Steve Smith, Nick Beer and Gianluca Vernassa are joined by Canadian junior Mark Wallace who replaces George Brannigan following his move to TWR.

Super fast rider Steve Smith continues his commitment to team boss Gabe Fox and Devinci by signing a multi-year contract.

Read on for the full press release but first here’s a quick chat with Devinci Global Racing team boss Gabe Fox.

Where are you right now?

Gabe Fox: Vancouver, in the pissing rain.

For those that might not know you, how long have you been in the bike business and how long have you been with Devinci now?

I’ve been involved with bikes since I was in grade 5, started working at the Cove Bike Shop sweeping the floors and as Chaz would say buffing the skid marks out. So that is about 24 years working with bikes, 15 years in the trade business and 9 years in retail. Been with Devinci for about two and a half years.

You and Stevie go back a long way don’t you? Seems like a strong bond of loyalty between you both?

Yes, I started working with Steve back when I was with Cove and he was about 14 years old. Helped him out with a bike when he had a destroyed one. Programs have grown bigger, stronger as have his results and rankings. Steve is a good kid. Direct communication is key, say what you feel. You always know what you are getting with Steve. Pretty cool to see his progression.

George Brannigan had been on the team for two years, growing in confidence and ability, peaking with an amazing 2nd in Hafjell last year. How do you feel about losing a talented rider like George to another team after investing a lot in them?

Without sounding bitter or angry? It’s always hard to lose a rider when you have invested time and helped get a rider to where they are, but in the end if they feel it is time to move on that is the way things go. I am confident with the program we offer and the talent which we have found and developed. There are plenty of other top riders who would love to be a part of Devinci Global Racing.
We have other riders in our development pool who are ready to step up and just waiting for the roster spots. I am really happy with our roster for 2013.

Speaking of Hafjell, that was an amazing result for DGR. Are you confident of more Devinci podiums, race wins this year?

Yes, Steve ended the year on fire. I suspect he should pick up where he left of. Nick Beer is going into his 2nd year on the bike. He got on the bike just before South Africa last year, this year he will have the whole off-season to get really dialled on the bike. So Nick should step things up. With the introduction of the Junior class I feel I have two riders who could win on ANY weekend. Our junior rider, Mark Wallace, stood on some Elite podiums last year and had a pile of other great results, and Gianluca has the talent, and now he is working with a trainer. I look forward to the season.

So who’s this new junior lad on the team?

We only added one rider this year to the DGR roster. Mark Wallace is a Canadian rider from Vancouver Island, he’s a 2nd year junior. We worked with him last year and I was really impressed with how he preformed. We were always going to partially integrate him to the DGR roster, but with the changes this is how things ended up.

Any wheel size experimentation going on?

Always working on the future…

Any change in sponsors?

Devinci Global Racing is proudly supported by: Cycles Devinci, Sram, Rock Shox, Avid, Truvativ, Easton Wheels, Schwalbe, Fox Head Clothing, ODI, E-13, Five Ten, Cane Creek, SDG, MyPakage, Crankbrothers and Planet Foods.

6 rounds this year plus the World Champs, would you like to see more venues? How would you like the WC series to develop?

I would like to see maybe 2-3 more venues. I like the Norway venue as it is a unique European location, but the country also has a history in racing with a huge alpine ski background, so the spectators can understand what is happening and will come out to watch. The course is amazing and I can see the growth of this event. I am all for the expansion of the World Cup, but I feel it needs to be to countries where they understand gravity racing, have a suitable World Cup worthy track or will build one, and will work with logistics and costs to keep them in check. No sense in jumping all over the World racking up costs just for the sake of it. All about the logistics.

Smith Highlights Roster as DGR Rolls Out its WC-Dominating Formula

Devinci Global Racing enters the 2013 gravity arena with stacked lineup of podium threats primed to storm the UCI World Cup scene.

At the top of the heap, Canada’s Steve Smith signed a multi-year contract with DGR during the off-season and leads the team with a laundry list of bangers to cap last season. Smith, for instance, towered on the 2012 UCI podium, snatching gold in Norway and finishing the season fourth overall in World Cup standings. He also cleaned house at Crankworx—becoming the first rider in history to capture all three DH events and down the Triple Crown champagne.

Backing Smith is five-time Swiss National Champion Nick Beer, who finished fifth at Hafjell and is primed for top finishes this season. Junior rider Mark Wallace of Canada joins the mix as an elite up-and-comer, with two 2012 Cranworkx podiums already under the belt. Young gun Gianluca Vernassa rounds out the versatile DGR squad.

The way we closed last season with wins at Crankworx, Podium at Worlds, and the destruction in Norway, I think the team is capable to go far. It’s great to renew the partnership with Steve, as well as to add a second Canadian to the roster in Wallace thanks to the new JR format.

DGR team manager Gabe Fox.

Amped to usher in a new season, the UCI World Cup 2013 circuit, World Championships, and Smith defending his crowning achievements at Crankworx 2013 in Whistler, marks this year’s full calendar of events.

I couldn’t be more excited to re-sign with Devinci The last few years have been unreal. I have amazing teammates backed by a world-class program and great bikes. The goal is to pick up where I left off last year and continue the charge.

Steve Smith

The electric DGR squad will also continue its on- and off-track success, working alongside SRAM’s BlackBox program and closely with product-development. John Dawson, Global MTB Sports marketing Manager, adds: “We’re looking to DGR as a leader when it comes to the “young gun” uprising, that proved to us—and themselves—that they can win and stand on the box at the highest level.”

Devinci Global Racing is proudly supported by: Cycles Devinci, Sram, Rock Shox, Avid, Truvativ, Easton Wheels, Schwalbe, Fox Head Clothing, ODI, E-13, Five Ten, Cane Creek, SDG, MyPakage, Crankbrothers and Planet Foods.