2023 TEAM RUMORS

How about YT?

Also, Raaw has moved their HQ more westward I think. 

no

Not sure if it really means too much, but Sam Hill is entered in the Aus National Series DH round in Mt Buller this weekend.

We can dream about a WC return I guess!

Propain isn't too far from Munich...

My gut tells me it means something. First, he posted he's back riding after his most recent injury and provided the number of days until the VDS World Cup; then he hinted at 'big decisions moving forward' regarding race plans for 2023; and his most recent Instagram has him back riding downhill. I've also heard through the grapevine that Sam hasn't been thrilled about EWS racing the last few seasons. He came, he saw, and he conquered enduro. Why not revisit his first passion downhill? 

Nukeproof Factory:

DH: Sam Hill, Adam Brayton, Ronan Dunne, Louise Ferguson. 

Enduro: Eliott Heap, Kelan Grant, Corey Watson, Dan Booker. 

There is a very big chance that Innes will be moved up to the factory enduro team. Which means that one on your list could be off the team. 

Sam Hill mentoring Ronan Dunne would be amazing. The lad has got some real raw speed. 

Thought people had been saying Veronika Widmann had got a team ride and Harry Molloy would be in a manager role? Also think Ronan Dunne has said he’s staying with his current continental set up alongside Chris Cummins? Good shout about Innes taking the place left by Sam if he does go back to DH. 

He also liked my comment on his ig about him back to downhill, so Sam Hill to downhill confirmed!

2023, it will be 15 years since Sam's total annihilation of the VDS track back in 2008...

Oblig link to the run: 

The other site is showing DJ Brandt and Brooke Trine to Nukeproof

DJ Brandt joins Nukeproof

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnUeynxIT2V/?hl=en

Isla Joins Ghost Factory Racing!

Here's one rider who's NOT off Santa Cruz

Damn! Did not see that coming. I like it.

Any rumours about who will be joining Tom Wilson on Orange? 
 
 

My bet is Christo Gallagher as the Team Orange rider

Rob Roskop on the PB podcast. Haven't listened yet but should be interesting!

Orbea launches it's Factory XC Team for 2023!

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Press Release

Mallabia, January 12 2023 - The Orbea Factory Team evolves toward top-level competition with new team riders, a new structure, and a calendar that includes the entire XC UCI circuit, main stage races, and day races. “Competition is in our DNA, and we aspire to be the benchmark project for modern XC. We want to lead the transformation of the category to make it more widely recognized and bring it closer to spectators,” says Iñaki Ucín, Orbea’s Sponsoring Manager.

The project will attend the best races in the world with maximum ambition but without losing sight of the distinction that has set it apart since its foundation: cycling told from within. “Races create stories, and stories are for sharing. The team has always shared this vision, putting words and images to their races and experiences,” comments Iñaki.

The four riders chosen to achieve these goals are Pierre de Froidmont and Anne Tauber, who will continue in Elite; David Campos, who makes the leap to the highest category; and Luca Martin, who remains in Sub 23. Their objective: to inspire and excite cyclists from all over the world as they reach the top of the podiums of Cups, Championships, World Championships, and Olympics. In addition, Ibon Zugasti and Arnaud Jouffroy will be in charge of the most vocal element of the project: sharing cycling stories from within—as they have previously done—but with new experiences and from new races. 

Shimano is one of the main allies in this new era of the Orbea Factory Team. The Japanese brand has doubled down on its commitment to the project, demonstrating its outstanding confidence in the evolution of the team. Alongside them, Hiru is reinforcing its presence in racing, as well as OC, Orbea’s component brand. The newborn wheel brand Oquo also joins us: “Since our first year, Oquo has had the ambition to test and develop our products at the highest level,” says Jean Baptiste D’Abbadie, Oquo’s communication manager.

Additionally, the squad enters the new year in the company of Fox, Maxxis, Met, Skoda, Pro, 226er and X-sauce as well as new brands that will be incorporated into the project.

The evolution of the Orbea Factory Team was born from the collaboration agreement between MOVACIT, owned by Pierre Lebreton, and Orbea, through which the brand became the main sponsor with the aim of jointly developing the professional XC team. “All the riders and sponsors are eager to contribute their performance and knowledge to the team. With our heads in the clouds and our feet on the ground, we dream of reaching the highest level in this long-term project,” says Pierre Lebreton, Team Manager of the Orbea Factory Team.

In addition to Pierre, the project structure is rounded out by staff members Jernej Sobocan, Allan Cadet and Andrej Vrcon. Their jobs will be to organize and plan the season, carefully prepare the material they will use in competition and, ultimately, support the racers so they can focus on giving it their all. Together, they will have a content and communications team that exists to generate public interest around the Factory’s efforts.

In the near future, the team will announce more surprises and news, such as the first race where spectators can support the new team. In the meantime, follow the team on their networks, leave a comment on where you’d like to see them compete, what kind of content you want them to create, and don’t miss out on this new and exciting stage.

Worlds are back in Scotland this year as well. Pretty sure Sam did alright there last time around. 

I just hope there is some super natural section that everyone is complaining about so we can get another perfect Sam Hill clip during track walk.

Well you were *almost* right.

I don't normally think of Nukeproof when I think of Freeride. Good to see more brands get into it though.

Levy said in the comments it was recorded yesterday morning. Should be juicy...

My friend Tristan is not with the team anymore

I'll report back when I know about who he signed with

Mark Scott's Strava from this morning.. 👀👀 Two very nice Santa Cruz builds with Hope / Ohlins spec. 

Saw that this morning. The black one is one of his friend’s bikes, see it pretty frequently on his strava, but the ohlins on his nomad w/ sram is certainly interesting.