Sam Hill Signs With CRC/Nukeproof

Team CRC/Nukeproof are proud to welcome legendary Australian rider Sam Hill onto the roster, joining Matt Simmonds and Joe Smith as they look forward to success in the upcoming 2013 RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season. A five time downhill World Champion and with numerous World Cup podiums under his belt, Sam Hill is widely regarded as one of the most skilful riders on the circuit, often showing disregard for and picking apart the most loose, steep or gnarly courses in the world.

Matt Simmonds and Joe Smith, who both had their most successful professional season in 2012, are hoping to push themselves even further this year with the help of their new teammate. Matt said: “To have a rider of Sam’s calibre on the team will be awesome for us! Placing 16th overall in last year’s World Cup was great for me and gives me the perfect platform to improve my times this year and get closer to podium finishes.” Joe Smith, who took 19th overall in last year’s World Cup rankings, is stoked on what the future holds for the team, saying: “Finishing seventh at Fort Bill last year was a definite highlight, and to end up in the top-20 overall was fantastic. With the help of the team and some tweaks to my riding, this year should be amazing for us all.”

"I'm very excited about riding for team Chain Reaction Cycles/Nukeproof. They are very positive towards downhill racing and I know they are going to put in 100% just like me. I'm really looking forward to getting to the races under the Chain Reaction Cycles tents and hanging with the team. 2013 is going to be a good year." Sam Hill

"I'm delighted Sam has decided to join our team! I have been a big fan of Sam throughout his successful downhill career. He's had amazing results in the past winning five World Championship titles and is a fantastic ambassador for any company involved in downhill and mountain biking in general. We have worked hard on developing a great team and great bikes over the last five seasons and I believe having a rider of Sam's pedigree will step the team up to that next level and also bring on the results of Matt and Joe, who had very promising seasons in 2012. We are all really looking forward to having Sam on board helping the development of new Nukeproof products and hopefully helping Sam achieve his goals in racing in the next stage of his career. I can't wait for the 2013 season to begin!" Nigel Page

2013 Pro Gravity Tour Announced

Racing into its fifth year, USA Cycling’s Pro GRT will feature ten events from coast to coast, an increase over the six events that made up the 2012 calendar.

The tour kicks off in March with three new additions. Reaper Madness Downhill & Super D leads things off in Boulder City, Nev. Riders will then head west for the Fontana City – California Golden State competition a few weeks later. In April, the popular Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, Calif., will host the Pro GRT’s third stop.

Racing resumes in May with two east coast favorites: the Mountain Creek Spring Classic 2013 in Vernon, N.J., followed by the 2013 Plattekill Gravity Open in Roxbury, N.Y. Both events are also part of the POC Eastern States Cup.

Another race familiar to Pro GRT riders, the Chile Challenge, marks the start of the second half of the calendar. The June event takes place in Angel Fire, N.M., less than two months before the venue will host the 2013 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships.

Riders will head to the China Peak Ski Resort for the California Golden State event later that month before crossing the country for the Windham Downhill in Windham, N.Y. on June 30, which is a UCI C2-inscribed race. July’s sole event is the Snowshoe Mountain Pro GRT in West Virginia. The Pro GRT concludes in early September at the Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

Series points are given to top finishers at each event and used to determine the individual men’s and women’s standings that rank the best downhillers competing in the U.S. The 2012 men’s top ranked rider was Logan Binggeli (Saint George, Utah/KHS Factory Racing), while Jacqueline Harmony (Sedona, Ariz./IXS-510-Smith Optics) finished first in the women’s standings.

2013 Pro Mountain Bike Gravity Tour

• March 15-17   Reaper Madness Downhill & Super D — Boulder City, NV
• March 30-31   Fontana City - California Golden State — Fontana, CA
• April 21           Sea Otter Classic — Monterey, CA
• May 19           Mountain Creek Spring Classic 2013 — Vernon, NJ
• May 26           2013 Plattekill Gravity Open — Roxbury, NY
• June 7-9        Chile Challenge — Angel Fire, NM
• June 22-23    California Golden State — China Peak Ski Resort, CA
• June 30          Windham Downhill — Windham, NY
• July 13-14      Snowshoe Mountain Pro GRT — Snowshoe, WV
• Sept. 4-8       Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games — Mammoth Lakes, CA

Four Events Make Up Pro UET

Now in its third year, the 2013 Pro UET will consist of four events offering series points to rank the top male and female endurance mountain bikers in the country.

Returning to the Pro UET from 2012 are two US Cup series races: the Sagebrush Safari 50 in Lake Morena, Calif., in May, and the Big Bear Classic in Big Bear Lake, Calif., in June. The Pro UET picks up again in August with the Galena Grinder Whit Henry Memorial at Galena Lodge in Idaho. Concluding the series is the brand new Templeton Cache XCM in Colorado Springs, Colo., on August 17.

The final standings of the 2012 Pro UET saw David "Tinker" Juarez (Whittier, Calif./Cannondale Factory) and Monique "Pua" Mata (Anaheim, Calif./Team Sho-Air Specialized) top the men’s and women’s rankings, respectively.

2013 Pro Mountain Bike Ultra-Endurance Tour

• May 19          US Cup – Sagebrush Safari 50 — Lake Morena, CA
• June 2           US Cup – Big Bear Classic — Big Bear Lake, CA
• August 10     Galena Grinder Whit Henry Memorial — Galena Lodge, ID
• August 17     Templeton Cache XCM — Colorado Springs, CO

2013 GT Factory Racing Brings on Next Generation of Talent

GT Factory Racing announced today the signing of two of Europe’s most dominant young riders to expand its champion downhill and enduro race team GT Factory Racing. Taylor Vernon of South Wales will join the world’s fastest downhill race team to train alongside Gee Atherton, Rachel Atherton, and Marc Beaumont, while Martin Maes from Belgium will join Dan Atherton on the enduro team.

“Taylor was first brought to our attention last year and we’ve seen him post some solid results in the under 16 sections this past season,” said Dan Brown, Team Director. “The team is on a roll right now with Rachel’s World Cup win, fastest team overall title and Gee taking podiums in every race. It feels like the right time for us to start to bring on some new young riders and we think that Taylor has the potential to become a major force on the World Cup scene.”

Vernon is 16 years old and will be racing on a GT Fury. During the season, he will focus on dominating the Junior World Cups and World Championships.

“Words can’t describe how stoked I am to be joining Dan, Gee, Rachel, and Marc on GT Factory Racing,” said Vernon. “I’m so excited about racing at the International and
World Cup level and know that I could not ask for a better or more experienced team of people to teach me all there is to know.”

On the enduro side, 15-year-old Martin Maes turned heads when he took 5th place overall at the Superenduro of Nations at Sauze d’Oulz. He will be riding a GT Force and focusing on the Enduro World Series.

“Nobody could quite believe it,” said Dan Atherton. “There isn’t a junior category in superenduro so this 15-year-old boy is just wasting some of the toughest and most experienced adult riders on the circuit. We are really excited about the Enduro World Series in 2013 and I’m stoked to have a new teammate with this much potential.”

“This opportunity feels like a dream come true,” said Maes. “I have the greatest admiration for Rachel,Dan, Gee and Marc and will be so happy to ride with them. My key objectives for 2013 are to brush up on my English and to listen to Dan’s recommendations to progress on my bike.”

Keep glued to athertonracing.co.uk for all the latest on the team as they enter the 2013 season.

2013 YT Tues DH LTD On Sale For 1 Day

Our TUES WC Limited project approaches the third round now. Our TUES 2.0 frame, which received multiple awards, is the base of the 2013 Limited Bikes.

With its new school race geometry, its variable wheel position and the V4L rear kinematics it is predestined to enhance the downhill bike.

Since many believe (as do we), that we have reached the top of the totem pole with our 2012 model, we are even more proud to offer an additional improvement with our 2013 model. Thanks to the collaboration with the companies BOS Suspension and E13, we were able to create a bike, which is probably no longer available with these amenities.

Ausstattungs-Highlights

• BOS Idylle RaRe Air Suspension Fork
• BOS Stoy RaRe Shock
• E13 LG1+ Wheel Set with Carbon Hubs and Scandium Rims
• LG1R Downhill Cranks and Chain Guide
• Sram X0 Derailleur and Gear Shift/ Avid XO Trail Brakes
• Renthal Stem and Handlebar

The shock spring tension will be adjusted to your personal weight and riding style. Reminiscent of the World Cup, a sticker with your name and the flag of your country will be added as an additional highlight. This represents a truly customized bike, just for you!

This is how it works:

• On the 12/12/2012 at 00.00 h the access to TUES 2.0 LTD bikes will be enabled in our Online-Shop. You will then have the possibility to order the bike.
  Caution: the e-mail sent automatically to you after your ordering action will only be a receipt of your order, and will not yet be a confirmation of your order! As we expect a high activity with this action, we will be able to send the actual order confirmations after the end of the action only (12/12/2012 at 24.00 h). Such an order confirmation will then assure you of a Tues 2.0 LTD bike within the following 24 hours.
• From the moment of this confirmation your order will then be mandatory, and the payment must be received into our account within 10 days, otherwise we would unfortunately be forced to cancel your order.
• Because various parts of this bike are manufactured based on your personal and individual conditions, the manufacturing process requires a certain time frame before your bike can be delivered. Your bike will be shipped in March of 2013. You will receive the exact shipment date 3 weeks prior to shipment.

Build Kit

• 7005-T6 alloy, virtual 4Link rear end
• BOS Stoy RaRe
• BOS Idylle RaRe Air
• 200mm / 208mm
• YT Taper
• Sram X0 10 speed
• Sram X0 10 speed
• E.13 LG1+
• Avid X0 trail
• 200mm/200mm
• E.13 LG1r Single 165 mm
• E.13 Guidering
• Sram PG-1070, 11-26 teeth
• E.13 BB
• E.13 LG1+ Wheels
• Maxxis Minion DH F, SuperTacky
• Maxxis Minion DH R, MaxxPro
• Renthal Integrated
• Renthal Fatbar
• SDG I-Beam
• SDG I-Fly
• w/o
• S, M, L
• 17,2 kg (w/o pedals)

2013 YT Tues LTD Order Here

Brendan Fairclough And Red Bull Bring Us A 360 View Of The 2012 Hafjell UCI WC Track

The Scott11 team and Norwegian producers Making View strapped a specialist remoted-controlled on-board camera to leading rider Brendan Fairclough.

He and team-mates Floriane Pugin and Noel Niederberger set off down the mountain after official practice at the season-ending World Cup 2012 round in Norway, and they held nothing back…

Hafjell is an awesome location – the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circus loves it so much after one visit that next year cross-country will join downhill on the scheduled Norway stop – and this video, a world-first for MTB, makes it look even better.

Start by following Floriane down the course, then swing round to see how Noel is doing behind – you can even look down and watch Brendan soaking up every bump on the track with a bird’s-eye view!

This really is downhill mountain biking as you’ve never seen it before – no wonder it was high-fives all round for the Scott11 guys at the bottom of the hill.

•Brendan Fairclough and his Scott11 team-mates take on the awesome downhill course at Hafjell Bike Park in Norway during the UCI World Cup in 2012
•Brendan Fairclough, born in 1988 and from Guildford, UK, joined the Scott11 team for 2012 after recovering from knee surgery and has enjoyed a solid World Cup season, as well as winning the iXS EDC round in Châtel, France.
•The video is a first in MTB, providing a unique and unparalleled 360-degree view of a downhill run, controlled directly by the viewer; even Brendan couldn’t get this view!
•Making View’s specialist remote-controlled 360-degree video camera weighs just 600g, meaning it was easily able to capture multiple views of Hafjell from Brendan’s helmet without affecting his ability to shred the course.
•Brendan Fairclough brings you this unique 360-degree POV video of the Hafjell MTB World Cup track, but it’s you who uses your mouse or keyboard to choose his viewpoint! Red Bull, Scott11, Velosolutions and film-makers Making View produced this world-first experience.

Watch It Here