If there's one thing we have on Pinkbike, it's gearhead race fans with an opinion. If and indeed when a big team move happens at the big red S, now is the time to speculate.
Sam Hill's departure from Team Monster Energy - Specialized left a lot of fans in shock, and it also leaves a sizeable hole in team manager Sean Heimdal's race program. While the news of Hill's exit has filled both the forums and front pages, there has been little discussion as to exactly who could replace him.
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The end of the 2012 racing season brought several contracts to an end, and while some riders opted to stay put, others are still in limbo as to what bike they will be aboard for 2013. Many people have their money on World Cup crusher Aaron Gwin making the move to the the empty seat at Monster Energy - Specialized but really, how many athletes leave Red Bull? Factor in his re-signing with Trek World Racing and there is slim chance of Gwin on a Demo 8 Carbon.
And what of Brook MacDonald, the Kiwi who took his inaugural big league win with a victory at the scenic Val d'Isere round? The Bulldog is under Martin Whiteley's 23 Degrees management umbrella, so it is possible that he might take the retiring Justin Leov's spot on the Trek World Racing team, a team Whiteley runs. MacDonald's stock is on the rise after his World Cup win, which could mean that Specialized will make a bid for his talents. Then again, he also runs the same blue and silver helmet colours as Gwin.
Another contender, albeit one with less pedigree than the two previously mentioned, is Mitch Ropelato. The well-liked and talented rider is comparatively inexperienced, but that didn't stop him from stepping up as a substitute rider for Team Monster Energy - Specialized when Troy Brosnan sat out part of last season due to injury. Ropelato, who races for Specialized Racing - USA Gravity program, took to the pressure well with a very impressive 13th Val d'Isere. It might only be another year or two before Mitch is making for the podium at a World Cup race, or maybe Specialized thinks it will be sooner...
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Finally, what team manager wouldn't want a two-time World Champ on their team? The South African just re-upped his rainbow stripes with a 'Champs victory in Leogang, and has been riding a Santa Cruz on the Syndicate program for many years. If Minnaar became a free agent, although likely a very expensive one, there could be some movement in the Syndicate camp. The same could be said of his teammate, Josh Bryceland, a rider that seems poised to step out from the large shadows cast by his successful Syndicate teammates.
It would take some getting used to to see Minnaar on anything other than Santa Cruz.
Specialized and the Demo 8 haven't been on the box nearly as much as one would expect, so it makes sense that we'll see this debate resolved in short order. Did you pick the right guy? Did we miss anyone? Will Monster and Specialized continue together or will we see some change there as well?
With that said I guess it comes to who provides the rider with the best platform to perform their talents and who is willing to pay more Trek or Specialized.
Can't believe how dominant Gwin and Troy will be now. DEMOlishing the field...
I sorta wonder if Sam is leaving maybe pauly because of the bike, correct me if I'm wrong but he only had 2 world cup wins and the World's win on the Demo. Compare that with how much he won on the DW Link Sunday: there is no comparison. He was dominant on the Iron Horse but not at all on the Demo. Other than Hill I can't think of another racer who has won a
world cup race or World's on a Demo.
The fact remains that the Demo has only won 2 World Cup races, that's a pretty poor record for a bike that is so popular and has been piloted by so many fast racers.
It's also a fact that the FSR design feels mushy to pedal, especially with 8" of travel and platform pedals like Sam has. He is giving up fractions of a second to guys on more responsive bikes like Gwin and Minnar in every pedal section, it's pretty hard, if not impossible, to make up those losses on other parts of the track. Might be why Sam wanted to give another brand a try.
I race amateur and by no means fast but i can put in a quicker time on my old Kona coilair AM bike than i can on my demo every single try on every DH track I have done. now I'm no Professor but that has to say something.
but Protour - I can tell you for a 'fact' my demo doesn't feel mushy to pedal with flat pedals. It's quick and snappy, and the 'fact' is the back end makes it flickable. with a bit of leg strength, which Hill doesn't lack, it's quick, and ridiculously quick through the corners. yes, minaar and peaty beat him on a lot of pedal sections, but then hart on his glory beat those guys on the motorway at fort bill. my point is, any good pedaler with a well set up rear shock on most modern bikes will be fast.
btw, your 'fact' about winning 2 world cup races... Charre Morgan, 2012 World Champion, Troy Brosnan, 2010 - 11 Junior World Champion (with a time in 2011 that would have put him 2nd to Hart in the Elites), Sam Hill, 2010 World Champion. I make that 4 World Championship races to add to your 2.
in conclusion Protour: stop using the word 'fact'.
The current Demo has a very new school DH feel to it, it wants to skip over the rough stuff as opposed to ploughing through it and it loves to be jumped and hopped off any obstacle that stands in your way. It's slack, long and the low bb makes it corner like no other.
If pedalling efficiency was the be all and end all to success in DH the V10 would win every WC race, it isn't though, a bloke called Aaron Gwin is smashing it on a glorified single pivot. ;-)
Haha
Haha
Good stuff, I bet he/she/it would come in first place every time, even on a hardtail
Rob + dh + monster energy = oh my god
I think Stevie smith seems pretty sorted with devinci and they will have paid good money to keep him.
There is no need to mention Gee and GT have already announced their team for next year (they have a couple of young guns now for downhill and enduro) Cedric has his own team and after all his time on the circuit and recovering from injury that is where his focus will be from now on. I'd say Bulldog would be a good shout if it weren't for him already being on redbull and i think redbull have already announced their 2013 athletes (danny mac posted a photo of the red bull team today)
I dont see why spesh wouldnt just run with Troy and Mitch. I think troy will easily fill Sam's shoes in terms of results (last years aussie nationals troy came out on top and he also had second fastest time after danny hart at 2011 worlds) and mitch is the fastest pump track rider in the world and everybody recognised his potential..
I think Josh bryceland would be up for a move from santa cruz to get out of the shaddow of Greg and Steve.
I would be pretty shocked if Greg left santa cruz
I'd offer my services but unfortuantely already swapped my demo for a nukeproof. before it was cool!
They don't need someone experienced who demands a massive pay cheque if they have an up and coming rider who has already shown potential to be the greatest in the World.
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In the Pinkbike thing on why Hill left Spec, there was a comment;
- From www.pinkbike.com/news/Inside-...Nukeproof.html
"Sean, first things first, will we see Team Monster Energy-Specialized for the 2013 season?
Sean: Some final details are being sorted so I can’t comment on whether there will be a “Monster Energy-Specialized” team at this time. Either way, Specialized will have a great World Cup program and Monster Energy will also continue to support athletes and programs globally".
So maybe there won't be Monster sponsorship. Also, think that Berrecloth and Soderstrom ride for Red Bull, i know the DH team is different, but i reckon they'll find a way.
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Plus, as i said further down the page, that's a Brook, flowing through the middle of the page, toward the $$$ as Whitley and Gwinn look on. Some fella on an Aussie site pointed that out, he gets the props, i's bet money on it being true.
And finnrambo .... dude, stop listening to whoever you are hearing that from, because yeti makes the most amazing bikes ever.
Yeti, Canfield, and Santa Cruz.... those guys hold the passion.
Brook the Bulldog, and Aaron Gwin are almost impossible, as their agent's Martin Whitley is the team manager of TWR, so you just need to add 2+2... and own's the 23 degree management company who negotiate the pro deals... check the website: www.23degrees-sports.com/athlete_management.php
The same applies to Danny Hart and Giant with all the cash they need to secure him... it would be too expensive... and this is not the time for madness...
And as far as I know, right now Greg Minnaar's agent, and for the past ten years, is also Martin Whitley, and the thing's couldn't be any better between Minnaar and Santa Cruz, as world reigning champion...
So, to me, the only rider with margin to improve as a athlete from this year top ten, and which is a secure play, for sure is Steve Smith... which probably is what Spesh is looking for... a top rider, who can assure them presence in every world cup podiums!
Aaron Gwin's departure from Trek would be huge news. And Specailized seems more likely to drop Monster than Gwin is to drop RB and sign with Monster. But regardless, HUGE news. And that would leave holes at Trek that only Brook McDonald could fill in.
Or Brook McDonald just signs. Seems more likely.
I'm just a fan.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22YWYAtcyEA
Did we all...well not really all, forgot bike does not matter more than skills ?
No company will steal any one, from other one, an less there will be one with no contract for 2013.
Specialized do not desperately need some one, they got what they need.
I see Monster following Sam to CRC and Specialized going full on Red Bull, but I only have one doubt for that: Troy was on Monster too, is his contract up?
As far as who's the alpha dog they sign, Brook MacDonald would make sense, but Whiteley won't let him go easily, and Gwinn, well even less, but would be fun. Also, besides those two I can't think about anyone who's going to be free (or sort of) next year and big enough, because signing Bryce or Blenki I don't think it cuts it to really take pressure off Troy.
Btw, as far as ladies on Specialized go, remember current World Champ Morgane Charre raced on a Demo, so would make sense for them to make her full time team member I think.
"there is gonna be one hell of annoucement tomorrow in the mountain bike world! It involves the fastest man on planet and a new team! www.facebook.com/thesensus?ref=ts&fref=ts
River = brook
The duck = Donald duck
Brook macdonald it may well be holy shit it's all a guessing game
Sean Heimdal from Spesh cleary said it wasnt a done deal yet with Monster and Aaron is THE ONLY logical choice as a replacement for Sam... Stevie needs to be more dominant/consistent before a high profile team like Specialized offers him a big dollars contract and all the other potential contenders are big enough to fill in for Sam.
You see them together, and that is not a team, that is a group of friends who go around the world, riding their bikes, and having barbecues, and all sorts of fun...!!!!
There is gonna be one hell of an announcement tomorrow in the mountain bike world. It involves the fastest man on the planet and a new team...
Who is the Sensus? Anyway.....
just sayin
also i think blenki needs a new sign, he has big potential.
I also seen that someone asked adam if the new frame he's testing is "special" to which he replied "haha". Maybe a slight clue there
You don't know what's going to happen. The average Pinkbike member doesn't have a clue about what's going to happen... Hell, with the exception of a very few select members of the industry and the actual riders, no one really knows what's going to happen.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Team Monster Energy Specialized: TB, MR
period.
Brook MacDonald = Trek
Mitch Ropelato = Team Monster Energy - Specialized
hahahahah
He just signed with them
Looks convincing