Following a thrilling 2015 season that saw the team collect podium finishes and big wins at some of the most prestigious Downhill and Enduro events around the world, the Giant Factory Off-Road Team is back for 2016 with a renewed focus on the UCI World Cup and Enduro World Series races.
The 2016 Giant Factory Off-Road Team lineup includes (left to right): Alex Marin (DH), Marcelo Gutierrez (DH), Guillaume Cauvin (DH), Yoann Barelli (Enduro), Adam Craig (Enduro), Josh Carlson (Enduro), Carl Decker (XC, Enduro) and Seamus Powell (Enduro). Photo by Cameron Baird.
Five-time Colombian downhill national champion, Marcelo Gutierrez signed a three-year extension with the team and is already off to a winning start in 2016 following a victory at the Manizales Urban Downhill race in January. Gutierrez is coming off a successful 2015 season that saw him land his first-ever World Cup podium finish at Fort William and break into the top-10 overall with a final World Cup ranking of eighth. The 25-year-old also repeated his title at the grueling Garbanzo DH, part of the Crankworx Whistler event in British Columbia.
With two World Cup podium finishes, 2015 was a breakout season for Colombian DH racer Marcelo Gutierrez. Marcelo is seen here sitting on his Glory Advanced 27.5 bike wearing the 100% DH kit, including jersey, pants, helmet and gloves. Photo by Cameron Baird.
Our World Cup DH squad had a great season last year, riding the new Glory Advanced bikes and collecting some nice podium finishes, I'm looking forward to continuing the momentum and seeing what we can do in 2016. - Marcelo Gutierrez
Joining Gutierrez on the downhill team is Spanish teenager Alex Marin, who makes the jump up to the elites this year following a successful run in the junior men’s category. Marin, who finished 4th overall in the 2015 junior men’s World Cup standings, with several podium appearances, traveled to Colombia in January to train and race with Gutierrez as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup season.
After a successful run in the juniors, Spaniard, Alex Marin makes the jump up to elite men's downhill competition this year on his Glory Advanced 27.5 with RockShox suspension and SRAM drivetrain components. Marin and the rest of the team are riding a variety of treads from tire sponsor Schwalbe. Photo by Cameron Baird.
Also returning to the DH squad this year is 21-year-old French rider Guillaume Cauvin. The former junior French Cup winner had a solid first year with the team in 2015, highlighted by a podium finish in the pro men’s DH at the Crankworx Les 2 Alpes event in France.
The team’s enduro squad is led this year by Frenchman Yoann Barelli. The 30-year-old had a breakout 2015 season, getting stronger as the season went on. He scored a number of stage wins in the Enduro World Series and finished second at two of the last three rounds. In the end, despite a rough start that saw him crash out of Round 1 in New Zealand, Barelli dazzled fans with moments of brilliance on his Reign Advanced 27.5 race bike and finished a strong ninth overall for the year in the EWS.
Fan favorite, Yoann Barelli came on strong in the second half of last year's Enduro World Series. He's looking to add more stage wins and get his first
We had an awesome 2015 season and we're all looking forward to going full on again this year, I came so close to winning the overall at a couple Enduro World Series events, and this year I'll be gunning for that top step on the podium. - Yoann Barelli
Also returning to the enduro squad is Australian, Josh Carlson, who came on strong in 2015. The 29-year-old was impressive throughout the season, finishing 12th overall in the EWS. Carlson’s 2015 highlight was winning two stages at Round 6 of the EWS in Whistler, and coming close to winning the overall there. American Adam Craig will join Barelli and Carlson for select EWS races and other North American enduro events.
French DH rider Guillaume Cauvin returns after a solid first year with the team in 2015 that was highlighted by a podium finish at the Crankworx Les 2 Alpes event. Photo by Cameron Baird.
Beyond the global riders, next year’s team also includes American XC and enduro racer, Carl Decker. The veteran from Oregon will continue to focus on a variety of enduro, XC and gravel grinder events in 2016. And Seamus Powell, a 25-year-old two-time U.S. Super D national champion, will focus mainly on events in the East Coast region of the U.S.
Veteran team member, Carl Decker, riding his Anthem Advanced 27.5 bike and wearing the team XC kit from new sponsor Jakroo along with the Giant Rail helmet, will compete in North American XC and enduro events this year. Photo by Cameron Baird.
All of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team riders will have a full quiver of Giant bikes to choose from including Glory Advanced 27.5 downhill bikes, Reign Advanced 27.5 enduro machines, Trance Advanced 27.5 trail bikes, and Anthem Advanced 27.5 and XtC Advanced SL 27.5 XC bikes. Giant is also supporting the team with its Contact SLR saddles, the new Rail trail helmet, Giant footwear including the Charge XC shoe with Motion Efficiency System technology, plus jackets and other apparel.
American rider Adam Craig, an all-around talent who has done everything from Olympic XC racing to cyclocross to the Enduro World Series, will race his Trance Advanced 27.5 with RockShox suspension at North American enduro events this year. Photo by Cameron Baird.
Newly added sponsor 100% will bring a whole new look to the team, providing a range of products including their all-new AIRCRAFT Carbon full-face helmet, gravity race kits and gloves. Other new sponsors include HT Components pedals, Re-Fuel digital accessories and Jakroo XC kits 2016 Giant Factory Off-Road Team Sponsors:
SRAM, RockShox, Schwalbe,100%, HT, Re-fuel, MRP, GoPro, Honey Stinger, Jakroo, ODI , Stan’s, Thule, Park Tool, Finish Line
Josh Carlson and Yoann Barelli will always be some of my favorite bikers. At Crankworx this past year, of all the athletes that were signing at tables, the Giant Fox guys were by far the most welcoming. Other athletes seemed like they were being forced to interact with the public but not the Giant guys. I didn't want to bother them but they called us over so they could sign our hats and shirts. Josh also had the best attitude considering he could have easily been bummed about the EWS race and losing over a flat. Definitely will be rooting for them this upcoming season..