[Closed] Katy Winton

Does her bike fit too well?

The impression I get is that it wasn't her decision. She's an amazing rider and great ambassador. Can't imagine why she wouldn't get a contract, but so far no news. Pretty bad, especially with the EWS at Inners this year.

Trek making room for Loris, plus picking up the B-team (Sram/TLD/Trek with Vali/Jamie/Ethan/Tegan).

2018 was not a good year, crashing and concussion. Good results in 2019 & 2020.
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider26242/katy-winton/results/

She is deserving of a factory ride, hopefully someone has or will pick her up.

Was she struggling with long term concussion effects after an EWS crash (maybe in 2019?)

EDIT - Sir HC beat me to it with a properly researched and chronologically correct answer, so ignore me.

Just checking her Insta-feed, and last post was at the end of Dec, so here's hoping that she's too busy negotiating a factory ride to be posting! It would be a shame not to see her competing, she's always pretty consistently top 5 and I can't see that wouldn't put her in a strong position to be picked up by a team.

I imagine being picked by a team is not just based on your results.

Its going to be based on results + social media impact + your wage demand.

Look at Brendog as an example.

From the rumours I've heard she's putting together her own sponsorship deals, separate to any teams.

Trimix
Full Member

I imagine being picked by a team is not just based on your results.

Its going to be based on results + social media impact + your wage demand.

Sure, but that ought to be in Katy's favour, she's a social media (and real media) machine. Though, maybe that's a bit Uk centric of me? Still, I'd have thought she's an athlete that'd be good value in a year with little racing.

philstone
Full Member

From the rumours I’ve heard she’s putting together her own sponsorship deals, separate to any teams.

Unfortunately that's rarely a good thing, all the management/admin support falls to the rider unless they are really getting the ££ and can employ someone themselves (e.g. Dan Brown with the Athertons)

I for one hope she finds a ride for this year. Always comes across sound in the media and she definitely has talent on the bike.

I met Katy at Trans Provence and she is a very intelligent woman who rips on a bike.  She mentioned plans on moving abroad, maybe now is the time. Either way she is fully deserving of a factory ride and I wish her all the best.

The ews podcast inferred she was putting her own programme together. I hope that is by choice and not necessity. As others have said it would be a shame not to see her racing well supported

Might be a mixture of choice and necessity, if she can rustle up more funds by collecting sponsors herself.

I get the impression many "factory" riders may not be on much of a salary.

Hope she can make it work for herself anyway.

Always wondered if the finances ever actually stack up for EWS from a riders or sponsors point of view. Big series spread right across the globe involving lots of expensive flights and exotic destinations. Also seems to be very little media coverage compared to DH. I can imagine lots of pro’s doing for the enjoyment and the experience but not making enough to live on.

Shame for Katy, she’s always good value on the Downtime podcast, but results count. Had bad luck with her concussion issues but being out for so long does sell any Treks.

I think Katy's new video could be titled, "How I got stiffed by Trek". Glad to hear that it sounds as if she has something planned

Got a link to that please?

Cheers nick

Good video to give an insight into the trials and tribulations of putting together a deal.

I think Katy’s new video could be titled, “How I got stiffed by Trek”.

In fairness to Trek, I'm not sure how choosing not to renew a contract constitutes being stiffed. Unless you know something more, but certainly that video just seems like contract was unfortunately not renewed, that's just the way it goes I guess.

In fairness to Trek, I’m not sure how choosing not to renew a contract constitutes being stiffed

by keeping her waiting for a renewal until after everyone in the industry knew that most teams would have already determined their new line up. If they didn’t want her services for 2021, fair enough,  but they could have said so in time for her to pursue opportunities to get a place on a different team

I'm guessing they blew the budget on Loris

depends I guess on whether Trek themselves were waiting for someone they preferred to sign, or for some funding to be agreed, or whatever, that prevented them making a decision earlier.

Alternatively - although unsavoury, by delaying a decision whether to resign a rider you could also create a situation where other rosters also get filled and you don't have to compete against them either....

depends I guess on whether Trek themselves were waiting for someone they preferred to sign, or for some funding to be agreed, or whatever, that prevented them making a decision earlier.

As above, Loris

Not just spent big on Loris. Reece Wilson was going to be dropped, but then he went and won World Champs. Not retaining him would have been stupid. Not just a new contract, but a much better paying one.

the video aludes to the fact that bike brands marketing budgets are usually spent up and teams / contracts are all in place by the end of the year. No doubt loads of brands would snap her hand off had they known she was available. its all a bit first world - id imagine worst case scenario is she has to ride as a privateer for a season and then be back on a factory team for the following year? fairly certain she wouldnt have to fund her own bike, only the travel and digs, all the races are in europe this year anyway.

Yeah bit harsh to say Trek stiffed her, Katy admits herself she should of done something sooner.

Also don't forget not all teams/riders are on the same "2 year cycle" so some teams could be half way through there cycles, + Olympics been delayed a year so extensions of contracts, so many might be unable/no budget to sign Katy even if they wanted to. Plus add in covid/lock downs/travel restrictions date changes etc.

Another thing, Trek are paying their women's road team equal base pay as their men's team.

But sounds like some good news for Katy in the next vid, and I really hope she got something sorted as it be a real shame not to see her on the start line, she was always friendly when I bump into her on the XC circuit back in the day.

by keeping her waiting for a renewal until after everyone in the industry knew that most teams would have already determined their new line up. If they didn’t want her services for 2021, fair enough, but they could have said so in time for her to pursue opportunities to get a place on a different team

But that's not the scenario that is described in the video? They said early in the season they weren't ready to re-sign and needed to wait, Katie kept all her eggs in one basket and in hindsight admits in the video she should have had other discussions ongoing at the same time. If Trek had said yes we'll definitely re-sign you but let's sort the details later then yes that would be stiffing her, but saying we don't know if we want to re-sign you and then not re-signing is unfortunate but hardly anybody's fault.

its all a bit first world – id imagine worst case scenario is she has to ride as a privateer for a season and then be back on a factory team for the following year? fairly certain she wouldnt have to fund her own bike, only the travel and digs, all the races are in europe this year anyway.

You make that sound incredibly easy. She’d have to organise and pay for all of that herself (may or may not have to buy kit too) as well as either be her own mechanic or fund someone to do that too. All of this detracts from focusing on her #1 job - be fast

Another thing, Trek are paying their women’s road team equal base pay as their men’s team.

You make it sound as though that is a bad thing...they should be doing that already so if they have just started then the fault for that, is with Trek for not budgeting that in sooner.

Whole things could have been handled much better from both sides, hopefully some good news is about to land for Katy though.

Listening to Katy though she's clear that she knew her contract with Trek was coming to and end, and admits that it's normal for athletes to have started to have alternatives lined up "just in case"  before negotiations start proper. Which she didn't do...

Trek are paying their women’s road team equal base pay as their men’s team.

I would be interested to know how they defined that. Im sure there are a vast range of salaries in both the mens and womens team. I dont suppose the domestiques are on the same pay as their TdF team leader

Katy is a fighter and delivers great results. It will be interesting what happens next.

anyone know when the next one will be out?

It read to me like a bit of complacency that she was so comfortable at Trek she hadn't looked at any other options.

I hope it ends up working out well. I'm not sure I have ever seen so much interest on an EWS team switch so could wind up with lots of eyes on Katy and her new sponsors.

She seems really genuine and likeable, I really enjoy this behind the scenes type content rather than sick edit after sick edit.

Specialized Enduro Team gets announced today. Convenient timing or coincidence...?