going for them.
If it’s osin
Then osin. Lachy, Matt walker uk olly Davies Sacha and Chris hauser
Two of them leave ?
If I were running Mondraker, I wouldn’t see the value in having 3 elite males that are running at the front of the pack. You almost have to think their plan was a young guy who could be molded, a youngish guy who is trending up, and an older guy to help the younger guys get going. The younger guys are going now. I would not be replacing Dak, simply putting those resources somewhere else besides elite male.
I still think Dak has a ton of value to a top team, it just doesn’t seem like it would be to Mondraker to me. Gwin racing doesn’t make sense either, even though it would be cool to see. There is no way Gwin could pay what Dakotah is worth and provide everything he needs without taking a loss on the deal. I don’t see Gwin as somebody who takes a loss on anything.
need to keep up with the Joneses points wise. Not as much of an issue for 2026 but 2027 has 3 year team licences on the line which runs to the end of the WB contract and then who knows what's going to happen. Canyon is running 3 men that are at the front of the field, Commencal will 4. Trek will most likely have 3+ and Specialized has their trio.
If Dak is moving on from Mondraker then I can't see Gwin racing or any wildcard team being an option coming from a team with a lot more support. If Kolb and Maples were talking to multiple teams over the summer and they were probably talking with Dak as well. As i see it Orbea, Norco, Yeti and Cube are most likely options to add an elite male that provides consistent results. Maybe FW if Angel moves on.
It would be sick to see Dak at FW mentoring Asa in his first couple elite years, probably be good for both of them honestly but can they afford him? I heard rumor of Maples to FW but I see him going to another Commencal team for some reason, seems Max likes him and I could see wanting to keep him in the family.
Nah. He has said he doesn't want the stress.
To sum it up a bit:
Searching for a new team: Dak, Laurie, Maples(was beeing said to have 6 options), Vali (pretty shure C- Les Orres), Daprela
Maybe switching teams: Pontvianne
Maybe losing a team: Walker, Cruz (off Norco), Widmann, ...
Obviously if your budget only stretches to 2 elite males then that's all you can have but Mondraker look to have invested pretty heavily in the race program to run the risk of injuries puting a kaibosh on the whole thing . Last year they had Ronan injured after hard-line , Dak missing races and Greg Williamson not really fit with a shoulder injury. You'd think they'd want a bit of depth to the team after that .
Laurie is apprently staying on Syndicate
Seems like Bodhi Luhn would leave Norco.
After listening to the b practice podcast, i was actually kind of surprised how much results still play into contract negotiations. I know they are paid to be racers, but like Dak said, no one really remembers who got sixth at the last race. Also, no one is really selling downhill bikes, so very few people are being like that bike was fast I’m buying that.
Dak certainly has a “people’s champ” vibe to him and people really do seem to enjoy following along with him and his story. I would have thought that was worth quite a bit when it comes to contract negotiations. Only 3 guys get on the podium every race. After that it kinda turns to who do you like cheering for, and it sure seems a lot of people enjoy cheering for Dak. I’d have that that’s worth a bit more in terms of marketing.
The only people who care about Dak are other Americans.
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