Our teamriders Scott Beaumont and Katy just won the first round of the Schwalbe British 4x series. Congrats!

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The Mountain States Cup has set the stage for 2011 with new venues, more endurance stage racing, new DH courses and more of the same racing you have come to love from the MSC. The season will consist of nine weekends and 36 events across all disciplines including cross country, downhill, four cross, super D, short track, hill climbs and time trials.

Find all information about 2011 MSC here: http://www.racemsc.com/

You can check out the info at: www.british4x.com and www.euro4xseries.com

Schwalbe have today announced that they will be title sponsoring the British 4X Series in 2011. At a meeting at Schwalbe UK’s head office yesterday Chris Roberts, the British 4X Series organiser signed the contract with Chris Hearn and Dave Taylor from Bohle UK (Schwalbe UK distributors) that will see the series now become: ‘Schwalbe British 4X Series’.

This association was a logical step for Schwalbe who have become known as the best 4X tire in the World with current World Champion – Tomas Slavik, Jared Graves, Joost Wichman, Johannes Fischbach and a whole host of World 4X stars using the tires to consistent victories around the World every year. To give you some idea of the kind of dominance Schwalbe has in 4X, in the 2010 UCI overall rankings, 7 of the top 10 riders used Schwalbe!!

Tim Ward and Dave Taylor from Schwalbe will be present at every round of the 2011 series and the National Championships showcasing their amazing range of tires, and on hand to provide support and information to anyone who stops by their truck.

The partnership is initially based on a one year contract, but both parties see this as being a lasting relationship that will help increase Schwalbe’s presence at British 4X races and also help British 4X to grow even more in the coming years.

The 2011 Schwalbe British 4X Series will be a 7 round series visiting the best 4X tracks in Britain:

Round 1 – April 3rd – Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Round 2 – May 8th – Penshurst, Kent
Round 3 – May 28th – Afan, South Wales
Round 4 – July 16th – Harthill, Cheshire
Round 5/6 – August 6th/7th – Southwest Extreme, Devon
Round 7 – September 18th – Redhill, Gloucestershire

Schwalbe will also be supporting the National Championships:
National Championships – July 17th – Harthill, Cheshire.

Chris Roberts had this to say:

’2011 looks set to be another amazing year for 4X with growth once more here in the UK. Enquires about the series from riders are well up on previous years, many of the tracks have had changes over the winter and now to add Schwalbe as the title sponsor to the series is a huge boost for 4X here in Britain. I can’t wait to get the series underway at Leamington on 3rd April.

Dave Taylor added:

“Schwalbe are incredibly proud to be the title sponsor of The National 4 X Series 2011. We view 4X as one of the most exciting and technically challenging MTB disciplines around. We’re looking forward to exposing 4X to new audiences and, with our range of 4X tyres being the best in the business we hope to achieve big things this year for the 4X fanatics!”

Schwalbe to title sponsor the 2011 Euro Fourcross Series.

Fantastic news for the Euro Fourcross Series as Schwalbe has agreed a deal to title sponsor the Series in 2011. The Series will now be called the ‘Schwalbe Euro Fourcross Series’.

After a very successful first season in 2010, the Euro Fourcross Series provided European riders with a valuable stepping stone between their respective National Series events and the daunting World Cup 4X Series. With good participation levels in 2010, happy organisers and challenging tracks, the inaugural season came to an end in Leogang, Austria, where Lucas Mechura was crowned the first ever Euro Fourcross Series Champion. The Czech rider will be back again in 2011 to defend his title over the 5 rounds.

The Schwalbe Euro Fourcross Series will visit these venues in 2011:

• Round 1 – Houffalize, Belgium – UCI Class 1
• Round 2 – Szczawno Zdroj, Poland – UCI Class 1
• Round 3 – Afan, UK – UCI Class 3
• Round 4 – Leogang, Austria – UCI Class 2
• Round 5 – Pec, Czech Republic – UCI Class 3

Chris Roberts, the Series organiser said:

‘2010 was a great success for the Euro Fourcross Series. Now with Schwalbe coming onboard to title sponsor the Series, the 2011 Series looks like it is going to be bigger and better than last year. We are looking forward to Lucas Mechura defending his title against the new World Champion Tomas Slavik and the rest of Europe’s top riders’. Fourcross is really growing here in Europe and it is a pleasure to organise a Series where the skill levels of the riders is so high and the action is non stop.’

Michael Kull, Schwalbe Global Marketing said:

‘Schwalbe are really happy to become the title sponsor of the Euro Fourcross Series. Schwalbe have sponsored the best 4X riders in the World for the past few years so we thought it was a great time to step up and sponsor the Euro Fourcross Series in 2011. We hope this is the start of a great relationship as we see 4X growing stronger over the next few years’.

Congrats to grubby winning the australian nationals!

Thumbs up for Filip Polc (MS-Racing Evil) winning the VALPARAISO CERRO ABAJO

all details

Follow the link to one of the most interesting people in DH racing.

The Yeti / Fox Racing Shox team, perennially one of the strongest mountain teams on the circuit, announced its World Cup and national teams today.

Current World Cup 4x Overall Champion, Jared Graves will anchor the World Cup team and will be joined by rising star and fellow Aussie downhiller Shaun O’Connor. The national team is deep in talent and will feature two current national champions - Ross Milan (4x) and Mike West (Super D) and a deep pool of young downhill racers including Tyler Immer, Eliot Jackson, Joey Schusler, Chris Boice, and junior Richie Rude.

The Yeti / Fox Racing Shox Factory Team has consistently produced top World Cup talent. Yeti president, Chris Conroy, credits this to the development system they created five years ago. “We are committed to finding and developing young talent,” Conroy said. “We have invested significantly in our World Cup and national teams so our riders get great coaching, strength training and mechanical support to help them reach the next level of the sport.”

Shaun O’Connor, who finished 17th overall on the World Cup circuit last year is stoked to be riding on the Yeti / Fox Racing Shox Factory Team, “I am really excited to be on the Yeti program,” O’Connor said. “I was looking for a team that would allow me to grow as a rider and improve my racing… the Yeti program is a perfect fit.”

Jared Graves, who has raced on the Yeti program for the last seven years, will race the full World Cup schedule in four cross and race select downhill races as well. “Jared is one of the best all-around riders in the world. He’s always the man to beat in four cross and this year he’ll compete in downhill again,” Conroy said. Graves has a bevy of bicycle racing honors, including four cross World Champion, Australian Olympic selection for BMX (he finished 5th) and countless domestic titles in downhill and four cross in the United States and Australia.

Three new riders join the National Team, already stacked with local talent Joey Schusler, (Boulder, Colo.) and Chris Boice (Keystone, Colo.). Tyler Immer (Rancho Mureita, Calif.), Richie Rude (Redding, Conn.) and Eliot Jackson (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) are fast and talented. All three raced their first pro races last year and quickly made a name for themselves. Most notable displays of their natural talent include Immer’s third place at 2010 U.S. Mountain Bike National Championships, Jackson’s qualification at World Cup #5 Val Di Sole, and at 16 years old, Richie Rude’s first place in the Eastern States Cup Series overall.

The National Team looks to litter the podium at regional races; select Pro GRT races including MSC #5, Wildflower Rush; U.S. Open; USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships and World Cup races in Canada and the U.S.

“I’m excited about the new National talent coming up. Our program is about discovering new riders and this year we have a lot of new, young talent with a lot of potential,” said Damion Smith, Team Manager.

The team will be training under James Wilson of MTB Strength Training Systems. Wilson’s program has steadily become recognized as the premier mountain bike strength training system, and has been accredited for some of the top riders’ strength progression in the sport. Shaun Hughes is returning as Team Mechanic for the National/World Cup team after a great season last year. Damion Smith going on his sixth year as Team Manager, continues to manage the race programs.

The team will be racing the best equipment in the sport: Fox Racing Shox, Shimano, DT Swiss, Schwalbe, 661, Jett Designs, Topeak, WTB, Sunline, e13, ODI, Chris King and Motorex.

Yeti Cycles is a rider-owned high-end mountain bike company, based in Golden, Colorado. The company has twenty-five years of racing experience and focuses its product development on making racers go faster.

More Information about the team

World Cup contenders Liam Killeen, Andrew Neethling join returning riders including British DH star Danny Hart. The team will be riding on Schwalbe from 2011

NEWBURY PARK, Calif. (January 12, 2010) — With the addition of several key World Cup riders in downhill and cross-country racing, the Giant Factory Off-Road Team will field its strongest lineup ever in 2011. South African downhiller Andrew Neethling and five-time British cross-country champion Liam Killeen join a diverse squad that includes 19-year-old World Cup downhill sensation Danny Hart of Great Britain.

“Our commitment to off-road racing at the highest level is a reflection of our broader commitment to the off-road cyclist,” said Giant Global Marketing Director An Le. “Working closely with this diverse group of athletes—from Olympic XC racers to Super D champions to top World Cup downhillers—keeps us ahead of the pack in developing new technologies that benefit off-road riders at all levels.”

The downhill squad will be led by Hart, who last year emerged as the world’s top young DH racer. After winning the 2009 Junior World Cup title, Hart made a successful transition to the elites in 2010, racing his Giant Glory to eighth overall in the World Cup series and eighth at the World Championships. The only top-10 rider under age 20, he was widely recognized as the future of downhill racing.

“I am super happy to be a part of the Giant program for the foreseeable future,” Hart said. “I had a great 2010 season, and this year is going to be better. I just want to go racing!”

Neethling, a consistent top-10 World Cup finisher and winner of the 2010 U.S. Open, joins Hart and two-time U.S. downhill champion Duncan Riffle to give Giant a powerful punch in the downhill discipline.

“Giant has always had a great racing heritage and I look forward to being part of it,” Neethling said. “I’ve always looked up to the team and felt they had superb bikes. I know I will have the bikes, support and environment to reach all my racing goals.”

The XC division of the team sees the return of veteran Carl Decker, whose successful 2010 season on the Anthem X 29er included wins at several major U.S. events including the All-Mountain World Championships in Downieville, California, and the Super D at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California.

Also returning this year is diverse all-around talent Kelli Emmett, defending champion of the Downieville All-Mountain Worlds. Emmett has won races ranging from short-track and Super D national titles to Single-Speed World Championships and will continue to focus on a wide range of endurance events.

New to the XC team is British national champion Killeen, a two-time Olympian who is aiming for his third Summer Games at London 2012.

“It’s easy to see that Giant is committed to cross country competition, and being on the right bike really can make the difference between victory and defeat when racing at the top of the sport,” Killeen said. “I’m confident I’ve made the right choice in Giant with products that can give me the edge.”

Also new this year is a team partnership with SRAM. All Factory Team bikes will be “Powered by SRAM” featuring the latest cutting edge components including SRAM drivetrains, Truvativ componentry, Avid brakes and RockShox suspension. Other new sponsors include DT Swiss wheelsets and Schwalbe tires, and Fox Head extends its commitment to the program by supplying kits and apparel.

For photos, videos, news and other inside information on the Giant Factory Off-Road Team, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/giantfactoryteam.

2011 Giant Factory Off-Road Team
Carl Decker (USA), XC, ST, Super D
Kelli Emmett (USA), XC, ST, Super D
Danny Hart (Great Britain), 4X, DH, DS
Liam Killeen (Great Britain), XC, ST, Marathon
Andrew Neethling (South Africa), 4X, DH, DS
Duncan Riffle (USA), 4X, DH, DS

See the whole article on DIRT.MPORA.com

Hi everyone,

winter made it quite around the riders. Nice retrospective of the `10 season. Pictures by Sven Martin, Thomas Dietze and Peter Rauch.

This is awesome! Watch the austrian Thomas Öhler balance out his bike on a steel wire and why Dirty Dan is the best tire for the job:

Our local Grassroot Team just made some great coverage of a local grass-slalom-race:

Rasenslalom Olpe 2010 from Michael Kull on Vimeo.

SCOTT11 ends the 2010 racing season with two wins in Bellwald!

The final race of the 2010 IXS Swiss Downhill Cup was held in one of the most popular places of the swiss downhill scene.
Switzerland’s best race organizer once again provided a perfect race track and lots of parties and concerts to celebrate the 2010 racing season.

With the mechanics, the cook and the team manager racing as well, SCOTT11 enjoyed the relaxed and friendly atmosphere in Bellwald.
Even though the weekend was half party half racing, our athletes were absolutely focused when it counted.
And they had to, if the wanted to beat Sweden’s Oscar Harnström, who trained on this track all summer. Once again, Nick, Emilie and Freddy put a fresh set of Schwalbe Big Bettys tires on their bikes, which were one of the key elements of this years results for SCOTT11.

Both, Nick Beer and Emilie Siegenthaler won the race with a solid margin. Nick was almost five seconds faster than everybody else, Emilie was 3 seconds faster. With the points of this weekend, they both also won the overall ranking of the 2010 IXS Swiss Downhill Cup.
Junior Freddy Hunziker placed 27th in the elites field and third in the junior overall swiss cup.

An unbelievable racing season for is over, but it will be remembered by everybody who was involved with SCOTT11. It’s a strange feeling thinking of the intense last six months, the great time we had together, knowing that we’re going in different directions for the next few months. Though, we’ll meet again for the first training camp in 2011 in January.
While the athletes are now taking a brake from training and racing, Velosolutions starts its mountain bike track building season in several places.

We’ll keep you informed with all the news throughout the winter.

The incredible SCOTT11 season was made possible by the support of Scott Sports with their awesome Gambler and Voltage bikes, Châtel with its ideal training conditions in its bike park, Shimano with the most reliable Saint parts, Schwalbe with just the best tires out there, FOX Racing Shox with its perfect suspension, DT Swiss with their high quality wheels, TSG with their stylish protection gear, Gravity with their light and strong equipment, Prologo with their light, comfortable and strong seats, E Thirteen with their absolutely reliable chainguides, Aweka AG with its Truck that brought us to the races, and last but absolutely not least, Red Bull who gave us wings!

More of Thomas Dietze’s photos on www.scott11racing.com

One week after wrapping the “Trail-Masters” Challenge Flo Gottschlich aka. “Flowinger” visited the area of Zillertal and dod some epic Freeride Shots with MTB-Freeride.tv. ENJOY!

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Versatility of SCHWALBE tire line proves key to success at Mont-Sainte-Anne as conditions change dramatically throughout the week.

2010 MTB WORLDS//MONT-SAINTE-ANNE//CANADA
SCHWALBE RIDER RESULTS (TOP 5 ONLY)
MENS 4X: WORLD CHAMPION-TOMAS SLAVIK (R.S.P.)
2ND-JARED GRAVES (YETI/FOX FACTORY)
MENS DH: 2ND-STEVE SMITH (TEAM MS-RACING-EVIL)
4TH-AARON GWIN (YETI/FOX FACTORY)
WOMENS DH: 4TH-FLORIANE PUGIN (SCOTT 11)

SCHWALBE has optimized the inner strength of its MTB tires: In 2011 all top models will have new, Triple Star compounds. It is a modular system whereby three of six new individual compounds are cleverly combined. This creates a versatile tire line that allows the SCHWALBE rider to select the perfect tire for each unique discipline and condition.

Look for the new Schwalbe MTB tires with Triple Star compounds at speciality bicycle dealers in Fall 2010 or find us at Interbike, booth #3425

Schwalbe has optimized the inner strength of its MTB tires: In 2011 all top models will have new, Triple Star compounds. It is a modular system whereby three of six new individual compounds are cleverly combined. All tires are now “Tubeless Ready”.

“We have decisively advanced the principle of triple compounding,” explained Schwalbe technician, Markus Hachmeyer. In countless laboratory and practical tests, a total of six highly-specialist, unique compounds emerged. These were then combined as Triple Star compounds, which precisely suit the relevant application. And they are now even more practical: All new versions are now `Tubeless Ready´. Simply by adding a liquid puncture sealant they can be made into Tubeless tires (ca. 5 grams extra). Previously, there had been just two compounds available in the Schwalbe MTB range: Triple Nano for MTB Race and All Mountain, plus a choice of Triple Nano, or Glooey Gluey for Downhill, Freeride and Enduro.
Lately Enduro bikes with about 160 millimeters of suspension travel have become more popular. And while a race tire primarily has to roll well and be light, a Downhill tire needs outstanding grip and puncture protection, however Enduro tires require a combination of all these properties.
In order to specifically target these different requirements, there are now three, all-new Triple Star compounds:

PaceStar - for MTB Race, All Mountain and Tour. Super-fast with a combination of low rolling resistance and durability. The tire shoulders were made appreciably softer to improve handling on rough terrain.

TrailStar - for Enduro and Freeride. Triple Nano compound was unsuitable performance-wise and the rolling resistance of Gooey Gluey was too high. TrailStar has substantially more grip, better damping and handling control. Nevertheless, the compound is not overly heavy, making it suitable for climbing too.

VertStar - for Downhill and Freeride. It is a further development of the Gooey Gluey compound, but now even softer with extremely good damping properties.

Each Triple Star compound consists of three unique compounds
All three Triple Compounds have the same, extremely elastic base compound under the tread that makes the tires fast. All other desired properties are achieved by placing a specially selected compound in the tread center and on the tire shoulders - a different one for each intended purpose.
Yet how are compounds like this developed? “Compounding is an art in itself,” explained Markus Hachmeyer. Any rubber compound contains over 20 different variables. A bit more here, a tad less there and the rolling resistance, or hardness changes. Many factors, such as grip and rolling resistance, actually contradict each other. If one value improves, the other automatically gets worse. Furthermore there are other desirable properties such as damping, durability and cut resistance to take into consideration. .
“Trying to achieve all these features in a single rubber compound at the same time simply does not work!” stated the tire technician. Therefore, combining several unique rubber compounds to improve the counteracting characteristics is the ideal solution.
Not only were three Triple Star Compounds developed, but also six unique compounds had to be created anew - in the most extensive laboratory and practical tests Schwalbe ever devised.
The new Schwalbe MTB tires with Triple Star compounds will be available from specialist bicycle dealers in Autumn 2010.

RSP 4x-rocket Tomas Slavik made it to a great 1 place in Mt. Sainte Anne and wraped the Worldchampions-title. Great result for the young racer from czech republic! 2009 Worldchamp Jared Graves finished second. His comment: “World Champs done, led the final until the last turn, thought I needed to protect the inside line through the rocks, while Slavik went the outside berm, and rode straight past me. 2nd place at World Champs is still a good result though, but after all the training and riding stronger than ever it’s a pretty big dissapointment” Jared Graves, Facebook

Sixth and final round of the DHI Men’s and Women’s events LIVE from Windham in the USA. Official start times still to be confirmed. Freecaster’s estimations are Women’s DHI at 19:15 CET, Men’s DHI at 20:00 CET. (please note CET is 6 hours ahead of local start time)

Follow live on Freecaster.tv

Sixth and final round of the 4X event LIVE from Windham in the USA. Official start times still to be confirmed. Freecaster’s estimations are 4X at 01:00 CET. (please note CET is 6 hours ahead of local start time)

Follow live on Freecaster.tv

We were looking forward to an easy day before racing action starts, but it turned out to be a quite stressful one in Windham New York.

Americas most well known delivery company (”the right solution for you”) sent our new Voltage DH frames in 2011 colours to a wrong address, and it took us around 30 hours to find out where they were. Only the help of the super nice Maya of the world cup organization brought us the frames in time to build them up for tomorrows practice.

Some rain kept the track slippery for today, but the rest of the week should stay dry and warm. The riders were walking the race track today and described it as rather flat and narrow, getting wider and faster towards the finish line, with really slippery mud covering flat rocks.

The mechanics are know challenged to build the new frames before the jet lag puts them to bed.

Team manager Claudio gets to drive 3 hours to New York to pick up Fabien Pedemanauds bike which was left in Toulouse and refused to be delivered to Windham. It’s going to take another few liters of Red Bull to stay awake for that adventure. Pictures from New York with the next newsletter.

You’re actually receiving this newsletter straight from the Empire State Building in New York at 1 am, which is 7 o’clock european time…
Website and all that will be updated once we make it back to Windham.