DH WORLD CUP TEAMS

By Sven Martin

As a kid growing up it was mandatory to take an after–school sports activity. Rugby, cricket, tennis, water polo, badminton, whatever. I think they were trying to prepare us for the real world out there where functioning, as a homogenous group in corporate society, was your only path in life. Tired of wasting entire Saturdays standing in little white shorts with 10 other boys, waiting for some other twat to hit a little red leather ball somewhere in my vague direction every 45 minutes or so I soon become disenchanted with the whole affair. Rugby wasn’t that much better, being yelled at by a balding fat middle age man who couldn’t cut it in the real world.

It’s no wonder then that kids rebel, BMX and skateboarding was my way out, a chance to find myself, express myself and challenge myself. I gladly endured canings and detentions for being one of those ‘weird’ kids who refused to partake in ‘official’ school sports. Moving forward a few years and it was mountain biking that gave me that same freedom, and then it was downhill bikes that opened a whole new reality of what was possible and where you could go on a bicycle.

Pretty soon though racing sucked me in and the more serious I got, the harder it became to do things alone. Being part of a team just made sense, even as an amateur early on being part of a team just made it easier, and depending on the team, a lot more fun too. Travel, entries, ordering of parts, spares, booking accommodation and buying the food all just became a lot more affordable and efficient when shared by a team, even if you were just a group of friends in home made jerseys. You see, at the end of the day you are still just an individual rider and bike at the top of the hill and that fact holds true, no matter if you are in a Sharpie’d T shirt or a logo covered gold leaf embossed jersey with a million dollar contract.

Even on the UCI World Cup pro team level, the goals, personalities, budgets, objectives and operating structure for each team is very different. Some team riders will share in the driving, set up the pits, sleep in the van, do their own entries, help work on their bikes, and have some beers at the end of the weekend, while in other teams riders will have nothing more to do other than eat (chef prepared meals), sleep (in fresh 1000 thread count linen) and show up to ride (win).

Does this mean a rider with a manager, mechanic, coach, nutritionist, mental coach, doctor, chef, trainer, filmer, travel agent, photographer, publicist and umbrella holder have a better chance of winning than a rider who cut a work week short, drove himself to the race and worked on his own bike. The answer is probably…maybe…yes. But you have to start somewhere and as you put the personal work in and the results start to show, more and more opportunities open to you on bigger and better teams where more focus is placed on helping you achieve your goals of being the best you can be. When the times at the top are separated by hundredths and thousandths, that umbrella holder just may have made all the difference.

This year there is a new ‘Elite’ team designation by the UCI, simply put, it allows the top 15 ranked gravity teams a few more benefits; priority expo position, 80m2 free tech space, free entries, rainbow passes, three parking passes, media centre access, etc, but all at a cost of 3500 Euros. Where as a regular team receives; 30m2 of tech space, one parking pass for a registration fee of 1200 Euro for the year. Teams must consist of a minimum of two riders and maximum of ten. The ranking for this is worked out from three best placing DH men, the two best placed DH women, the two best placed 4X men and best placed 4X women. So basically this new ranking is irrelevant in what it means in the real world team’s performance.

More important for some teams is the separate category team award, but even this is skewed. As points for the best three men and best three women are added together for the ‘Best Ranking Team’ award in both DH and 4X respectively. Larger teams with three placing male riders and two or three placing female riders will obviously be at an advantage compared to a team with just two riders.

More important than team position, ranking and size of pits then is the team dynamic. A rider can only prosper in the right environment, and that is different for every rider. The Santa Cruz Syndicate pits for instance are a lot more relaxed than say Trek World Racing or Monster Specialized, but even they know when enough is enough. When the blinds come down it is time for business.

Some major changes have been made by team manager Nigel Page over the winter in both the team and bike departments. Lehikoinen and Simmonds remain, but new young blood in the form of Joseph Smith and junior Lewis Buchanan have been added in lieu of the Kovariks, most likely to coincide with the new Nukeproof DH bike they will be riding, it helps to have young eager riders relatively close by to aid in the rapid development and testing of the house brand Nuke Proof Scalp DH bike. Will the changes upset the already well performing team? Will the Scalp be a match for the race proven Intense M9? 2011 will reveal all. Brothers Lukas and Michael Mechura will handle the 4X racing.

Don’t fix what ain’t broke, is the age old adage. Manager Claudio Caluori knows not to tinker with a smooth well–oiled machine. The team resides under a 17x6m pit area anchored to a 26 year old 800,000 miles full size truck/hotel on wheels which is the biggest on the circuit. Chef, masseuse, photographer, mechanics and Claudio all keep the riders focused, and it’s paying off. Both Nick Beer and Fabien Pedemanaud were on the podium last year, and of course Floriane Pugin had a 100% podium ratio. Emilie Siegenthaler is moving up, as is junior Freddy Hunziker. Like CRC they have two brothers, Adrian and Micro Weiss handling 4X duties. When Claudio isn’t making sure the riders are well hydrated with Red Bull he is organising pit girls and putting in fast laps on pumptracks worldwide. They are the only team to have fully pro looking team logoed rain gear, making them a pleasure to shoot in the rain and mud, which is about 80% of the time. It’s all in the little details.

They won the team overall title despite having any female riders in 2009, but in order to do that they have to have all three riders pulling together, like a…like a team! Peat and Bryceland had, by their own admissions, less than stellar year. In 2011 they will get back on track, especially if Brycleands 1:04 You Tube viewing figures are anything to go by! The only change or addition is new mechanic Travis Lucas. Team mom (manager) Kathy Sessler is like Wonder Woman, fulfilling so many duties and roles wonderfully. How she is able to fit it all in, make time for a drink and still have the best breakfast spread in the whole World Cup circuit ready for these guys is mindboggling. The team clicks well, with each other and the fans. I’m surprised they don’t have a big corporate co–sponsor yet with big rig and wraparound pit space that they sorely need. Mostly funded by Santa Cruz alone, that shows their commitment and dedication to racing and bike development. It’s not uncommon to see company owner, boss and friend Rob Roskopp at most of the rounds. Sometimes that makes all the difference.

2010 was another rollercoaster year of emotions for the Athertons. Peak winning performances and benchmark highs from Gee, yet another of Dan’s and Rachel’s years cut short by serious injury. Rachel managed to squeeze two great wins and a second place in, and just as it looked like Dan was making a welcome return to DH form he broke his neck in a horrible training accident while dirt jumping. Enough stress and worry to make team manager Dan Brown turn grey! Injuries and crashes are part of racing, and those aside, Atherton Racing have one of the slickest programs on the circuit. It is different in that the team riders are also the team owners, all the work that they put in and accomplish directly benefits them and their brand, Atherton Racing, as well as their co sponsors of course. A lot more hours are being spent in the gym focusing on rehab and injury prevention these days versus just squats and bench presses, it is all scientifically planned out and monitored. Dan will be making a return to the team focusing solely on DH only after South Africa, and the three of them will be onboard the eagerly awaited new Supreme V3 DH bike. The only other change to this close knit unit is new mechanic, ‘Polish’ Pete Michaliszyn.

If there was a constructor’s championship in World Cup racing, TWR would be the winners. Competing in both male and female DH and XC they are a big operation. Who better to put it all together then than Martin Whiteley. With three cross–country racers and four downhillers this is no small feat of organizational logistics, especially with the often split DH/XC schedules. With rigs and bikes in both Europe and North America, TWR is the read deal wherever it goes. 2010 was a successful year for TWR bagging two gold medals and silver at World Champs. How do you top that? By adding USA sensation Aaron Gwin to the roster, that is how. That is the biggest change to the program and Gwin should benefit from this very focused moto or F1 like professional set up.

Maxxis/Rocky are another team with both XC and DH riders. They have filled Cam Coles spot with Ruaridh Cunningham. He will have big shoes to fill, but maybe moving to a smaller team with more personal attention from wrench and manager Gary Wolff is what he needs. It certainly works well for Sabrina, who has had an amazing few years on Rocky. The bike has proven it can win races. I look forward to seeing it under young Ruaridh.

I love watching when the Evil train comes charging down the hill during practice, the energy and fun they are having is instantly contagious. Two riders are gone, but the lovable Kiwi, Wyn Masters, and course smashing Austrian, Markus Pekoll will join Polc, Strobel and Macdonald (who will now be rocking a Red Bull lid), and no doubt picking up more ladies in the bar now with his flat billed Red Bull cap. Their pits stand out a mile away, with its unique modern industrial design structure, this nonconforming team does not model itself like all the other neatly logo’d up teams. Design aesthetics, style and vibe are all crucial ingredients in the teams’ DNA. Their new carbon “Undead” sleds should be rolling out any day, that will keep the cameras flashing and internet boards buzzing. I can’t wait to see WynTV 2011, heal up son.

A fairly big change to the SCI team sees Anneke Beerten and Emmeline Ragot exiting, a fresh line up of Joshua Button (second in Aussie Nat Champs) Faustin Figaret, fast Florent Payet join Lars Peyer. Team manager Gery Peyer is famous for his fine attention to detail, and with his engineering background and abilities his are some of the most dialled bikes on the circuit.

Another small, tight squad of French riders. I always seem to be at the same gas station or food stop as them while on the road. Myriam Nicole will be hunting for podiums and maybe a win in Champery. Thibaut and younger brother Gaetan Ruffin make up the rest of the team.

GT Bikes have a history steeped in racing for many years now. Mick Hannah had an awesome comeback return in 2009 and will be hoping to repeat that form again in 2011 with a strong start we know he is capable of in South Africa. With Beaumont now confident after having slowly crept up to full speed and a major win in Val di Sole and a top five overall finish they should both be in sync. Mechanics, Mark and Terry as well as Steve ‘Coach’ Spencer are a pleasure to be around and they keep the pits stress free and fun, which is important for the racers. They always have good food and coffee during the day and only the best Belgium beers when it’s time to celebrate. It’s their trademark.

Sean Heimdal’s team is not there to win team awards. They are there to win races. Big ones. Two DH gold medals at Worlds don’t just happen by chance, so I don’t think they are that fussed at their overall team ranking. They will be happy to see Sam Hill recovered strong and healthy again for his 2011 campaign. A win in the overall and in the World Champs is what they will want out of him no doubt. Sam, mechanic Jacy and Sean have done it before. Brendan Fairclough is a healthy balance to the quiet, competitive intensity of the other three. He keeps things light hearted in the pits and on the course, but don’t let his outgoing personality fool you, he is serious this year with something to prove. Troy Brosnan, Junior World Champ and overall World Cup champ, will continue to have his work cut for him from last year’s top challengers as well as few new young juniors he is already quite familiar with.

The new bike mid season was Lapierre’s big news last year, this year it’s the additions of Cam Cole and Loic Bruni to the roster. Sam Flockhart remains, as does Blenkinsop. This year Nico Vouilloz will take an even more active roll in overseeing the team as well as continuing with development. I am sure with this kind of line up we can expect to see double podiums.

Yeti will have been sad to see Aaron Gwin go, but the whole race development program has always been more important than just one rider, and they wouldn’t want to jeopardize all their programs worldwide because of the expense of just one rider. Joining Jared Graves full time in the World Cup series is fast second year Aussie pro Shaun O’ Connor, who is getting quicker every year. Other riders listed on the team who may do a few or more World Cups are USA riders Joey Schusler, Tyler Immer, Chris Boice and Eliot Jackson. If any of you get a chance to follow newcomer Eliot on a run with big DH jumps you will be in for a treat. This will be Graves’ last year racing 4X, he will want to go out dominating that’s for sure!

BEST OF THE REST

Giant Factory Racing are spreading their wings and appeal with a global feeling team. South African National Champion, Andrew Neethling, joins USA’s Duncan Riffle and UK’s own little pinner Danny Hart. This mix of youth, experience and personality could make for a winning combination during training and racing. It will be both interesting and entertaining to observe how team dynamics will shape this teams’ success.

Fionn Griffiths has formed her own team with the backing of Intense she will be riding with Emmeline Ragot.

MONDRAKER FACTORY TEAM (MFT)

Fabien Barel will be back already flying fast and strong after some Enduro racing, joining last years riders Aurelien Giordanengo and Damien Spagnolo. New addition will be young French rider Patrick Thome. They will once again be taken care of by probably the smartest mechanic on the circuit, Paul Walton.

Ben Reid had to tough it out by himself for most of last year. He will be happy to have teammate Dan Stanbridge back in the co–driver’s seat in the new bus that has seen a whole lot of hard work this winter. Practice will be a lot me more fun and productive too. Alastair Becket will be keep the kettle boiled and the ladies at bay.

Devinci Global Racing is one of the new teams that will probably have the closest eye on it…and biggest expectations. Headed up by Steve Smith with George Brannigan in juniors they are both podium contenders for World Champs.

In a team put together by Fabien Cousinie, he has brought South African Morewood rider Timothy Bentley and it is going to be a treat to see Mickael Pascal, the man who does the most practice runs all year, on a Morewood. Rumour is Fabien has even managed to get him to run lower bars…we will have to wait and see if that part is true.

Other teams out there to watch will be the new Kona Factory team of Mitch Delfs and head turning first year Junior Connor Fearon, who is already beating most of Australia’s fastest Elite riders. Cedric Gracia will be back with CG Racing Brigade and another rider, Columbian Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas. Sam Dale has found a ride on the Sunn Montgenevre Team with Julien Camellini and Joe Connell, coached by Stephane Girard with Ann-Caroline Chausson as manager, that could be quite a help to Sam, good luck. Madison have also started a new young team full of up and coming British riders, Manon Carpenter, Harry Molly, Josh Lowe and Jack Goeghegan on Saracen Bikes. Harry Heath will be on the Slovenian based Unior Tools team. French racer Cyrille Kurtz has also started his own team, CK Racing on Santa Cruz Bikes. A few other teams like Transition have not registered as UCI teams, but we can expect Bryn to be joined this year by his girlfriend Jill Kintner for a full run of the World Cups. Good luck everyone.