Bad news for World Cup riders Ruaridh Cunningham, Sabrina Jonnier and Mark Scott as Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain World Cup race team ceases to be.
Just spotted this over on VitalMTB.
Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Ends
October 25, 2011 – It is with mixed emotions that Rocky Mountain Bicycles announces the end of the Maxxis-Rocky Mountain World Cup race team. The team raced for three seasons (2009, 2010, and 2011) and achieved phenomenal results and exposure for both brands. The team was one of the only teams in the last decade to win both XC and DH World Cups and also one of the only teams to have podium performances in men’s and women’s XC and DH World Cups in the same season.
Sabrina Jonnier
Some notable highlights of the team’s three year run are French DH star, Sabrina Jonnier’s eight World Cup wins and two World Cup overall titles, and Geoff Kabush’s World Cup win in Bromont, two Canadian National titles, and multiple Pro XCT wins. The team also reached the World Cup podium several times with Marie-Hélène Prémont and saw Cameron Cole develop into one of the best male DH racers in the world.
Ruaridh Cunningham
Rocky Mountain’s Sports Marketing Manager, Peter Vallance commented, “Rocky Mountain isn’t a big company with a deep marketing budget, so we were very lucky to have such a strong, racing focused partner in Maxxis. Our relationship with Maxxis has allowed us to race and win at the highest level with some of the best athletes and staff in the sport, and we can’t thank Maxxis and the athletes enough for their commitment to the program over the last three years. Despite the end of our World Cup team together, Maxxis will continue to be a key partner in Rocky Mountain’s Factory and Freeride teams.”
For 2012, Rocky Mountain has reaffirmed its commitment to the RMB Factory XC & DH Team, lead by 2012 Olympian Marie-Hélène Prémont and featuring Canada’s brightest young talent. Vallance continues, “We’re really excited about how the Factory Team is shaping up for next year. Not only are we confident that MHP is heading to the Olympics and will be a regular World Cup podium threat, we also have 3 of the top 4 U-23 men in Canada. Rocky Mountain has a long history of developing Canada’s best mountain bike athletes, and 2012 will be no different.”
Returning for his 14th year with Rocky Mountain is the Godfather of Freeride, Wade Simmons. Last month, Wade capped off a busy 2011 season by filming for Anthill’s new feature movie, Strength in Numbers in Switzerland. Finishing 5th at the 2010 Redbull Rampage, and 5th at 2011 RedBull Joyride, Rocky Mountain’s Geoff Gulevich had his best season to date and is currently hard at work in the Utah Desert working on a special project. 2012 will mark Gulevich’s 5th season with Rocky Mountain.
Big Mountain freeride superstar Thomas Vanderham will also be flying the Rocky Mountain flag in 2012. With two feature movies coming out in the next six months, Vanderham will be busy with filming and appearances.
Last but not least, Brett Tippie will be part of the Rocky Mountain freeride family in 2012, bringing his crazy riding and irresistible charm wherever he goes.
Rocky Mountain will be issuing formal roster announcements in coming weeks.
