Willow Koerber joins Trek World Racing

We’ve just had news that UCI world number two cross country racer, the American Willow Koerber, will be on the Trek World Racing Team for 2011. Willow was racing for the Subaru-Trek mountain bike team last year and joins a cross country roster that includes the extremely talented Flueckiger brothers. She’ll also be joining another extremely talented lady in the form of Tracey Moseley, who continues to race downhill for TWR.

Willow took a bronze medal at the 2010 World Champs in Monte St Anne and when she took the bronze in 2009 she was the first American to win a World Cup medal for eight years – on big wheels too. Some of you will be pleased to know that Willow isn’t particularly camera shy, being a CyclePassion calendar regular as well as frequent magazine cover star.

Talking of cover stars, what does this mean for Emily Batty, we hear you cry – fear not, she’s still racing and on a Trek too. We’re told she will be moving to the Subaru-Trek team for 2011.

The full press release is below…

“The world’s second-ranked cross country athlete, Willow Koerber (USA), will join a Trek World Racing roster that includes World Champion Mathias Flueckiger (SUI) and brother Lukas Flueckiger (SUI) through the 2012 World Cup season.

The extremely talented duo of Swiss brothers, Lukas and Mathias Flueckiger return to Trek World Racing for the next 2 seasons, and will be joined by America’s Willow Koerber who is looking for her first ever World Cup win after a number of podiums and two World Championship bronze medals.

Both Mathias and Lukas have racked up an impressive number of World Cup podiums since joining Trek World Racing in 2009, with Mathias capping off an impressive 2010 (that saw him win every U23 World Cup prize), by winning the U23 World Title in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. Together they have already become synonymous with the Trek brand and will be racing for selection to represent Switzerland at the 2012 Olympic Games in London aboard the Trek Top Fuel.

Koerber, previously a member of the Subaru-Trek program, moves to Trek World Racing to focus more intensely on the podiums of the World Cup circuit, gold in the World Championships, and a spot on the 2012 US Olympic team.

Willow said today, “I am very excited and honored to be a part of the Trek World Racing program for the next two years. My goals are perfectly aligned with this program’s international focus, and together I believe we can make it to the top step of the podium!”

“We are really excited about Trek World Racing’s XC Roster. The Flueckiger brothers are a podium threat on the men’s side every weekend, and Willow Koerber has also proven formidable on the women’s side. Racing is extremely important for the Trek brand, as it improves our product for all users. As with our other racing efforts on the road and now on the mountain, we intend to win in every aspect of racing we participate in,” said Trek Vice President, Joe Vadeboncoeur.

Team Owner Martin Whiteley said, “Our goal with this program is to be chasing the top step of the World Cup podium every weekend we go racing and I’m delighted that both Math and Luk are back with us for the next two years. They make a unique and formidable combination not only as brothers who understand each other in a sixth sense kind of way, but also because their skills are complimentary on the varying circuits we race on. Willow’s addition to the program immediately brings us to the front of the women’s field and we’re honored that she has trusted our program with delivering the support she expects for the next two very important years.”

With Willow’s signing, the complete Trek World Racing roster is now set for 2011. XC Riders: Lukas Flueckiger (SUI) Mathias Flueckiger (SUI) Willow Koerber (USA) DH Riders: Aaron Gwin (USA) Justin Leov (NZL) Tracy Moseley (GBR) Neko Mulally (USA)

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