2016 Cairns WC Round 2 Qualifying Results

2016 Cairns WC 2 Qualifying Results Men's

1. Troy Brosnan
2. Mik Hannah
3. Aaron Gwin

2016 Cairns WC 2 Qualifying Results Women's

1. Rachel Atherton
2. Manon Carpenter
3. Tracey Hannah

2016 Cairns WC 2 Qualifying Results Junior Men

1. Matt Walker
2. Harry Bush
3. Remy Morton

AARON GWIN WINS DEBUT WORLD CUP FOR THE YT MOB IN LOURDES

Reigning World Cup Champion Aaron Gwin scored a historic win for his new team’s title sponsor, YT Industries, by taking their TUES CF Downhill bike to a maiden victory on the slopes of the Pyrenees on the outskirts of Lourdes France. The opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, the 24th season of the series, presented plenty of challenges throughout the week due to changeable weather conditions.

Despite the sunny weather on race day, threats of a looming storm late in the afternoon certainly gave everyone something to think about as Aaron went up the hill to start his race. His win last year on this course was in extremely dry and dusty conditions, far from today’s track conditions, so to walk away with a podium result would have been a great start for the new team. After the first split it was clear that Aaron was on a great run, building on his lead throughout each of the 4 sectors before finally crossing the line with a 3m 09.131secs, some 2.7secs faster than previous fastest Danny Hart (GBR).

Nine riders were left to come down but all eyes were waiting on crowd favourite and World Champion, Loic Bruni of France. Bruni was showing incredible pace and was up on the first 3 splits but a small mistake was a sign of things to come as he pushed a little too hard towards the bottom and came off his bike. The win was Aaron’s. In fact, this was Aaron’s 50th World Cup start, his 30th podium, of which 15 have been wins.

Aaron said: “I’m so stoked to win the first round of the year with the new team. This week was especially challenging for everyone on the mountain due to the changing weather conditions, nearly every run was different, so to have it all come together on race day is really cool. I want to say a big thank you to the team staff, everyone at YT, and all of our team sponsors. We put in a ton of work in the offseason to get us ready for the races and it’s awesome to see it all come together so well. Really looking forward to the rest of the season; this was a great start and I believe we’ll continue to get stronger from here!”

Aaron’s team mate Angel Suarez had a tough week and after a heavy crash on a Saturday practice run and was suffering from a sore back. Unable to complete his second practice run he went straight into qualifying but was unable to ride at his limit and just missed out on the top 80.

The team now prepares for Round 2 in Cairns, Australia, on April 22 and 23.

2016 Lourdes WC Round 1 Timed Training Results Men

Timed Training Results Men Top 20

2016 UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Teams Announced

"The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has today published the list of UCI Mountain Bike Teams for 2016.

In total, 129 teams from 30 countries have been registered for the 2016 season. Two nations – Luxembourg and Malaysia – have registered a team for the first time, while Mexico returns with a team after an absence of four years.

As in previous years, 30 teams (15 Endurance teams and 15 Gravity teams) have been awarded UCI ELITE Mountain Bike status. Invitations to join this higher tier of teams were issued to the 12 top Endurance (XC) teams and 12 top Gravity (DHI) teams of a special ranking which was established on the basis of the individual UCI points won by the riders up until December 31^st 2015. The three additional teams of each format (XC and DHI) offered UCI ELITE status were selected at the discretion of the UCI.

UCI ELITE Mountain Bike teams benefit from advantages including free entry to all races on the UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar in the discipline in which the team has ELITE status. This includes free entry, and an obligation to enter at least one rider, into all rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano.

The 2016 UCI ELITE Mountain Bike teams must confirm their status to the UCI and pay the corresponding fee by February 24^th."

2016 UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Teams

Endurance

• Specialized Racing

• Trek Factory Racing XC

• BH-SR Suntour-KMC

• CST Superior Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team

• Focus XC Team

• Stöckli Pro Team

• Multivan Merida Biking Team

• SCOTT-ODLO MTB Racing Team

• BMC Mountainbike Racing Team

• Cannondale Factory Racing XC

• Luna Pro Team

• Novus OMX Pro Team

• Ghost Factory Racing

• Kross Racing Team

• Versluys Team

Gravity

• Trek Factory Racing DH

• Santa Cruz Syndicate

• MS Mondraker Team

• Commencal / Vallnord

• Madison Saracen Factory Team

• Specialized Gravity Powered by SRAM

• Kona Factory Team

• Polygon UR

• Bergamont Hayes Factory Team

• The YT Mob

• Radon Magura Factory

• Specialized Racing

• Pivot Factory Racing

• Transition Factory Racing / FMD

• RRP

YT Joins The World Cup with Aaron Gwin and Angel Suarez

The bike manufacturer YT finally shares its secret and presents its first Downhill World Cup racing team named “The YT Mob”. None other than American Aaron Gwin along with Spanish Youngster Angel Suarez will stir up the downhill world, while the team will be operated by 23 Degrees Sports with Martin Whiteley as Team Director.

Exactly one week ago the terrible news about the death of YT team rider Kelly McGarry made headlines all around the globe. The team at YT is still at a loss for words regarding the sudden loss of this extraordinary character. Unsure about the right moment to release the much-anticipated news about Aaron Gwin and the downhill team, YT has now decided to make it official: Aaron Gwin is coming to Forchheim!

After an extensive search, the 28-year-old downhill superstar has decided to join the German bike manufacturer. Aaron Gwin’s team mate is 20-year-old Angel Suarez from Vigo, who can look back on a very successful motocross career and who has already showcased his immense downhill racing potential with a top 20 finish at the World Cup in Lenzerheide in 2015. With the Mob, YT joins the World Cup circus for the first time in its history.

Finally, the long-awaited wish to send the TUES onto the world’s toughest tracks to prove that the downhill machine is not just a top-notch freeride beast, but also a proper racing tool is now coming true. With his distinctive racing focus and his untamed will to win, Aaron Gwin adds a new dimension to the YT family. It was particularly important for Gwin that his new bike sponsor shares the same passion and dedication for downhill as he does. With YT he has a like-minded crew on his side, one that is completely committed to the gravity aspect of mountain biking. The set-up of the bikes out of Forchheim could not be any better: The kinematic concept and the geometry of the TUES convinced the multiple World Cup winner already after the first ride. There will be no changes made to the frame itself, Gwin will ride all the World Cup races with a stock TUES frame.

So, has YT had a change of heart, deviating from their Good Times mentality to now only heavily focus on nothing but rankings and podiums? “No way”, says CEO Markus Flossmann. “Good Times is also the motto of our YT Mob. We are going to offer our riders the best bikes and conditions, so they can focus on doing their thing. The fun of racing will always come first, because eventually the rider who can stay relaxed and calm during the heat and stress of racing will take the win. We are beyond thrilled to have Aaron and Angel joining us.”

Gwin is also excited about his new sponsor: “The unbelievable hype that we’ve seen over the last few weeks and the feedback of the fans were incredible, but I am really happy to finally announce the news. We are a great match because the guys at YT share the same passion for mountain biking as I do. I am sure we will have a great time together. The TUES is perfect and I am really happy to officially ride it from now on.”

In addition to YT as title sponsor, the YT Mob will have the following co-sponsors: e*thirteen, Onza Tires, TRP, Renthal, SDG, Motorex, ODI, Cane Creek and Alpinestars.

About YT Industries:
In 2008, CEO Markus Flossmann founded YT with the aim to build competition-ready, affordable dirt jump and slopestyle mountain bikes for talented young riders. After only eight years, the product range includes high-end downhill and enduro bikes, which are awarded with renowned prices on a regular basis. The secret of success: high quality products, fair prices, the direct selling method which eliminates the profit margins of middlemen, an unmatched reputation and last but not least world-class team riders like Cam Zink, Andreu Lacondeguy and Aaron Gwin, who have joined the YT family.

By now, YT has established distribution channels in Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Africa.