FMB World Tour 2017 – Preliminary Calendar

January 24, 2017: Weeks have passed since the last FMB World Tour Event of 2016. Now, looking on to a bright and action ridden 2017 the first events of the new season have been confirmed. The preliminary calendar already consists of 18 FMB Events in 10 different countries around the globe and there will be many more to come.

With White Style in Leogang, Austria, kicking-off the FMB World Tour on January 27, all slopestyle fans and athletes can look forward to a long list of locations hosting FMB Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond Events this year. Reason enough for riders of all skill levels to get hold of their 2017 AM or PRO FMB License and make this season the best season yet!

Already 18 events have been confirmed and many more are to follow in the next weeks. At the grassroots level the events Diverse NIGHT of the JUMPs (POL, March 25), Bike Fest (POL, May 27), Gravity Jump It! (GER, June 10) and Cropp Baltic Games (POL, August 20) are already looking forward to lots of local riders sending it at their FMB Bronze Events. With the first FMB Silver Event of the year happening in Leogang this week, the next already confirmed contests are Bike Days (SUI, May 7) and Natural Games (FRA, July 1). The number of Gold Events has a good chance of increasing once again. The modification of adding every contestant’s best Gold Event result to the end result of the Diamond Series proved its worth last season and will be maintained. With the event O’Marisquino in Vigo (ESP, August 13) making the leap from the silver level, an increased number of Gold Events is to be expected. Other confirmed FMB Gold Events are Swatch Rocket Air (SUI, April 29), FISE Montpellier (FRA, May 27) 26TRIX (AUT, June 10), GlemmRide Bike Festival Saalbach (AUT, July 8) and Colorado Freeride Festival (USA, July 29) for the time being.

All event organizers and athletes, who know of local events or local dirt jump parks can make their event be a part of the FMB World Tour this year. Just follow the link to see, which requirements have to be fulfilled in order to host an FMB Bronze or Silver Event. Multiple events in one country can also sign up to become a National Series such as the very successful Dirtwars UK series. Inquiries can made via email to info@fmbworldtour.com.

Although the calendar is still very much in a state of flux, the FMB Diamond Events are all set in stone. After Crankworx Rotorua really gets the season under way on April 2, fans can look forward to a “double header” in June with Crankworx Les Gets on June 18 followed by Crankworx Innsbruck a week later on June 25. With the season in full swing, Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler will get everyone stoked on August 20, before Red Bull District Ride will conclude the FMB Diamond Series on September 2.

Keep your eyes peeled for further information about live webcasts and calendar updates on www.fmbworldtour.com or stay informed and sign up for the FMB World Tour Newsletter.

2017 FMB Preliminary Calendar

• January 27, 2017: White Style (Leogang, AUT) - FMB Silver Event
• March 25, 2017: Diverse NIGHT of the JUMPs (Krakow, POL) - FMB Bronze Event
• April 2, 2017: Crankworx Rotorua (Rotorua, NZL) - FMB Diamond Event
• April 29, 2017: Swatch Rocket Air (Thun, SUI) - FMB Gold Event
• May 7, 2017: Bike Days (Solothurn, SUI) - FMB Silver Event
• May 26, 2017: FISE Montpellier (Montpellier, FRA) - FMB Gold Event
• May 27, 2017: Bike Fest (Kalnica, SVK) - FMB Bronze Event
• June 10, 2017: 26TRIX (Leogang, AUT) - FMB Gold Event
• June 10, 2017: Gravity Jump It! (Boppard, GER) - FMB Bronze Event
• June 18, 2017: Crankworx Les Gets (Les Gets, FRA) - FMB Diamond Event
• June 25, 2017: Crankworx Innsbruck (Innsbruck, AUT) - FMB Diamond Event
• July 1, 2017: Natural Games (Millau, FRA) - FMB Silver Event
• July 8, 2017: GlemmRide Bike Festival Saalbach (Saalbach, AUT) - FMB Gold Event
• July 29, 2017: Colorado Freeride Festival (Winter Park, USA) - FMB Gold Event
• August 13, 2017: O’Marisquino (Vigo, ESP) - FMB Gold Event
• August 20, 2017: Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler (Whistler, CAN) - FMB Diamond Event
• August 20, 2017: Cropp Baltic Games (Gdansk, POL) - FMB Bronze Event
• September 2, 2017: Red Bull District Ride (Nuremberg, GER) - FMB Diamond Event

Giant Announces Their 2017 Off Road Team

"Following an ambitious year that saw its riders compete at international off-road events of all disciplines, all around the globe, the Giant Factory Off-Road Team looks back at a successful 2016 season while also preparing for the year ahead.

The core of the team, including six-time Colombian downhill champion Marcelo Gutierrez and Australian enduro specialist Josh Carlson, will return for 2017, and at least three new riders will be added to the roster.

Highlights from the 2016 season included race wins and podium finishes at Crankworx World Tour events and Enduro World Series races around the world. Gutierrez won his sixth Colombian DH national championship, and Carlson continued his progression at the top level of enduro racing with a podium finish at the Whistler, British Columbia round of the EWS and a top-10 overall series ranking.

“It was another wild year on the enduro tour,” said Carlson. “I was especially stoked to come back from a crash and score that podium finish at Whistler with my friends and family there watching. We did a lot of development with our bikes and gear throughout the season, and I think it showed with some of our results.”

Carlson’s teammate Yoann Barelli also showed moments of brilliance in 2016, scoring two top-10 finishes in the Enduro World Series before he was slowed by injury in the second half of the season. And the surprise enduro racer for Giant last year was 20-year-old Canadian Mckay Vezina, a member of the North American Giant Co-Factory Team who broke onto the EWS circuit as a rookie and immediately became a consistent top-20 finisher.

The team’s U.S. riders Adam Craig and Carl Decker also chalked up some big results in North American racing. The versatile Craig scored wins in a variety of off-road events, from enduro to cyclocross, and Decker found success at races ranging from gravel grinders to XC and cyclocross competition.

Decker will return for 2017, targeting a mix of off-road races, events and festivals. Craig will also continue, but in a new capacity as an ambassador. The longtime Giant racer will evolve his role to help inspire riders of all levels, connect with retailers at events, and provide valuable rider input on new bike and gear development projects.

While the core of the team remains the same for 2017, French riders Yoann Barelli and Guillaume Cauvin, along with Spaniard Alex Marin and American Seamus Powell will depart at the end of the year.

“Each of those athletes brought a lot to our program,” said Giant Factory Off-Road Team manager Joe Staub. “Their energy and commitment has been a constant over the past few years. We wish them each good luck in the future.”

The coming year will also see some new faces for the team, with a focus on up-and-coming young talent. In enduro racing, Vezina will step up to become a full-fledged member of the Giant Factory Off-Road enduro squad. And for downhill racing, Gutierrez will be joined by young talents Jacob Dickson, a four-time junior national champion in Ireland, and Eliot Jackson, a former motocross racer from the U.S. who scored top-10 results at two Crankworx DH events last year.  

More information on the 2017 Giant Factory Off-Road Team, including the final team roster as well as all the details on new bikes, gear and equipment sponsors, will be announced in early 2017. 

 You can follow the Giant Factory Off-Road Team all season long on their Facebook page."

Intense Cycles 2017 Recluse

The Recluse is a skillfully crafted all-mountain machine. Featuring 150mm front and 140mm rear travel, and coupled with our proprietary JS Tuned Suspension, the Recluse will ascend with as much efficiency as it descends. If you're looking to push boundaries on the mountain, the Recluse will deliver the experience you've been chasing.

Features

• 150mm front / 140mm rear
• 27.5” Wheel size
• Integrated BOOST 148 x 12 dropouts
• SL Frame is 250 grams lighter with titanium hardware and high modulus carbon fiber
• Internal cable routing
• Internal seat tube cable routing for dropper posts

• Monocoque front triangle
• H20 bottle fitment
• Downtube and chainstay flack guard protection
• Tapered head tube
• Direct mount front derailleur
• Angular contact/collet bearing system with replaceable grease zerks

Recluse Geometry

Recluse Sizing