2021 Mountain Bike Team Rumors

Mike_Tarry_775 wrote:

The only other thought on Hart was the comment he made on WynTv where he said "the futures bright" which was an advertising line for the Orange mobile network in the UK (the futures bright, the futures Orange) and there logo was an orange square - so might mean a move to Orange?? A bit left field I guess but who knows!!!

That would be awesome to see Orange back at the world cups and with a British rider!

Not WC related but I follow Yoan Barelli on PB and he has been selling several Commencal bikes/frames lately. Could be just moving to new model year or selling stuff he doesn't ride but maybe a sign he is moving to someone new?

mixmastamikal wrote:

Not WC related but I follow Yoan Barelli on PB and he has been selling several Commencal bikes/frames lately. Could be just moving to new model year or selling stuff he doesn't ride but maybe a sign he is moving to someone new?

he is going to sign with pinkbike to win the EWS on the grim donut next year!

I dont think Danny Hart would ever ride a Polygon. With the launch of Cube's new dh bike, I think it's a safe bet he signs with them and they move on from Atwill. Other option is he sets his own program up.

harorider13 wrote:

I dont think Danny Hart would ever ride a Polygon. With the launch of Cube's new dh bike, I think it's a safe bet he signs with them and they move on from Atwill. Other option is he sets his own program up.

Hart to Cube, Vergier to Trek and Greenland to SCS.

tombola33 wrote:

Greg Minnaar signing with red bull

Hyperpower! wrote:

I think the photo on IG is Brooks helmet, even the hashtag is #givesyouthings not wings and the helmet is also signed...

He's had clif on the helmet for the last while. Since he's south Africa's top racer I'm surprised he didn't have a RB helmet before unless he wasn't interested in what came with it.

metadave wrote:

He's had clif on the helmet for the last while. Since he's south Africa's top racer I'm surprised he didn't have a RB helmet before unless he wasn't interested in what came with it.

It was a gift from Brooke

tombola33 wrote:

Greg Minnaar signing with red bull

Hyperpower! wrote:

I think the photo on IG is Brooks helmet, even the hashtag is #givesyouthings not wings and the helmet is also signed...

Verbl Kint wrote:

This is what's on Facebook.

Photo on IG with the hashtag:



Also the helmet seems to be an Alpinestars (like Brooks helmet) and not an Oneal one (Minnaars helmet and clothing sponsor).

Looks like it was a helmet trade:

View this post on Instagram

Never been asked to do a helmet trade until I was collared by Brook in Maribor. If there was a lid swap I was going to do, this was always going to be the one. After watching this guy in awe over the last 14 months battle through a situation that no rider ever wants to find themselves in, and to accept the challenge in front of him to get back on his feet. It’s one of the most inspiring stories I’ve ever been witness to. Obviously his come back to racing was never going to be a reserved one and he wasted no time getting down the track in true Bulldog fashion: full attack, pedal to the metal and aggressive as hell 😂💣 The fact that the helmet also has a tribute to the great Stevie, is another reason I’m going to treasure this guy. Those two were like two wild peas in a pod and I feel lucky to have experienced so many good memories with them both. Super honoured to have this helmet @brookmacdonald6. You’re the original GC 👊🏼

A post shared by Greg Minnaar (@gregminnaar) on Oct 24, 2020 at 8:44am PDT

I wonder if the Bulldog received an Oneal helmet or one of the old Kabutos.

Verbl Kint wrote:

I wonder if the Bulldog received an Oneal helmet or one of the old Kabutos.

I would guess what ever he had at Maribor. So Oneal?

Primoz wrote:

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the true F1 of cycling is triathlon. It's almost unlimited in what they can design. DH is a rally series at best (something along the lines of R5 or even lower, old Group N/S2000 category for example) and, like I said previously, will be until we get back to the days of Honda RN-01 and Nico Vouilloz's crazy one-offs. Then we could say it's the F1 of our sport, at least somewhat.

jamesdunford wrote:

Hmmm, fundamentally, I disagree with all of your comments here.

Road bikes, in reality, haven't really changed in the last decade or two. Alongside that, the interest and engagement with the top triathletes is *not as high* across social media as the really top downhill riders. So, let's pick apart what you've said.

1) "It's almost unlimited what they can design" > Incorrect. They're pretty much bound by UCI rules, which have a minimum weight limit for starts. https://www.triathlon.org/uploads/docs/itusport_competition-rules_2017.pdf
2) The WRC is the highest level of production car racing in the world. Toyota have just built a car SPECIFICALLY to then race. R5 rules are still based on a production chassis. In downhill, there are no homologation rules. You don't have to sell any, and you can modify the frame however you want.
3) F1 is also bound by VERY tight technical rules. Yes, Mercedes are the fastest. But, even the average fan couldn't tell the different between cars if you took the liveries off.

As far as I see it, Mountain biking is hitting the part of the curve where all the gains are fairly marginal. The grim donut from the pink site was very interesting, but again, that was on one track and wasn't vs a downhill bike. F1 is about being creative within the rules and finding an advantage. We're never going to truly see that in downhill because the budget isn't (thankfully) 200million€ plus per year. However, teams and manufacturers can push the boundaries, try new things and it's still THE biggest and most watched race series in the world of mountain biking. Enduro will never come close based on its current format.

(Yes, I work on the fringes of F1).

Point number 1 is slightly incorrect. UCI rules only apply on certain races. The Ironman and Challenge series, amongst others are not subject to UCI rules and as such this is where you see most of the uber bike design, things such as integration, beam frames, massive forks and aero additions.

The tech shows when the World Champs in Kona roll around are very interesting.

I'm looking for the UCI DH / F1 comparison thread, have I come to the right place?



I'll see myself out...

So in Lousa race one broadcast Warner made pretty clear that Hart is going to Cube, not Orange or Polygon. Damn.

Tanner_Carl wrote:

I'm looking for the UCI DH / F1 comparison thread, have I come to the right place?



I'll see myself out...

I think UCI DH is much more akin to World Rally. Let's start that thread.

Danny looks set for Cube, any else think that’s a strange match? I suppose Cube lost Greg Callaghan last year so don’t have a big ride signed to their MTB teams and they have been plugging their new DH bike.

Is luca shaw’s contract up at the syndicate, as he joined they same time as loris?

If loris joins Trek who will leave, they surly won’t have 4 Elite riders on the team? Reece?

Could Atherton’s go Enduro?
Does Wallace have a contract / still fit in the budget with the Canyon Capiltal Letter Consonent Collective?
How long are Edwards and Harrison on trek for?

Jakers wrote:

Could Atherton’s go Enduro?
Does Wallace have a contract / still fit in the budget with the Canyon Capiltal Letter Consonent Collective?
How long are Edwards and Harrison on trek for?

I thought Gee might go enduro a few seasons back, because he’s pretty fit. But I dunno now, he’s so far off the pace this year.

Think kade, Harrison and Wilson all signed with the new trek team end of 2018. So would have done 2 seasons? Contracts seem to be 2-3 years, don’t they ?

Jakers wrote:

Could Atherton’s go Enduro?
Does Wallace have a contract / still fit in the budget with the Canyon Capiltal Letter Consonent Collective?
How long are Edwards and Harrison on trek for?

I'd imagine Trek would keep Kade for the marketing alone. He's placing where Fairclough or Gracia were a few years ago but like them have kept on the rad riding on the side so how could they let him go. Maybe the throw him on C3 after a while but he's worth too much outside of racing to let him go.

I can see Wilson being up for grabs. As world champ and a racer on the up swing trek will either push to keep him or he'll end up with a fresh contract on another team.

Is Gee a dad yet? Isn't that an Enduro prerequisite? Maybe Danny's actually going Enduro for Cube? But really, I wouldn't see Rach doing Enduro, she's hated on pedalling to the point it's annoying to hear her talk about it. Gee maybe would, it would be smart since Enduro bikes are likely the bulk of what they'll sell.

I noticed this ages ago but is Dean Lucus not with Scott any longer even thou he rides their bikes ?

I don’t follow many riders on the gram but surely sponsored riders should have Scott Factory rider as the main heading in any bio during a contract ?

Jakers wrote:

Could Atherton’s go Enduro?
Does Wallace have a contract / still fit in the budget with the Canyon Capiltal Letter Consonent Collective?
How long are Edwards and Harrison on trek for?

stedaly87 wrote:

I thought Gee might go enduro a few seasons back, because he’s pretty fit. But I dunno now, he’s so far off the pace this year.

Think kade, Harrison and Wilson all signed with the new trek team end of 2018. So would have done 2 seasons? Contracts seem to be 2-3 years, don’t they ?

I think basing anything off this year is premature.

Dunno if ya heard Rob mention in the Lousa Race #1 broadcast, during Phil Atwill's run, he asked whether there'll be a big Engish rider riding for them next year?

Sounds like Danny sorta talk, or Rob just playing mind games. If so, well done Rob, you got me!

Reece stays at trek
Rach is retiring, gee carries on racing and Charlie stays with them
Danny to cube or he may also retire

Coronavirus pandemic means there’s riders from this year on 1 year contracts who won’t get rides next year as budgets are cut (and despite bicycle companies selling a few bikes this year) marketing And team budgets are reduced. Given the higher costs involved with travel and further uncertainty into 2021 and companies wanting to keep staff in jobs.

Same reason why a small amount of racing happed this year. To keep the industry going and keep staff with jobs.

peecee wrote:

I noticed this ages ago but is Dean Lucus not with Scott any longer even thou he rides their bikes ?

I don’t follow many riders on the gram but surely sponsored riders should have Scott Factory rider as the main heading in any bio during a contract ?

Pretty sure Dean is still on the Scott team this year but decided not to travel because of travel restrictions in Australia, same with Connor Fearon not travelling.

barryjenson wrote:

Reece stays at trek
Rach is retiring, gee carries on racing and Charlie stays with them
Danny to cube or he may also retire

Coronavirus pandemic means there’s riders from this year on 1 year contracts who won’t get rides next year as budgets are cut (and despite bicycle companies selling a few bikes this year) marketing And team budgets are reduced. Given the higher costs involved with travel and further uncertainty into 2021 and companies wanting to keep staff in jobs.

Same reason why a small amount of racing happed this year. To keep the industry going and keep staff with jobs.

I don't see Rachel retiring, recently she said she was a bit torn about not going to try and race. I think the fire is still there. Danny to cube will either mean they build a top level team or he will just ride the bike and do his own thing. But let's not forget Warner might just be wrong.
BTW loris leaving Syndicate would be weird. Let's nor forget how much he "values" his suspension setup/thinkering, going to a RS team would mean big changes with that and moving over with the Fox race assistance apparatus (not saying RS is worse, I'm not sure how they handle suspension tuning at WC).

I can hardly imagine them being much worse, but they do not have a Jordi and the video series to put that out there, that is true. So it's harder to gauge.

And yeah, Loris going away from Fox would sure be weird. But he should kinda be used to it from the Gravity Republic days (they switched over to Ohlins a bit later than switching to Specialized).

Rob mentioned several potential team rumors in Lousa part 2.

• Trek is getting a "French big name" (likely Loris)
• Dak Norton might be looking for a team for 2021
• Reece staying at Trek

Anything else I missed?

Verbl Kint wrote:

Rob mentioned several potential team rumors in Lousa part 2.

• Trek is getting a "French big name" (likely Loris)
• Dak Norton might be looking for a team for 2021
• Reece staying at Trek

Anything else I missed?

Is Cabirou on a 2 or 3 year with scott? possible she might be the big french name if its a two year? shes absolutely slaying it these last two seasons.

And yea Dean stayed home for sure, i think it was actually odd to see Moir and the other Aussie/Kiwi crew off their islands with the travel restrictions in place other than Brook who had a horse to get back on. Can't even begin to say how stoked i was to see him crush it like he did. Legend.

Dak Norton to Trek would be a nice fit!

I hope he lands a good ride, that guy is a future WC winner in my eyes.