Remy Meier Smith is rumored, someone was also saying Heather Wilson but she is also rumored to be on AON racing. Very curious what the plan...
Remy Meier Smith is rumored, someone was also saying Heather Wilson but she is also rumored to be on AON racing. Very curious what the plan is for PFR to be at the world cups.
Even with Remy and Heather i don't think they're a top 15 team.
Looks like Mr. Ed is in Phoenix based on his insta, but doesn't seem like the rest of the team (BK, Jenna, Matt) are there. Feels...
Looks like Mr. Ed is in Phoenix based on his insta, but doesn't seem like the rest of the team (BK, Jenna, Matt) are there. Feels like the team usually goes to the HQ around this time of year, but Ed's trip could be bike development related.
Nah, it's just some distributor/dealer guys having a visit to Pivot HQ and Mr. Ed taking them around and such
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racingfine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to...
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racing
fine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event" - women race first on race day. if there's a double belt-drive win, does the female rider get the 100k or does gates hand out $200k? could happen!
More Race Teams Bet on Gates Belt Drives for 2025 UCI Downhill Season – €100K Belted Purse Remains Up for Grabs
DENVER (Jan. 15, 2025) – Gates (NYSE: GTES), a global leader in belt drive technologies, has announced official partnerships with four elite race teams—Aon on Gamux frames, Atherton Racing, MS-Racing, and Intense Factory Racing for the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike season. These partnerships mark a pivotal moment in the sport, showcasing the game-changing advantages of the Gates Belt Drive systems in high-performance racing.
"Being part of bringing belt drives into professional downhill racing has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Working with Gates has been fantastic—together, we’ve learned so much throughout the 2023 and 2024 race seasons, and we’re thrilled to continue this partnership into 2025. Everyone on the team has poured so much effort into this over the past few years, and it’s exciting to see how belt drive system technology and downhill racing continue to grow." said Dominic Tinner, co-founder of Gamux.
The partnerships will push the limits of research and development, with these top teams rigorously testing Gates Belt Drive systems in some of the world’s toughest downhill racing conditions.
"We at Atherton Bicycles are thrilled to announce that we’ll be racing the 2025 UCI season powered by Gates Belts,” said Dan Brown, founder and owner of Atherton Bicycles. “Our manufacturing methods allow us to prototype and reiterate designs very quickly, ensuring we take learnings from the test track straight to the product. This technology has allowed us to develop a first prototype in just two months. Huge thanks to the design team, including Dave Weagle, for pulling this one together so quick! Gates has a long-standing reputation for innovation and excellence in product development, giving us the confidence to make this pivotal switch. We’re eagerly looking forward to an exciting race season with Gates as our trusted partner."
The Gates Belted Purse Prize Continues for 2025
Gates is also continuing its trailblazing €100,000 Belted Purse contest for the 2025 race season. This incentive rewards the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event on a Gates belt-driven bike. Designed to spotlight the unique performance advantages of a belted downhill bike, the challenge aims to inspire teams and athletes to embrace this revolutionary technology.
"We look forward to seeing how belt drive mountain bikes compete in the UCI series this season," said Chris Sugai, general manager of Mobility at Gates Corporation. "With the changes in the competition structure, the playing field is smaller, and the competition is tougher. Working with these great race teams will help us improve our belt drive systems."
This season, the adventure continues with the Gates €100K Belted Pursuit Challenge, highlighted by an exclusive video series that captures the durability, performance, and behind-the-scenes stories of belt drive technology in action.
Belt Drive Technology Leading the Charge in Micromobility
Gates Belt Drive technology is transforming personal and micromobility solutions worldwide. From bicycles and electric bikes to scooters and motorcycles, Gates’ innovative belt drive systems offer grease-free, rust-free, and low maintenance solutions tailored for high performance and durability. The Gates Carbon Drive system stands out as the market's best high-mileage bicycle drive, delivering exceptional reliability for urban commuters, mountain bikers, eBike riders, and casual cruisers alike.
By partnering with top downhill teams, Gates brings its materials science and engineering expertise to the forefront of the sport, challenging traditional chain-driven systems and inspiring a new era of innovation in competitive cycling. For more information about Gates Belt Drive technology or for official €100K Belted Purse contest rules, visit www.gatesbeltdrive.com. #GatesMTB100K #GatesBeltDrive
About Gates Corporation
Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment manufacturers as specified components. For more than a century, Gates has pushed the boundaries of materials science to engineer products that exceed expectations in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets including industrial on-highway, industrial off-highway, mobility and recreation, automotive, energy and resources as well as diversified industrial. Our products are sold in more than 130 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India. More about Gates can be found at www.gates.com.
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights...
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights the role of more grass-roots teams in major innovations? I mean, you don't see The Syndicate or Specialized trying a belt-drive, but AON / Gamux, Atherton, etc., those teams have significant riders who can potentially "prove" a concept at a World Cup level. Not that Santa Cruz was a small team back in the day, but when Minnaar went to 29" back in '17, SC was known for being able to innovate quickly (not so much today)...is this what we are seeing with the belt and gearbox and the smaller teams? Are they going to get reverse-engineered into the next-Gen Session because smaller teams were nimble enough to prove a concept that the big-boys couldn't cover over with plastic for a whole season?
Or, is Gates just a very wealthy co-sponsor?
Gates is, in every sense of the term a ‘very wealthy co-sponsor’ it’s a literal multi-billion dollar company…. The €100k prize fund is literally a drop in the ocean for them.
teams can register by the 15th and announce whenever they want. in the past many teams have been announced by the UCI before the team releases...
teams can register by the 15th and announce whenever they want. in the past many teams have been announced by the UCI before the team releases the line up themselves.
solid point and did not consider that ! thanks !!! USDH! I bet you are stoked National Champs are in CA!
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racingfine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to...
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racing
fine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event" - women race first on race day. if there's a double belt-drive win, does the female rider get the 100k or does gates hand out $200k? could happen!
More Race Teams Bet on Gates Belt Drives for 2025 UCI Downhill Season – €100K Belted Purse Remains Up for Grabs
DENVER (Jan. 15, 2025) – Gates (NYSE: GTES), a global leader in belt drive technologies, has announced official partnerships with four elite race teams—Aon on Gamux frames, Atherton Racing, MS-Racing, and Intense Factory Racing for the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike season. These partnerships mark a pivotal moment in the sport, showcasing the game-changing advantages of the Gates Belt Drive systems in high-performance racing.
"Being part of bringing belt drives into professional downhill racing has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Working with Gates has been fantastic—together, we’ve learned so much throughout the 2023 and 2024 race seasons, and we’re thrilled to continue this partnership into 2025. Everyone on the team has poured so much effort into this over the past few years, and it’s exciting to see how belt drive system technology and downhill racing continue to grow." said Dominic Tinner, co-founder of Gamux.
The partnerships will push the limits of research and development, with these top teams rigorously testing Gates Belt Drive systems in some of the world’s toughest downhill racing conditions.
"We at Atherton Bicycles are thrilled to announce that we’ll be racing the 2025 UCI season powered by Gates Belts,” said Dan Brown, founder and owner of Atherton Bicycles. “Our manufacturing methods allow us to prototype and reiterate designs very quickly, ensuring we take learnings from the test track straight to the product. This technology has allowed us to develop a first prototype in just two months. Huge thanks to the design team, including Dave Weagle, for pulling this one together so quick! Gates has a long-standing reputation for innovation and excellence in product development, giving us the confidence to make this pivotal switch. We’re eagerly looking forward to an exciting race season with Gates as our trusted partner."
The Gates Belted Purse Prize Continues for 2025
Gates is also continuing its trailblazing €100,000 Belted Purse contest for the 2025 race season. This incentive rewards the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event on a Gates belt-driven bike. Designed to spotlight the unique performance advantages of a belted downhill bike, the challenge aims to inspire teams and athletes to embrace this revolutionary technology.
"We look forward to seeing how belt drive mountain bikes compete in the UCI series this season," said Chris Sugai, general manager of Mobility at Gates Corporation. "With the changes in the competition structure, the playing field is smaller, and the competition is tougher. Working with these great race teams will help us improve our belt drive systems."
This season, the adventure continues with the Gates €100K Belted Pursuit Challenge, highlighted by an exclusive video series that captures the durability, performance, and behind-the-scenes stories of belt drive technology in action.
Belt Drive Technology Leading the Charge in Micromobility
Gates Belt Drive technology is transforming personal and micromobility solutions worldwide. From bicycles and electric bikes to scooters and motorcycles, Gates’ innovative belt drive systems offer grease-free, rust-free, and low maintenance solutions tailored for high performance and durability. The Gates Carbon Drive system stands out as the market's best high-mileage bicycle drive, delivering exceptional reliability for urban commuters, mountain bikers, eBike riders, and casual cruisers alike.
By partnering with top downhill teams, Gates brings its materials science and engineering expertise to the forefront of the sport, challenging traditional chain-driven systems and inspiring a new era of innovation in competitive cycling. For more information about Gates Belt Drive technology or for official €100K Belted Purse contest rules, visit www.gatesbeltdrive.com. #GatesMTB100K #GatesBeltDrive
About Gates Corporation
Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment manufacturers as specified components. For more than a century, Gates has pushed the boundaries of materials science to engineer products that exceed expectations in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets including industrial on-highway, industrial off-highway, mobility and recreation, automotive, energy and resources as well as diversified industrial. Our products are sold in more than 130 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India. More about Gates can be found at www.gates.com.
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights...
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights the role of more grass-roots teams in major innovations? I mean, you don't see The Syndicate or Specialized trying a belt-drive, but AON / Gamux, Atherton, etc., those teams have significant riders who can potentially "prove" a concept at a World Cup level. Not that Santa Cruz was a small team back in the day, but when Minnaar went to 29" back in '17, SC was known for being able to innovate quickly (not so much today)...is this what we are seeing with the belt and gearbox and the smaller teams? Are they going to get reverse-engineered into the next-Gen Session because smaller teams were nimble enough to prove a concept that the big-boys couldn't cover over with plastic for a whole season?
Or, is Gates just a very wealthy co-sponsor?
Santa Cruz certainly has the resources to build a belt-driven bike in-house. As do other top brands. They regularly build and test new concepts, but a belted bike must not be in their scope. The added complexity is not necessary in order for them or any time to win, so I presume it would take more than a 100k prize and bragging rights for them to see the value.
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racingfine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to...
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racing
fine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event" - women race first on race day. if there's a double belt-drive win, does the female rider get the 100k or does gates hand out $200k? could happen!
More Race Teams Bet on Gates Belt Drives for 2025 UCI Downhill Season – €100K Belted Purse Remains Up for Grabs
DENVER (Jan. 15, 2025) – Gates (NYSE: GTES), a global leader in belt drive technologies, has announced official partnerships with four elite race teams—Aon on Gamux frames, Atherton Racing, MS-Racing, and Intense Factory Racing for the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike season. These partnerships mark a pivotal moment in the sport, showcasing the game-changing advantages of the Gates Belt Drive systems in high-performance racing.
"Being part of bringing belt drives into professional downhill racing has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Working with Gates has been fantastic—together, we’ve learned so much throughout the 2023 and 2024 race seasons, and we’re thrilled to continue this partnership into 2025. Everyone on the team has poured so much effort into this over the past few years, and it’s exciting to see how belt drive system technology and downhill racing continue to grow." said Dominic Tinner, co-founder of Gamux.
The partnerships will push the limits of research and development, with these top teams rigorously testing Gates Belt Drive systems in some of the world’s toughest downhill racing conditions.
"We at Atherton Bicycles are thrilled to announce that we’ll be racing the 2025 UCI season powered by Gates Belts,” said Dan Brown, founder and owner of Atherton Bicycles. “Our manufacturing methods allow us to prototype and reiterate designs very quickly, ensuring we take learnings from the test track straight to the product. This technology has allowed us to develop a first prototype in just two months. Huge thanks to the design team, including Dave Weagle, for pulling this one together so quick! Gates has a long-standing reputation for innovation and excellence in product development, giving us the confidence to make this pivotal switch. We’re eagerly looking forward to an exciting race season with Gates as our trusted partner."
The Gates Belted Purse Prize Continues for 2025
Gates is also continuing its trailblazing €100,000 Belted Purse contest for the 2025 race season. This incentive rewards the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event on a Gates belt-driven bike. Designed to spotlight the unique performance advantages of a belted downhill bike, the challenge aims to inspire teams and athletes to embrace this revolutionary technology.
"We look forward to seeing how belt drive mountain bikes compete in the UCI series this season," said Chris Sugai, general manager of Mobility at Gates Corporation. "With the changes in the competition structure, the playing field is smaller, and the competition is tougher. Working with these great race teams will help us improve our belt drive systems."
This season, the adventure continues with the Gates €100K Belted Pursuit Challenge, highlighted by an exclusive video series that captures the durability, performance, and behind-the-scenes stories of belt drive technology in action.
Belt Drive Technology Leading the Charge in Micromobility
Gates Belt Drive technology is transforming personal and micromobility solutions worldwide. From bicycles and electric bikes to scooters and motorcycles, Gates’ innovative belt drive systems offer grease-free, rust-free, and low maintenance solutions tailored for high performance and durability. The Gates Carbon Drive system stands out as the market's best high-mileage bicycle drive, delivering exceptional reliability for urban commuters, mountain bikers, eBike riders, and casual cruisers alike.
By partnering with top downhill teams, Gates brings its materials science and engineering expertise to the forefront of the sport, challenging traditional chain-driven systems and inspiring a new era of innovation in competitive cycling. For more information about Gates Belt Drive technology or for official €100K Belted Purse contest rules, visit www.gatesbeltdrive.com. #GatesMTB100K #GatesBeltDrive
About Gates Corporation
Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment manufacturers as specified components. For more than a century, Gates has pushed the boundaries of materials science to engineer products that exceed expectations in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets including industrial on-highway, industrial off-highway, mobility and recreation, automotive, energy and resources as well as diversified industrial. Our products are sold in more than 130 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India. More about Gates can be found at www.gates.com.
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights...
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights the role of more grass-roots teams in major innovations? I mean, you don't see The Syndicate or Specialized trying a belt-drive, but AON / Gamux, Atherton, etc., those teams have significant riders who can potentially "prove" a concept at a World Cup level. Not that Santa Cruz was a small team back in the day, but when Minnaar went to 29" back in '17, SC was known for being able to innovate quickly (not so much today)...is this what we are seeing with the belt and gearbox and the smaller teams? Are they going to get reverse-engineered into the next-Gen Session because smaller teams were nimble enough to prove a concept that the big-boys couldn't cover over with plastic for a whole season?
Or, is Gates just a very wealthy co-sponsor?
I think there's a bit of both. Gates wants to break into the market so they are doing so via the prize purse. But just because the big teams aren't following suit doesn't mean itsa gimick and all about the money. Some of these larger teams are funded and supported by SRAM and Shimano. They might not be able to rock the boat that hard to try something that is a bit unproven. Switching would require new frames and disrupting long time partnerships. Gearbox's have pros and cons, but until they are put to the test, no one knows which outweighs the other.
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racingfine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to...
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racing
fine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event" - women race first on race day. if there's a double belt-drive win, does the female rider get the 100k or does gates hand out $200k? could happen!
More Race Teams Bet on Gates Belt Drives for 2025 UCI Downhill Season – €100K Belted Purse Remains Up for Grabs
DENVER (Jan. 15, 2025) – Gates (NYSE: GTES), a global leader in belt drive technologies, has announced official partnerships with four elite race teams—Aon on Gamux frames, Atherton Racing, MS-Racing, and Intense Factory Racing for the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike season. These partnerships mark a pivotal moment in the sport, showcasing the game-changing advantages of the Gates Belt Drive systems in high-performance racing.
"Being part of bringing belt drives into professional downhill racing has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Working with Gates has been fantastic—together, we’ve learned so much throughout the 2023 and 2024 race seasons, and we’re thrilled to continue this partnership into 2025. Everyone on the team has poured so much effort into this over the past few years, and it’s exciting to see how belt drive system technology and downhill racing continue to grow." said Dominic Tinner, co-founder of Gamux.
The partnerships will push the limits of research and development, with these top teams rigorously testing Gates Belt Drive systems in some of the world’s toughest downhill racing conditions.
"We at Atherton Bicycles are thrilled to announce that we’ll be racing the 2025 UCI season powered by Gates Belts,” said Dan Brown, founder and owner of Atherton Bicycles. “Our manufacturing methods allow us to prototype and reiterate designs very quickly, ensuring we take learnings from the test track straight to the product. This technology has allowed us to develop a first prototype in just two months. Huge thanks to the design team, including Dave Weagle, for pulling this one together so quick! Gates has a long-standing reputation for innovation and excellence in product development, giving us the confidence to make this pivotal switch. We’re eagerly looking forward to an exciting race season with Gates as our trusted partner."
The Gates Belted Purse Prize Continues for 2025
Gates is also continuing its trailblazing €100,000 Belted Purse contest for the 2025 race season. This incentive rewards the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event on a Gates belt-driven bike. Designed to spotlight the unique performance advantages of a belted downhill bike, the challenge aims to inspire teams and athletes to embrace this revolutionary technology.
"We look forward to seeing how belt drive mountain bikes compete in the UCI series this season," said Chris Sugai, general manager of Mobility at Gates Corporation. "With the changes in the competition structure, the playing field is smaller, and the competition is tougher. Working with these great race teams will help us improve our belt drive systems."
This season, the adventure continues with the Gates €100K Belted Pursuit Challenge, highlighted by an exclusive video series that captures the durability, performance, and behind-the-scenes stories of belt drive technology in action.
Belt Drive Technology Leading the Charge in Micromobility
Gates Belt Drive technology is transforming personal and micromobility solutions worldwide. From bicycles and electric bikes to scooters and motorcycles, Gates’ innovative belt drive systems offer grease-free, rust-free, and low maintenance solutions tailored for high performance and durability. The Gates Carbon Drive system stands out as the market's best high-mileage bicycle drive, delivering exceptional reliability for urban commuters, mountain bikers, eBike riders, and casual cruisers alike.
By partnering with top downhill teams, Gates brings its materials science and engineering expertise to the forefront of the sport, challenging traditional chain-driven systems and inspiring a new era of innovation in competitive cycling. For more information about Gates Belt Drive technology or for official €100K Belted Purse contest rules, visit www.gatesbeltdrive.com. #GatesMTB100K #GatesBeltDrive
About Gates Corporation
Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment manufacturers as specified components. For more than a century, Gates has pushed the boundaries of materials science to engineer products that exceed expectations in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets including industrial on-highway, industrial off-highway, mobility and recreation, automotive, energy and resources as well as diversified industrial. Our products are sold in more than 130 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India. More about Gates can be found at www.gates.com.
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights...
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights the role of more grass-roots teams in major innovations? I mean, you don't see The Syndicate or Specialized trying a belt-drive, but AON / Gamux, Atherton, etc., those teams have significant riders who can potentially "prove" a concept at a World Cup level. Not that Santa Cruz was a small team back in the day, but when Minnaar went to 29" back in '17, SC was known for being able to innovate quickly (not so much today)...is this what we are seeing with the belt and gearbox and the smaller teams? Are they going to get reverse-engineered into the next-Gen Session because smaller teams were nimble enough to prove a concept that the big-boys couldn't cover over with plastic for a whole season?
I think there's a bit of both. Gates wants to break into the market so they are doing so via the prize purse. But just because...
I think there's a bit of both. Gates wants to break into the market so they are doing so via the prize purse. But just because the big teams aren't following suit doesn't mean itsa gimick and all about the money. Some of these larger teams are funded and supported by SRAM and Shimano. They might not be able to rock the boat that hard to try something that is a bit unproven. Switching would require new frames and disrupting long time partnerships. Gearbox's have pros and cons, but until they are put to the test, no one knows which outweighs the other.
yeah, plus the big brands don't want crazy innovation because they just want to drip feed the market each year
but when you get outside brands like gates coming in it can do some cool things like the legacy that was Honda's brief time in the sport
It will be interesting to see if teams stick to the belt when somebody wins the prize purse or they switch back to conventional drive trains - that would be the ultimate test of the technology.
I think there's a bit of both. Gates wants to break into the market so they are doing so via the prize purse. But just because...
I think there's a bit of both. Gates wants to break into the market so they are doing so via the prize purse. But just because the big teams aren't following suit doesn't mean itsa gimick and all about the money. Some of these larger teams are funded and supported by SRAM and Shimano. They might not be able to rock the boat that hard to try something that is a bit unproven. Switching would require new frames and disrupting long time partnerships. Gearbox's have pros and cons, but until they are put to the test, no one knows which outweighs the other.
i think it's partially the team sponsors, and partially a lot of the bigger companies (trek, spesh, SC, etc) have so much OEM business with sram/shimano it might preclude them from developing a frame around a gearbox. i think the OEM aspect is less of an issue with the small to medium sized builders.
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racingfine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to...
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racing
fine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event" - women race first on race day. if there's a double belt-drive win, does the female rider get the 100k or does gates hand out $200k? could happen!
More Race Teams Bet on Gates Belt Drives for 2025 UCI Downhill Season – €100K Belted Purse Remains Up for Grabs
DENVER (Jan. 15, 2025) – Gates (NYSE: GTES), a global leader in belt drive technologies, has announced official partnerships with four elite race teams—Aon on Gamux frames, Atherton Racing, MS-Racing, and Intense Factory Racing for the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike season. These partnerships mark a pivotal moment in the sport, showcasing the game-changing advantages of the Gates Belt Drive systems in high-performance racing.
"Being part of bringing belt drives into professional downhill racing has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Working with Gates has been fantastic—together, we’ve learned so much throughout the 2023 and 2024 race seasons, and we’re thrilled to continue this partnership into 2025. Everyone on the team has poured so much effort into this over the past few years, and it’s exciting to see how belt drive system technology and downhill racing continue to grow." said Dominic Tinner, co-founder of Gamux.
The partnerships will push the limits of research and development, with these top teams rigorously testing Gates Belt Drive systems in some of the world’s toughest downhill racing conditions.
"We at Atherton Bicycles are thrilled to announce that we’ll be racing the 2025 UCI season powered by Gates Belts,” said Dan Brown, founder and owner of Atherton Bicycles. “Our manufacturing methods allow us to prototype and reiterate designs very quickly, ensuring we take learnings from the test track straight to the product. This technology has allowed us to develop a first prototype in just two months. Huge thanks to the design team, including Dave Weagle, for pulling this one together so quick! Gates has a long-standing reputation for innovation and excellence in product development, giving us the confidence to make this pivotal switch. We’re eagerly looking forward to an exciting race season with Gates as our trusted partner."
The Gates Belted Purse Prize Continues for 2025
Gates is also continuing its trailblazing €100,000 Belted Purse contest for the 2025 race season. This incentive rewards the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event on a Gates belt-driven bike. Designed to spotlight the unique performance advantages of a belted downhill bike, the challenge aims to inspire teams and athletes to embrace this revolutionary technology.
"We look forward to seeing how belt drive mountain bikes compete in the UCI series this season," said Chris Sugai, general manager of Mobility at Gates Corporation. "With the changes in the competition structure, the playing field is smaller, and the competition is tougher. Working with these great race teams will help us improve our belt drive systems."
This season, the adventure continues with the Gates €100K Belted Pursuit Challenge, highlighted by an exclusive video series that captures the durability, performance, and behind-the-scenes stories of belt drive technology in action.
Belt Drive Technology Leading the Charge in Micromobility
Gates Belt Drive technology is transforming personal and micromobility solutions worldwide. From bicycles and electric bikes to scooters and motorcycles, Gates’ innovative belt drive systems offer grease-free, rust-free, and low maintenance solutions tailored for high performance and durability. The Gates Carbon Drive system stands out as the market's best high-mileage bicycle drive, delivering exceptional reliability for urban commuters, mountain bikers, eBike riders, and casual cruisers alike.
By partnering with top downhill teams, Gates brings its materials science and engineering expertise to the forefront of the sport, challenging traditional chain-driven systems and inspiring a new era of innovation in competitive cycling. For more information about Gates Belt Drive technology or for official €100K Belted Purse contest rules, visit www.gatesbeltdrive.com. #GatesMTB100K #GatesBeltDrive
About Gates Corporation
Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment manufacturers as specified components. For more than a century, Gates has pushed the boundaries of materials science to engineer products that exceed expectations in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets including industrial on-highway, industrial off-highway, mobility and recreation, automotive, energy and resources as well as diversified industrial. Our products are sold in more than 130 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India. More about Gates can be found at www.gates.com.
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights...
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights the role of more grass-roots teams in major innovations? I mean, you don't see The Syndicate or Specialized trying a belt-drive, but AON / Gamux, Atherton, etc., those teams have significant riders who can potentially "prove" a concept at a World Cup level. Not that Santa Cruz was a small team back in the day, but when Minnaar went to 29" back in '17, SC was known for being able to innovate quickly (not so much today)...is this what we are seeing with the belt and gearbox and the smaller teams? Are they going to get reverse-engineered into the next-Gen Session because smaller teams were nimble enough to prove a concept that the big-boys couldn't cover over with plastic for a whole season?
Gates is, in every sense of the term a ‘very wealthy co-sponsor’ it’s a literal multi-billion dollar company…. The €100k prize fund is literally a drop...
Gates is, in every sense of the term a ‘very wealthy co-sponsor’ it’s a literal multi-billion dollar company…. The €100k prize fund is literally a drop in the ocean for them.
UCI isn't paying squat for the purse. Gates is the MVP here. good marketing for them I guess. It's been awesome to see teams gearing up to go after it. But it's sad that they can't win prize money like that just for... winning a race.
Strange for a team to do promo shoot with a new rider, who is the current DH World Champ, and not have them in rainbow stripes. Not even sleeves or cuffs.
Any1 else thinks a lot of credit for Gates push into MTB should go to the Chris Sugai as he is now employed there and knows the mtb world pretty well (he was also talking in one of the videos)?
Well that sucks...Mr. Iles chose the #99 because of Stevie Smith and his 1199 Points at that specific Crankworx season. That Number means a lot to...
Well that sucks...
Mr. Iles chose the #99 because of Stevie Smith and his 1199 Points at that specific Crankworx season. That Number means a lot to canadians, especially to the people in the Sea to Sky Area around Whistler. As Jackson Goldstone is from Squamish, it kinda would make sense for him to pick #11, as that would bring the 1199 back to the Worldcup circuit.
whoa
devinci coder for real! what’s your monthly budget for pushpins and red yarn? I think it’s more likely 99 just looks cool and if young Finnley is the series leader then he can be like “99 + 1 = 💯 flame flame flame emoji fr” on his instagram
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racingfine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to...
Gates sponsoring 4 teams - Aon, Atherton, MS Racing and Intense Factory Racing
fine print says 100k goes to "the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event" - women race first on race day. if there's a double belt-drive win, does the female rider get the 100k or does gates hand out $200k? could happen!
More Race Teams Bet on Gates Belt Drives for 2025 UCI Downhill Season – €100K Belted Purse Remains Up for Grabs
DENVER (Jan. 15, 2025) – Gates (NYSE: GTES), a global leader in belt drive technologies, has announced official partnerships with four elite race teams—Aon on Gamux frames, Atherton Racing, MS-Racing, and Intense Factory Racing for the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Downhill Mountain Bike season. These partnerships mark a pivotal moment in the sport, showcasing the game-changing advantages of the Gates Belt Drive systems in high-performance racing.
"Being part of bringing belt drives into professional downhill racing has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Working with Gates has been fantastic—together, we’ve learned so much throughout the 2023 and 2024 race seasons, and we’re thrilled to continue this partnership into 2025. Everyone on the team has poured so much effort into this over the past few years, and it’s exciting to see how belt drive system technology and downhill racing continue to grow." said Dominic Tinner, co-founder of Gamux.
The partnerships will push the limits of research and development, with these top teams rigorously testing Gates Belt Drive systems in some of the world’s toughest downhill racing conditions.
"We at Atherton Bicycles are thrilled to announce that we’ll be racing the 2025 UCI season powered by Gates Belts,” said Dan Brown, founder and owner of Atherton Bicycles. “Our manufacturing methods allow us to prototype and reiterate designs very quickly, ensuring we take learnings from the test track straight to the product. This technology has allowed us to develop a first prototype in just two months. Huge thanks to the design team, including Dave Weagle, for pulling this one together so quick! Gates has a long-standing reputation for innovation and excellence in product development, giving us the confidence to make this pivotal switch. We’re eagerly looking forward to an exciting race season with Gates as our trusted partner."
The Gates Belted Purse Prize Continues for 2025
Gates is also continuing its trailblazing €100,000 Belted Purse contest for the 2025 race season. This incentive rewards the first elite racer, male or female, to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill event on a Gates belt-driven bike. Designed to spotlight the unique performance advantages of a belted downhill bike, the challenge aims to inspire teams and athletes to embrace this revolutionary technology.
"We look forward to seeing how belt drive mountain bikes compete in the UCI series this season," said Chris Sugai, general manager of Mobility at Gates Corporation. "With the changes in the competition structure, the playing field is smaller, and the competition is tougher. Working with these great race teams will help us improve our belt drive systems."
This season, the adventure continues with the Gates €100K Belted Pursuit Challenge, highlighted by an exclusive video series that captures the durability, performance, and behind-the-scenes stories of belt drive technology in action.
Belt Drive Technology Leading the Charge in Micromobility
Gates Belt Drive technology is transforming personal and micromobility solutions worldwide. From bicycles and electric bikes to scooters and motorcycles, Gates’ innovative belt drive systems offer grease-free, rust-free, and low maintenance solutions tailored for high performance and durability. The Gates Carbon Drive system stands out as the market's best high-mileage bicycle drive, delivering exceptional reliability for urban commuters, mountain bikers, eBike riders, and casual cruisers alike.
By partnering with top downhill teams, Gates brings its materials science and engineering expertise to the forefront of the sport, challenging traditional chain-driven systems and inspiring a new era of innovation in competitive cycling. For more information about Gates Belt Drive technology or for official €100K Belted Purse contest rules, visit www.gatesbeltdrive.com. #GatesMTB100K #GatesBeltDrive
About Gates Corporation
Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment manufacturers as specified components. For more than a century, Gates has pushed the boundaries of materials science to engineer products that exceed expectations in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets including industrial on-highway, industrial off-highway, mobility and recreation, automotive, energy and resources as well as diversified industrial. Our products are sold in more than 130 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India. More about Gates can be found at www.gates.com.
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights...
Does this announcement indicate anything about the state of innovation in the sport? Specifically, is Belt drive / Gearbox going to be THE innovation that highlights the role of more grass-roots teams in major innovations? I mean, you don't see The Syndicate or Specialized trying a belt-drive, but AON / Gamux, Atherton, etc., those teams have significant riders who can potentially "prove" a concept at a World Cup level. Not that Santa Cruz was a small team back in the day, but when Minnaar went to 29" back in '17, SC was known for being able to innovate quickly (not so much today)...is this what we are seeing with the belt and gearbox and the smaller teams? Are they going to get reverse-engineered into the next-Gen Session because smaller teams were nimble enough to prove a concept that the big-boys couldn't cover over with plastic for a whole season?
Santa Cruz certainly has the resources to build a belt-driven bike in-house. As do other top brands. They regularly build and test new concepts, but a...
Santa Cruz certainly has the resources to build a belt-driven bike in-house. As do other top brands. They regularly build and test new concepts, but a belted bike must not be in their scope. The added complexity is not necessary in order for them or any time to win, so I presume it would take more than a 100k prize and bragging rights for them to see the value.
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for the last few years, makes me wonder if they aren't "getting closer"? Not having a potential race-ending derailleur break, or chain break is a very significant advantage if all other things are equal. Being able to bash through any course with extended rock gardens would mean seconds of advantage in a 3 minute run.
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for...
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for the last few years, makes me wonder if they aren't "getting closer"? Not having a potential race-ending derailleur break, or chain break is a very significant advantage if all other things are equal. Being able to bash through any course with extended rock gardens would mean seconds of advantage in a 3 minute run.
I'd put flat tire elimination at the top of the list, but that's just me...
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for...
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for the last few years, makes me wonder if they aren't "getting closer"? Not having a potential race-ending derailleur break, or chain break is a very significant advantage if all other things are equal. Being able to bash through any course with extended rock gardens would mean seconds of advantage in a 3 minute run.
Frame silhouette looks a lot like the Allied BC40. Allied + SRAM would make sense, given that Allied already supports a number of US-based privateers and Kate has been with SRAM for a long time.
I am slightly surprised to see Kate on a self-organized program. That would not have been my prediction.
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for...
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for the last few years, makes me wonder if they aren't "getting closer"? Not having a potential race-ending derailleur break, or chain break is a very significant advantage if all other things are equal. Being able to bash through any course with extended rock gardens would mean seconds of advantage in a 3 minute run.
I'd put flat tire elimination at the top of the list, but that's just me...
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain? I can't recall a single one.
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for...
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for the last few years, makes me wonder if they aren't "getting closer"? Not having a potential race-ending derailleur break, or chain break is a very significant advantage if all other things are equal. Being able to bash through any course with extended rock gardens would mean seconds of advantage in a 3 minute run.
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain...
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain? I can't recall a single one.
Fair, but on the other hand, how many runs were lost by less than a couple seconds that could have been made up if the bike had a lower center of gravity and less unsprung mass to get hung up on square edge hits.
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for...
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for the last few years, makes me wonder if they aren't "getting closer"? Not having a potential race-ending derailleur break, or chain break is a very significant advantage if all other things are equal. Being able to bash through any course with extended rock gardens would mean seconds of advantage in a 3 minute run.
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain...
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain? I can't recall a single one.
For me, the best trait of the Pinion gearbox is shifting gears without pedaling, or in the air.
Imagine a jump or a hard braking zone into a tight corner. Click - click - click while you focus on braking and dropping your heels, and out in the perfect gear you go.
I had the luck of testing the smartshift on a car park for a few minutes and became instantly in love with it.
Also, removing all that unsprung mass from the rear wheel should make it track better, and get out of the way faster (less flats)
Edit: sorry I thought I was posting in the bike-tech thread, remove if necessary @sspomer
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain...
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain? I can't recall a single one.
Fair, but on the other hand, how many runs were lost by less than a couple seconds that could have been made up if the bike...
Fair, but on the other hand, how many runs were lost by less than a couple seconds that could have been made up if the bike had a lower center of gravity and less unsprung mass to get hung up on square edge hits.
And how many races were won due to a rider's sprinting ability that would have been eaten up by gear box efficiency?
Color me suspect, but I don't think gearboxes are the biking panacea people claim they are.
Alright, back to having a little bit of fun...In a surprise to many, the #3 Phoebe Gale rumor turns out to be false. She is sticking...
Alright, back to having a little bit of fun...
In a surprise to many, the #3 Phoebe Gale rumor turns out to be false. She is sticking with FMD as predicted by... the Orbea FMD press release.
However, #1 is still going strong with Atherton confirmed on Gates. Come on Dan, time for a come back! Get that bag!
With Trek's announcement today, it looks like #2 "Gwin back to Trek" fantasies have come to an end. Perhaps being a part owner of another bike company was a deal breaker.
I have a marketing email from Muc-Off announcing a World Champ was joining the team hit my inbox just on 90 mins ago....
Wasn't Loris, but. Some dude on a motorbike instead. Lame.
Nah, it's just some distributor/dealer guys having a visit to Pivot HQ and Mr. Ed taking them around and such
Gates is, in every sense of the term a ‘very wealthy co-sponsor’ it’s a literal multi-billion dollar company…. The €100k prize fund is literally a drop in the ocean for them.
solid point and did not consider that ! thanks !!! USDH! I bet you are stoked National Champs are in CA!
Santa Cruz certainly has the resources to build a belt-driven bike in-house. As do other top brands. They regularly build and test new concepts, but a belted bike must not be in their scope. The added complexity is not necessary in order for them or any time to win, so I presume it would take more than a 100k prize and bragging rights for them to see the value.
Trek announced: Lachie, Sacha Earnest, Ollie Davis, Matt Walker UK, Christian Hauser, Ella Svegby
I think there's a bit of both. Gates wants to break into the market so they are doing so via the prize purse. But just because the big teams aren't following suit doesn't mean itsa gimick and all about the money. Some of these larger teams are funded and supported by SRAM and Shimano. They might not be able to rock the boat that hard to try something that is a bit unproven. Switching would require new frames and disrupting long time partnerships. Gearbox's have pros and cons, but until they are put to the test, no one knows which outweighs the other.
yeah, plus the big brands don't want crazy innovation because they just want to drip feed the market each year
but when you get outside brands like gates coming in it can do some cool things like the legacy that was Honda's brief time in the sport
It will be interesting to see if teams stick to the belt when somebody wins the prize purse or they switch back to conventional drive trains - that would be the ultimate test of the technology.
i think it's partially the team sponsors, and partially a lot of the bigger companies (trek, spesh, SC, etc) have so much OEM business with sram/shimano it might preclude them from developing a frame around a gearbox. i think the OEM aspect is less of an issue with the small to medium sized builders.
UCI isn't paying squat for the purse. Gates is the MVP here. good marketing for them I guess. It's been awesome to see teams gearing up to go after it. But it's sad that they can't win prize money like that just for... winning a race.
Strange for a team to do promo shoot with a new rider, who is the current DH World Champ, and not have them in rainbow stripes. Not even sleeves or cuffs.
I wonder if there isn't (hidden), or there might be, a SRAM gearbox
Kate Courtney on her own programme
Any1 else thinks a lot of credit for Gates push into MTB should go to the Chris Sugai as he is now employed there and knows the mtb world pretty well (he was also talking in one of the videos)?
Dang, beat me to it!
whoa
devinci coder for real! what’s your monthly budget for pushpins and red yarn? I think it’s more likely 99 just looks cool and if young Finnley is the series leader then he can be like “99 + 1 = 💯 flame flame flame emoji fr” on his instagram
I actually can't imagine a better, potentially-reachable goal, than getting rid of a rear derailleur. It's been discussed for ages, but seeing it tested consistently for the last few years, makes me wonder if they aren't "getting closer"? Not having a potential race-ending derailleur break, or chain break is a very significant advantage if all other things are equal. Being able to bash through any course with extended rock gardens would mean seconds of advantage in a 3 minute run.
I'd put flat tire elimination at the top of the list, but that's just me...
Couldn't agree more.
Frame silhouette looks a lot like the Allied BC40. Allied + SRAM would make sense, given that Allied already supports a number of US-based privateers and Kate has been with SRAM for a long time.
I am slightly surprised to see Kate on a self-organized program. That would not have been my prediction.
I love the belt drive & Pinion innovation but.... How many UCI DH race runs were lost last year to a broken mech or broken chain? I can't recall a single one.
Fair, but on the other hand, how many runs were lost by less than a couple seconds that could have been made up if the bike had a lower center of gravity and less unsprung mass to get hung up on square edge hits.
For me, the best trait of the Pinion gearbox is shifting gears without pedaling, or in the air.
Imagine a jump or a hard braking zone into a tight corner. Click - click - click while you focus on braking and dropping your heels, and out in the perfect gear you go.
I had the luck of testing the smartshift on a car park for a few minutes and became instantly in love with it.
Also, removing all that unsprung mass from the rear wheel should make it track better, and get out of the way faster (less flats)
Edit: sorry I thought I was posting in the bike-tech thread, remove if necessary @sspomer
And how many races were won due to a rider's sprinting ability that would have been eaten up by gear box efficiency?
Color me suspect, but I don't think gearboxes are the biking panacea people claim they are.
With Trek's announcement today, it looks like #2 "Gwin back to Trek" fantasies have come to an end. Perhaps being a part owner of another bike company was a deal breaker.
All eyes on you Dan Atherton.
About that gearbox thread….
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