2012 UCI Elite Teams Announced

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has today announced the 15 “endurance” (Olympic cross-country) teams and 14 “gravity” (downhill and four-cross) teams that will race with the “UCI ELITE Mountain Bike” label in 2012.

These teams will benefit from numerous advantages: notably free entry at UCI Mountain Bike World Cup events and free entry for all races on the UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar. In return, they are obliged to enter at least one rider in all rounds of the 2012 UCI RockyRoads Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano and to display the UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Team logo on their race outfits and team vehicles.

The creation, in 2011, of a higher tier of mountain bike teams was well received and in addition stimulated competition between teams wishing to achieve the status of UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Team.

Invitations to join the Elite teams were issued to the top teams of a UCI ranking established on 26th September by adding up the UCI points of the best riders within each team. They had until 10th December to confirm their interest. A maximum of 15 of the top 20 ranked teams can feature on the list of UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Teams in their category.

Two teams, Trek World Racing and Ghost Factory Racing Team, will have the ELITE status in both the “endurance” and “gravity” categories in 2012.

The final list of the UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Teams for 2012, in ranking order, is:

Endurance:

• Specialized Racing Team (USA)
• Multivan Merida Biking Team (GER)
• Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team (GER)
• Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team (NED)
• BH SR Suntour Peisey-Vallandry (FRA)
• Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team (SUI)
• Cannondale Factory Racing (GER)
• Subaru-Trek (USA)
• Orbea (ESP)
• Luna Pro Team (USA)
• Colnago Farbe Sudtirol (ITA)
• Topeak Ergon Racing Team (GER)
• CCC Polkowice (POL)
• Trek World Racing (ESP)
• Ghost Factory Racing Team (GER)

Gravity:

• Trek World Racing (ESP)
• Scott 11 (SUI)
• Santa Cruz Syndicate (USA)
• GT Bicycles (GBR)
• Giant Factory Off-road Team (USA)
• MS Mondraker Racing (AUT)
• Riding Addiction Commençal (FRA)
• Monster Energy / Specialized Factory Racing (USA)
• Lapierre International (FRA)
• Chain Reaction Cycles.com / Nukeproof (GBR)
• Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team (USA)
• Ghost Factory Racing Team (GER)
• Alpine Commençal Austria (AUT)
• Hutchinson United Ride (FRA)

MTB GP Pro Permanent Number Selection

In case you haven’t heard, the US Grand Prix of Mountain Biking will be issuing permanent numbers to any interested PRO DOWNHILL rider!!  The top riders from last year’s Pro GRT have selected their number, now it’s your turn to choose!  Sorry, this will be PRO DH riders only!

You may choose any available number to keep permanently (see rules & regulations) in which you may brand yourselves.  The number comes at a $50 fee per person, per year (which all funds go toward the overall pro purse &/or privateer award). 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at your convenience!

2012 RockyRoads UCI MTB Logo

RockyRoads Network, the new title sponsor of the UCI Mountain bike World Cup, along with the organizers of all 10 rounds of the 2012 edition, official timers Swiss Timing, technical delegates and UCI staff met in Geneva, Switzerland, this week to prepare the upcoming World Cup season.

Simultaneously, a new logo for the 2012 UCI MTB World Cup was presented. The red and blue banner is gone; the logo is now entirely in black, only the title sponsor RockyRoads and the sub sponsor Shimano keep their signature colors.

The idea behind the organisation of the seminar was to present the changes to the series for 2012. “We want to ensure that the World Cup is a united series rather than 10 separate events,” explains UCI Mountain Bike Organisation Coordinator Mélanie Leveau.

The owner of RockyRoads Network, Sietse Schelpe, was pleasantly surprised with the enthusiasm and positive attitude of the organizers after the first meeting. “We are pleased with the feedback from the organizers. They were a bit skeptical about the changes a new sponsor always brings. But they understand our perspective. We want to support and develop the sport more than anything else. Everyone is now energized to work toward creating a beautiful future for the mountain bike sport.”

Schelpe is also pleased with the integration of Sprint Eliminator (XCE) into the World series, even though in 2012 there will be only three sprint eliminator races ridden in Houffalize (BEL), Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) and La Bresse (FRA). “The sprint has great potential and we hope that together with the UCI we can develop this great discipline even further,” said Schelpe.

Troy Brosnan Kicks Off The 2012 ANS With A Win

Summer is well and truly arrived South of the equator, and the Australian National series has begun. Monster Energy-Specialized athletes Troy Brosnan and Sam Hill were keen to do some racing in the World Cup off-season and made their way to Thredbo, N.S.W for the first round of the 2011 series. With the weather report looking sub-par, the boys were keen to make use of the Friday practice session as it has been a couple of years since both Troy or Sam had ridden on this track.

The only substantial rain fell Sunday morning but was enough to make things challenging without limiting the speed of the track. Both riders felt good after seeding, where Brosnan placed second behind Jared Graves, while Hill sat in fourth. Both Monster Energy Specialized riders were confident and knew they had time left in them for their race runs. 

Hill raced to a 5:33.87 in the finals, knocking last year's National Series Champ, Rhys Atkinson out of the hot seat. Most Aussie racers know what a brutal track Thredbo can be, but Brosnan had looked unbelievably fast all weekend. All eyes were on the Junior World Champion as he dropped in and stopped the clock with a 5.31.54, taking the lead from Sam by over 2 seconds. Graves was just under a second Behind Hill, putting Monster Energy Specialized 1-2 for the weekend.

Both riders were stoked with the beginning of the race season. Sam was really impressed with Troy’s run, and keen to be on the other side of him for the next round in Buller. 

“ I really feel my fitness is where it has to be in this part of the year on a long track like this. I just don’t feel like I got stuck into it from the start for a race run but I guess that’s going to come from doing more races. Aside from that I felt pretty happy with my run, I was smooth everywhere and hit everything like I wanted to. Troy was just on top of his game this weekend.”

Troy was ecstatic with his win. With it being his first year stepping up into the senior ranks he made a statement on a big track with the big boys. “ There had been a bit of rain early in the morning and before racing, so was a little unsure how the track would hold up. For my race run the track was pretty dry, and a lot faster than I thought. I just threw down a really good run and no mistakes really, pedalled out of each corner as hard as I could, and it just seemed to all work out. On to the next round in Mount Buller” 

Team manager Sean Heimdal was happy to have both riders healthy and back on the podium locally.

“Its great to see both Sam and Troy getting amongst the Australian Nationals...it shows they’re both focused on 2012 and looking to sharpen their skills for the upcoming World Cup Season. I’m sure these guys will all keep pushing themselves harder than ever to keep pace with each other.” Specialized Bicycles are more than happy with the start of both Troy and Sam’s season down under and couldn’t be more proud.

Both Sam and Troy look forward to tackling the next Australian round in Buller.

We’d like to thank the following companies for their continued support: Monster Energy, Specialized Bicycles, Mad Catz, SRAM, Truvativ, Rock Shox, Avid, DT Swiss, SDG, Renthal, Troy Lee Designs, Maxima, Spy Optics, Cane Creek, e-thirteen, Contour, Five Ten, Alligator, Obtainium, Freestyle, Kicker, KMC.

2012 Trek World Racing Team Announced

Trek World Racing announces its roster for 2012, returning once again with an impressive line-up of Cross Country and Downhill riders ready to take on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, World Championships, Olympics and a selected set of major events including Crankworx in Whistler, the Sea Otter Classic and the Sunshine Cup in Cyprus.

DH: As the number 1 Downhill team in the world this year, Trek World Racing will return with 3 elite men, namely Aaron Gwin (USA), Justin Leov (NZL) and Neko Mulally (USA). The 3 Downhill men will be aboard their Trek Session 9.9 carbon bikes and racing the full World Cup along with a number of MTB Grand Prix events in the US, Sea Otter Classic, Crankworx in Whistler, and other selected events.

Also new for the team in 2012 is the hiring of 2000 World Downhill Champion, Myles Rockwell, as a rider liaison assisting the riders with their training, strategy and racing at the World Cups and Worlds.

Tracy Moseley successfully raced for the program for last 3 years, taking 18 World Cup podiums (including 6 wins), the World Championship Title in 2010, and the World Cup title in 2011, however she has decided to take her career in a different direction in 2012. T-MO will be making her own announcement.

XC: The team will field 4 Cross Country riders including new signing Junior XC phenom Anton Cooper (NZL) who will be racing selected events throughout 2012 while continuing with his education. Willow Rockwell (USA) returns to full time racing after getting married and having a child in December with husband Myles, with the goal of being selected to race for the USA at the London Olympics. Returning for their 4th year with the team are the Flueckiger brothers from Switzerland. 2010 Under 23 World Champion Mathias, and Lukas who finish 5th at last year’s Worlds, will be opting to spend more time racing the Trek Superfly 29’ers in 2012.

Rider Quotes in alphabetical order:

Anton Cooper – “I am very excited to join Trek World Racing for the 2012 season. It is a significant step forward in my goals of becoming a World class rider. This is aided by the fact that the team’s focus is at the World Cup, World Championship and Olympic stage where they are able to provide top leve l support that is required to perform at this level. This is a great way to kick-start my career as a professional Mountain Biker and I look forward to what lies ahead.”

Luk Flueckiger – “I have more confidence than ever before. I will start my 2012 season where my 2011 season ended. The Olympics are my biggest goal for the year.”

Math Flueckiger – “2011 was my first year as a full time professional athlete. It was such a big change and I expected too much from myself after a season like 2010. I learnt so much in 2011, and I’ll bring all this experience to 2012. I won’t look at other riders, results, etc. I will focus solely on me! My moto will be ‘step by step’, improving throughout the year.”

Aaron Gwin – “I'm looking forward to the upcoming year. We had an awesome season in 2011 and I'm excited to get back to the races with my team!”

Justin Leov – “2012 is going to be an exciting year; with a new coach on board I feel a new motivation towards my ra cing. My hopes and goals are to have fun at the events like I did this year and aim for those top steps of the podium, which so many times have just alluded me.”

Neko Mulally – “I'm excited to go into 2012 and put together all of the experiences that have brought me to this point. I can see it coming together already. It's going to be awesome spending every weekend with people I love being around, I really can’t wait to go racing.”

Willow Rockwell – “I look forward to being the fastest mom on the planet. With the support of my Trek World Racing team and sponsors, I know I have everything I need to be the very best. I intend to do my part, and let the universe supply me with energy, grace and balance as I follow my destiny path."

Team Owner Martin Whiteley – “After the successes of the past 3 years, the team returns once again with a strong line-up of athletes, and the same talented staff and sponsors we’ve been lucky to have with us in 2011, building on a ll that we’ve achieved to date. New signings Anton Cooper and Myles Rockwell bring both youthful enthusiasm and experience. Our major sponsors Trek, JBL, Shimano and Fox have been extremely supportive and I’m really excited to take the 2012 version of the team on the road next year.”

The team website www.trekworldracing.com will be updated with more information throughout December and January. For media who haven’t yet applied for their login to access photography, simply go to the Media tab on the site and apply.