Women's Junior DH Runner Up Anna Newkirk Joins SRAM Young Guns

PRESS RELEASE: SRAM Young Guns

Welcome Anna!

The SRAM Young Guns are pleased and proud, to have Anna Newkirk on board in the new season. Anna was second place in the overall 2018 UCI MTB DH World Cup standings and silver medallist at the UCI MTB DH World Champs. Together with Paula Zibasa she is the future of women's DH. Furthermore, Paula and Anna will, in cooperation with SRAM/Canyon, represent the Canyon WMN mountain bikes.


Anna Newkirk is not unknown among the SRAM Young Guns. During the entire 2018 season Paula Zibasa and Anna Newkirk shared the warmup tent at World Cups. Admittedly, they were not always happy! Very often Anna was waiting down on the finishing line for Paula. What a great despair!

Paula is a full-hearted sportswoman and when she was defeated, she always knew who were the better ones. Because of this, it was nice during the season to spectate how the girls treated each other and how a lovely rivalry developed. But in the starting hut, the friendship had to pause for five minutes, as their own goals were in the foreground. Just as it should be.

As Anna had a, as she would call it, "super", run in Lenzerheide, suddenly coincidence stopped into our lives. Just as we said our farewells and went back to the Canyon Factory team pit, I stumbled upon Anna. We talked about the successful year, the successful weekend and, of course, about Anna's future. I was curious! Had the SRAM Young Guns a realistic chance?

It was easy to hear how she would like to take another step and that she wanted a new challenge. Anna hadn't even finished speaking when I already started making plans...

The SRAM Young Guns would like to help Anna with her path into the future. Anna is a great character, very motivated, always has a cool line in store, keeps a smile on her face, and most importantly, at least from my impression, a team player, a friend and naturally a big talent which has to be supported! Just like what SRAM Young Guns are supposed to be made up of!

Anna and Paula will greatly compliment each other. After a quick consultation with our partners SRAM and Canyon and talks, a great day at Canyon, Anna's next step into the future was secured. The SRAM Young Guns are now starting out with two women for the first time, what a great moment!

A thrilling, awesome season lies ahead of SRAM Young Guns and the entire team welcomes Anna. But who is Anna and what does she think? For this we will let her speak for herself:



What happened until now:


- Silver 2018 Junior World Championships Downhill

- 2018 UCI Mercedes-Benz Downhill World Cup 2nd Overall

- 2018 UCI Mercedes-Benz DH World Cup Fort William: 3rd place

- 2018 UCI Mercedes-Benz DH World Cup Val di Sole: 2nd place

- 2018 UCI Mercedes-Benz DH World Cup Vallnord: 2nd place

- 2017 European Downhill Cup: 2nd overall

The SRAM Young Guns are now complete and shortly we will introduce the entire team to you.