Brook Macdonald, Sam Dale, Anneke Beerten Leaving GT Factory Racing - Video

 Such a shame, I'm really sad that she's leaving. I think there's always a spot for true ambassadors of the sport, and shes definitively one of them, delivering or not.

 I ran into her during practice at Crafts and Cranks Enduro at Snow Summit. Super nice and incredible rider! From the looks of some Santa Cruz instagram posts, she's been hanging with the Syndicate guys down in SoCal. It's just a theory but maybe riding a Santa Cruz next year?

 @RideTahoe707: She was down there for a crank brothers group ride and stuff like that. I don't think it really has a connection to SC

 @RideTahoe707: ahe also rides a lot with the Specialized guys

 @happymarmite: Gotcha, that makes some sense. But IF, you heard it here first!

 My money’s on Alchemy.

 My wishful thinking is Anneka to Santa Cruz. I dont think they have a headlining female rider?

 @AznKiDrew: They would put her on Juliana... She would be good there... But, she's good enough that she should get a ride somewhere..

 @lumpy873: Ah I forgot about Juliana

 @GTBicycles gave Anneke better exposure during two seasons plagued with injury and illness than Specialized gave her when she was winning loads. And GT even made this grateful video so I trust these athletes will find a sweet new home for next year.

Big question whenever I think of GT now, how is Andrew Cho doing? I just looked him up and saw he's even been running races/events so that's pretty amazing. Does that mean that he can actually live his life without special adaptations to home and vehicle? That'd be the best thing I never dared to hope for even though Andrew seemed determined to not settle for less . Send him my mad respect and I wish he keeps wearing that smile for a long, long time. Andrew is the comeback of 2017, no matter what the Pinkbike jury thinks!

 @vinay: An update on Cho would be awesome, I'm with ya there.

 For once the East Coast is killing the snow game! Even the backcountry is starting to fill in!

 Same in Tahoe.

 It literally snowed last night on the front range

 My guess is Brook to Canyon Sick company, sick bikes

 That and dry, dusty trails to shred.

 Brook and Finn to Devinci!

 @glenno: I could see him going Devinci. Join Keegan Wright.

 Utahs covered with inversion and smog

 @christianlund: but there isn't much in the mountains and the warm weather has been wrecking havoc with ski resorts. www.denverpost.com/2017/12/06/colorado-ski-areas-missing-snow

 @PAmtbiker: I know I'm just messing around, this winter is gonna be a dry one

 @Takeshi194:

going back to Mondraker to replace Hart

 Sam Dale on the "f*ck racing have fun" pro team

 @glenno
that would make sense with justin leaving and all

 @George-k: I was wrong

 @Takeshi194: isn't he racing enduro only?

 I'm not sure about the other models, but the GT Fury's that Whistler brought in for their bike park rentals this year were terrible. We head up every year and rent, and both my son and I after the first run looked at each other shaking our heads. We've never had that on any of the other bikes they've brought in.

 was it a Whistler thing or a GT thing? I owned a Fury or two and didn't think they were that bad. I thought they were super fast!!

 @rrolly: Its a GT thing..

 @kmsports: well, if you've ever rented a bike at Whistler and rode the park, you'd know it was definitely not a Whistler thing. Both my son and I felt like we hadn't ridden in a while when we were on the Fury. If they still have the Fury's next year, we will gladly pay more at a less convenient location to rent a different brand.

 Yep my bet is Ellsworth. They're going from strength to strength.

 Hahahhaha

 His world cup win came when on mondraker Rumours are he is heading back there

 @jerseyjinx: his raimbow jersey came when on Ancillotti, may be wiser for him to go back there

 C O U L D N T A G R E E M O R E

 Everyone wanted one when Peaty rode for them

 ah man, you just made me so sad. I had one of those when I was a kid, bought it used from the news paper and had to cut a lot of lawns to get it. Some asshole stole it from the backyard...that's when I learned thieves are like crows and will take anything that is shiny.

 @acdownhill: I dropped into my first halfpipe on one...annnnd....1 broken wrist later....

 @el-nombre: or hans rey...mid 90ies a zaskar was my wet dream

 I had a Mach One BMX in 1995 that I ride more than my cannondale F2000. My mate still has a mint 1996 Zaskar LE. GT was special back then. Everyone wanted one.

 Gyro on a race bike was never the hot ticket.

 Cannondale Drapac is racing in 2018.

 Cycling Sports Group, not Cannondale

 @Whats-Next: Cannondale Sports Unlimited if you really want to get industry nerd about it...

 @eriksaun: how do you people even know this stuff hahah

 @jclnv: That is sad news. They need to focus more on manufacturing quality.

 @Whats-Next: You're right... Would Crappy Sports Garbage work?

 @adrennan: industry nerd.

 My bet is Norco

 i‘m pretty sure it‘s mondraker... at least 1 spot is open with pekoll retiring

 @striveCF15: 2 spots, danny is on his way out too.

 @jamesbriancrilly: i heard of danny hart to saracen months ago, but since nothing is official AFAIK just 1 spot is open IMO

 @striveCF15: and we all know danny is going to saracen

 mondraker most likely, but on Devinci or Norco would be cool too.

 might go to pivot with his brother

 The Saracen thing will be announced at the new year I think. Hart's contract with Mindy is up on Christmas day I believe.

 @George-k: there have been no announcements re: Wyn.

 It's like a new channel on cable for the off season. #teamrumors

 @rodeoJ: #reamtumors

 Dirtrider121 you lad are a first class helmet.

 @jor4s: Ha, thanks mate - well done. Any particular reason? Or just throwing abuse about for no reason….

 agreed. ive seen more of sam dale in this post than I have all world cup season. He could be like ratboy at this point. who knows. kind of a shame to give it all up when hes been chasing as a privateer for so long.

 @jor4s: I'll second that. So many experts on here eh?! Sam is a first class legend who loves riding his bike. Sometimes riders and bikes don't gel, sometimes bad luck takes over. One thing I do know is not many people can ride a bike like this lad, or have as much fun.

 @thetrailhead: 100% mate... the lads a beast. @dirtrider121 stick to being the opinionated World Cup reporter in your bedroom on your iPad lad. Sams a unit and has the skills to pay the bills. End of.

 Brook posted an instagram message 22 hours ago I quote "just pull and hope the landings somewhere down there" mostly unespected I guess.

 wooow, I'd love that and see Ancilotti bikes get some more exposure, badaas company, badass bikes

 no...just no. Brook deserves better support...hoping for mondraker/trek for him

 Brook and Wyn have already been on Ancillotti when Brook won the Junior worlds so thats probaby where that came from, would be great to see Brook back on one although Thomaso would be flat out building shocks again

 @richardsouthernextreme: wasn't aware of that, good to know mate!

 @richardsouthernextreme: Fair enough man, I just was looking and though WOAH! haha

 @ismasan: yeah... but I don't think Ancillotti is going to have the budget to run DH WC in 2018.
It would be probably the best thing to happen to the sport.
4 generations family owned-5 people shop with the only scope of winning races.

 Guys I asked on instagram , there is nothing foreseen for ancillotti in the DH wc this year. Riders were tagged because they used to ride on ancilloti as young riders . Pretty much it

 Doesn't look like it. Get rid of their faster riders and just rely on Wyn TV to work its magic.

 @el-nombre: the last race race win at international level in MTB was won by Masters...just saying...
and the only one in 2-3 years..(whatever is the post-athertons)

 @Ogp69: Martin won finale in 2016. So, technically Back-to-back wins for GT on the EWS.

 @el-nombre: Or get rid of 3-4 mediocre pro riders and get 1 or 2 well placing riders

 @Ogp69: while that maybe true, I think you would struggle to argue that Wyn is quicker than Brook, and Frew seemed to be doing pretty well in juniors from the little coverage I saw of it. You can't deny the pace of beerten either.

@applepie:'s suggestion makes some sense but when was the last time GT pulled in a regular top 10, let alone podium rider?

 @el-nombre: wyn won whistler ews

 @Jackatchison: yes as has already been pointed out, but still, they are (were) predominantly a DH team and Brook is a faster DH rider than Wyn. If they were wanting to keep hold of fast enduro riders they probably wouldn't be getting rid of beerten.

 @Jackatchison: Wyn won New Zealand EWS. Jesse Melamed won whistler this year.

 @el-nombre: Thats easy 2 years ago 2015 with Rachael Atherton and Gee

 @applepie: fair point, forgot they were riding for them that recently.

 mechanic

 And Martin Maes?

 Maybe more people are coming.

 There's that young and talented belgian who wins EWS events... And miss Strait too.

 @profro: Martin really deserves some EWS wins this year. He's been SO CLOSE so many times.

 @bikekrieg: Martin Maes has had the most 2nd places out of anybody in the ews.

 Tyler McCaul looks to be chilling. Not a downhiller but still a shredder.

 @TMV2: It's Mrs Strait.

 @Fresh1: You're right, bad english, she was miss Throop.

 @profro: I reckon canyun for Maes since Leov has retired

 @airsoftesneeto: not as many as ms courdurier I believe!