2015 Team Rumours/Changes

[driftking]

I don't believe that professionalism is the ticket to bigger pay, a larger audience and the sport being taken 'seriously'. I think youre missing the point of action sports; its entertainment. Its the consumer who is going to decide where the money goes and how much the riders will be paid, and I assure you that the viewers don't give two shits about how professional the riders are, in fact, it could even help the sport if it became well known that the World Champs after party was insane and that the doors are open. Remember, its potentially the most dangerous sport you can pick up so we want to be marketing ourselves to the risk takers, who are often pretty intense partiers as well. Complete waste of time trying to image yourself as something you're not

You seem to be missing the point entirely as well, I never said we need to drop the image entirely or avoid it all together.
Take a look at any sport that is full of off the wall people, motoX is a great example, but you look at it now and all the riders display a high level of professionalism when it is needed, yet the weekend guys and the pros off season are very open to having fun and getting wild. A company will be careful to be associated with someone who is a wildcard and could hurt their reputation. For the sport to grow it needs and injection of money from somewhere, that will come from a sponsor who feels they can sell product through a rider, most products don't want a wild card. They want someone who is wild and professional but can control when and how they act and can be relied upon.

We can go two ways, we play up the crazy image which we have done in the past and it got us nowhere (palmer years), worked for a few years, it will develop an image of hooligans. This not only is a bad thing for trail development and public view on everyday riders but it equally tends to come with lower respect, most people who will see someone act like that will consider them immature and have little respect for what they do which leads to a difficult task promoting the sport and culture, it equally leads to the attitude of 'well if they dont take it serious how serious can it be" and we are back to a sport that is under recognized.

It would be great if I was wrong but I cant see it working that way.

The second way is as I said look at peaty, a guy who has fun, has a great image, has a pretty good wild man image but has a strong professionalism about him too. He is what we need from riders. There needs to be a striking balance. This not only gives credit to the sport but it maintains and improves our image and the seriousness of the sport but also the fun side, it does not give us a negative image but one that is positive. People will see serious riders which equates to a serious sport, something that needs to be taken serious deserves respect. All this leads to a positive light on riding and that is much easier to promote than a negative one. if we were marketing to 16-21 year olds the crazy image might work but we are pushing a culture and one that is widely recognized.

 

[jjperko]

You seem to be missing the point entirely as well, I never said we need to drop the image entirely or avoid it all together.
Take a look at any sport that is full of off the wall people, motoX is a great example, but you look at it now and all the riders display a high level of professionalism when it is needed, yet the weekend guys and the pros off season are very open to having fun and getting wild. A company will be careful to be associated with someone who is a wildcard and could hurt their reputation. For the sport to grow it needs and injection of money from somewhere, that will come from a sponsor who feels they can sell product through a rider, most products don't want a wild card. They want someone who is wild and professional but can control when and how they act and can be relied upon.

We can go two ways, we play up the crazy image which we have done in the past and it got us nowhere (palmer years), worked for a few years, it will develop an image of hooligans. This not only is a bad thing for trail development and public view on everyday riders but it equally tends to come with lower respect, most people who will see someone act like that will consider them immature and have little respect for what they do which leads to a difficult task promoting the sport and culture, it equally leads to the attitude of 'well if they dont take it serious how serious can it be" and we are back to a sport that is under recognized.

It would be great if I was wrong but I cant see it working that way.

The second way is as I said look at peaty, a guy who has fun, has a great image, has a pretty good wild man image but has a strong professionalism about him too. He is what we need from riders. There needs to be a striking balance. This not only gives credit to the sport but it maintains and improves our image and the seriousness of the sport but also the fun side, it does not give us a negative image but one that is positive. People will see serious riders which equates to a serious sport, something that needs to be taken serious deserves respect. All this leads to a positive light on riding and that is much easier to promote than a negative one. if we were marketing to 16-21 year olds the crazy image might work but we are pushing a culture and one that is widely recognized.

I don't like the hooligan image either, it breeds a pretty poor attitude from teenagers who are easily influenced by it at local races.

But, I think we are pretty lucky with the scene both locally and internationally compared to MX. Comparing vitalmtb and vitalmx is all you need to do to realise how much of the fun factor has been lost at top level MX. None of the top pros, industry or media folk have any personality compared with MTB.

I've spent the last two years getting into MX due to my current work enforced location, and at a local level DH is so much better organised and welcoming than motos. They just send out texts the day before races to those in the inner loop, and race licences are also hideously expensive (off topic really but just a whinge).

 

[driftking]

I don't like the hooligan image either, it breeds a pretty poor attitude from teenagers who are easily influenced by it at local races.

But, I think we are pretty lucky with the scene both locally and internationally compared to MX. Comparing vitalmtb and vitalmx is all you need to do to realise how much of the fun factor has been lost at top level MX. None of the top pros, industry or media folk have any personality compared with MTB.

I've spent the last two years getting into MX due to my current work enforced location, and at a local level DH is so much better organised and welcoming than motos. They just send out texts the day before races to those in the inner loop, and race licences are also hideously expensive (off topic really but just a whinge).

And that is the crux of the sport we are in and is the debate many people have bought up, for the sport to get big like some want it requires a level of professionalism that more than likely will kill the atmosphere and nature of the sport we have. We are stuck between wanting to be acknowledged and appropriately paid and respected and not wanting the sport to change.

 

[rider124]

Cannot be bothered reading through the pages in the thread to see if it has been said or not, as the first few seem to just be a pay debate on DH

BUT, working in a specialized shop you hear a few things... Many dealers at a recent dealer event were asking questions such as 'is it true troy brosnan is leaving specialized for the coming season'

From an unreliable source 'troy is moving to giant'

so yeah. Just my 2c.

 

[BERM blower outerA]

I have heard from a reputable source Jack Moir has signed a big contract to go and race the EWS and develop a trail bike with Mongoose/DVO suspension

 

[driftking]

I have heard from a reputable source Jack Moir has signed a big contract to go and race the EWS and develop a trail bike with Mongoose/DVO suspension

Thats interesting, his still an up and comer in downhill. I wonder if he will jump over full time to enduro. You'd think in today's age you would have to, We rarely see riders competing in more than one discipline full time at the top and consistently do well in both. Although it was good back in the days when you saw riders do downhill and 4x over the weekend and still finish on the podium for both, I think it would be a stretch to ask that these days.

 

[NoFilter]

I have heard from a reputable source Jack Moir has signed a big contract to go and race the EWS and develop a trail bike with Mongoose/DVO suspension

Would be interesting to see the outcome if this ever came to fruition. Dvo suspension on a Horst link platform under a pinner? Yes please! Jack likes to have a bit of fun too, sounds like it's too good to be true.

 

[demodv8]

Santacruz

Danny MacAskill to Santa cruz I know its not down hill but he does go down an insane hill in his new video lol

 

[Davey83]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[zids]

so far the only interesting rumour is Troy moving to giant.. Where will danny go? .... and needles?

 

[driftking]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

relax no need to scream.

strong first post. (I see you did edit it, im sure you had something more informative written prior)

 

[rider124]

so far the only interesting rumour is Troy moving to giant.. Where will danny go? .... and needles?

is needles not out of contract? or am i imagining that?

would be a big move considering troy has been on specialized for a long time, he would be very comfortable there.

 

[caddy]

Ragot and Blenki off Lapierre for 2015!

 

[dirt lover]

Ragot and Blenki off Lapierre for 2015!

Anything to back that up?

 

[caad9]

After Loic BRUNI it's now Loris VERGIER who confirms he will ride for Lapierre Gravity Republic until 2016!

Numerous people will look at 2014 Junior World Champ next season but Loris is not afrraid by the pressure. His last two years with the team were great and staying with us looks obvious as Loris has some great ambitions and all of us are really motivated to help him to achieve them.

Loris and Loic will also have a new young team mate next year: Finn ILES.

Young canadian rider is only 15 years old but some people may know him due to the VITAL #FinnIsIn campaign last year to help him to compete in the Whistler Crankworx WHIP Contest. Only 14 years old at this time Finn was finally able to do the contest and win it!

Finn is not only a stylish rider. He also won Garbanzo DH in Junior category and was spotted by Laurent DELORME when he opened the track in Mont St Anne world cup. He joins the team for the next 3 years.

The team will also have a new mechanic next year. After successfull years with us, Billy CEUSTERS will leave us for a new challenge. Billy was with us for a long time, he has worked with our XC riders Alexis VUILLERMOZ, Pauline FERRAND PREVOT, Jordan SARROU and also Loris VERGIER for the last two seasons. He will be replaced by Kevin JOLY, former Cedric GRACIA's mechanic and owner of MTB shop PIT STOP. He will take care of our riders with Jack ROURE.

Some riders will also stop their collaboration with us. Emmeline RAGOT and Sam BLENKINSOP will go for new challenges next year and we wish them the best.

Laurent Delorme – Team Manager Lapierre / www.pureagency.lu :
- See more at: http://teamlapierreinternational.co...n-iles-joins-us-finnisin#sthash.ixEVvvjT.dpuf

 

[MarioM]

Looking more likely Eric Carters contract will not be run in 2015 . Sorry if already mentioned but read the interview on Pinkbike . It seemed like he was doing a great job motivating a team of robots which is what they seemed to me . Are Specialised the "walmart " of cycling where they need total control ? Where will Emmy go ? As mentioned on team rumours on Vital , its on a team with someone she has ridden with before . Trek ?

 

[rider124]

Looking more likely Eric Carters contract will not be run in 2015 . Sorry if already mentioned but read the interview on Pinkbike . It seemed like he was doing a great job motivating a team of robots which is what they seemed to me . Are Specialised the "walmart " of cycling where they need total control ? Where will Emmy go ? As mentioned on team rumours on Vital , its on a team with someone she has ridden with before . Trek ?

down in the comments there are a few mentions of Blenky to Scott! good move by Scott if this is true!
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/finn-iles-joins-lapierre-gravtiy-republic-2014.html

Also, more on the Rumor of brosnan moving, from Eric carter in his interview he announces on why he thinks himself (EC) will not be in the team any more.

'I know Specialized is currently in the process of seeing what the program will look like for next year and beyond and trying to reduce spending'

Reduce spending, that could mean having one top level rider instead of two of them?

 

[MarioM]

down in the comments there are a few mentions of Blenky to Scott! good move by Scott if this is true!
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/finn-iles-joins-lapierre-gravtiy-republic-2014.html

Also, more on the Rumor of brosnan moving, from Eric carter in his interview he announces on why he thinks himself (EC) will not be in the team any more.
Reduce spending, that could mean having one top level rider instead of two of them?

Blenky needs a solid ride seems so switched on , but was he the Brendog of Lapierre and could he turn it around on a Scott? I think Blenki could be a solid podium contender on the right bike ? I know its said to be the rider not the bike but look at Gwin when he switched , others too . For me even Emmy was more suited to the mondraker . Seriously if you were Specialised who would you choose ? Gwinner or the upcoming pinner ? Gwin needs to go back to Trek , that was his bike .

 

[rider124]

Blenky needs a solid ride seems so switched on , but was he the Brendog of Lapierre and could he turn it around on a Scott? I think Blenki could be a solid podium contender on the right bike ? I know its said to be the rider not the bike but look at Gwin when he switched , others too . For me even Emmy was more suited to the mondraker . Seriously if you were Specialised who would you choose ? Gwinner or the upcoming pinner ? Gwin needs to go back to Trek , that was his bike .

Reading the article it seems like Specialized is an 'on paper' sort of organisation. What looks good on paper they like.
brosnan beat gwin in the overall did he not?
Brosnan is younger and has a lot more life left in him as a rider.

But is it maybe him wanting to leave?

 

[driftking]

Blenky needs a solid ride seems so switched on , but was he the Brendog of Lapierre and could he turn it around on a Scott? I think Blenki could be a solid podium contender on the right bike ? I know its said to be the rider not the bike but look at Gwin when he switched , others too . For me even Emmy was more suited to the mondraker . Seriously if you were Specialised who would you choose ? Gwinner or the upcoming pinner ? Gwin needs to go back to Trek , that was his bike .

Blenky a solid ride?
The lappiere is a much more solid ride than the scott for him in my opinion.

Looking more likely Eric Carters contract will not be run in 2015 . Sorry if already mentioned but read the interview on Pinkbike . It seemed like he was doing a great job motivating a team of robots which is what they seemed to me . Are Specialised the "walmart " of cycling where they need total control ? Where will Emmy go ? As mentioned on team rumours on Vital , its on a team with someone she has ridden with before . Trek ?

Emmy could go back to mondraker? She was teamed up with damien spagnolo back than and also Markus pekoll. Where are those two guy at the moment, They are still at mondraker last I knew.

The other option is she is moving with blinky from lappiere.