Mitch Ropelato to fill-in for injured Troy Brosnan

Jun 18, 2012
by Scott Secco  
Wildomar, CA (June 18, 2012) With Monster Energy-Specialized racing’s Troy Brosnan at home recovering from a training injury sustained in Austria, Mitch Ropelato is ready to step up to the opportunity to fill-in for Brosnan. Ropelato has been racing in the U.S. for Specialized Racing-USA gravity onboard his Demo and will now debut for the Monster Energy-Specialized Team at both the Mont Saint Anne, Canada and Windham, New York World Cup rounds.

Photo credit Craig Stikman Glaspell

“Mitch was our first choice when we thought about a possible fill-in rider and we look forward to having him onboard. He’s a talented rider and I think he’ll have a good time on the program.” Said Team Manager Sean Heimdal. “It’s a shame to have Troy sidelined and we hope his recovery goes as planned!”

''Im happy to see Mitch filling in for myself and glad that he will be getting a factory ride at the next world cup rounds to show what talent on a bike he really has!'' says Troy Brosnan.

Mitch Ropelato says: “I'm super excited that I get the opportunity to ride with Sam Hill, work with Jacy and Sean under the Monster/Specialized tent. It’s really just a dream to be able to work with one of the top MTB teams in the world and really thankful that Specialized has lent me this opportunity to work with Monster Team. So, these next two weeks I’m just sitting on Cloud 9 without a worry in the world and just go out and have some fun riding my bike.”

Specialized Bicycles says: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Mitch while Troy recovers. He is a very talented rider and we couldn’t be more excited about the move. At Specialized we strive to develop riders and help them achieve their goals. To have Mitch come from one of our domestic teams and go to our global team is great for the program! We hope this move will be inspirational to other riders out there who have dreams of making it to a professional world cup team.”

Photo credit Craig Stikman Glaspell

Special thanks to all our sponsors for supporting this idea and facilitating everything in a short amount of time!

We’d like to thank the following companies for their continued support: Monster Energy, Specialized Bicycles, Mad Catz, SRAM, Truvativ, Rock Shox, Avid, DT Swiss, SDG, Renthal, Troy Lee Designs, Maxima, Spy Optic, Cane Creek, e-thirteen, Contour, Five Ten, Alligator, Team Associated, Method.

Photo credit: Craig “Stikman” Glaspell



Follow the team at:
www.monsterenergy-specialized.com
I Am Specialized
Facebook- Monster Energy Racing
Twitter- @MESracing @troybrosnan

How will Mitch do? Could you take him in a pumptrack race?


Author Info:
scottsecco avatar

Member since Sep 18, 2009
1,032 articles

32 Comments
  • 26 1
 YES! Love Troy but now is Mitch's time to shine!!
  • 3 0
 Yeah man! It's really cool that Troy is stoked for Mitch. If he and Brosnan get on the same level, specialized is gonna have a sickeningly fast team.
  • 3 0
 congrats!
  • 2 23
flag nouser (Jun 18, 2012 at 18:11) (Below Threshold)
 I doubt it woould happen, but if Troy doesn't come back then I will lose all respect from Specialized!
  • 1 0
 Mitch is such a talented rider, it's gonna be awesome to see him at the races. Can't wait to see how he does. It's too bad about Troy though, best of luck to him and hopefully a speedy recovery!
  • 18 0
 good luck filling them shoes! troy may be small but damn can he ride a bike!!
  • 18 0
 Mitch is one the most talented people I've ever watched ride, good to see this happening
  • 9 0
 Great to see specialized getting up and giving him the chance , but shame about the circumstances. Good luck Mitch and Heal up Troy.
  • 1 0
 how exactly did troy get hurt?
  • 11 0
 Congrats Mitch!
  • 10 0
 hell yah good call specialized!
  • 7 0
 Sweet! Good luck, tear it up!
  • 2 0
 those are great news !!!...this will also take some pressure away from Troy !!!...can focus more on his full rehab instead of worrying about the big gap left in the team...well done Spesh !!!...love Troy and hope he'll get better soon...
  • 5 0
 I would have filled inFrown (
  • 4 0
 Good luck Mitch! it's your time to show off the world what you have become! by the way good luck to Troy also!
  • 1 0
 GO MITCHELATO!! Stoked for the kid! I remember seeing him whip an old mountain bike in my face when we were doing indoor bmx races in the winter. He was about 12 at the time and snappin me out of the gates over and over. RIP IT UP UTAH STYLE!!!!! Hang loose for the Ladder Day Saints!! hahahaha
  • 1 0
 Ya congrats to Mitch, saw him kill it at crankworks last year and all the best bud, super fast and smooth, amazing! but at the end of the day I got money on my home town boy Troy comn back stronger and hungry!
  • 4 1
 Mitch is rapid as well, with this level of support, I think we could see great things from him in the future!
  • 2 0
 I remember watching mitch ropelato on his first uci 4x race on a canfield. He finished 2nd i think Smile . Btw, wasn't he in the SPS before?
  • 3 1
 Great to see a kid get called up to the big league. Good oppertunity to shine
  • 3 0
 Unbelievably talented rider!!!
  • 2 0
 Congrats Mitch... You have worked SO hard for this bro!!! Now go KILL it!!!
  • 2 0
 Yeah Rope, So pumped for you man. Keep us posted on your travels!!
  • 1 1
 He's welcome to come Santa Fe Mountain Sports in sunny Santa Fe , New Mexico and challenge us to a duel on our personal, custom built pump track.
  • 2 0
 Mitch shreds so hard, this will be sweet. Calling a top 20 finish
  • 2 0
 Give the WC hell Mitch! And get me points for my fantasy league!!
  • 1 0
 awesome to see mitch get his chance to show how he cn really ride will we see a new trio for monster again
  • 1 0
 Hell Yeah! Mitch is friken rad!
  • 2 0
 Yea, GREAT NEWS!
  • 2 0
 Props, This guy rips!
  • 1 1
 Congrats Mitch, rip it Cali style and go for a top 20 at Canada...............
  • 1 1
 ,Congrats Mitch, rip it Cali style and go for a top 20 at Canada







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