Luca Shaw is in Peille & We Think He's Signing for Canyon

Dec 21, 2021
by James Smurthwaite  
photo

Peille may only have a population of around 2,000 people but as far as producing World-class mountain bikers goes, it punches way above its weight. The small village perched on a rock between Monaco and Menton is the birthplace of Nico Vouilloz, Yoann Barelli, Nicolas Fillipi, and, most importantly for this article, Canyon Collective team director Fabien Barel.

The area is also a popular testing area for downhill teams and in fact Jamie Edmondson and Vali Holl of the RockShox Trek team were there last week testing on the Blausasc track. The latest rider we've seen set up camp there is Luca Shaw. Shaw posted a video earlier in the week of himself riding into the village along the D53 cliff road along with the caption, "Anyone know this village?". According to PB's Matt Wragg, who lives in the area, Shaw has been there since at least last Monday.

We already speculated this off-season that Luca Shaw may be leaving the Syndicate for a new team, a move that was confirmed yesterday. While we initially suspected he would ride for Specialized, our sources have been connecting Luca and Canyon for a few weeks and we think this European vacation could be further proof of his next team. Not only was Fabien Barel born in Peille, he now lives in neighbouring Blausasc where the Canyon Collective race team is run from. The theory is strengthened by a Troy Brosnan comment on Shaw's post that describes Peille as Shaw's "home village."

Are there other possibilities?

While Canyon remains our strongest suspicion, when we reached out to Luca to ask why he was in Peille, he replied with a picture of Loris Vergier and said, "riding with this guy". In the photo above (taken from Luca's stories) you can also see he is wearing a Bontrager helmet, so it's entirely possible he's reuniting with his former teammate at Trek. A final consideration is that Mat Gallean, manager for RockShox Trek team also lives next to the Blausasc DH track and we know that team was testing in the area. Plus Luca used to be a TLD/SRAM athlete so it's a setup he knows well.

However, given that Luca is now openly posting about his motocross day with Loris and the RockShox Trek team is more of a development setup than a factory team, our suspicions still line up with Canyon. Canyon declined to comment.

Author Info:
jamessmurthwaite avatar

Member since Nov 14, 2018
1,770 articles

47 Comments
  • 86 6
 Gd lck Lc Shw, whrvr y lnd!
  • 11 5
 Prb cnyn nt Trk
  • 6 4
 @sewer-rat: Dfntl prbbl nt prb
  • 20 0
 Now this is getting interesting....! team rumour season is better than Christmas!
  • 5 0
 Unless you're a fake account and win all the Pinkbike calendar like last year.
  • 2 0
 @Waldon83: ha ha ha....the funny this is i got nailed by that account last year ha ha ha....its more the excitement bru Wink
  • 11 0
 - Laurie to Syndicate and Luca off to Canyon. And Kona probably saying farewell to World Cup DH altogether.
  • 10 1
 Sad but true about Kona. No one is selling DH bikes except for Commencal... at least we'll have an even playing field when all 60 riders are on the same bike.
  • 2 1
 Well he’s not going to YT…

youtu.be/WNQ5L4NBiro
  • 4 1
 Two small fast riders with redbull helmets and fast kits could be going syndicate
  • 1 0
 Sorry fox kits*
  • 3 0
 @bonkmasterflex: Nobody is selling DH bikes except commencal? I disagree.
  • 1 1
 @jomacba: Why would anyone buy anything BUT a commencal? Best value for money, and clearly best performing.
  • 1 1
 @bonkmasterflex: I have to fully disagree with you pn bot of statements. Commencal bikes typically have a poor resale value compared to many other brands, I would argue that a Santa Cruz would be better value due to the lifetime warranty on frame, small parts, and bearings. After sales service is in my experience one of the poorest in my area for commencal. I would argue that commencal has created one of the best performing bikes out there, but to say it IS the best? That's a bold statement.
  • 8 0
 maybe he just having a good time in a beautiful spot
  • 3 2
 Nope, no, nope, can't be... no way possible that he went to Europe (he has a EU passport I read once) with his gold medalist girl friend to enjoy some time off before training ramps up.
  • 1 1
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: Jolanda - Training ramps, I see what you did there Wink
  • 7 1
 "testing on the Blausasc track."
Thats pronounced "ballsack" right?
  • 5 0
 Hearsay on east coast is he was spotted on a canyon at kanuga
  • 4 0
 I seen't it.
  • 1 0
 lot of quiet stuff happening over there. theres also been some interesting stuff about what people have been seeing at windrock for the intense boys
  • 2 0
 @andraperrella27: May have seen some no name race bikes recently myself too.
  • 1 0
 @andraperrella27: Are they on the high pivot bikes yet?
  • 1 0
 @dirtmcleod: was some guy riding around like he owns the place? Weird…
  • 1 0
 @nickskater09: LOL, yeah maybe!
  • 5 0
 Hopefully Syndicate can find room for Dak Norton
  • 5 0
 Bontrager Helmet?....
  • 19 0
 Gillette razor?
  • 13 0
 Yeah surely links a move to Trek, but if he is still on TLD they don't have any road helmets and this could be borrowed from Jolanda
  • 1 0
 @melonhead1145: Yep, that's what I think too, borrowed a helmet from Yolanda
  • 4 1
 Maybe Jolanda got an EP deal...
  • 4 0
 Fabian is going to transform him into a world champ candidate
  • 3 1
 The only thing we can confirm from this article is that Luca forgot to pack a nose hair trimmer.
  • 2 0
 Nina just bid farewell to her "Team" (supporting friends).
Maybe there will be the first female rider at Syndicate now.
  • 2 0
 Kona
  • 2 1
 Is he wearing a Bontrager helmet?,
  • 3 2
 I hear he's off to join Jolanda on the trek xc team
  • 1 0
 Doesn't that Bontrager helmet indicate he's switching to Trek?
  • 1 0
 I vote Iron Horse.... gotta be
  • 1 0
 Kind regards from your friendly VitalMTB forum members! Big Grin
  • 1 1
 Looks like a nice session
  • 1 0
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