2019 Racing Rumors

1/9/2019 2:16am
Here's my latest theory.

Most of the teams/riders have a mutual agreement to keep a lid on things till the UCI registration day ( I know this doesn't apply to everyone, but it just makes sense as a set date since it does apply to many) cause they're all sitting back and enjoying the comments and theories from everyone here wearing tin foil hats. Then we'll have an orgy of press releases for heads to explode over!

The Syndicate already acknowledge their voyeurism of this thread, who's to say most other teams aren't also doing it on purpose?

yes yes, contracts, dates, legalities, they can't say till blah blah. Let's keep the crazy train rolling so I don't have to start doing sudoku puzzles
1
Eoin
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1/9/2019 2:46am
Lacanuck24 wrote:
Here's my latest theory. Most of the teams/riders have a mutual agreement to keep a lid on things till the UCI registration day ( I know...
Here's my latest theory.

Most of the teams/riders have a mutual agreement to keep a lid on things till the UCI registration day ( I know this doesn't apply to everyone, but it just makes sense as a set date since it does apply to many) cause they're all sitting back and enjoying the comments and theories from everyone here wearing tin foil hats. Then we'll have an orgy of press releases for heads to explode over!

The Syndicate already acknowledge their voyeurism of this thread, who's to say most other teams aren't also doing it on purpose?

yes yes, contracts, dates, legalities, they can't say till blah blah. Let's keep the crazy train rolling so I don't have to start doing sudoku puzzles
That's not really a theory, based on the syndicate, commencal and Gee's posts they clearly have an eye on things, at the very least they need to make sure info doesn't leak (Do you remember when Sam Hill's move to CRC was leaked weeks before the intended date :/ ).

But I think it is weird that many companies are waiting until the very last minute, did you really spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a team and then just wait for the UCI team listing to announce it for you in a spreadsheet? Or else wait until the last minute and have your announcement get drowned out by the 5 others that will come out that day? Seems like marketing 101, but I understand that many of these deals are ongoing processes (e.g. minor sponsors for components might not be signed so you can make a release video...)

It just seems a bit odd, like Canyon for example have one of the top DH and EWS teams, but they barely announced it with a photoshoot and have next to no media all season long? Meanwhile look at Cannondale who I assume are getting a huge return on investment from they recent announcement.

*Disclaimer: not a team rumour, but this thread is "team just make Sh*t up" half the time anyway
5
taldfind
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1/9/2019 3:46am
Eoin wrote:
That's not really a theory, based on the syndicate, commencal and Gee's posts they clearly have an eye on things, at the very least they need...
That's not really a theory, based on the syndicate, commencal and Gee's posts they clearly have an eye on things, at the very least they need to make sure info doesn't leak (Do you remember when Sam Hill's move to CRC was leaked weeks before the intended date :/ ).

But I think it is weird that many companies are waiting until the very last minute, did you really spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a team and then just wait for the UCI team listing to announce it for you in a spreadsheet? Or else wait until the last minute and have your announcement get drowned out by the 5 others that will come out that day? Seems like marketing 101, but I understand that many of these deals are ongoing processes (e.g. minor sponsors for components might not be signed so you can make a release video...)

It just seems a bit odd, like Canyon for example have one of the top DH and EWS teams, but they barely announced it with a photoshoot and have next to no media all season long? Meanwhile look at Cannondale who I assume are getting a huge return on investment from they recent announcement.

*Disclaimer: not a team rumour, but this thread is "team just make Sh*t up" half the time anyway
Isn't that what most rumors are, mostly made up and therfore doubtful and unverified?
2
ck85
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1/9/2019 3:51am
During the season the riders entertain us, during the winter we entertain them with random BS and complete guesses about their career.
8
1/9/2019 5:11am
Everyone seems to have missed it, but a few weeks back 2018 Propain/Dirt rider David Trummer posted an instagram story of his new bike with the usual instagram coverup. Clearly in the shape of a YT. possible he has moved alongside Phil Atwill to YT but does appear he is on a YT bike for 2019 season. I would post the photo here but it was a story and is no longer available and I never screenshotted it.
Eoin
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1/9/2019 5:20am
taldfind wrote:
Isn't that what most rumors are, mostly made up and therfore doubtful and unverified?
Right, but generally a rumour is something that is going around, not something I just made up like "Minnaar back on Honda, I 100% garantee it".

In previous years there was an industry insider releasing information as comics for us to decode, a lot of which were accurate and came out way before any sightings or press releases. People reporting on seeing X rider on Y bike, or at a certain HQ is also pretty interesting. I'm not sure any of the instagram liking/following/commenting ever means anything, but hey it's better than nothing!

I'm not saying this isnt fun, but there are some silly predictions/wishes popping up here.

2
Juanjo
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1/9/2019 5:44am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2019 6:25am
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2019/01/08/7270/s1200_Screenshot_20190109_065804.jpg[/img] Retro looking frame


Retro looking frame
Bro... thats a trials bike (moto)
2
1/9/2019 6:14am
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2019/01/08/7270/s1200_Screenshot_20190109_065804.jpg[/img] Retro looking frame


Retro looking frame
Juanjo wrote:
Bro... thats a trials bike (moto)
Still, there might be a hidden sign to something new here.

What is the hand sign Gee is doing there? A RAD.
What does RAD stand for ? Race And Development.
Which is clearly a hint to a brand new bike.

I think we're all gonna agree on the meaning of this: Athertons are going to start their own brand.

Just sayin'.
2
6
1/9/2019 6:36am
Nico_Hrndz wrote:
Still, there might be a hidden sign to something new here. What is the hand sign Gee is doing there? A RAD. What does RAD stand...
Still, there might be a hidden sign to something new here.

What is the hand sign Gee is doing there? A RAD.
What does RAD stand for ? Race And Development.
Which is clearly a hint to a brand new bike.

I think we're all gonna agree on the meaning of this: Athertons are going to start their own brand.

Just sayin'.
Are you nice and loose after that stretch?
16
hairyyy
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1/9/2019 7:09am
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2019/01/08/7270/s1200_Screenshot_20190109_065804.jpg[/img] Retro looking frame


Retro looking frame
Juanjo wrote:
Bro... thats a trials bike (moto)
Nico_Hrndz wrote:
Still, there might be a hidden sign to something new here. What is the hand sign Gee is doing there? A RAD. What does RAD stand...
Still, there might be a hidden sign to something new here.

What is the hand sign Gee is doing there? A RAD.
What does RAD stand for ? Race And Development.
Which is clearly a hint to a brand new bike.

I think we're all gonna agree on the meaning of this: Athertons are going to start their own brand.

Just sayin'.
Read some shit on the thread but you take the title of biggest load of shit yet.
3
1/9/2019 7:36am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2019 7:37am
taldfind wrote:
Isn't that what most rumors are, mostly made up and therfore doubtful and unverified?
Interesting that throughout life I've found most rumors to be true.
Now speculation on the other hand...
1
ddbullard76
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1/9/2019 7:46am
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2019/01/09/7280/s1200_Screenshot_20190109_074019_Instagram.jpg[/img] Intense insta, are those Gwin sig grips?


Intense insta, are those Gwin sig grips?
Yes they are.
krabo83
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1/9/2019 7:54am
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2019/01/09/7280/s1200_Screenshot_20190109_074019_Instagram.jpg[/img] Intense insta, are those Gwin sig grips?


Intense insta, are those Gwin sig grips?
haha, was going to post the same screenshot? my thoughts exactly regarding the ODI signature grips. 8 more days they said. also there‘s no shock in the frame.
Maxipedia
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1/9/2019 8:42am Edited Date/Time 1/10/2019 1:32am
Nico_Hrndz wrote:
Still, there might be a hidden sign to something new here. What is the hand sign Gee is doing there? A RAD. What does RAD stand...
Still, there might be a hidden sign to something new here.

What is the hand sign Gee is doing there? A RAD.
What does RAD stand for ? Race And Development.
Which is clearly a hint to a brand new bike.

I think we're all gonna agree on the meaning of this: Athertons are going to start their own brand.

Just sayin'.
Hm! I was about to dismiss this. But then I thought again.

1. The Athertons hinted in their farewell statement from Trek to doing ”something different” in the future. This could be diplomatic euphemism for a press release that basically translate into ”we are switching brands”, but it could be something else. Gee also said, though, that given the rumours, few were going to be surprised by this, but he definitely meant the departure from Trek.

2. One of the most important backup the Athertons have always had was through Madison, the biggest cycling equipment distributor from the UK. Pretty much everything they have ever run, every brand, is in the Madison catalog. Shimano is probably their most important brand they carry, but their list is huge. Remember Continental tires? Some people swear they are awesome, but let's not forget that the Athertons were the workhorses doing the testing out there, sometimes risking race results on that product (Gee at MSA, anyone?). Also, the split between the Athertons and Commencal happened at the same time when Madison dropped Commencal from their line-up. Since Commencal wasn't able to establish a solid network of distributors, their UK sales were key, so they had to reshuffle their cards and masterfully pulled a PR stunt and went online. It's basically a cat that somehow fell on its feet. Anyway, I believe the roots of the Athertons and Madison run very deep and they will never be without a sponsor as long as those guys are around. And if they ever wanted to start a new brand, what better backup than such a strong distributor? Just look at how Madison turned Saracen around!

I don't exactly see that Atherton brand thing happening now, but there is definitely a logic to that. How cool would it be if that was never the case, but someone from their camp reads this thread and two years from now they go ”Well,we never actually wanted to pull this, but two years ago we read these forum posts and here are the new bikes!”, mwhahahahaha! Wink
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C1audio
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1/9/2019 9:11am
krabo83 wrote:
haha, was going to post the same screenshot? my thoughts exactly regarding the ODI signature grips. 8 more days they said. also there‘s no shock in...
haha, was going to post the same screenshot? my thoughts exactly regarding the ODI signature grips. 8 more days they said. also there‘s no shock in the frame.
8 more days? What, until they announce? Won't it show up on the UCI team roster on Friday?
1/9/2019 9:28am
I heard from Neil Donoghue on gmbn, that Rachel was riding a 29er because the bike they are going to be riding only has a 29er option.
mtbrealtalk
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1/9/2019 9:28am
Eoin wrote:
Right, but generally a rumour is something that is going around, not something I just made up like "Minnaar back on Honda, I 100% garantee it"...
Right, but generally a rumour is something that is going around, not something I just made up like "Minnaar back on Honda, I 100% garantee it".

In previous years there was an industry insider releasing information as comics for us to decode, a lot of which were accurate and came out way before any sightings or press releases. People reporting on seeing X rider on Y bike, or at a certain HQ is also pretty interesting. I'm not sure any of the instagram liking/following/commenting ever means anything, but hey it's better than nothing!

I'm not saying this isnt fun, but there are some silly predictions/wishes popping up here.

Trust me, there are plenty of Industry Insiders leaking information. You just gotta know what's coming from the inside and what's not.
1
1/9/2019 9:29am
So cute people thinking that a racer giving input to a product in development is "developing" products.
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kwapik
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1/9/2019 9:41am
nathan999x wrote:
I heard from Neil Donoghue on gmbn, that Rachel was riding a 29er because the bike they are going to be riding only has a 29er...
I heard from Neil Donoghue on gmbn, that Rachel was riding a 29er because the bike they are going to be riding only has a 29er option.
So...who has a 29er dh only?
1
mfoga
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1/9/2019 9:53am
krabo83 wrote:
haha, was going to post the same screenshot? my thoughts exactly regarding the ODI signature grips. 8 more days they said. also there‘s no shock in...
haha, was going to post the same screenshot? my thoughts exactly regarding the ODI signature grips. 8 more days they said. also there‘s no shock in the frame.
C1audio wrote:
8 more days? What, until they announce? Won't it show up on the UCI team roster on Friday?
They only have to submit team but I dont believe it goes public immediately.
1/9/2019 10:21am
denis0082 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2019/01/09/7301/s1200_Screenshot_20190109_190112.jpg[/img] Rachel likes the new Tues.

Rachel likes the new Tues.
Cam and Rachel have been friends for years. She's probably just liking the post of a friend.
1
pohsoonteng
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1/9/2019 10:22am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2019 10:22am
Any chance Athertons might be using Merida to supply frames for their own bike brand?
1/9/2019 10:41am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2019 10:44am
Cam and Rachel have been friends for years. She's probably just liking the post of a friend.
Didn't know that even though I've been "following" both for the last year. I thought it might make sense, YT just lost two riders, two Athertons need a new team...
I like my math easy.
1/9/2019 10:59am
denis0082 wrote:
Didn't know that even though I've been "following" both for the last year. I thought it might make sense, YT just lost two riders, two Athertons...
Didn't know that even though I've been "following" both for the last year. I thought it might make sense, YT just lost two riders, two Athertons need a new team...
I like my math easy.
Ya but Gwin has already said it was not his decision to leave YT so i doubt YT would see the value in letting Gwin/Neko go to attain Athertons even if it saved them a little money
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krabo83
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1/9/2019 10:59am
krabo83 wrote:
haha, was going to post the same screenshot? my thoughts exactly regarding the ODI signature grips. 8 more days they said. also there‘s no shock in...
haha, was going to post the same screenshot? my thoughts exactly regarding the ODI signature grips. 8 more days they said. also there‘s no shock in the frame.
C1audio wrote:
8 more days? What, until they announce? Won't it show up on the UCI team roster on Friday?

2

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