Historic Double Win For Trek World Racing In South Africa
At the opening round of the 2011 Downhill World Cup, Trek World Racing's Tracy Moseley (GBR) and Aaron Gwin (USA) have walked away with the leaders' jerseys of the series after a display of blistering speed, strength, and determination in front of a huge crowd in sunny Pietermaritzburg. For Tracy it was her first World Cup win in the coveted rainbow jersey of the World Champion, and for Aaron, it was his first World Cup win ever, and the first by an American male since 1999.
Aaron qualified 7th 2 days ago, but in the time between that race and today’s final, he worked with the Trek World Racing me chanics to find the ideal set up for what was going to be a much faster and drier race. His Fox suspension was perfectly dialled as was his choice of Maxxis rubber, and together with a supreme show of speed in the first and second sectors the Californian, who only started racing World Cups in 2008, scored his 8th World cup podium, but an all-important first win for his career, and his new team.
TWR Takes Double Win
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
2011 UCI WORLD CUP 1 IN PIETERMARITZBURG
For the opening round of the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano, the athletes and teams have returned to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, after a one year absence. All three disciplines are represented in the opening round - Olympic Cross-country, Downhill and Four-Cross. Contested on three continents, both the Cross-country and Downhill World Cup series will feature seven events, with the Four-Cross offering five.
From Pietermaritzburg, the disciplines split, with the Cross-country returning to Dalby, Great Britain and Offenburg, Germany in May, while the Gravity events resume in June with Fort William, Scotland, and Leogang, Austria. For July, the World Cup moves to North America, with a triple event at the classic Mont-Sainte Anne venue in Canada, followed by a Cross-country/Downhill double in Windham, New York, in the United States. August returns the World Cup to Europe for the final three races - La Bresse (France) for a stand-alone Downhill, the new Czech venue of Nove Mesto Na Morave for Cross-country number six, and the World Cup Final bringing all three disciplines back together in Val di Sole, Italy.
The Cross-country is entering a critical phase in Olympic qualifying for next year's London Games, so the competition is expected to reach new heights in intensity. The men's side will see renewed rivalry between France's Julien Absalon (Orbea) and the 2010 World Cup Champion from Switzerland, Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), while Spain's Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida), who won the opening round the last time the race was in Pietermaritzburg, will wear the rainbow stripes of the World Champion through the year. For the women, Canada's Catharine Pendrel (Luna) will start the year with the Number One plate, however, she faces strong competition from Americans Willow Koerber (Trek World Racing) and Georgia Gould (Luna), as well as Italy's Eva Lechner (Colnago Arreghini Sudtirol) and Russia's Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon). The Cross-country will also introduce, for the first time, separate World Cup races for the Under-23 categories.
In 2010, the crowd-favourite Downhill saw a tremendous battle for the men's title between Great Britain's Gee Atherton (Commencal) and South African Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate), with the lead seesawing back and forth until Atherton took the title in the final event. This year, we can expect to see both riders fighting it out again, with World Champion Sam Hill (Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz) in the mix also. The women's competition was dominated by French star Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) last year, but her countrywoman Emmeline Ragot (Team GR) and World Champion Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing) will both be looking to dislodge Jonnier from the top spot.
The Four-cross will once again see perennial men's favourite Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) of Australia go up against the powerful RSP four-cross squad led by Czech rider Tomas Slavik and the Netherland's Joost Wichman. Graves repeated as the World Cup Champion in 2010, however, Slavik was able to take the world title from him. On the women's side, Austria's Anita Molcik took the 2010 title from multi-time World Cup Champion Anneke Beerten (Milka Trek) of the Netherlands, so Beerten is sure to be anxious to regain her number one status.
The 2011 action starts on Friday in Pietermaritzburg, with the Four-cross.
2011 WC Round 1
From Pietermaritzburg, the disciplines split, with the Cross-country returning to Dalby, Great Britain and Offenburg, Germany in May, while the Gravity events resume in June with Fort William, Scotland, and Leogang, Austria. For July, the World Cup moves to North America, with a triple event at the classic Mont-Sainte Anne venue in Canada, followed by a Cross-country/Downhill double in Windham, New York, in the United States. August returns the World Cup to Europe for the final three races - La Bresse (France) for a stand-alone Downhill, the new Czech venue of Nove Mesto Na Morave for Cross-country number six, and the World Cup Final bringing all three disciplines back together in Val di Sole, Italy.
The Cross-country is entering a critical phase in Olympic qualifying for next year's London Games, so the competition is expected to reach new heights in intensity. The men's side will see renewed rivalry between France's Julien Absalon (Orbea) and the 2010 World Cup Champion from Switzerland, Nino Schurter (Scott-Swisspower), while Spain's Jose Hermida (Multivan Merida), who won the opening round the last time the race was in Pietermaritzburg, will wear the rainbow stripes of the World Champion through the year. For the women, Canada's Catharine Pendrel (Luna) will start the year with the Number One plate, however, she faces strong competition from Americans Willow Koerber (Trek World Racing) and Georgia Gould (Luna), as well as Italy's Eva Lechner (Colnago Arreghini Sudtirol) and Russia's Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon). The Cross-country will also introduce, for the first time, separate World Cup races for the Under-23 categories.
In 2010, the crowd-favourite Downhill saw a tremendous battle for the men's title between Great Britain's Gee Atherton (Commencal) and South African Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate), with the lead seesawing back and forth until Atherton took the title in the final event. This year, we can expect to see both riders fighting it out again, with World Champion Sam Hill (Monster Energy/Specialized/Mad Catz) in the mix also. The women's competition was dominated by French star Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) last year, but her countrywoman Emmeline Ragot (Team GR) and World Champion Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing) will both be looking to dislodge Jonnier from the top spot.
The Four-cross will once again see perennial men's favourite Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) of Australia go up against the powerful RSP four-cross squad led by Czech rider Tomas Slavik and the Netherland's Joost Wichman. Graves repeated as the World Cup Champion in 2010, however, Slavik was able to take the world title from him. On the women's side, Austria's Anita Molcik took the 2010 title from multi-time World Cup Champion Anneke Beerten (Milka Trek) of the Netherlands, so Beerten is sure to be anxious to regain her number one status.
The 2011 action starts on Friday in Pietermaritzburg, with the Four-cross.
2011 WC Round 1
Friday, April 22, 2011
2011 UCI World Cup Round 1 Pietermartizburg
The 2011 UCI MTB World Cup presented by Shimano, will open with the first event in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. We look forward to welcoming all UCI MTB Teams, National Federations and individual riders and we as the organizers and Cycling South Africa will work as hard as possible to ensure their experience will be of the highest standard.
The organizers, together with the City of Pietermaritzburg, have developed a prime piece of real estate which is almost in the centre of the city and served as the premier Mountain Bike venue in the country over the past two years. This 12 hectare piece of land boasts competition ready Cross Country, Downhill and Four Cross courses that will all be utilized at the event in April 2011.
2011 UCI WC 1
The organizers, together with the City of Pietermaritzburg, have developed a prime piece of real estate which is almost in the centre of the city and served as the premier Mountain Bike venue in the country over the past two years. This 12 hectare piece of land boasts competition ready Cross Country, Downhill and Four Cross courses that will all be utilized at the event in April 2011.
2011 UCI WC 1
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Transition TR 450 Explained
The TR450 product video gives you a complete view of the TR450 as told from the people that designed it, race on it and tune the suspension for it. See the bike in action and why it is regarded as one of the best overall downhill racing bikes around.
Transition TR 450 Video
Transition TR 450 Video
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
3 Minute Gaps Andrew Neethling
When we arrived in Somerset west to film "Needles" section it was clear it wasn't going to be a normal weeks filming for a number of reasons. First, we had to put up with a full week of Sven Martin in full panic mode every time a potential photographic moment was missed. Which resulted in us getting out of bed at 5.30am everyday for the epic morning light. Second, Andrew has the best trails and jumps literally in his own own back yard. The area overlooks both the Indian and Atlantic Ocean and is one of the most amazing places I have ever filmed. Getting a chance to hang out with Andrew in his hometown for the filming of his section was one the most memorable experiences of my life.
3 Minute Gap
3 Minute Gap
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