2024 TEAM RUMORS

iceman2058
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9/15/2023 1:42am

Team Ibis shutting it down... Sad

 

Words from team riders:

"It’s been an amazing journey working together with Ibis Racing and the awesome people behind the team and at Ibis Cycles. So it’s with tears in my eyes I’m now telling you this weekend will mark the last race for the Ibis Racing team I have been with the team for almost half of it’s existence on the world enduro circuit and also got my first podium together with this team. With a strong desire to keep on racing and the fact I now have my small family to provide for it’s definitely not an ideal position to be in. I’m not sure what the future holds for myself and my racing career and with no contract signed for the future this might be my last EDR race. But I will stay positive and keep on fighting to the end! Thanks for all the support." - Zakarias Johansen

"It’s been an unreal four years racing with Ibis Racing that has unfortunately come to a end. These guys picked me up after my privateer year in 2019 and made my childhood dream come true to race professionally. Which I will be forever grateful for! A huge thanks to @talltom67 and @robin_wallner for all their help and guidance along the way it’s been a fun ride. As for what’s next for me and racing full time next year I’m not sure. With a lots of teams pulling out and an injury affected season it’s not looking so good. But hopefully you’ll see me at all the races next year as we’ve got some unfinished business!!" - Cole Lucas

1
dolface
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9/15/2023 5:21am

First of many to confirm the move away from racing 

GT is almost certainly out and I bet Polygon goes as well.

6
jsray
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9/15/2023 5:21am Edited Date/Time 9/15/2023 5:24am

It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving. The global economy and ripple effects from Covid boom have certainly played a major role as well. 

WCDH is heading in the same direction. 

Seems like UCI screwed the pooch this year with almost everything, so much that racers were stoked about the smallest things. 

if you’re paying for a streaming service to watch the races, I’d say now is good time to stop. A significantly low enough rating for the last rounds of UCI racing would send a message. Don’t watch their YouTube highlights. Check the media sites for results and watch videos there but don’t click on any official race media channels for race highlights.  

 

7
5
9/15/2023 10:03am
krabo83 wrote:
is that a goodbye by remi?

is that a goodbye by remi?

IMG 9397.png?VersionId=6am7vmz

Might not mean anything more than that it's the last race of this EDR series.

3
piggy
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9/15/2023 10:35am
krabo83 wrote:
is that a goodbye by remi?

is that a goodbye by remi?

IMG 9397.png?VersionId=6am7vmz

Might not mean anything more than that it's the last race of this EDR series.

I hear Rocky is done, along with Devinci.  what Canadian teams would be left?

3
1
manny.bike
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9/15/2023 10:58am
krabo83 wrote:
is that a goodbye by remi?

is that a goodbye by remi?

IMG 9397.png?VersionId=6am7vmz

Might not mean anything more than that it's the last race of this EDR series.

piggy wrote:

I hear Rocky is done, along with Devinci.  what Canadian teams would be left?

Forbidden to talk about… ☺️

1
krabo83
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9/15/2023 11:01am

Might not mean anything more than that it's the last race of this EDR series.

might be but all those teams dropping out or rumors about it makes me paranoid😅

9/15/2023 3:00pm

IMG 1638 0
 

one of two cryptic messages on ALN’s IG today. Could be about general rumors about teams and edr, or could be end of days for the rocky team. Would be a bummer if so, but also wouldn’t be surprised. 

6
BGoldstone
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9/15/2023 4:28pm
jsray wrote:
It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving...

It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving. The global economy and ripple effects from Covid boom have certainly played a major role as well. 

WCDH is heading in the same direction. 

Seems like UCI screwed the pooch this year with almost everything, so much that racers were stoked about the smallest things. 

if you’re paying for a streaming service to watch the races, I’d say now is good time to stop. A significantly low enough rating for the last rounds of UCI racing would send a message. Don’t watch their YouTube highlights. Check the media sites for results and watch videos there but don’t click on any official race media channels for race highlights.  

 

In your opinion what did UCi actually do wrong with DH this year? 

grambo
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9/15/2023 5:04pm

Not a fan of semi-finals (honestly it's too much racing content to get through, I just watch Hrastnik, Balanche (before she got hurt), Nina and Vali's runs and then half watch men's field) but overall the actual race coverage of DH has been great. More camera angles/more coverage of runs. Commentating has been... acceptable, was better with Gwin in the box at Loudenville for sure.

EDR as pointed out countless times has been pathetic/abysmal. Pretty much only worth watching the Moi Moi TV coverage and skimming the official highlights (which are inferior to a few years ago). Not surprised so many teams are dropping out given economic challenges. DH likely remains justifiable from a marketing perspective. Would be really interesting to see the GCN+ numbers, I paid for each month there are races even though I know where to find pirate streams... ironically had to use those or a VPN to watch TdF/Vuelta because of stupid FloBikes in Canada.

2
bulletbass man
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9/15/2023 5:40pm
jsray wrote:
It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving...

It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving. The global economy and ripple effects from Covid boom have certainly played a major role as well. 

WCDH is heading in the same direction. 

Seems like UCI screwed the pooch this year with almost everything, so much that racers were stoked about the smallest things. 

if you’re paying for a streaming service to watch the races, I’d say now is good time to stop. A significantly low enough rating for the last rounds of UCI racing would send a message. Don’t watch their YouTube highlights. Check the media sites for results and watch videos there but don’t click on any official race media channels for race highlights.  

 

BGoldstone wrote:

In your opinion what did UCi actually do wrong with DH this year? 

Sell the series to eso!

8
jsray
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9/15/2023 7:27pm
jsray wrote:
It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving...

It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving. The global economy and ripple effects from Covid boom have certainly played a major role as well. 

WCDH is heading in the same direction. 

Seems like UCI screwed the pooch this year with almost everything, so much that racers were stoked about the smallest things. 

if you’re paying for a streaming service to watch the races, I’d say now is good time to stop. A significantly low enough rating for the last rounds of UCI racing would send a message. Don’t watch their YouTube highlights. Check the media sites for results and watch videos there but don’t click on any official race media channels for race highlights.  

 

BGoldstone wrote:

In your opinion what did UCi actually do wrong with DH this year? 

Format, late start to the season, combining the events, coverage is lacking, commentary is sub par. I understand Cedric is a legend, but his commentary is terrible. Ric is a good presenter when it’s recorded but his live commentary is not good.

Watching all the rider provided race day vlogs (track walk, post race, etc) I get the feeling that most of riders are not as happy this year. It’s like, they name off like 10 things that suck but then follow it with “that section is fun”. 
 

13
Mr.Nally
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9/15/2023 10:56pm
jsray wrote:
It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving...

It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving. The global economy and ripple effects from Covid boom have certainly played a major role as well. 

WCDH is heading in the same direction. 

Seems like UCI screwed the pooch this year with almost everything, so much that racers were stoked about the smallest things. 

if you’re paying for a streaming service to watch the races, I’d say now is good time to stop. A significantly low enough rating for the last rounds of UCI racing would send a message. Don’t watch their YouTube highlights. Check the media sites for results and watch videos there but don’t click on any official race media channels for race highlights.  

 

BGoldstone wrote:

In your opinion what did UCi actually do wrong with DH this year? 

jsray wrote:
Format, late start to the season, combining the events, coverage is lacking, commentary is sub par. I understand Cedric is a legend, but his commentary is...

Format, late start to the season, combining the events, coverage is lacking, commentary is sub par. I understand Cedric is a legend, but his commentary is terrible. Ric is a good presenter when it’s recorded but his live commentary is not good.

Watching all the rider provided race day vlogs (track walk, post race, etc) I get the feeling that most of riders are not as happy this year. It’s like, they name off like 10 things that suck but then follow it with “that section is fun”. 
 

UCI DH has had new tracks and venues this year, more interest than ever (any press is good press and all the negative comments are comments none the less), more entries than ever at most races it seems. Huge interest from brands, who despite not having budget still want to be involved in DH some how. 

The only people your hairbrained idea of not watching content would hurt is teams and riders, mainly riders.

So weird the way the same haters who want the World Cup field filled with privateers and want sick tracks are the same ones who say they don't watch the coverage, won't pay for streaming etc. Basically blame the UCI for something something, but in reality the sport of DH is continuing to grow mainly because of all the amazing riders. Just somehow you heavily opinionated comment kings want to slow that progress by not watching ? 

8
8
BGoldstone
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9/15/2023 11:04pm
jsray wrote:
Format, late start to the season, combining the events, coverage is lacking, commentary is sub par. I understand Cedric is a legend, but his commentary is...

Format, late start to the season, combining the events, coverage is lacking, commentary is sub par. I understand Cedric is a legend, but his commentary is terrible. Ric is a good presenter when it’s recorded but his live commentary is not good.

Watching all the rider provided race day vlogs (track walk, post race, etc) I get the feeling that most of riders are not as happy this year. It’s like, they name off like 10 things that suck but then follow it with “that section is fun”. 
 

None of that falls under the UCI’s role

7
9/15/2023 11:06pm Edited Date/Time 9/15/2023 11:06pm

Have you heard the saying "Give us something worth watching and we will watch it" ?
If dropping heaps of teams and brands to get to that point, so be it - even if its my fav riders.

- The teams would return once it gets going again.

metadave
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9/15/2023 11:46pm
BGoldstone wrote:

In your opinion what did UCi actually do wrong with DH this year? 

jsray wrote:
Format, late start to the season, combining the events, coverage is lacking, commentary is sub par. I understand Cedric is a legend, but his commentary is...

Format, late start to the season, combining the events, coverage is lacking, commentary is sub par. I understand Cedric is a legend, but his commentary is terrible. Ric is a good presenter when it’s recorded but his live commentary is not good.

Watching all the rider provided race day vlogs (track walk, post race, etc) I get the feeling that most of riders are not as happy this year. It’s like, they name off like 10 things that suck but then follow it with “that section is fun”. 
 

Mr.Nally wrote:
UCI DH has had new tracks and venues this year, more interest than ever (any press is good press and all the negative comments are comments...

UCI DH has had new tracks and venues this year, more interest than ever (any press is good press and all the negative comments are comments none the less), more entries than ever at most races it seems. Huge interest from brands, who despite not having budget still want to be involved in DH some how. 

The only people your hairbrained idea of not watching content would hurt is teams and riders, mainly riders.

So weird the way the same haters who want the World Cup field filled with privateers and want sick tracks are the same ones who say they don't watch the coverage, won't pay for streaming etc. Basically blame the UCI for something something, but in reality the sport of DH is continuing to grow mainly because of all the amazing riders. Just somehow you heavily opinionated comment kings want to slow that progress by not watching ? 

Literally no one I know who's followed DH for the last 10 years payed for the whole season, and that's a prett big crowd who's stoked on bikes in a large Canadian city with an above average size gravity crowd. I've been watching since freecaster started in what, 07/08? This season has been the worst, most poorly covered season in memory. Only Les Gets was done somewhat ok.maybe they're learning but at this point I don't trust it. 

They've had new tracks and venues multiple years, it takes a lot to built either, and they've had a lot of the same as well. Any press is good press is bullshit if it's continually negative, that the most Ludacris like to ever come out of a 1930's newspaper. They've literally ruined an entire professional field of racizng this year with Enduro also. 

The UCI WAS growing from amazing riders and smart coverage and in one season it was tanked by the UCI and Discovery with bizaar last minute rule changes that the riders themselves are sick of or think are bullshit and have said very loudly. 

 

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swoopswoop
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9/16/2023 2:55am
jsray wrote:
It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving...

It’s no surprise that with how bad the coverage has been, tracks are “meh”, and riders seeming less interested this particular year, that teams are dissolving. The global economy and ripple effects from Covid boom have certainly played a major role as well. 

WCDH is heading in the same direction. 

Seems like UCI screwed the pooch this year with almost everything, so much that racers were stoked about the smallest things. 

if you’re paying for a streaming service to watch the races, I’d say now is good time to stop. A significantly low enough rating for the last rounds of UCI racing would send a message. Don’t watch their YouTube highlights. Check the media sites for results and watch videos there but don’t click on any official race media channels for race highlights.  

 

If you're seriously suggesting that the coverage of racing this year has had more of an impact on bike companies than the global economy and recovery from the pandemic you are absolutely dreaming. 

There have been multiple stories over the past 18-24 months about how companies have been paying more for stock/production/shipping than before, increasing their retail prices dramatically, and forecasting way higher sales and ordering inventory accordingly.

The global economy has shit the bed, inflation went wild, people's spending power has been cut, businesses are hurting across almost all areas. Whether that's restaurants and bars shutting down because people are cutting back on discretionary spending so aren't going out as much, or Apple finding they're sitting on overstock of iPhone 14s.

There are countless examples of businesses suffering or going under because of the state of things right now, so it's no surprise that it's the same in our corner of the world. Racing has extremely little direct return on investment and is hugely expensive to fund so no matter what the UCI or WBD/ESO were doing this year it was never going to make a dent on the sales figures for most brands, and consequently how much they could afford to keep sending riders around the world to finish mid-pack at an event. 

Not picking on her specifically but just because she came up, Katy Winton's best result this year was 9th. Her last result was 26th out of 42 riders. Realistically, how much are GT getting from the exposure that provides? How many bikes do they need to sell to cover the cost of the bikes, salary, expenses and so on they're paying Katy and the rest of the GT team? 

If it's a case of canning your race team or keeping your race team on and bleeding your company dry, it's not surprising to me that so many are cutting back now. 

12
1
9/16/2023 2:56am

DH is fine though. Imo as a spectator. Cant understand people complain about something as great as the Les Gets race coverage. As an austrian gaving an austrian commentator (Markus Pekoll) i gladdly finance thqt with the gcn + subscribtion. Just a sign of changes to come maybe

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bulletbass man
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9/16/2023 5:38am

It’s well proven that when times are bad that marketing is one of the most important factors in how a company goes in the bad times and how they return when things are good.

 

unfortunately many companies probably did not properly invest their pandemic profits or forecast the subsequent slump.  And they may be worried about simple survival vs anything else.  However I absolutely do agree that the current issues with international racing (greatly increased costs with shrinking return) are a large factor in where these companies are going to spend their marketing dollars.  
 

I have little doubt red Bull did a much better job of bringing dh and xc to the general public.  Did a better job of presenting the top of the sport to the bike owning public.  And if eso and discovery cannot fox their issues then brands are not going to be determined to invest in racing vs other means of marketing.  Now perhaps the big brands feel they have something to gain by a much smaller international racing scene.  Now personally I think that is a mistaken outlook which will only bring significantly less eyes to their products and racers.  

it’s rough out there.  I agree the main driving factor is people simply are not buying bikes especially at sticker price.  But one also has to think that the issues of this past season is going to be a large factor for big and small brands a like if they see the World Cup as a good Avenue for their hard earned marketing budget.

 

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FullSend
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9/16/2023 8:10am Edited Date/Time 9/18/2023 4:31am

So, just to recap. So far we know or have reason to believe the following teams to quit Enduro racing after the 2023 season:

GT Factory Racing

Rocky Mountain Race Face

Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team

Devinci Global Racing

Polygon Factory Racing Team

Cannondale Enduro Team

Yeti / Shimano EP Racing

8
Verbl Kint
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9/16/2023 8:44am

If GT is indeed leaving Enduro, then I think it's very likely that the Cannondale Enduro Team might be leaving too. 

12
406Bryan
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9/16/2023 9:07am

Remi answered if he is leaving Rocky on that Instagram post...Says

Oh buddy are you leaving Rocky?!

21h1 likeReply

remi.the.semi

@fedfoxrock I never said that! Locked in for another year!

So looks like the demise of the Rocky Enduro Team is not true. 

6
JimmyK
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9/16/2023 9:36am
FullSend wrote:
So, just to recap. So far we know or have reason to believe the following teams to quit Enduro racing after the 2023 season: GT Factory...

So, just to recap. So far we know or have reason to believe the following teams to quit Enduro racing after the 2023 season:

GT Factory Racing

Rocky Mountain Race Face

Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team

Devinci Global Racing

Polygon Factory Racing Team

Cannondale Enduro Team

Yeti / Shimano EP Racing

What’s giving reason to believe polygon is closing their team?

dolface
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9/16/2023 9:41am
FullSend wrote:
So, just to recap. So far we know or have reason to believe the following teams to quit Enduro racing after the 2023 season: GT Factory...

So, just to recap. So far we know or have reason to believe the following teams to quit Enduro racing after the 2023 season:

GT Factory Racing

Rocky Mountain Race Face

Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team

Devinci Global Racing

Polygon Factory Racing Team

Cannondale Enduro Team

Yeti / Shimano EP Racing

JimmyK wrote:

What’s giving reason to believe polygon is closing their team?

3

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