When it rains, it bloody pours! The game of musical chairs amongst the big World Cup mountain bike teams appears to have no end, with nearly every company announcing its new team roster for the upcoming 2017 season.
Another team to add to the list is British-based Madison Saracen, who saw the departure of Manon Carpenter this week. Madison Saracen will retain Marc Beaumont, Matt Simmonds and Matt Walker for its 2017 gravity team, but a new fella will be joining them, and his name is Alex Marin.
Get the full scoop on the flying Spaniard below;
Press Release
Madison Saracen Factory Team welcome Alex Marin, who will join Marc Beaumont, Matt Simmonds and Matt Walker to complete the 2017 roster.
Previously part of the Giant Factory Racing Team Alex was a regular fixture on the junior world cup podium in 2015 and went on to establish himself at the highest level in his first year of elite racing. The Spaniard scored two world cup top-20s in 2016 – 16th in Lenzerheide and a career best 13th at Fort William – and team manager Will Longden hopes that this year Alex can continue to develop.
“I’m excited to welcome Alex Marin. He’s a true racer and he brings an enthusiasm and passion to the team that we all relate to and are inspired by. I’ve watched him at the world cup races and he has great natural style. He also had some really strong results as a junior and a first year elite rider and we want to help him hone those skills and work with our great set up to find consistency and enjoy his racing. His personality really fits in well with the rest of our team of Matt Simmonds, Marc Beaumont and Matt Walker and I think it’s going to be a great year for the Madison Saracen Factory Team.”
Alex has already been testing the new Saracen Myst Carbon on his home trails.
“Coming into the 2017 season, I feel like I have more to give at the races. The last three years on the world cup circuit went well and my first year elite I had some good results as well, but as I said, I thought I could be more consistent with those good results. Madison Saracen was the team that I felt I could fit in with, being a team close to where I live and with great people around; people that make me feel like I can give my 100% with no doubt. I have to say that the bike is the best I’ve ever tried, a stable bike that makes me feel I can go faster under control. I feel really stoked and excited about joining the team and looking forward for the next race already!”
Madison Saracen will prepare for the 2017 world cup series with a series of races in Portugal through March, with the opening round of the British Downhill Series in early April.
