RockShox and Trek are proud to announce the RockShox Trek Race Team, with a roster of gravity-focused racers all under the age of 21.
Here is a comment from David Zimberoff, SRAM VP of Marketing aboth the Trek Factory Racing Team new lineup: "We're super excited to take the foundation of this team to the next level by adding new resources and increasing our commitment to winning.” — .
The team includes two-time UCI Junior Downhill World Champion and World Cup Overall winner Vali Höll, up-and-coming Scottish shredder Jamie Edmondson, twice-crowned Canadian National Junior Downhill Champion Ethan Shandro, and the fastest kid in Whistler Mountain Bike Park, 15-year-old Tegan Cruz.
Riders overview
Valentina (Vali) Höll
Born on December, 11th 2001 in Saalbach, Austria Vali began racing downhill against the boys as an 11-year-old in her home spot, Saalbach. She was told she wouldn’t win…until she did. And she kept winning again-and-again, until she stood on top of the podium as the 2018 and 2019 UCI Junior Downhill World Champion. As a two-time World Cup Overall-winning prodigy Vali is full of optimism and grit heading into her first, full season as an elite. Look for this Austrian force of nature on 2021 podiums worldwide.
Vali's statement for 2021 season is:
"TO STEP UP AND BECOME MORE PROFESSIONAL WITH RACING, I KNEW I HAD TO SWITCH SOMETHING. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN ON MY OWN SO HAVING MENTORS LIKE TRACY MOSELEY AND ANDREW SHANDRO IS PRETTY COOL, ALONG WITH A BIGGER PLATFORM AND MORE PEOPLE TO RIDE AND TRAIN WITH".
Jamie Edmondson
Born on March, 7th 2001 in Nethy Bridge, Scotland Jamie, an affable Scotsman, does dual duty in both enduro and downhill disciplines. This 19-year-old wet-weather specialist grew up in a little village down the road from Aviemore, Scotland, and is motivated to jump from privateer last year to an integral part of the world’s youngest gravity-fueled elite race team in 2021. He is looking forward to being a part of the team and having the support when he needs it. Jamie will focus his racing on the World Cup circuit mixing in Enduro World Series events along the way.
Jamie's statement for 2021 season is:
"I LIKE TO FEEL GOOD ON A DOWNHILL TRACK… YOU’RE ON THE LIMIT AND BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND, YOU’RE HITTING EVERY TURN AS FAST AS YOU CAN. I THINK THAT’S PRETTY ADDICTIVE WHEN YOU GET USED TO IT. THAT’S WHAT IT IS FOR ME."
Ethan Shandro
Born on February, 18th 2002 in North Vancouver, Canada, Ethan is already a two-time Canadian National Junior Downhill Champion. Shandro is a familiar name in mountain biking, in fact Ethan’s debut performance as a junior on the World Cup circuit dropped jaws in 2019. After a 2020 season spent dormant and recovering from injury, he is looking to get back on dirt with his fierce-but-fun style of riding. Ethan will continue to focus on his recovery for the time being and look to add regional races when back up to speed.
Ethan's statement for 2021 season is:
"COMING INTO THIS YEAR, I AM LOOKING TO GET BACK TO 100 PERCENT HEALTH-WISE AND SPEND TIME WITH THE TEAM IN AND OUT OF THE RACES. I'M STOKED TO BE PART OF THIS YOUNG TEAM AS WE HEAD INTO 2021 AND SEE WHAT WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF. MY TOP GOAL IS TO GET BACK TO WORLD CUP RACES."
Tegan Cruz
Born on September, 29th 2005 in Pemberton, Canada, Tegan is one of the fastest kids that have been pumped out of the sea-to-Sky region of British Columbia. Among them only a few are as quick as Tegan Cruz. It helps when you’re raised on a farm with a pump track in the Coast Range’s steepest terrain and a quick drive to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Add in a tireless work ethic and a brother who races World Cup, and you have a recipe for success. At 15 years old, the “Tegster” could be Canada’s next rising star. The 2021 race season will see Tegan focus regionally on races within B.C. as well as a few trips to Europe, should travel restrictions allow.
Tegan's statement for 2021 season is:
"I FEEL FORTUNATE AND EXCITED TO BE RIDING WITH AND LEARNING FROM A WORLD CHAMPION, AS WELL AS TEAMMATES WHO HAVE TASTED THE WORLD CUP PODIUM. ETHAN AND I HAVE HAD MANY GREAT TIMES RIDING TOGETHER AND TRAVELED A BIT OVER THE YEARS. I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING A YOUTHFUL ATTITUDE AND DEFINITELY SOME LAUGHS AND SMILES."
Tim Vanderjeugd, Trek Bicycle Director of Sports Marketing for Trek Factory Racing MTB says: “Trek is thrilled to partner with RockShox and welcome Vali, Jamie, Tegan, and Ethan onto this exciting new team. These riders will be an important part of the Trek family as they help usher in the next generation of World Cup contenders. We can't wait to see what they do in the season to come. Bring on 2021!”
Höll and Edmondson will focus on the UCI DH World Cup calendar this season. In addition, the team will fit in Crankworx events along with select Enduro World Series races.
Team Partners
Technical partnerships are the core of the Team Trek Factory Racing for gravity disciplines: RockShox supplies the team with all Suspension material and hydraulic seat posts, while Trek provides the frames. But there are a lot more prime partners involved in the technical supply of material, gear and equipment for the team:
2021 Team Calendar
Here follows the schedule with primary and secondary racing programs for the RockShox Trek Factory Racing Team in 202:
PRIMARY – UCI DH World Cup
April 24-25: Maribor, Slovenia
May 22-23: Fort William, Scotland
June 12-13: Leogang, Austria
July 3-4: Les Gets, France
August 24-29: World Championships Val di Sole, Italy
September 4-5: Lenzerheide, Switzerland
September 18-19: Snowshoe, WV. USA
SECONDARY
National Championships – Austria, Canada, UK
Enduro World Series
CRANKWORX Events
Regional Events
Source: SRAM.com