Markus Pekoll Retires from Racing

Official press release:

The Austrian downhill flagship Markus Pekoll ends his career. The upcoming event at Val di Sole will be his last World Cup and the downhill World Championships at Cairns, Australia, will be the grande finale to his impressive career.

One decade of World Cup racing

2017 is the tenth full season the “boy from Schladming” is competing at the highest level of the sport. He grew up close to the legendary downhill track and picked up mountain biking when he was around 17. A full 15 years racing is enough: “It just feels right for me. I always wanted to end my career on a high note. My team is the best in the world, my material is top notch, I’m the current national champion and in the best shape of my life. I feel that I am at my personal maximum. It’s a good moment to call it a day.” Becoming a father this coming winter made his decision even easier.

Markus Pekoll’s career is – together with Marcus Klausmann's - the most impressive in the German-speaking part of the world. His consistency is unmatched. Since his first World Cup in 2004 at Schladming, he took part in 72 of them, missing only two and having a DNF in another two. He managed several top 10 results in his career. From 2011 to 2016 he never placed worse than 19th at World Championships. He became six times national champion, once European champion, took victory in the overall standings of the European cup and was best placed German-speaking rider in the UCI ranking from 2011 through 2015. From 2011 on until now he was riding for MS Racing owned by speed record holder Max Stöckl.

What the future holds for the MS Mondraker rider is uncertain. “I will take my time to look at all the options, but I’m pretty anxious to see what’s now coming at me.” Markus is once more in mountain bike race action at the IXS Downhill Cup Final in Leogang and the Austrian enduro championships at the end of September. This will not be the start to a second career though, as he makes clear: “It will be just for fun!”

from Markus Stöckl, team owner MS Mondraker:

”We always wanted an Austrian rider on the team as this was how we started… in 2010 we met Markus in a meeting where he was really convincing and we gave him a ride. We never regretted this decision as Markus had some great success with the team. Not having him on the team anymore will be a loss, but I understand his decision and his new focus as being a dad - good luck for you and your family.“