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So will there be any teams this year?
GT - gone
Rockshox Trek - gone
Mondraker parting with MS
And today Intense Factory racing - gone
So who else is gone and who's going to still be there?
Does this mean that some of the privateers might get a bit more of a chance to make finals?
It's a real shame, and in some ways a bit odd as the racing has been incredible recently.
I suspect there is a will be a host of privateer/mini team entries as we get towards Spring - Danny Hart, for instance has explicitly said that whatever it takes he'll be racing. That may just mean rocking up in the camper van with a destickered alloy frame in black powder coat, and to be honest, for someone with his level of experience and a bit of cash behind him to help pay the fees, it could work really well!
Here's hoping a few of the others have the opportunity to do the same too.
@simondbarnes I was looking for that thread but couldn't find it lol
With CRC pulling out I've bought an old Iron Horse Sunday off facebook and signed Sam Hill for a fiver.
Haven’t the entry fees shot up? Might be difficult for many privateers too.
While there's obviously been a big shake up, I suspect it sounds worse than it is as new teams won't be announced until after the new year. Santa Cruz will be there, Greg seems to have signed (probably to Norco), Frameworks will be there, Commencal, Specialized, looks like Danny might be riding on a Banshee if his last Instagram post means anything. I think it'll end up being a good year for racing, even if it's a bit more expensive to watch it.
I think it’ll end up being a good year for racing, even if it’s a bit more expensive to watch it.
For people in the UK it's going to be a bit more expensive. For much of the rest of the world it's going to be much much more expensive. If it's possible to watch it at all.
And I don't think the UK is quite such an attractive market to sell bikes to (or anything else, for that matter) as it used to be.
looks like Danny might be riding on a Banshee if his last Instagram post means anything.
Considering the bike in the picture is a Cube I doubt this very much.
This is still the best place to find info about what might actually happen...
www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2024-team-rumors
Some people on there actually know stuff, some of them are fantasists. You can work out who is who.
Considering the bike in the picture is a Cube I doubt this very much
Ah, my mistake, it was a post I'd seen which was shared on the team rumour Vital thread, although as you have pointed out I clearly didn't look into enough detail.
Nevertheless I still think that there will be good quality racing this year. I'm interested to know how the series is going to develop, if there will be any feeder series or if any of the ideas pitched by Martin Whiteley (as he discussed on MUTN podcast) might be used.
Danny isn't going to Banshee. The most recent predictions on the Vital thread are correct.
Speaking of Danny his last IG story with a bike on the back of his truck, I spent a good 30 minutes trying to figure out what it was based on the brand sticker on the front of the bike between the fork stanchions to no avail, anyone else figure it out? - nervmind appears to be Banshee
Does this mean that some of the privateers might get a bit more of a chance to make finals?
Well, it seems like there are gonna be a few more privateers anyway.
I feel cheated that it's Jan 3rd already and we're still getting team closure & rider "parts ways" stories.
Give us the signing / new team news now godammit 😀
the ideas pitched by Martin Whiteley (as he discussed on MUTN podcast) might be used.
This would be the perfect solution to the current situation IMO.
MW pragmatic as ever.
Haven’t the entry fees shot up? Might be difficult for many privateers too.
I think you are confusing it with the Pro Team entry fees. You get special privelidges such as not needing any UCI points from minor events to enter (see Rachel coming back after 2 years absence for example) and premier pit space.
But any privateer with suitable UCI points* can show up, pay their 150 euros, ensure they comply with the dress code and crack on.
*harder for some nationalities than others. In some countries just being uninjured and entering your local races will get you in, for others theres a lot of travelling and expense to acheive the same.
Give us the signing / new team news now godammi
tomorrow for sure for one 🙂
Speaking of Danny his last IG story with a bike on the back of his truck, I spent a good 30 minutes trying to figure out what it was based on the brand sticker on the front of the bike between the fork stanchions to no avail, anyone else figure it out? – nervmind appears to be Banshee
Its his old/existing cube DH bike - look at the seat clamp.
Do we thin Ronan Dunne will be at the Syndicate?
Is it going to be easier to confirm which teams and riders are *in* at the moment?
UCI posts all the info freely, but obviously 2024 is not available now - keep an eye on here:
https://www.uci.org/riders/mountain-bike-riders-teams/1V5hGPnEvXzbIqkjUHmFuw
So will there be any teams this year?
I know the list of riders coming off teams and teams folding is news currently, but all the riders contracts ending has to happen before new signings are announced.
But any privateer with suitable UCI points* can show up, pay their 150 euros, ensure they comply with the dress code and crack on.
I would be happier to see DHI be more like this anyway. I know there's talk of it being the F1 of mountain biking, and I think generally the mega-teams are good for the sport, but I'd be happy if it went to being a more grass-roots competition.
I would be happier to see DHI be more like this anyway. I know there’s talk of it being the F1 of mountain biking, and I think generally the mega-teams are good for the sport, but I’d be happy if it went to being a more grass-roots competition.
That's how it is though and always has been. It's just that of course you have the Pro teams along-side the Privateer riders too. But essentially, anyone can rock up and have a go. (assuming they've got the UCI points)
From a manufacturer perspective, money is tight in the bicycle trade, so they'll be looking at it from a commercial perspective of, what do they actually gain from spending (a lot) of money to have a pro team?
Combine that with fewer rounds, and potentially less media coverage, the financial justification of having an official UCI race team probably isn't there.
They can probably get as much marketing return from supporting various privateers, and as much as I hate to say it, social media "influencers".
I think it's funny how everyone on the Vital thread knows that Danny's Dad is a proper weapon. Imagine being such an insufferable douche canoe that your reputation is international.
dirkpitt74
Do we thin Ronan Dunne will be at the Syndicate
He will not, but he does have a factiry team.
All coming in now.
Hart next?
Hart next?
Team Halfords Apollo......
Marine saying farewell to Brendan as she welcomes Scott's new signings:
Does that just mean he's not formally on the race team/doing all the WCs? Or is he leaving Scott after all these years?
Does that just mean he’s not formally on the race team/doing all the WCs? Or is he leaving Scott after all these years?
From Pinkbike comments the impression is that he's just not racing, but if he does he gets full access... but not part of the 'squad' for every race.
I think he's just not doing world cups anymore .on a podcast I seem to remember him saying he was not part of the full team , frame only and pit space I think . All the other bits were personal sponsors which made him more money.
He's got death grip 2 coming out this year so I'd imagine Scott would still want to be involved with him at the moment.
OK cheers, that's what I kind-of assumed.
He must be Scott's biggest gravity MTB asset by far.
I’ve recently swapped from Mary/Betty combo to Pirelli Scorpion Race, Enduro M front and DH T rear, and been very impressed, the Enduro M is the best tyre I’ve used on exposed wet roots and we have a lot of them round here.
Previous to the MM/Betty as Michelin DH22/34 is which had the best carcass and grip I’ve ever had but by far the heaviest, before that various combinations of DHR/DHF/Dissector.
All coming in now.
Hart next?
My Money is still on Danny and Grandads Road to Nowhere DH Team. Two Northerners, a camper van, Noddy Holder on pits and cooking bacon sangers.
Anyone else seen the rumour that Shark-Attack Jack is moving back to DH from EDR?
Anyone else seen the rumour that Shark-Attack Jack is moving back to DH from EDR?
Happens every time he posts pics of him riding a DH bike in the off season which is every year.
The Australian national champs are on his local track this year so he might compete in that one.
Minnaar to Norco and a brilliant interview over 'there'
Some really interesting nuggets in there. Glad to see Greg getting at least one more season.
I was waiting for Gracey Hemstreet to have a really good result all season so hopefully with the new team appearing around her the results will come.
So Intense Factory Racing aren't dead......
4 new riders - one could be Louise Ferguson or Aimee Kenyon, no ideas on the others but possibly Joe Breedon??
Hopefully Joe will be sticking with Intense yeah - he deserves a full, fit season to show what he can do.
Speculation seems to be Louise Ferguson and this US junior too: Ryder LAWRENCE's results - Roots & Rain (rootsandrain.com)
It's all just a bit of a laugh, but it probably peaked last year with Jesse Melamed's coffee machine photo trolling. I'm not sure that anyone will ever top that. This year with all the management and brand reshuffling makes it a little more intriguing.
Back on topic...
So there's going to be two Intense teams?
So there’s going to be two Intense teams?
I believe Intense has "parted ways" with AG and is pairing up with MS racing as a management entity.
Meanwhile Mondraker has parted ways from MS, and is setting up a factory team with Dak and others (probably not Danny but wouldn't it be awesome?).
That set up looks like a development team; with Breedon, Lou Ferguson, Ryder Laurence and what could well be Oscar Griffiths. Why would he otherwise be in California, unless his mum's having a bring your kids into work day? The fourth silhouette certainly isn't David Trummer, who was in Dyfi on the weekend riding an M1, so where does that leave him?
@ocrider I did see somewhere that Intense will have three British riders so that would make sense.
also, this was on the Vital thread
An American brand that is a name place is going to have an American rider
Which made me remember I was riding with a Marin sponsored rider a while back who said they would have a DH bike very soon. So there could be a new team on the WC circuit.
Mondraker confirmed their factory tea, for next year, lineup tbc but I think they are well known
Earl Grey or Peppermint?
I mean they have confirmed that they have a team, just not who’s on it.