Team GT Pre Race

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GT Race Day Highlights: WC 1 South Africa

GT Race Day Highlights: WC 1 South Africa on pinkbike.com

Riders' News - 24th, April, 2011

Historic Double Win For Trek World Racing In South Africa

24.4.2011     

At the opening round of the 2011 Downhill World Cup, Trek World Racing's Tracy Moseley (GBR) and Aaron Gwin (USA) have walked away with the leaders' jerseys of the series after a display of blistering speed, strength, and determination in front of a huge crowd in sunny Pietermaritzburg. For Tracy it was her first World Cup win in the coveted rainbow jersey of the World Champion, and for Aaron, it was his first World Cup win ever, and the first by an American male since 1999.

Aaron qualified 7th 2 days ago, but in the time between that race and today’s final, he worked with the Trek World Racing mechanics to find the ideal set up for what was going to be a much faster and drier race. His Fox suspension was perfectly dialled as was his choice of Maxxis rubber, and together with a supreme show of speed in the first and second sectors the Californian, who only started racing World Cups in 2008, scored his 8th World cup podium, but an all-important first win for his career, and his new team.

For Tracy Moseley, who did the same thing as Aaron here in 2009 when she won her first World Cup for Trek World Racing on her first outing for the team, it was her 13th career win, and her 3rd for the team. After winning qualifying on Friday by nearly 6 seconds, it was a much tighter affair today winning by 0.28secs. The course was running about 15 seconds faster for the women and the effort to get the bike to the line was huge.

Tracy said: "That was so tough today. Towards the end I was running out of steam and had the rear kick up on something in the lower section of the track; then I heard the onsite commentary say it was going to be close, so I dug deep until the end. It means a lot to win my first World Cup at my first attempt since earning the World Champs jersey, it just means so much."

Aaron said: "I'm pretty speechless actually. It's a dream. In the first sector I made a little mistake, hitting some trees with my shoulder, but then I just regrouped and put as much power down as I could in the middle sector. By the end, the legs were really feeling it, and then it was a pretty nerve wracking waiting in the hot seat. The bike is amazing, I can't praise it enough, and the whole time here in South Africa with the team has been so great. Can't wait for Fort William, I love that track."

Team Director Martin Whiteley said: "Three years ago Trek, like Aaron, wasn't racing at the top level of World Cup Downhilling. Here we are today with clearly a winning package and I can't speak highly enough of the engineers in Madison, and our key sponsors who give our talented athletes such an amazing set up to do their job. I'm so proud of everything this team has done since we arrived in Africa 4 weeks ago, and I'm really looking forward to a thrilling 2011 season".

There are 6 weeks until Round 2, in Fort William (SCO), but between now and then, the Trek World Racing boys will be racing on the east coast of the USA.

Media seeking hi-res images can visit our website for their login.

Team website: http://www.trekworldracing.com

Full results: http://www.uci.ch/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template1/layout.asp?MenuId=MTYxMjU&LangId=1

Riders' News - 23rd, April, 2011

Mathias Flueckiger 15th in Super-Fast World Cup XC Race 1

23.4.2011     

Starting on the front row of the first World Cup of the 2011 season here in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Mathias Flueckiger was quick to get away at the start of the 6 lap race, with brother Lukas close behind starting from row 2. However, it was very clear 10 minutes into the race that the pace was super quick, more than most riders were expecting, and before long, a group of 3 riders (Nino Schurter, Julien Absalon, Jaroslav Kulhavy) had taken a gap on the rest of the field, and stayed out there for the entire race.

New rules from the UCI meant that the race would be shorter than ever before, at just over 1hr 30mins, on a track that was baked hard and dry by recent warm and humid weather. This also meant that it was the fastest race since Dalby Forest, Round1 in 2010, with an average speed above 20km/h. (The World Cup in Champery last year was 16km/h average for example).

Additionally, most riders who had raced hard in the Cape Epic a few weeks ago were clearly suffering from a lack of explosive speed, a common complaint among those finishing outside the top 10.

Yesterday in his training session on the course, Lukas crashed awkwardly and hurt his hand, specifically the inside of his right palm where the index finger joins the hand. This meant he had next-to-no pull up power on the handlebars today and was not riding at his best in the technical sections, and finished 22nd.

Mathias Flueckiger said: "The first straight from the start felt good for me, it was a good start and I was in a good position, but then the high pace stayed a lot longer than normal and I lost some positions. The pace was so high and I just didn't have any explosive power in my legs. I had to fight back from around 20th place to stay in 14th or 15th. It was not as good as I was expecting, but I had a similar start in Dalby Forest last year, and got stronger throughout the year so I know what to do to get up to speed for Round 2."

Lukas Flueckiger said: "The injury to the hand the day before was a real disappointment for me. My legs felt good today, but after my crash yesterday, my body wasn't comfortable, I didn't sleep well last night, and I had no power in the handlebars today. I was controlling everything with my legs, which made for a difficult race. The speed was so high today, but for me it was more about controlling the bike. I was handicapped today and will get this checked as soon as I get back to Switzerlandnext week."

Meanwhile, the other big news of the day was Willow Koerber's announcement that she is 6 weeks pregnant, something she only discovered yesterday afternoon. After finishing 2nd in last week's national race on the World Cup course, Willow knew there was something not quite right. The previous 2 weeks had seen her feeling unwell, and overall lacking energy. She decided to take a pregnancy test to see if this was the reason. Fiancé and former DH World Champion Myles Rockwell was the first to get the call, and shortly after Willow spoke to Team Director Martin Whiteley, who said today:

"Obviously this is a bittersweet development for Willow who on one hand was ready to take on the world in season 2011, yet on the other hand, is now expecting her first child with all the joy and excitement that brings. One thing is clear, we as a team are fully supportive of Willow in this new development and while this was not the plan, life is not predictable and all the team members have been so supportive since she spoke with everyone last night at dinner. Willow leaves South Africa on Monday and will return to be with her nearest and dearest to discuss what comes next, and we expect to be in a position of greater clarity next week." There are 4 weeks until Round 2, in Dalby Forest (GBR), and many riders will be looking forward to getting home and working on their preparation for the next major race of the 2011 season.

Media seeking hi-res images can visit our website for their login.

Team website: http://www.trekworlsdracing.com

Full results: http://www.uci.ch/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template1/layout.asp?MenuId=MTYxMjU&LangId=1

Riders' News - 16th, April, 2011

All Three Trek World Racing XC Riders On Podium in PMB

16.4.2011     

Today saw the South African National Series XC race on the World Cup course to be run here in Pietermaritzburg next week, and the conditions were extremely difficult. Temperatures were lower than they've been all week, the rain bucketed down and the track was very muddy, providing a real test for the World Cup riders that took to the course.

Despite this, all three Trek World Racing riders manage to podium with Lukas Flueckiger taking the win in the Elite Men, Willow Koerber took 2nd in the Elite Women, and Mathias finished 3rd in the Elite Men.

In the women's 4 lap race, several of the World's top women took part, including former World Champion Irena Kalentieva (RUS), Lene Byberg (NOR), Esther Suss (SUI) and Mary McConneloug (USA). Straight from the start Willow took the lead and was at the front for most of the first two laps. Then in the middle of the event was left without energy after a difficult weak last week fighting a stomach bug, but re-grouped by the end of the race to take 2nd place behind Kalentieva.

"That was probably the muddiest race I have ever done! It was 98% ride-able but towards the end it was really hard to see. Eyewear was fogging up and it was almost a guessing game choosing lines. But I'm so happy to have done that. I learned so much riding my Top Fuel, and I can go into next week with an important box checked."

After a fast start in the men's race, Luk crossed the line at the end of lap 1 of 5, in first place, just ahead of last year's big improver Jaroslav Kulhavy (SVK), with brother Math not far behind in 3rd. The race soon became a battle between Luk and Kulhavy, and on lap 3, Luk punctured a rear tire and took the opportunity to swap from his XR3 tires to MudX tires, and caught back up to Kulhavy, and then began to make a break. His lead went out to 40secs by the end of the race, with Math 3rd about 4mins back.

Luk said: "Good race for me today, and I enjoyed the conditions. I learned a lot and I'm happy to be on the top step. Bike worked great, shoes were perfect for the conditions, overall I am really happy."

Math said: "It was a little bit quiet for me with no riders around, but I used the day as a good exercise in technical improvement, and I learned a lot. If it's wet next week for the World Cup, this was an important race today." Great selection images here from Gary Perkin: http://www.flipper.co.za/clients/2011/web/Trek/SACup/XCO/

Tomorrow it's the downhillers' turn on the course, and the weather is looking mixed.

Riders' News - 9th, April, 2011

News from Trek World Racing

9.4.2011     

Internal Newsletter For Sponsors and Family of Trek World Racing

With Absa Cape Epic done and dusted, the whole team has moved into Camp here in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, at a great Lodge where the riders have been able to get in some quality training, testing and recovery, and even some impressive games of tennis! The menu at the Lodge has included Warthog, Springbok and Ostriche Lasagna, and the weather has been amazing.

In addition to the training and testing aspects, they have all been working with team photographer Gary Perkin to get some excellent shots which will feature in the team hero cards being produced in time for the first World Cup in 12 days. Above is a great team shot taken earlier this week.

The new team website, which will be found at www.trekworldracing.com, is to be launched on the eve of the World Cup, Fiday April 22nd. A worldwide press release, as well as notices on Twitter and Facebook, will let everyone know about this new and exciting site. Some of the features will include a media login for access to hi and lo res images, bike features, updated video library (including two new releases from season 2011, "Pre-Season In Iberia" and "Victory In Africa"), twiiter feeds fromthe team, the individual riders and staff.

Check out an interview with TWR DH rider Justin Leov on Spoke Magazine's website: http://www.spokemagazine.com/2011/03/frankly-thursday-justin-leov/#more-8573

Next Wednesday the team moves (together with more than 50 boxes of equipment) to Hilton near Pietermaritzburg, for the final phase of preparation for World Cup 1.

Follow these Twitter accounts if you're not already:
@trekworldracing @mathflueck @lukfluck @nekomulally @justinleov @willowkRocks @AaronGwin1 @captain23mw

Riders' News - 4th, April, 2011

The Flueckiger Brothers Win Final Stage of Absa Cape Epic

4.4.2011     

The Swiss brother team of Lukas and Mathias Flueckiger wrapped up their third Cape Epic campaign yesterday with a win on the final 65km stage into the Lourensford estate in Somerset West, just outside of Cape Town. In front of a huge crowd in perfect sunny conditions the brothers crossed the line on their Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SSL full suspension race machines, to be greeted soon after by team mates Willow Koerber and Neko Mulally, in town for the start of the team's training camp.


On Saturday, the day prior, the 128km stage took its toll on older brother Luk who really suffered in the last 5km of the stage and was completely out of gas at the finish, not even able to speak:
"It was the worst I've been. I was riding like a drunk man and could hardly hold my head up when I got off the bike - but my recovery was key to the win today". After the tough Saturday stage, Luk ate straight away with Isostar recovery drink, took a nap, then lunch, then a 3pm massage, followed by another nap, then later had dinner, then a good sleep. It worked well as both boys attacked from the start on the final stage. Their first attack on the first climb was to see how the peloton was reacting and when they saw they had a great chance to get away, attacked again and by 10km into the stage, were away and building a good lead. By the water station the Trek World Racing team had more than a 3 minute lead, and settled into a good rhythm. Closer to the finish they eased back a little to ensure they took the win, and eventually won in a time of 2hr 33min 18secs, 2min 19secs clear of 2nd place.
Full results: http://www.cape-epic.com/live/results2011.php
Mathias said: "This is always a tough race for me, coming out of the Swiss winter and my military service this time, it's my first race of the year, so it was very tough the first few days, but by the end I started to feel I was in good shape. It's with great pride that we cross the line here as brothers, and the crowd here is so amazing, it's makes the week very special."
The brothers have now won at least one stage each of the 3 times they've entered the event, a record not held by many other teams.
With the first round of the UCI World Cup in 3 weeks, in Pietermaritzburg, the brothers now join the rest of their team in a training camp and then head to Pietermaritzburg on April 13 for the National Race on the World Cup course.

Follow the team on Twitter @trekworldracing and contact info@23degrees-sports.com from hi-res images.