GT Bicycles Announces 2005 MTB Team

The GT/Hyundai Team proudly announces the athletes of its 2005 MTB teams. Always a powerhouse, the 2005 teams are sure to be a force to be reckoned with.“2005 will be a very big year for GT mountain bikes and our pro athletes,” said Mark Peterman, director of product development at GT’s Technical Division. “We are super excited to have such a roster of top athletes associated with the GT brand. As always the team rides what we sell so you will see them competing and winning on the very same bikes that our dealers sell. From the Zaskar hardtail to the I-drive 4 and I-drive 5 as well as the all new IT-1, Team GT will race it on Sunday and we sell it on Monday.”

Competition / Race:
Todd Wells (XC/Cyclocross) is a machine. Todd was the top American XC finisher at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, took 4th at the US National MTB Championships and had numerous top-five finishes at NORBA National Series comps. We can’t wait to Todd crank out more wins in ’05 on his new I-drive 4 and Zaskar models. He also trains on the road with the New GT road bikes.

Flyin’ Brian Lopes (DH/4X) returns to the team in ’05 after a great 2004. Lopes finished in 1st place at the 2004 US MTB National Championships and 2nd at the UCI World Cup. Brian’s ready for even more podium time in 2005. Look for him on the Moto, as well as the DHi and a custom made I-drive 5 4X bike.

Joining the GT team this year is David “Bullhead” Wardell (DH/4X/Freeride). Dave is one of the most well-known and talented riders in the UK. A few years ago, Dave became Downhill World Junior Silver Medalist at the age of 18 – just before a nasty spill broke his back. But that hasn’t stopped Bullhead from charging, and he’s now stronger than ever, as you’ll see in ‘05.

Bryn Atkinson (DH/4X) is a fresh face on the GT team this year. Bryn finished in 8th place at the NORBA National Series Finals and had more than 10 Top-10 NORBA finishes in 2004. The Aussie likes to go big and has the skills to put him at the forefront of the DH and 4X scene this year.

MTB/Freeride:
Stylish Brit Chris Smith (Freeride) will be riding a wide variety of GTs this year, including the Ruckus I-drive, DHi, Moto … he’s a versatile guy. You’ll see Chris going large at the Red Bull Rampage and various comps around the world in 2005.

Seems backflips were too easy for Jim DeChamp (Freeride), so he took it to the next level. Jim was the first guy to throw a front flip in competition at the Red Bull Bike Battle in Baltimore last year. The kid is sick. Jim will continue to amaze us all in 2005.

Adventure:
Where does one begin, when talking about Hans “No Way” Rey? You could look at his most recent conquest: Mt. Kenya. Or maybe his jump over a car on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles, his underwater bicycle bungee jump, or his adventure at Machu Picchu. Widely considered the pioneer of extreme mountain biking, Hans’ trials skills have transformed the MTB landscape and paved the way for the sport as we know it today. Hans has become famous far beyond the mountain bike scene, demonstrating his talents in over 40 countries. What’s next for Hans? Maybe the first lunar bike adventure …

The GT Bicycles/Hyundai program has the most impressive list of Bicycle riders in the world. A market leader in BMX and Mountain Bikes, GT continues to lead the way in innovative high performance cycling products as well as offering high value bikes for people of all ages. The GT Bicycles race team has always been at the forefront of racing. Visit www.gtbicycles.com for more information.

The GT team is proudly sponsored by Hyundai and drives the Hyundai Tiburon and Santa Fe. The Hyundai Tiburon's mission is to deliver an exhilarating driving experience. With available performance features like a V6 engine, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, 6-speed manual transmission, aluminum foot pedals and body-colored high spoiler, it's Tiburon to the extreme.

The GT/Hyundai team is also sponsored by Kenda, Sun Ringle, SRAM, SDG, Easton, Bioracer, Fly and Ogio.