2024 TEAM RUMORS

Check falk.r.h’s comment (21st from the top) and the replies, the messages and likes are still there.

Looks to me like all comments (positive or otherwise) are now gone.

He must have turned off commenting completely. Well, interesting to see what comes out of this. I guess we're still stuck in this thread!

No screenshots at least?

I have some industry intel and the IG comments might not be far off. This could be a very dark day for the sport, let's hope more info on the reason for the split gets public. 

Being silent here only gives the rumors more weight and space to grow.

Clearly thibaut off canyon has been a thing for a little while. Didn’t tag or mention canyon or any team sponsors in his most recent post before the announcement 

Sooo does this mean Dante gets to go back up to the Factory team?

This topic has been talked about by people in the sector for some time (since the departure of commencal), it was a good move by Canyon to step away. I was surprised that Canyon hired him with these allegations. If they turn out to be true, it's very bad for the brands he still represents.

He raped a girl. Commencal kicked him to the curb. Canyon got fooled into signing him without getting told what happend. They found out and sacked his ass. 

Some people at Canyon didn't know. 

I find that difficult to believe. French DH is a tight community, the younger female riders around the national team are a very close group. We heard about the goings on in August and we are way out on the fringe! 

Streisand effect coming.

that post got edit quickly… who was the important person, who knew?

I edited it because I can't say for certain that that's the case, but if even I had heard the rumours (with no industry connections/insiders), I find it impossible to believe that someone like Barel wouldn't have. Even if he hadn't, someone in the team absolutely would have done, and again I find it hard to believe it wouldn't get raised.

However, I don't find it impossible to believe that someone high up at Canyon could be unaware of these rumours, but then be unhappy if they found out their new marquee signing has a fairly big black cloud over them and do something decisive about it immediately.

Here's an article about the case in Vojomag: https://www.vojomag.com/news/apres-commencal-le-tres-etrange-depart-de-thibaut-daprela-de-chez-canyon/

the R accusation is no trivial matter. My brothers roommate had his life ruined over one (he was never charged with anything). On one hand I can see companies just not wanting to deal with any drama at all, too much of a headache, or if they are willing to cut him maybe they are aware of some serious meat to the accusation.  

I used to be of the opinion "lets not pass judgement until there is a conviction in a court of law" but lately I haven't had much faith in the (US) legal system. 

if the accusations are true, the end of his racing career is gonna be pretty low on the list of things he should be worried about

Can you imagine the shitstorm when the pinkbicycle comment section hears about this?

I am sure they have heard about it but, for some reason, the site seems to have not acknowledged it to this point.  Odd

Not odd at all with the recent changes over on PB.  Completely different place over the last 12 months.

Regarding the larger story, either more came out to Canyon or it finally reached the people that should have known prior to the signing.  Either way it is a very poor look for Canyon to not have investigated privately prior to signing him. 

That being said, corporate responsibility in these issues still leave a lot to be desired.  Take a look at how Redbull is handling the Chris Horner issue where they cleared him and then put the accuser on unpaid leave after a massive data dump put it all out in the open.  Now they are trying to pretend that everything is normal.

Is there an English language news source? Has he been arrested or questioned by police? This is a real world crime. Why is there only a "mountain bike world" consequence? 

Corporate responsibility, and the MTB (especially gravity) boys club doesn't always go hand in hand.

But wouldn't reporting on Thibaut getting a contract after an alleged sexual assault be fighting the whole boys' club image they are trying to ditch? Thibaut getting a ride among those rumors certainly reeks of a boys' club...

Yeah, that's hella thizz-face stanky. But maybe he just hated the Sender?

Edit - I didn't know about the allegations

Unless it’s been edited, there’s no further information in this article

I have 0 trust in the legal system for this topic. Maybe its worse now, maybe its always been this way (insert astronaut meme). 

Either way, what do we do? Do we continue dragging his name through the mud based on rumors of allegations? What if hes not innocent? Should there be no consequences just because the legal system isn't reliable or effective? How is anyone to know? 

well to be fair, any mtb site would think about posting it standalone as news, tricky..... here it was brought up in the forum... no way to control it..(and a thumbnail in the main page now directed to the thread..)...

he is not a trophy celebrity that could have been trapped into a situation like this, for the exposure and money, thats for sure...

Exactly this, if the authorities are involved for a serious crime as this is, would he be even allowed to leave the country? Because right now it seems like there are only biking consequences and its really weird.

The Vojo article in French is actually a Belgian publication, it is the only article I have seen in French or English and is very much a response to the social media post and comments underneath, no additional information is provided.

The French racing forums, in which a number of French team managers and media people participate, have absolutely no comment or accusation. All the accusations have been on insta or in this thread.

Pretty miserable news, hope the truth officially comes out so we can move on.

There are going to be no winners from this situation whatever the outcome.
There are less enlightened corners of the internet where this can be 'debated'.
Probably best we leave it be for now I think.