It’s early 2017 and the world of mountain biking is alight with who is riding what, and what teams have gained or lost riders. With two current Olympic and World XCO champions, the Scott team could only go up, and their new extended partnership with SRAM, plus a new rider, shows they will be the strongest team out there in 2017.
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team is the new name of SCOTT’s global MTB team for the next four years. SRAM has been a great partner of the team since the very beginning in 2002. Now as a title sponsor, the partnership includes RockShox as the suspension partner as well. “We are excited to work with SRAM and RockShox towards our long term goal- the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo”, says Team Director Thomas Frischknecht.
Frischi with his stars.
Olympic Champions Nino Schurter and Jenny Rissveds are happy to welcome a new team member onboard, UCI World ranking no. 5 Matthias Stirnemann. The Swiss talent will not only be a strong addition to the World Cup races but also ride aside Nino Schurter at this year’s Cape Epic, which will be the first highlight of the 2017 season. Andri Frischknecht, who will race in the Elite class for the first year, will team up at Cape Epic with former U23 World Champion Michiel van der Heijden.
Schurter and Stirnemann made for a great team, winning two stages at the Swiss Epic.
Not shown in the team picture is Marcel Wildhaber. The Swiss cyclocross specialist will also ride in the new team colours. #yanickthemechanic Yanick Gyger gets supported by Kurt Gross, our new wrenching force. As well new to the team is our physio Julia Hegar.
New equipment for SCOTT-SRAM
The first training camp in sunny Tuscany with the new formation is already history. Massa Vecchia offered perfect conditions to get started with the new equipment for the team. The team still relies on the fast wheels of DT Swiss. The new bikes are now equipped with Syncros components. The choice of tyres is Maxxis. Nino already won the Olympic race on Maxxis and he was already riding on them when the new Spark was just a prototype.. It has been many years now that the team is equipped with ODLO clothing on and off the bike. Also remaining as a long time sponsor is the Swiss credit card company CORNERCARD.
Maxxis – the writing was on more than the sidewall over the past 8 months.
Thomas Frischknecht, Team Director SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team stated: “After an incredible #gloRIOus year in 2016 with two World Champion titles and two Olympic Gold medals, the goal in 2017 will shift a bit. We do not believe we can repeat this super successful season but try to do certain things a bit different instead. Stay tuned to get more news after our team presentation which will take place in South Africa just prior to the Cape Epic!”