Introducing Transition Factory Racing World Cup Downhill Race and Development Program

Feb 21, 2023
by Transition Bikes  
Words: Lars Sternberg, Transition Factory Racing GM

Introducing Transition Factory Racing World Cup Downhill Race and Development Program

We are beyond stoked to announce the Transition Factory Racing UCI DHI team. Transition Bikes, SRAM / Rockshox, One Up Components, ION, SMITH, Crankbrothers, Maxxis, Mutt Society, Mountain Creek Bike Park, SDG, Unior Tools, and Cushcore have teamed up to create the perfect collection of riders, partners, and equipment to tackle the pinnacle of downhill racing.

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Jorge Gomes

A Northeastern racing team manager and staple on the US circuit as owner of ProBuilds Racing. Jorge is as passionate as it gets, always ready to help a racer in need, and as determined as they come. Jorge fulfilled mechanic and management roles for Valentina in 2022, and is looking forward to taking the team to bigger things in the future.

Rachel Baxter

The logistics specialist. Rachel is the yang to Jorge’s ying. Mirroring Jorges passion, Rachel keeps things on track, organized and operating smoothly. While Jorge is out wrangling the riders, Rachel keeps the team pits calm, cool and collected. She is critical to the daily team operations.

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Race ready TR11

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This program has been in the works for over a year and a half. The concept really started to take shape as Valentina progressed through her 2022 season when she, Jorge, and Rachel attacked her first year in the Jr category as a small but effective program. After achieving national Colombian elite DH and Enduro titles, a 5th in Snowshoe, a 4th at Mont Sainte Anne, and a 3rd at World Championships, we knew it was time to take things to the next level. The Transition Factory Racing team is a development and elite level platform for racers to grow and flourish in a fun encouraging environment.

In parallel, Transition has had 3 immensely talented younger riders in our local periphery. Taylor, Matilda, and Aletha have had aspirations of racing World Cup DH for years. Having honed their craft for the past few seasons successfully growing up racing North American DH and Enduro seasons, the thought of including them in the journey only stoked the fire.

Last but certainly not least, Tristan came into our world at the perfect time. Having spent the past few seasons learning from one of the most elite teams on the circuit, and showing signs of tremendous talent and leadership, we knew he was the perfect choice to step into a leadership elite rider position.

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Transition has a heritage of developing young riders and talent, and Transition Factory Racing is the next step in the evolution of this ethos. The main goal of the program is to provide a pathway for young aspiring athletes to achieve their dreams, and to not lose sight of why we all ride mountain bikes in the first place; because it is a lot of fun!

We hope you will join us on this journey, it's going to be an incredible ride.

A massive thanks to all of our amazing partners - Transition Bikes, SRAM / Rockshox, One Up Components, ION, SMITH, Crankbrothers, Maxxis, Mutt Society, Mountain Creek Bike Park, SDG, Unior Tools and Cushcore. We wouldn’t be here without you.

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We're excited to see what TFR accomplishes this year. To stay up to date with what the team gets into this season, checkout their Instagram page here!

Author Info:
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Member since Feb 17, 2009
138 articles

70 Comments
  • 198 3
 How cool to see a team of young women being given factory support as they look to progress their careers in racing. Factory rides are like gold dust, so this is a fantastic opportunity for these four racers. Good luck to the team.
  • 8 1
 Couldn't agree more
  • 46 3
 Shout out Vali Holl for 1- being a complete badass and 2- proving without a doubt that investing in pre- junior women pays off for brands.
  • 5 1
 These ladies are raising the bar... way up! Cool to see Transition help make history.
  • 45 1
 Awesome to see the hard work and time that Jorge and his crew put in over the years has been recognized. The man knows how to build bikes and make them fast as hell. VRS is a true threat to win at any race. She is a role model for anyone who has ever had a seemingly impossible dream but never quit making it happen and she is still a teenager. For this group to have this level of support is outstanding. When you give as much as Jorge has to the kids and the biking community this is what he deserves.
  • 32 2
 Damn dude thank you for the kind words it means the world to see this come to life
  • 6 1
 @PA610ripr: You deserve it dude. As a long time EC rider (not a racer) it's evident the influence ProBuilds has had on kids lives. Amazing stuff man!!
  • 9 1
 @PA610ripr: All the feels Jorge seeing this article on the project you, Rachel, the team, and Transition have put together.

Photographers Jack Rice, Steve LaBonte along with Chris Gilbert from Eastern States Cup suggested I get in touch with you. I didn't know anything about you, but I reached out and told me a little bit of your story I knew I had to get an interview. I am so happy I did, because now I have another team to root for this season!!! I can't wait to see the well earned results.

If anyone wants to see my interview with Jorge please go check it out youtu.be/pupQx0iZWd4

All the best, BostonDonMTB
  • 16 1
 Aletha is 14 and she finished 3rd at the US Open. Finishing just behind Jill Kinter. Definitely keep an eye on her. She's got real potential.
  • 11 1
 Stoked to see Tilly and the Ostgaard sisters on a factory team. Loving Aletha's hat. Will be interesting to see how the new TR11 performs on the World Cup (and the Northwest Cup I assume).
  • 8 1
 Sounds exciting. We really need more grassroots pro DH race programs in the States. There are so many youth DH racers who will have nowhere to go once they hit their twenties because there is such minimal support for budding WC racers from the US. Thank you Transition!!
  • 12 2
 Valentina is going to rule the world cup this year
  • 9 1
 Nice work Transition. Looking forward to following this crew all season!
  • 4 1
 Well done, TR for supporting up-and-coming rippers and putting them on a national / world stage!! Big props to @larsnbars for his efforts the past year+ to make this happen and Kyle and Kevin for supporting this endeavor...it's no small feat! ;-) So stoked to get back into race season!
  • 4 1
 It's amazing with all these kids getting chances like this. My boy races for www.privateerbikes.com/blogs/journal/katy-curd-youth-development-team
Another long name Smile

But the chances he's getting in this is just absolutely AMAZING !!!! Katy and all the sponsors are just fantastic and with teams like this one above, the Madison Saracen team etc.. it's just fantastic that companies are developing and helping talented kids.

What you don't see is what goes on behind the scenes in terms of coaching, media training, personal development, these kids/teams don't just get given bikes, they're given chances to grow as humans as well... It's honestly a fabulous thing to be involved in.
  • 3 1
 Congrats on setting-up a new team at the highest competition level, not a small feat! Also, congrats to Tristan in moving forward to the big leagues and representing his growth through our local trail systems! Nice to see a success stemming from the East coast as well in the mix!
  • 6 1
 So great to see Transition back in DH.

Where is this North American Circuit they speak of?
  • 2 1
 Last year it was Windrock (in Tennessee), Mountain Creek (in New Jersey) and the Fox Open (which was in Killington VT).
  • 6 1
 So stoked to see this team and to see a brand invest so heavily in JR women. The field is going to be STACKED
  • 6 1
 Glad to see Transition supporting these racers!
  • 5 1
 Great news, and congrats to all the racers. They are in good hands with Jorge and Rachel!
  • 4 1
 Born and raised in the ESC
  • 5 0
 It is COLOMBIA not columbia!!
  • 1 2
 She's the champion of Columbia, the Dicks Sporting Goods/Bass Pro Shops house brand.
  • 3 1
 YO! Wuz up, Rachel. Hahaha. I love you guys; so f*cking proud of all the hard work you both put in (head down and grind), and it's all paying off! Keep going; this is just the start!
  • 2 0
 Absolutely love to see a group of young ladies get resources invested into their development like this, especially in the US and in the DH circuit. This has been my favorite DH racing team news of 2023 thus far.
  • 2 0
 Those plaques Valentina won are not hanging in an ivy school's hallway... Its Colombia, not Columbia. Good job Transition stepping in and supporting young talent.
  • 1 0
 Super excited for you Jorge, Rachel and Valentina!!!!

I’m quite disappointed that OG didn’t get an official title or spot in this announcement too though. C’mon Transition-he’s quite the MVP too.
  • 5 2
 Stella work on this team everyone! Wishing you all the best of luck and good times on bikes!
  • 4 0
 Sick to see OneUp on the DH rigs!
  • 3 1
 This is so rad on many levels! I don’t know who’s more excited the racers or Jorge! I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Jorge Wink well done bro!
  • 4 0
 Dude I'm freaking out
  • 4 0
 Congrats Tristian! So much potential can’t wait to watch your season!
  • 3 0
 this is great to see! congrats jorge and rachel........ see you guys soon enough whether it be at the pagoda or an ESC race!
  • 3 0
 So sick for Jorge and Rachel. Love seeing this! Yinz are gonna crush it.
  • 3 0
 Bonne saison à toi, Tristan et à toute ton équipe !!!
  • 3 0
 love the embargo date in the link
  • 1 0
 Ahh!! LOVE to see all the girlies!!! Y'all are gonna smash it this year, woohoo!!
  • 3 0
 Looks promising!
  • 1 0
 Weren't they told to scowl for team pictures...congrats and good to see them smiling.
  • 4 3
 feels like TR11 is a free-ride-orientated frame. Not sure it has the tech like V10, Demo, etc.
  • 8 1
 True. But that didn’t stop Tahnee Seagrave from pretty much dominating for multiple years aboard the Transition TR500 and TR11. Bike tech matters but the rider matters so much more!
  • 5 0
 Who’s to say a DH race machine won’t be developed out of this team?
  • 4 0
 Why do you say that? Just because their primary marketing path so far has been with free riders? Nothing wrong with racing a Horst link. Go dig into Neko Mulally’s Frameworks project and see what he ended up with after trying a high pivot design, etc.

They are simple but perform well.
  • 2 0
 With all due respect, Valentina Roa Sanchez got bronze at 2022 World Champs at Les Gets. And 4th at Snowshoe, both horrendously technical. All on the TR11.
  • 2 0
 Fine work here Transition!
  • 1 0
 Congrats Tilly, been a super ripper for years. Transition is a rad company for supporting young riders.
  • 1 0
 Everything about this is so gooood. Wishing all of the success for the team and riders!
  • 1 0
 "Columbian" bro it's Colombian!
  • 2 0
 Yin please
  • 1 0
 So cool! Can't wait to watch them all win some races.
  • 1 0
 Awesome to see a good group of people going out doing cool things!
  • 1 0
 Homies!!!! Hard work buddy!! Proud of ya Jorge!
  • 2 0
 Thats a long ass name
  • 1 0
 So cool! Congrats to all!
  • 1 0
 Go Tilly! Kaua'i rooting for You!!
  • 1 0
 Time for the shreddit.
  • 1 0
 Smart move!!!
  • 1 4
 Were is my Carbon TR 11?
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