Professional riders are busy signing contracts for the upcoming season, or seasons, and while some are jumping ship, most are renewing deals with old sponsors. The complete rundown is inside!
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The Rundown: Who’s Riding for Whom in the 2010 Season
Words by David Peacock
This past week has seen a barrage of fresh signings from the professional athlete side of things. In previous years, riders have been known to switch teams more often than Hugh Hefner swaps Bunnies, but this season has brought about a change in this trend. While there are a few exceptions, it must be noted that nearly all riders whose contracts have seen ink fade off of the dotted line have promptly refreshed the signature lying at the bottom of terms and conditions that most can only dream of agreeing to.
Paul Bas is back with Kona for 2010.
Kona Bikes has been busy punching in the staples of their Clump Team, resigning young gun Graham Agassiz and pre-eminent slopestyle and film segment champion Paul Basagoitia. The two have made the most of their Kona rides over the past few seasons, with impressive results at the Red Bull Rampage, Goat Style Slopestyle, and the Whistler and Colorado stops of Crankworx.
Classic Graham Agassiz style: higher and more tweaked than anyone else. Dave Peacock photograph.
The dream team on the racing side of things has been equally solidified, as after one solid year aboard their Demo 8’s, both Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough have re-upped with the newly formed racing powerhouse team. Brendog (Brendan Fairclough’s street, or trail, name) has been a pleasure to watch over the past season, bringing his trademark powerful and stylish riding into top 10 finishes and 3 World Cup podiums. He also bagged a win at the U.S Open in the hotly contested dual slalom event. Brendan also managed to sneak away from the racecourse to do some filming for Anthill’s new movie Follow Me, check back soon for the full update on that! Sam’s nearly constant presence atop World Cup and Open event podiums has been nothing short of dominant, and it will be interesting to see how he follows up his World Cup series win in the coming season.
Brendan Fairclough whipping out his new deal with Specialized (By Victor Lucas).
Cedric Gracia is among the riders bucking the trend, as he has committed to his own team for the coming season, and will not be riding Commencal bikes. CG Racing Brigade will be the team name, and so far the man himself has signed on a photographer, a mechanic and a team manager to help him out with the rigors of racing and riding the way only Cedric can. Another team swapper is Sam Blenkinsop, the “no-gloves-no-love” racer from New Zealand will be dropping competitors while piloting a shiny new Lapierre steed. He will be looking to build on his successes, such as victory at Schladming, and consistent improvements throughout the years.
Lance Mcdermott and his shiny Saracen cycle.
Furthermore, while on the topic of new sponsorships, Lance McDermott has left Scott USA for the British cycling brand Saracen. It is looking like Lance could be riding his new rig back into the form that garnered him second place at Kokanee Crankworx in 2008, with arguably the most show stopping run. He will also be working on developing a signature range of bikes with his new sponsor over the duration of the 3 year contract.
There are several reasons for continued alliances between sponsorer and sponsoree. Most certainly the economic times the majority of the world (or at least the portions of it where people possess the monstrous excuse for bikes we deem appropriate) currently languishes in have not aided relations between riders and their supporting brands. Consequentially the money is not there for riders to depart from their current sponsors. The same can be said for freeskiing, a sport that parallels mountain biking with amazing congruence. It may also be simply because riders are beginning to develop bonds with their sponsors beyond money and bikes. Personal relationships are a huge part of any prosperous business connection in the bike industry; team managers play a huge role in this, and riders respond in turn. It may be a mark of closeness that so many riders have reverted to their respective brands for the upcoming season. Or maybe it’s all because of “boats and hoes”, as the incomparable
Either way that’s the rundown on who’s riding for whom, now go find a place without snow to shake off the winter blues!
