Trek to sponsor downhill mountain bike team in 2009

Talks rumoured with Sam Hill and Rachel Atherton

Published: August 12, 2008 at 3:41 pm

Trek Bicycles and 23 Degrees Sport Management have announced that they will launch a cross country and downhill racing team in 2009.

23 Degrees riders have led Global Racing and Team G Cross Honda to the top of the world cup circuit in previous years, and currently have on their books riders including Greg Minnaar, Liam Killeen, Brendan Fairclough and Luke Strobel.

Given Trek’s racing history - Lance Armstrong, probably the world’s most famous cyclist, rode Trek into the history books winning the Tour de France a record breaking seven consecutive years – it’s likely that the company will want only the best riders to grace the saddle of the new team bikes.

There are rumours that the team is talking to two-time world downhill champion Sam Hill and current women’s world downhill champion Rachel Atherton, although no riders have been confirmed yet.