The countdown is on for the first ever UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup which kicks off the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Series race season this weekend in Maydena, Australia. This historic race will see the world’s fastest enduro riders descend on the Maydena Bike Park, a purpose built trail centre located high in the forests of the Derwent Valley in Tasmania (lutruwita). Maydena is the first venue to host a UCI Enduro World Cup. With over 800 metres of elevation, there will be no easing into the new season, as riders go up against a six stage course featuring the big jumps and incredibly technical terrain that Maydena is famous for. The new look competition will feature, with all six race stages now raced on the same day (Sunday, March 26). Points will now be awarded for every stage, leading to tighter and more exciting racing, as well as a closer season long competition as athletes bid to be awarded the elusive overall UCI World Cup title. In the women’s competition it’s Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) who will leave the startline with a weight of expectation on her shoulders. The reigning Enduro World Series (EWS) winner from 2022 has dominated the enduro field since 2019. However, fellow Frenchwoman Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) and the UK’s Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) will be hot on her wheels and doing their best to stop her claiming the first win of the year. Isabeau Courdurier has dominated the Enduro World Series (EWS) since 2019. In the men’s competition all eyes will be on 2022 Enduro World Series Winner Jesse Melamed. This weekend’s race will mark his debut performance for new team Canyon CLLCTV Factory Enduro Team, and the first in his professional racing career not aboard a Rocky Mountain. Two times Enduro Worlds Series Winner Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing) will be looking to claim the UCI World Cup win, while Martin Maes (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) had a strong finish to his season last year to be back on the podium. Australia’s Jack Moir will get his first race with new team YT MOB under his belt on home soil and will no doubt be turning it on for his Aussie fans. Jesse Melamed is riding for team Canyon CLLCTV Factory Enduro Team for 2023. And it’s not just pro racers who will be between the tapes this weekend, with amateur riders taking part in the Enduro of Maydena race, before cheering on the sport’s top athletes on the same trails the following day in the UCI Enduro World Cup race. To catch all the action from this week’s race in Maydena, make sure you subscribe to the UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel for race day highlights, course previews, bike checks and interviews with the world’s fastest enduro racers. More information on this weekend’s race in Maydena can be found here.
Every two or three seasons the stars align and one or two of the top names of the UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup shift teams and all of a sudden rides become available up and down the pro pits. Ahead of this years racing getting underway in Tasmania at the end of the month we have had a busy off-season of such team changes so, just to make sure that we are all up to speed, here’s our essential guide to those big moves: Jesse Melamed to Canyon CLLCTV It’s a big deal in any sport when the best in the world change jerseys and that’s just what happened at the end of January when Canada’s Jesse Melamed jumped ship from Rocky Mountain RaceFace to join the Canyon CLLCTV. It was a big one albeit a big one which was inadvertently leaked by the man himself when he posted his own reflection in a Canyon T-shirt reflected in his coffee machine on Instagram. Melamed is one of the few racers to have competed across the 10 years of the Enduro World Series and has, up until now, done so aboard a Rocky Mountain. Canyon CLLCTV are one of the most well-respected outfits in the world across all formats of mountain bike racing and to sign up the reigning overall title winner makes a lot of sense and won’t have come cheaply. The legend himself Fabien Barel is deeply involved in the squad and will no doubt be looking to craft Melamed into an even more formidable stage-winning campaigner. Jack Moir to YT MOB The rumours around this one had started swirling before the final champagne corks had landed amidst the bubbly-soaked revellers at EWS Loudenvielle. Moir, who boasts one of the best podium hit rates in the pro ranks, was the 2021 overall champ. Last season didn’t go to plan however having been hampered by an off-season injury and a battle to get on with a new bike. The tail end of the season went much more according to plan and Jack swept the stages at EWS Crans-Montana. The speed is unquestionably there and if the images coming out of the YT MOB’s training camp in Finale Ligure are anything to go by his bonding with his latest German machinery is going according to plan. This is the YT MOB’s first season of stage racing and it will be a learning curve but they have the experience and resources to make it work. In Moir they may well have the ticket to a debut overall title. Christian Textor and Kasper Woolley have also signed up making the squad a genuine threat for the teams title. Sophie Riva to Sunn French Connexion Racing by Alpe D’Huez In Sophie Riva, Italy has real hope of finally taking to a UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup top step. The 2021 U21 overall champ has up until now spent her time at that most plucky of taking-on-the-big-dogs outfit Ancillotti Bikes. In her new squad, Riva will have much-needed support and knowledge to draw from courtesy of one of the most professional set-ups in the paddock. Sunn are a byword for ‘race winners’, brands don’t come much more heritage soaked than the French marque. This season could be a big one for both them and Riva. Slawomir Lukasik to Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team Like the final rounds of musical chairs amidst a sugar-upped children's party, the race to Slawomir Lukasik’s signature at the end of the 2022 season was fevered going on feral. The flying Pole has penned a deal with the team of two-time champ, Richie Rude, where his size and work ethic would seem to make him a logical fit. His time on Canyon CLLCTV Pirelli was good but his time in turquoise seems to already be on a much more vertical trajectory with some big pre-season results already heading his way. On a team as focused and fixated on detail as Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team Lukasik may just make good on the crushing speed he’s always shown. Melanie Pugin to Weride Fulgur Factory Team A new team in the UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup pit is Weride Fulgur Factory Team. The name might be new but the pilots are familiar and already successful. Melanie Pugin was virtually unstoppable as she romped her way to the 2021 overall title and Florian Nicolai took Sam Hill to a title decider at EWS Zermatt back in 2019. They are together again having been stablemates on BH Enduro Racing Team and will now front a six-rider line-up.
Consistency, stability, and long-term relationships is how we like it. Whilst the team rumour mills have been swirling, the Nukeproof-SRAM Factory race team will be returning to the new UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup with a relatively unchanged line up. Nukeproof will once again be the team's clothing, component, and frame sponsor with SRAM-Rockshox covering all aspects of drive and suspension. French giants Michelin will be tyre partner, giving the bikes a familiar feel for the riders. Wahoo are once again returning as a tech partner, 7IDP for protection and helmets, Camelbak for hydration products and RRP for mudguards. There is some newness with the Nukeproof-SRAM Factory team welcoming new sponsors Peaty’s Products for lubrication and cleaning and Leatt for Footwear and Goggles. The talent on the bikes blends talent and wildness, with all four athletes competing in the full UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup campaign. It’s going to be an exciting team to watch. The Athletes Elliott Heap Now in his eighth year with the team, Elliott is one of the most talented riders on the circuit. The ace from Wigan has shown the speed to compete with the very best, winning the U21 EWS title in 2018. An incredible bike handler no matter what the bike, his CV also includes podiums at world level in 4x, downhill and enduro. Expect Elliott to be fighting at the very top of the time sheets in 2023. Dan Booker One of the surprises of the season in 2022. The Tasmanian native will be keen to kick off the season on home turf in Maydena and Derby. After taking a few years away from the glare of the sport, Dan returned in 2022 and his season started with nearly standing on the podium in the Tweed Valley where he placed an amazing fifth. Incredible speed, wild style, flat pedals and Australian- sound familiar?! He’s also a rider and fan favourite on the big bike park jumps. Kelan Grant Kelan enters his eighth year as a Nukeproof rider and fifth year on the team. A hard grafter and super powerful rider, he has put in a serious winter of training to be challenging the top in 2023. He’s a dab hand off the bike in the kitchen too and brings a great vibe and motivation to the team. Corey Watson One stylish Scot - on and off the bike Corey is the king of style. Insane bike control and an ability to make his Mega dance through even the roughest terrain. For 2023 Corey will be leaving his full-time job and competing in the complete enduro campaign with the team. After some very promising results at the end of last season, Corey is keen to see where his talents can take him this year. The Support Behind the scenes the team will once again be led by team manager and legend Nigel Page. A rider’s rider, Nigel has designed a team built to offer the riders the best environment to thrive in and enjoy life on the road. With Scottish spanner ace Matt Scott and legendary mechanic Jacy Shumilak on the tools, the riders have the support on and off the trails. Helping document the year will be Spanish photography ace Kike Abelleira.
Devinci Global Racing is ready for another year with returning riders, Georgia Astle, Evan Wall, and Greg Callaghan. Irish enduro National Champ, Greg Callaghan, is back for a fourth season and will be fighting for top results on the newly named UCI Enduro World Cup (EDR) and select European enduro events. Squamish resident Evan Wall starts his second season on Devinci. He's aiming for more Top-15 results at EDR races and will add a few North American events like Whistler Crankworx to his calendar. Last but not least, Whistler’s very own Georgia Astle will split her time between freeride events, Crankworx events, media projects and maybe even a few Enduro World Cups. I’m buzzing to get my 4th season with Devinci Global Racing started in just a couple of months. It’s been a good winter of training in the Irish muck for me and I’m feeling ready to get racing started. It’s nice to be coming into the year with a lot of familiar brands and faces around the team but I’m also excited about the new partners coming onboard. We’ve got the best of the best on our bikes and the same looking after us, sounds like a good recipe to me! - Greg Callaghan Coming into my fith year on-board a Devinci and I'm as fired up as I was on day one with the brand. It's shaping up to be another great season, keen to see what's in store for all my teamies! - Georgia Astle Very stoked for another year of hoonin’ with this crew! The changes we’ve made have been great so far, and I’m ready to turn ‘er loose come March! - Evan Wall New season, new partners. For 2023, DGR welcomes two new partners: American braking components manufacturer Hayes and SendHit, a French brand specialized in handguards and other innovative products. Hayes is an iconic brand that pioneered hydraulic disc brakes more than 25 years ago. This season, Geo, Evan, and Greg will all be running Hayes’ newest product, the Dominion, on their bikes. We at Hayes are thrilled to embark upon a collaboration with the Devinci team and hope that this becomes the first year of many that see Hayes, Devinci and the team that bears its name achieving ever higher goals together. It may sound odd that we aim to make the team faster by slowing them down, but we believe that to be the case. By adding a heightened element of powerful, modular, and extremely reliable control we aim to put the athletes in a better position to harness all their technical and athletic skill over every millimeter of competition at the world’s highest level of enduro competition. While the components we supply to the team might be small, our involvement is a big deal to all of us here at Hayes and we will work diligently to ensure that those small components make the biggest impact possible. Here is to a fantastic season ahead, together. - Joshua Riddle, Marketing Manager at Hayes On the staff side of things, we are welcoming a new team mom for the upcoming season. Melissa Newell, AKA Mops, will be looking after the squad for all their needs during race weeks. She is coming onboard as soigneur/cook/line spotter. The 2-time EWS Masters World Champ knows a thing or two about racing and good times. Ciaran Sullivan will be taking over assistant team manager duties and providing mechanical support. Lastly, Bastien Major will oversee team management and operations. We'd like to thank all the partners who have DGR’s back for the upcoming season. Fox – Suspensions & Dropper PostsRace Face – Wheels, Handlebar, Stem, Cranksets, Chainrings and BB Maxxis – TiresLeatt – Riding gear, Protections, Helmets, Goggles, Shoes, and Clothing HT Components – PedalsMaxima Racing Oils – Care & Maintenance products, Lubricants, and Oils SDG Components – SaddlesODI – GripsHayes – Brakes & RotorsCushCore – Tire InsertsBackCountry Research – Frame StrapsSendHit – HandguardsThule – Luggage & BackpackOneUp Components – On bike Tools & PumpUnior – Bike toolsWorks Components – Angle & Reach Adjust HeadsetsE*Thirteen – Chainguide
Orange Bikes is excited to announce the return of the Orange Factory Racing team for 2023 complete with two new riders, the brand’s first-ever female factory racer, an all-star sponsor list and a packed calendar of events. Founded in 1988 out of a love for MTB racing, Orange Bikes is a brand built on speed and competition with many of the greatest-of-all-time racers building their reputations on a Halifax-made mountain bike. Now in its third year, the Orange Factory Racing team is Orange’s way of lighting that fire once again by supporting talented riders, jumping into the limelight on the international race scene and ensuring competition and speed are at the heart of bike development. After two incredible years, Orange Factory Racing will mix up the roster, with Tom Wilson returning for a third year and newcomers Christo Gallagher and Becky Cook joining the program. The team will race the full Enduro World Cup (formerly the EWS), various European one-off events and a selection of domestic UK events such as the British National Enduro Series and the ArdRock Enduro. Tom Wilson 2023 will be Tom Wilson's seventh year on Orange Bikes, and his third on Orange Factory Racing.Young, hungry and talented Tom has been with the team since day one, working his way through the junior ranks and up the results sheet EWS field. ‘23 will see him race a mix of UCI Enduro World Cup and E-Enduro World Cup events, splitting his time between his team issue Orange Switch 7 long travel enduro bike and Phase MX eMTB. Follow Tom on Instagram here. Becky Cook Becky Cook joins Orange as the brand’s first female factory racer, though certainly not the first female athlete the brand has supported.Based on the Isle of White, Becky had a storming ‘22 season with a heap of domestic gold medals, top 15’s in all but one EWS and an incredible 5th place at the Sugarloaf round in Maine, USA. She’ll be focusing squarely on achieving her best season to date at the new UCI Enduro World Cup,with her sights set on the podium. Follow Becky on Instagram here. Christo Gallagher A fresh face to Orange but no stranger to racing, Christo joins us with a whole heap of EWS anddomestic racing experience. Fast, super stylish and Scottish his highlights include bagging the overall elite title at the ‘21 British National Enduro Series as well as 2nd place at Ardrock in the same year, 14th at the ‘22 Innerleithen EWS round and 3rd overall in elite at the super competitive Scottish National Enduro Series. He’s also a demon around the pump track - look out for his insta edits from those! Follow Christo on Instagram here. The Other Star Of The Show Of course, the other star of our show will return for ‘23, the Orange Switch 7. Tested, developed, refined and proven by Orange Factory Racing, the Switch 7 will be Tom, Christo and Becky’s go-to for race day’s around the world, guaranteeing World Class performance and Orange’s trademark ride feel and reliability. Launched in 2022, the Switch 7 takes Orange’s proven made-in-Halifax frame design and adds the new STRANGE power link to create even more progressivity, perfect for the brutal and technical stages of the EDR. An All-Star Sponsor List The team will be supported by a dream line-up of sponsor brands, all working together to guarantee Tom, Christo and Becky can perform at their very best. The riders will be kitted head to toe in Leatt clothing and protection, keeping them safe and stylish in all conditions. They’ll ride Goodyear tyres, Ohlins suspension, Hunt wheels, Hayes brakes, SDG Components saddles and seat posts, Burgtec controls, Granite Design tools, Rapid Racer Products mudguards, RideWorks headsets and bottom brackets and STRANGE components finishing kits. The team will also be supported by Better Bolts, CrankBrothers and MRP. Another sponsor will also join the team as the season hots up, but for now, the team is keeping that one under wraps. Watch this space. See You At The Races Orange Factory Racing’s season will begin with Team Camp in South Wales in February and then most quickly on to the first-ever UCI Enduro World Cup in Tasmania, Australia. You can follow the athletes on Orange’s own Instagram account or on the athlete’s individual accounts(Tom, Becky, Christo). See them in person at the Enduro World Cup, British National Enduro Series or at the ArdRockEnduro. You can learn more about Orange Factory Racing here.
New brakes, new suspensions, new wheels, the Torpado Factory Team is preparing to face a 2023 season with an important and sparkling new image. Today, Monday February the 13th, the team is honored to announce the entry as technical sponsors of the Hayes brands, the leading American company in the production of everything the rider needs for maximum performance in the race. The season is upon us and the team can count on the support of a group with solid foundations and clear aims, the Torpado Factory Team will be the first team sponsored by Hayes to compete in the UCI Marathon World Cup. A shared vision and common goals led to an immediate feeling with the huge US group and to sign a multi-year support agreement for the team. Counting on the reliability of reference products in the sector represents a plus for the performance and motivation of TorpRiders who realize the dream of being able to use products of immeasurable technical value and iconicity. The set up of our Torpados will therefore boast Hayes Dominion brakes, Manitou suspension with R7 Pro fork, one of the icons of mountain biking, Mara shock absorber, Jack telescopic seatpost, Reynolds Blacklabel 309/289 wheels, with Sunriglé hubs, while the cockpit takes on the tones Protaper warmers with the Hyperlite handlebar.Perfection and the pursuit of success are the driving forces of this project which brings the Torpado Factory Team to its debut in the World Cup as the first reality supported by Hayes and its brands. The team will be lucky enough to be able to work together with the American technical experts and their know-how for accurate setups of the excellent products to aim for victory, in a collaboration that by the athletes will help the company in the development of new products.Hayes sponsorship further raises the value of the team, which has followed the path of internationalization and has come to be linked to one of the most prestigious mountain bike equipment brands in the world. For the team, the project shared with Hayes marks a further step forward in the evolution of a group of athletes who can concretely aim for the most important events on the international calendar. Katazina Sosna with the Torpado ReNero equipped with the new Hayes components Comment from team manager Sandro Lazzarin: We are very happy to start this collaboration with the Hayes group which supplies us with some of its most prestigious components. Thanks to Hayes' vision which recognizes the marathon as a discipline destined to grow and thus a great visibility of its products. Hayes Brakes is a company founded in 1972 but which is part of a company that has been producing braking systems for 70 years that believes in the constant and never-ending search for perfection in braking. World producers of braking systems for the US military, for Motorsport which boasts an important infrastructure capable of creating products with performance well above the average, Dominion is their reference set for the highest performances. Manitou has been involved in the design of suspensions with a fluid sinking system for decades, with light and at the same time extremely rigid structures. Manitou products make no compromises in quality, with styling and construction that stand out from the crowd. Reynolds develops, designs and manufactures 100% of the products in-house for a wide range of lightweight, high-performance wheels for mountain, road, gravel and ebikes. The first to have made wheels in composite material and which guarantee their products for life. Protaper is the brand that allows our athletes to ride their Torpado, with light and reliable handlebars and stems in every moment of the race. With Hayes alongside the team, an intense season full of important appointments begins, which will have the new UCI Marathon World Cup as its fulcrum.
Alessandra Keller, the current number one in the UCI world rankings, is currently spending four weeks in Stellenbosch, South Africa, preparing for the new season. She is using the SA XCO Cup races in Stellenbosch as her first assessment of where she stands. Stellenbosch is known for its many mountain bike trails and the beautiful and dry weather at this time of year and therefore offers perfect training conditions. Training has been going well for Keller so far and she is working on her form and riding technique every day. Victory on Saturday Keller used the two UCI C2 races of the SA XCO Cup in Stellenbosch as a first assessment.Alessandra Keller showed two strong races despite the very hot temperatures and a lot of training. On Saturday she showed from the beginning of the race that she wants to race for the win and made a strong impression both physically and technically. After 1 hour 25 minutes she crossed the finish line first and celebrated a perfect season debut. Alessandra was happy at the finish line: Today it was super hot, but I felt excellent and was able to go to the limit well. I had a good feeling in the race and I'm happy to start the season with a win. Third place on Sunday Keller also finished the second race on Sunday on the podium. She still felt the strain from Saturday in her legs, which felt a bit sluggish. Nevertheless, she was able to celebrate another podium finish with third place. It was a good assessment of my position and I am very happy with the result and my form at this time so early in the season. Team training camp in Girona Then, at the end of February, the entire Thömus maxon Swiss Mountain Bike Racing Team will meet for a training camp in Girona, Spain.
2022 was a battle for Trek Factory Racing XC. In hindsight, the World Cup opener was a microcosm of the season. Illness spread through the team before the race. Evie Richards, Anton Cooper and Vlad Dascalu all missed either the short track or Olympic-distance events. Jolanda Neff sat out racing altogether. What had been a highly-anticipated opener at a beautiful new venue got off to an inauspicious start. But despite being forced to play a bad hand, the squad made the most of the weekend. Richards took third in short track, and Dascalu took third in his XCO debut as a TFR rider. Riley Amos, also racing for the first time as a full-time TFR rider, placed fourth in the men’s U23 event. The team squeezed everything it could out of the event. Problem was, circumstances didn’t allow it to accomplish as much as it would have liked. That theme prevailed throughout the year. Charting a course for podiums! To the good: Neff led the way with three World Cup victories, including a perfect weekend in Mont-Sainte-Anne, and a second-place finish at World Championships. Vlad Dascalu stood on eight World Cup podiums, finishing second three times. He and Anton Cooper combined to be named the “Best Men’s Team” at back-to-back races in Nové Město and Leogang. And Maddie Munro had a breakout season, winning the U23 U.S. National Championship before earning the first two U23 World Cup podiums of her career in Snowshoe (third) and Mont-Sainte-Anne (second). But there were also several instances of what-could-have-been. Richards, coming off a World Championship in 2021, was forced to sit for much of the season due to a nagging back injury. Dascalu fell achingly short of his first career World Cup win, often due to untimely crashes or mechanical misfortune. Amos, who won back-to-back U23 World Cup races in 2021, couldn’t get on track like he hoped, especially not after suffering a broken collarbone. Watch out for Vlad Dascalu in 2023. If 2022 was the year of scrapping and clawing and fighting against forces greater than themselves for every place in the pack, then 2023 will hopefully be a year of discovery and re-discovery. TFR XC’s riders — young and veteran — have all flashed the potential to win against the very best in the sport, starting with Gwendalyn Gibson, a new addition to TFR who busted out with a short track win in Snowshoe last year. All they have to do is make the most of their training and savvy while avoiding injuries, equipment mishaps and bad luck of any sort. Simple? OK, not exactly in a sport as fickle as XC racing. But what better time for hope than now? When circumstances align, there may not be a better group of riders anywhere ready to pounce on their opportunities. We can promise you this: A TFR rider will drop your jaw at some point this season. We suggest you pay attention, lest you miss the moment. Gwendalyn Gibson is TFR's newest rider. 5 stories to watch Gwendalyn Gibson on the rise Gibson teared up when talking to the Race Shop about her win in Snowshoe last July. She had broken her kneecap in May, and according to her initial prognosis, she shouldn’t have even been on the start line. But she returned more quickly than expected and proceeded to prove she belongs among the best riders in the world. After a season with setbacks, it was really special for me to see all of the time and hard work finally come together, Gibson said. I think of it as a turning point in my career where I really began to believe in my capabilities. I’ll remember that day forever. Gibson, just 23 years old, has worlds of potential. She excelled in short track racing last year, taking podiums in Les Gets and Mont-Sainte-Anne in addition to her win, and wants to push herself to succeed at Olympic-distance events as well. Step 1 will be learning to believe in herself and her place within a hyper-competitive women’s field. Something I am always working to overcome is my anxiety associated with racing at this level, Gibson said. With a little more self belief, I think there will be no limit on what I can achieve. After a year of setbacks, Evie Richards is anxious to get the new season started. Evie Richards getting her groove back Richards called 2022 “the hardest season I think I’ve ever done” from a mental standpoint. Setbacks stacked upon setbacks, from illness in Brazil, to back problems, to a bout of Covid, all making her season in the rainbow jersey less magical than she had hoped. The highlight of her season was returning from three months off World Cup racing to see her teammates at World Championships in Les Gets. It was just a bit of a terrible year, and I really missed seeing everyone and being around the team, Richards said. So when I got to be back with everyone at Les Gets, it just made me so happy to see everyone’s faces. I just felt like I’d missed my family. When I got to be back with everyone at Les Gets, it just made me so happy to see everyone's faces. I just felt like I'd missed my family. - Evie Richards Richards has a bright outlook on 2023. She wasn’t able to get up to full speed last season, but she still closed the season well, taking fifth in short track at World Championships and seventh in XCO in Val di Sole. This year, she has a new team around her — from coaches, to physios, to nutritionists — and she’s focused on being “the healthiest Evie I can possibly be.” I think it’s gonna be a really good year and a really exciting year for me, Richards said. Last year, I was struggling to finish races with the injury, so I don’t have to go too much faster to be better than I was last year, which is a great thing. But I definitely want to be miles better than I was, and be back up to that level where I was in 2021. Vlad's not messing around. Vlad Dascalu World Cup watch The one thing you need to know about Dascalu is that he never, ever gives up. He may be the fastest rider in the world who has yet to win a World Cup race. He came ridiculously close last year, taking second in Nové Město after making a move that dropped everyone except Tom Pidcock, who outsprinted Dascalu for the win, and seemingly making a winning attack in Andorra before an ill-timed mechanical. The next week, he suffered a bad crash in Snowshoe, and was unable to fully recover before the end of the season. If you do the hard work and enjoy the process, when it’s time to race the body and mind are ready to give it all. - Vlad Dascalu I went from one of the best moments of my life and also probably the best shape of the season to not being able to ride my bike without a lot of pain, Dascalu said. Mentally and physically it was a tough moment. Dascalu figures to be a podium fixture once again. That first win feels inevitable, but when is still an open question. He certainly feels the pressure to finally break through, but his approach to every race remains the same. You can always count on Vlad to put his best self on display in every race. I really believe that the hard work always pays off, Dascalu said. So if I want to be the best version of myself it’s something you have to work on every day. If you do the hard work and enjoy the process, when it’s time to race the body and mind are ready to give it all. Maddie Munro is rocking the Stars and Stripes as the defending U23 U.S. national champion. Riley Amos and Maddie Munro growing up before our eyes The last two years have been transformative for the two young American riders. They have firmly established their presence at the front of their respective U23 fields. Both have won U.S. national champs — Amos in 2021, and Munro in 2022. And both have put themselves on multiple World Cup podiums, with Amos winning two races in 2021. The question now: Where do they go next? The both displayed their mettle last season by bouncing from injuries — Amos broke his collarbone and missed nationals and two World Cups, and Munro suffered a concussion just before she was set to race in Albstadt. (She documented her recovery process here.) Next up is polishing themselves as racers. For two 20-year-olds, that means improving their maturity and race savvy first and foremost. Another year older, wiser and faster for Riley Amos. The last 2 years have felt a lot like learning the ropes — what it takes to be a part of a factory team, and race all year at the highest level of competition, Amos said. I learned my strengths, weaknesses, and now I feel I am ready to approach my last 2 years of U23 with a level head and with everything I need to perform. I guess we will just have to wait and see if that’s the case, but there has been a lot of really good signs so far. This offseason, Munro has been working with new coach Kristin Armstrong to up her technical skills. Together we are going to target all levels of my skills to help me gain more confidence and ability on these World Cup courses, Munro said. Not to mention we will be working on my epic finish line wheelie. I will be even faster this year because I believe we have the best team on the circuit, filled with the most enthusiastic, supportive and hard working athletes, staff and fans. - Maddie Munro Both Amos and Munro are grateful to be surrounded by a strong veteran core of riders. Amos recalled a training in Andorra with Dascalu and Neff as one of his favorite memories of the year. Munro said that the moral support she has received from the team has had a tangibly positive effect on race days. I will be even faster this year because I believe we have the best team on the circuit, filled with the most enthusiastic, supportive and hard working athletes, staff and fans, Munro said. Each rider adds something unique and uplifting to the team that will enhance our team atmosphere and give us all extra watts. No feeling like being back with your teammates. A jam-packed schedule The 2022 World Cup schedule was designed to produce a steady drip of racing. Events were never held more than two weeks in a row, and every month from April to September featured a World Cup race. The 2023 schedule, by contrast, features two jam-packed racing blocks split by a long bout of down time. The first race takes place in May, not April, and early July to late August features no racing at all. But from June 9 to July 2, there will be three World Cup events in just 23 days. And beginning with World Championships in Glasgow from August 9-12, the team will take on a gauntlet of six World Cup-level events in nine weeks, closing with Mont-Sainte-Anne from Oct. 6-8. The new schedule places even greater pressure on riders to stay healthy. With races so densely packed, an injury or bad bug could mean missing multiple races. That's my goal for this year. Do less, ride more. Worry less, smile more. Just enjoy what I'm doing and appreciate how lucky I am. - Jolanda Neff Both Jolanda Neff and Anton Cooper understand the importance of taking care of their bodies. Neff seemed poised for a big result in Brazil after winning a warmup race by more than six minutes, but illness kept her off the World Cup start lines. Cooper caught Covid just before the Commonwealth Games in early August, and struggled during the closing stretch of World Championships and Val di Sole. Both are focused on being more mindful of the stress they place on themselves that can keep them from performing their best. I’m learning from past mistakes and becoming wiser each year, Cooper said. I’m working on overcoming some struggles at altitude races and also staying injury free and in good health, which will allow me to build form throughout the year. Anton Cooper (pictured last season) is poised to shake up the men's field. One potential benefit of the new schedule: There won’t be much time to focus on anything but racing for long stretches of time. For a rider like Neff, whose success and popularity means a lot of demands on her time, having a dense slate of competitions could be a benefit. Sometimes I struggle to enjoy the simple things and just turn my brain off from going through my to-do lists and what I still have to do, Neff said. I would love nothing more than to just ride my bike and not worry about anything. That’s my goal for this year. Do less, ride more. Worry less, smile more. Just enjoy what I’m doing and appreciate how lucky I am. You won't find a tighter squad. Schedule and how to watch MTB World Cup broadcasts will be moving from Red Bull TV to Discovery this year. And though timing and streaming details are still being ironed out, you can expect to find the races within the Discovery family of streaming services. Round 1: Nové Město na Moravě, May 12-14In a nutshell: World Cup staple with punchy climbs and flowy descents. Round 2: Lenzerheide, June 9-11In a nutshell: Unbelievable fan atmosphere at high altitude with fast racing. Round 3: Leogang, June 16-18In a nutshell: An all-around test — climbing, steep descents and tech. Speeding towards the World Cup opener. Round 4: Val di Sole, June 30-July 2In a nutshell: A bruiser — hope you like roots and rock gardens. World Championships: Glasgow, August 9-12In a nutshell: An exciting new venue for many riders. Climbing, uneven descents, and a strong chance of MUD. Round 5: Andorra, August 23-27In a nutshell: An absolute lung buster, with long climbs at high altitude. Round 6: Les Gets, September 7-17In a nutshell: A speedy tech-fest in the French Alps. Squad, from L to R: Vlad, Evie, Maddie, Riley, Gwendalyn, Jolanda. (Anton unable to make team camp, but terribly missed and there in spirit.) Round 7: Snowshoe, September 28-October 1In a nutshell: Another battering ram of a course where the American contingent will be going all out. Round 8: Mont-Sainte-Anne, October 6-October 8In a nutshell: Jolanda Neff’s favorite course! Super technical; SUPER fun. You can follow the whole squad at all the races at the Trek Factory Racing XC Instagram page. Stay tuned over the coming weeks for individual rider catch-ups ahead of Round 1 of the World Cup in Nové Město. Also be sure to check out our cool new kits, our cool new paint and our cool new tire sponsor. Racing is just three months away. It’ll be here before you know it. Get. Hype.
In the past five years they’ve secured an Enduro World Series title, countless individual and team podiums, plus a whole lot of good times racing bikes. At the end of 2022, they said farewell to Jesse Melamed and began welcoming in a new era for the Rocky Mountain Race Face Enduro Team. Focused on development at all levels and truly helping to progress the sport they love; their 2023 roster is as follows: Andréane Lanthier Nadeau Rémi Gauvin Emmett Hancock Lily Boucher – Development Rider Here’s what they said about their new look team: Returning to race with us are all the same incredible brands that have helped make racing possible for the Rocky Mountain Race Face Enduro Team in 2022. Notably, Race Face. Our storied relationship with Race Face dates back 30 years to when our two brands were under one roof designing products to meet the needs of aggressive riders. While our two brands have grown and separated, the historical bond is as strong as ever. This team is an exciting chapter in the long history between Rocky Mountain and Race Face. We couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds for this talented group of athletes. Big changes this year for our team! I am really excited to continue building on last season's success as well as help Emmett and Lilly succeed on this program. It's going to be a fun year! Remi Gauvin It’s super exciting to see the commitment Rocky Mountain is putting in to maintain this program as one of the best. Time to believe in something new and go for it! I feel so stoked to have a team behind me with so much experience that I can learn from. So grateful for Rocky Mountain’s support, and belief in me as a U21 rider. It’s amazing to have the opportunity to work with top notch people and athletes that I’ve looked up to for a long time! Lily Boucher To ride for the Rocky Mountain Race Face Enduro Team is something I’ve always worked towards but never thought would become a reality. I am beyond stoked to see what this season brings for both myself and my new teammates. Emmett Hancock
(Golden, Colo.) — Two-time Enduro World Series Champion Richie Rude returns with a freshly-minted three-year deal with the renowned Yeti / FOX Factory Enduro team, leading the squad as he enters his twelfth year in turquoise. Rude is joined by British phenomenon Bex Baraona, who will be returning for her second season aboard the Factory race team, and Polish rider Sławomir Łukasik, who rode away from last season with an impressive sixth place finish overall. With the abundance of podiums and top ten results from all three riders, the Yeti / FOX Factory team is poised for success. Following a strong second place overall series finish last season, Rude is hungrier than ever to compete for the top spot in 2023. The veteran started 2022 on a tear with two wins and a second-place finish before a mechanical in Whistler took him off the podium. Rude was back on track with another win at Burke, but a crash at Sugarloaf had him nursing a shoulder injury for the remaining rounds, where he amazingly was still able to pull off two top ten finishes to secure his second place overall. Amid all the EWS action, the American also picked up a U.S. National Championship victory. I’m looking forward to the 2023 UCI Enduro World Cup season to back 2022 up with another great year with the Yeti / FOX Factory team. After a strong year, it’ll be great to continue the momentum aboard the SB160, plus Sławomir! Back to Tasmania for the first two rounds, with some time at Jared’s house, just like old times! Richie Rude Bex Baraona is back for her second season on the Factory team. Baraona’s hard work and consistency in 2022 resulted in a career best season for the rider, finishing in fourth place overall. Throughout the season, Baraona pulled off two second place finishes, one on her home turf at Tweed Valley and the other at Sugarloaf. Both results showcased her ability to keep focused and calm in technical, picky terrain. With her skill and determination, Bex is a force to be reckoned with. Well if last year was anything to go by, we are in for a treat in 2023! Looking forward to getting racing underway in Tasmania soon. Bex Barona 30-year-old Sławomir Łukasik has spent most of his life between the tape and has managed to pull off some impressive results, including sixth in the overall EWS rankings last season, all without the support of a full factory ride. This left Yeti team manager Damion Smith wondering what he could accomplish under the tutelage of one of the most legendary programs in racing. With his steely grit and strong riding, Łukasik is sure to turn heads in the upcoming season. I'm really happy to join Yeti/ FOX Factory Team! It's a great opportunity for me to reach the top level of racing and become a better rider in the upcoming years. Looking forward to all the hard work with such an experienced crew and learning from them. Slawomir Lukasik Yeti / Shimano EP Racing heads into the 2023 UCI Enduro World Cup series with veteran racer Mick Hannah in the e-bike category, who will pilot the Yeti 160E for his second electrically charged season. The team welcomes Ryan Gilchrist, who’s promising results as a junior landed him with a pro contract under the turquoise tent. The Shimano EP Race program will enjoy full factory support throughout the season. It feels good to be heading into 2023 with an eBike season under my belt. It’s also exciting to have e-bikes brought into the World Cup! I’m looking forward to having everyone together at the races! Mick Hannah I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Yeti / Shimano EP Racing Team for 2023. The legacies of my teammates and staff are mind-blowing so joining a family with such a strong history of domination is a dream come true and I can't wait to race bikes all over the world in 2023. Ryan Gilchrist The Yeti / FOX Factory and Shimano EP programs are supported by Lead Mechanic, Shaun Hughes, Factory Team Mechanics Mark Hild and Alex Present, Shimano EP Team Mechanic Matt Opperman, and Race Team Manager, Damion Smith. Jared Graves continues his legacy with Yeti by serving as mentor and Performance Coach, and Amanda Bergeron serves as assistant manager. We’re extremely excited about our roster and sponsor partnerships heading into the 2023 season. I’m confident that we have one of the most competitive programs on the circuit, and am looking forward to being back in the UCI World Cup pits. Damion Smith, Team Manager Along with the Factory team, Yeti is also proud to continue supporting national and international development teams. This year, Yeti is doubling down on its commitment to groom up-and-comers around the world. Details of these programs will be covered in an upcoming announcement. FOX Factory continues its longtime commitment as co-title sponsor of the Yeti / FOX Factory Team. In addition to FOX, the team would like to recognize Maxxis, Shimano, DT Swiss, and Giro, each for their decade or more of support. The full list of Yeti / FOX race team sponsors for 2023 include: FOX Factory, Maxxis, Shimano, DT Swiss, Giro, OneUp Components, CushCore, 7iDP, Toyota, Orange Seal, Motorex, Thule, Smith Optics, Chris King, Garmin, Skratch Labs and Occam Design. Shimano EP athletes are running Pro cockpits and Lazer helmets.
Amateur entries for Derby are open! Both Maydena and Derby will play host to the first ever UCI Enduro World Cups - and you can be part of it! Each of these incredible venues will be offering amateur racing the day before the World Cup races - so you can hit the trails then watch the world’s fastest on the same stages the next day. Hit the links below to reserve your spot now! Click here to enter Derby As of 6 February 2023 How do I race the UCI Enduro World Cup (EDR) in 2023? Entries for the UCI Enduro World Cup are available for riders with the minimum points as well as riders on riders on official UCI teams.Open Racing (which has no pre-qualification requirements) will be offered at all 2023 UCI Enduro World Cup rounds except Leogang (6 races). The amateur Open Races will take place the day in advance of the World Cup race and will feature a selection of the World Cup race stages. You will need to create a Rider Account via our website www.ucimtbworldseries.com/register in order to register. Each racer needs their own individual account linked to a unique email address. How do I race e-bikes in the UCI Enduro World Cup in 2023? E-bike will be a category in EDR World Cups / EDR Open Races (rather than a separate race / day) this season. E-EDR World Cup entries will be available for riders on official UCI teams and select wildcards. Open Racing (which has no pre-qualification requirements) will be offered at all 2023 UCI Enduro World Cup rounds except Leogang (6 races). The amateur E-EDR Open Races will take place the day in advance of the World Cup race and will feature a selection of the World Cup race stages. You will need to create a Rider Account via our website www.ucimtbworldseries.com/register in order to register. Each racer needs their own individual account linked to a unique email address. I’m a Master - how can I race the UCI Enduro World Cup or E-Enduro this season? Master categories will continue to be available within Open Racing (both EDR and E-EDR). Open Racing (which has no pre-qualification requirements) will be offered at all 2023 UCI EDR World Cup rounds except Leogang (6 races). Any Master racers with the minimum global ranking points can qualify to race in the Elite category at the EDR World Cups. Do I need a UCI license to race in Open Racing? License requirements for the Open Races are established by the national cycling federation in the host nation – so they vary depending on the venue. Riders will have the option to race with day licenses. UCI licenses are not a requirement unless you wish to collect qualifying points to race the UCI Enduro World Cup. How do I qualify to race the UCI Enduro World Cup? There will be opportunities for racers to qualify for the UCI Enduro World Cups. Golden Tickets (allowing direct entry into the UCI Enduro World Cups for UCI Licence Holders) as well as qualifying points will be on offer at all World Series Qualifier events (which include all 2023 Open Races, as well as all official UCI National Enduro Championships plus select national enduro races registered on the UCI calendar). Details will be available in the 2023 Enduro Rulebook. How many points do I need to qualify for the UCI Enduro World Cup? Minimum Points to be eligible to race the UCI Enduro World Cup vary depending on the category: Men Elite: 125 points Women Elite: 125 points Men U21: 75 points Women U21: 50 points Do I need an EWS membership to collect points to qualify for the UCI Enduro World Cup? EWS Memberships will no longer be required this season - but any riders trying to collect qualifying points for the UCI Enduro World Cup will need a UCI ID ( licenses available through their national cycling federation). For further information, please refer to the 2023 UCI MTB World Series (EDR & E-EDR) Rulebook. Entries for Derby are now open.Entries for Finale Outdoor Region, Val di Fassa Trentino, Loudenvielle, and Les Portes du Soleil will open in April 2023 How long will courses be in 2023? For 2023, the World Cup EDR courses will feature between 4 to 6 race stages. E-EDR World Cup courses will have 2 loops (with 1 battery change). For further queries please contact the Sports Services Team via email sportsservices@eso-sports.com
When 18 year-old Jordan Williams announced that he was leaving Madison Saracen at the end of the 2022 season rumours quickly swirled around just where he would be plying his trade in 2023. It has now been revealed that it will be from within one of the most talent-heavy pits at the UCI Downhill World Cup - Specialized Gravity Racing. Williams will now be pulling up a pew beside Loïc Bruni and Finn Iles, both of whom will arrive in Lenzerheide at the start of June in stellar form after big 2022’s. Bruni added yet another UCI World Championship title to his tally (his fifth) whilst Iles, the Canadian, would take his long overdue maiden UCI World Cup win at the Mont-Sainte-Anne Round in front of a partisan home crowd. The young Briton ended the year wrapped in the UCI World Championship rainbow stripes alongside five UCI World Cup wins to add to his already bristling domestic palmares of four British national titles. Fast Juniors are of course a fairly familiar occurrence in DHI as swathes of young talent prepare to make the difficult jump into Elites each year. There’s a definite sense however that both Williams and his great rival, Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Jackson Goldstone, are different. Throughout the 2022 season their times were staggering, often scarcely believable. For example, on the most treacherous of UCI World Cup stages, Val di Sole’s infamous Black Snake, Williams set the fastest qualifying time of the day beating every Elite rider in attendance in the process. It was performances like that which no doubt brought Specialized Gravity Racing to his door and all eyes will be on the Englishman to see if he can make good on their investment come Lenzerheide 08-11 June.
BMC are a brand that will be more than familiar to many Cross-country racing fans the world over. Under Julien Absalon and then Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, the Swiss marque became habitual inhabitants of the top step of the UCI World Cup podium. For the 2023 race season they have stepped things up to the next level with a full factory squad poised and ready to take on the amassed pro ranks with nothing short of winning ways being top of the agenda. Steffi Häberlin will compete in the elite women’s category whilst 2020 UCI World Champion, Jordan Sarrou, the winner of the final two UCI World Cups of 2022, Titouan Carod and Juri Zanotti heading up the elite men’s effort. Also in the squad is U23 hopeful Janis Baumann. Baumann has scored silver medals at both European and UCI World Championships level and is tipped by many for the top. They will be managed by ex-professional road rider, Amaël Moinard and will compete on the already extremely successful Fourstroke 01 and Twostroke 01 full-suspension and hardtail platforms. The team will also be working with Öhlins for their suspension needs. All eyes will be on Sarrou and Carod - the former needs to rekindle the kind of form that can see him dance past the world’s best on the toughest climbs whilst the latter will be one of the big form riders heading into the opening race of the season. Carod will arrive in Nové Město na Moravě knowing that he can beat the very fastest. Will 2023 be the year we see him make a run for the overall UCI World Cup title?!
After months of rumours, the Canyon CLLCTV Enduro Team are proud to announce reigning Enduro World Series Winner, Jesse Melamed, will be joining their Enduro roster in 2023. Racing alongside Dimitri Tordo and Jose Borges, Jesse will complete one of the most competitive teams on the Enduro circuit. Jesse took home the overall title from last year’s Enduro World Series, after a hotly contested season. Jesse has the full quiver of Canyon MTB's at his disposal, but will race the Spectral in Tasmania, before hopping on the Strive for the rest of the season. Picture: Sterling Lorence However, this isn’t the first time the Whistler local has finished as the highest ranked rider in the series. Jesse also came out on top at the conclusion of the 2020 race calendar, although on this occasion no title was awarded due to the shortened season. Technicalities aside, there is no doubt that in recent years Melamed has become one of the fastest Enduro racers on the planet. Jesse has shown incredible speed in the past seasons, and already his input and approaches to racing and finding speed on track have been super valuable. Without a doubt Jesse will add a vital dimension to the team. His great performances will help us get to the next level as one of the most inspiring teams on the UCI World Cup Enduro circuit. Team mentor, Fabien Barel. An all new setup for 2023 for the Enduro World Series champ. Picture: Sterling Lorence With a long list of victories and podium results since the very early days of the sport, the Canyon CLLCTV Enduro outfit is stoked to have another huge talent in the line-up. Joining the Canyon CLLCTV Team will hopefully give Jesse everything he needs to continue to battle for titles. Just 3 months to go until the season kicks off in Tasmania. Picture: Sterling Lorence I am stoked to be a part of the Canyon CLLCTV! Canyon is a brand that is passionate about racing and one that will always push the limits of what is possible, and that's an exciting journey to be a part of. I can't wait to see what we can achieve together. Jesse Melamed Ready to rip. Picture: Sterling Lorence Canyon CLLCTV Factory Enduro Team is lucky enough to work with some of the best partners in the biz on their hunt for glory. SRAM, RockShox, Troy Lee Designs, DT Swiss, Maxxis, Crankbrothers, Ergon, E-13, Chris King, Dynamic Bike Care and Maurten will support the team in 2023. The new season starts on the 25th of March, in Tasmania, Australia. Follow all the action from the team at https://www.instagram.co/canyon_cllctv/
Amateur entries for Maydena and Derby are now open! These two classic venues will play host to the first ever UCI Enduro World Cups - and you can be part of it! Each of these incredible venues will be offering amateur racing the day before the World Cup races - so you can hit the trails then watch the world’s fastest on the same stages the next day. Hit the links below to reserve your spot now! Click here to enter Maydena Click here to enter Derby ---------------------------------------------------------The race season is just around the corner - and you can be part of it. The 2023 race calendar kicks off with enduro, with not one, but two races in Tasmania, Australia. The first race of the year gets underway in Maydena, when this brand new venue will make quite the debut as it hosts the first ever UCI Enduro World Cup this March 25-26. Amateur racing is available at both Maydena and Derby to kick off the 2023 season. From here the series rolls straight into Derby the following weekend (March 31 - April 1). This iconic venue has featured on the Enduro World Series calendar in both 2017 and 2019 and became an instant classic, thanks to its incredible trail network and some of the rowdiest spectators in the sport’s history. And just like years gone by, it’s not only the pros who can get between the tapes at enduro races - amateur racing is available at both Maydena and Derby. Taking place the day before the World Cup races, these races are open to everyone with absolutely no pre-qualification requirements. These open races offer everyone the chance to test themselves on some of the exact same stages as the pros - who they can watch hit them the very next day. Australian native and three time Enduro World Champion, Sam Hill. And what’s more, the very fastest riders will be rewarded with UCI Enduro World Cup Qualifying points - the first step on the path to lining up alongside the pros at the highest level of the sport. Both the Maydena and Derby races will also offer e-bike categories in their amateur races. In order to enter either (or both!) race there’s some key information you need to know to make sure you secure your spot on the start line. Read the following carefully to ensure you know exactly how to get between the tapes in March. Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails, Tasmania. In order to enter any of the amateur racing this year it’s mandatory to create an account on the UCI Mountain Bike World Series website. You can register an account from Wednesday, February 1st at 17:00 GMT onwards. If you’ve raced an Enduro World Series (EWS) event in the past and have an existing EWS account, this has been transferred to the new UCI Mountain Bike World Series website and can be claimed at login. If you’ve not raced before, simply create a new account. EWS membership and UCI licences are not required to take part in these races - but only riders with a UCI licence would be eligible to collect EDR World Cup qualifying points. As these races are likely to sell out fast, having your account set up in advance of entries going live means that when it’s time to enter you can just hit the button and secure your race space at the Enduro of Tasmania in Maydena and/or Derby. More information about Maydena is available here and Derby here. Good luck and see you on the start line!
French brand Lapierre have launched their new Lapierre Mavic Unity Team to mark a headline return to Cross-country racing after an 11 year absence from the top tier of Endurance racing. Partnered with the iconic French wheel manufacturer, Mavic, the squad's clear mission statement is to produce riders capable of shining at the Paris Olympics in 2024. The new team are proud of their 50/50 gender split headed up by Annie Last and Thomas Litscher. Joining them are Malene Degn, Isaure Medde, Sebastian Fini Carstensen and Erik Haegstad. The team has sprung from what was the KMC Orbea Ekoï outfit so already has established roots in the UCI World Cup pits. It’s a change in continuity! Both for the athletes and for the team: we are changing frame brands but we are continuing with the same values around a unifying project full of ambitions. We are proud to represent the Lapierre brand for its return to XCO competition, and we can continue with our historical partners such as Mavic, which is becoming a title sponsor. Céline Hutsebaut, Lapierre Mavic Unity Team Manager Last and Litscher are the two senior pros on the team, the Brit having won a UCI World Cup in Lenzerheide in 2017 and having claimed second in the UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup last season. The Swiss rider claimed a bronze medal in Cross-country Short Track at the 2022 UCI World Championships in Les Gets. The Lapierre Mavic Unity Team will compete on either the Lapierre XR full-suspension machine or the lightweight Prorace hardtail.
The reigning British National DH Champion, Greg Williamson, has signed a deal to race with Madison Saracen for two years. The Inverness native has three top flight UCI World Cup podiums to his name and will be pitting alongside a former British Champ, Matt Walker under the guidance of experienced team manager, Will Longden. Williamson’s best result of 2022 came at the Fort William round of the UCI World Cup with a 14th place finish, something he will certainly be hoping to better when the iconic Highland venue hosts the UCI World Championships again this season. It will be Williamson’s first opportunity to race for the rainbow stripes on home soil as the last time the fabled track hosted cycling’s showcase event was back in 2007. I’m absolutely delighted to have signed with Madison Saracen. It has been a breath of fresh air having spent a decent amount of time away testing and training with the team already. Can’t thank them enough for making me feel welcome and comfortable on the bike so soon. Bring on the race season! Greg Williamson It’s fantastic that Greg is joining the team this year, as British Champion and a well-respected rider worldwide, he makes the perfect team mate to Matt Walker. Both have the experience and respect to bring the best out in each other and I’m sure we are going to have a lot of fun along the way. It’s a big year for the World Cup as Warner Brothers Discovery come in to rejuvenate the series with some exciting new changes and plans that we’re all looking forward to. Along with this, the World Championships in Fort William Scotland, Greg’s homeland, is going to be an amazing event and a focus of our racing year. Bring it on! Will Longden, Madison Saracen Team Manager Williamson and Walker will be part of a two pronged attack on the Gravity field with Madison having previously having announced their UK-based development squad under the guidance of former British pro Matt Simmonds. George Madley, Felix Griffiths and Liv Taylor will compete at domestic level with a full support package designed to help them progress through the ranks.
Luke and Remy Meier-Smith have confirmed that they will be racing for Giant Factory Off Road in the 2023 UCI World Cup season. The Australian brothers had been one of the great question marks remaining in the 2022/23 transfer window after a season which marked them out as two of the hottest properties in gravity. Remy’s season hit its high point with a silver medal racing as a Junior at the UCI World Championships in Les Gets, whilst older brother Luke clocked a 14th at the Lenzerheide round in the Elite class. In fact, it was only at the opening round in Lourdes that he finished outside of the top 20 all season, in only his second year competing in the top class. He was also crowned the U21 Enduro World Series champion having clocked five wins to his name. The pair had been riding for Ben Reid’s highly regarded Propain Factory Racing squad alongside Henry Kerr. It’s a real privilege to be joining the Giant Factory Off-Road Team for 2023 and beyond. I grew up riding Giant bikes, so it’s really cool to come back to where it all began. I’ve already spent a few weeks on the new bike and I’m absolutely loving it. Excited to put my head down during the off-season and come out swinging this year. Luke Meier Smith The siblings will join highly-regarded Frenchman, Remi Thirion on Giant Factory Off-Road in the downhill pits whilst the pairing of Youn Deniaud and McKay Vezina round out their gravity line up in enduro.
America’s Gwendalyn Gibson has signed a deal to race for Trek Factory Racing in 2023. The Californian was many pundits' breakthrough act of 2022. A status which was confirmed when she picked up a bronze medal at the UCI Cross-country Olympic World Championships in Les Gets at the end of the season. The 23 year-old had already impressed however - she won the Cross-country Short Track race in Snowshoe alongside a brace of top 10’s amidst a season in which she should have struggled. Gibson had suffered a broken kneecap earlier in the year which many predicted would purloin her to the sidelines until the end of the summer. After spending five years racing for the Norco Factory Racing squad, the young American joins a veritable powerhouse roster starring Jolanda Neff, Evie Richards, Maddie Munro, Vlad Dascalu, and Riley Amos. It remains unclear as to whether the Waterloo, Wisconsin squad will feel the need to bolster their numbers further ahead of the season getting underway this year.
Trek Factory Racing Downhill star, Charlie Harrison, has announced his retirement from professional downhill racing. The Trabuco, California native has had a tough couple of years with stellar results being tempered by tough battles with injuries. Harrison’s highest UCI World Cup finish was a superb third place at the 2019 UCI World Cup finals in Snowshoe, West Virginia. A badly broken arm suffered in practice for the 2021 Leogang round was the latest in a string of tricky injuries. It required surgery and came on the back of a wrist injury suffered at the same venue, on the same limb in 2019. Now the 25 year-old has decided to take a step away from racing stating that his time spent on the injury sidelines have given him renewed focus on family and that it has rekindled his love for riding. A statement on his social media accounts read: Hey guys. I’m announcing my retirement from professional racing. Over the last few seasons, my priorities have slowly shifted from being a World Cup racer to wanting to focus on family, life at home, and my next career. The last few seasons have been the toughest thing I’ve gone through mentally, and to be totally transparent, completely jaded my view of bikes. I became resentful, bitter, and fell out of love with the sport that means so much to me. Due to my retirement however, I’ve been able to fully reconnect to bikes, and completely rediscover the reasons why as a thirteen-year-old kid, I was completely gripped by this sport. I’m super excited to be able to share this complete story with you guys in the future. It was an absolute blessing to be able to race World Cups full time for six years, and the last four years onboard Trek Factory Racing was a once in a lifetime opportunity. They gave me everything that I could ever need to push my upper limit of possibilities. As a result of this amazing team, I was able to accomplish things on a bicycle that I never thought possible. It was a true honor to work alongside such professional and motivated individuals, and I was able to make some truly beautiful relationships from that. I’m forever grateful to have my name associated with such a world class team, and I’m beyond appreciative for their endless support over the last four years. I’m able to look back on my short career and just have such an appreciation for everything it included. Racing has taught me so many lessons to bring forward in life. It taught me to chase the heck out of your dreams, because you never know what they’ll turn into. It taught me how to deal with bad times, and how to get through them. It also taught me the importance of relying on other people to help get you through those times. This sport gave the world to me, and I’m so thankful for the friends, experiences, and moments that came from that. It’s hard to summarize seven seasons of elite World Cup racing into one caption, but to be able to live through that opportunity is something that I will forever cherish. Thank you to everyone that’s been a part of this beautiful journey. Charlie Harrison
