What’s inside Singletrack World issue 154?Let’s start with the cover – Pete Scullion does it again:Photographer: Pete Scullion Rider: Joe Barnes Camera: Nikon D850 Camera Settings: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II at 70mm. 1/2000, f8,…
RockShox and Trek have teamed up to create a new team consisting of gravity focused riders who are all under 21.
The team includes two-time UCI Junior Downhill World Champion and World Cup Overall winner Vali Höll, up-and-coming Scottish shredder Jamie Edmondson, twice-crowned Canadian National Junior Downhill Champion Ethan Shandro, and the fastest kid in Whistler Mountain Bike Park, 15-year-old Tegan Cruz.
Höll and Edmondson will focus on the UCI DH World Cup calendar this season. In addition, the team will fit in Crankworx events along with selected Enduro World Series races.
Vali Höll
- Valentina (Vali) Höll – The World Champ DOB: December 11, 2001
- HOMETOWN: Saalbach, Austria
- SOCIAL: @valihoell
Vali needs no introduction, but we’ll give her one anyway. Here’s the official Team announcement version:
‘Höll began racing downhill against the boys as an 11-year-old in Saalbach, Austria, and was told she
wouldn’t win…until she did. She kept winning again-and-again, until Höll stood on top of the podium as the 2018 UCI Junior Downhill World Champion. She stood there again after an undefeated season in 2019. This two-time World Cup Overall-winning prodigy is full of optimism and grit heading into her first, full season as an elite. Look for this Austrian force of nature on 2021 podiums worldwide.
“To step up and become more professional with racing, I knew I had to switch something. I’ve always been on my own so having mentors like Tracy Moseley and Andrew Shandro is pretty cool, along with a bigger platform and more people to ride and train with.” — Vali Höll’
To hear more from Vali, check out our Making Up The Numbers podcasts – she’s joined us in the studio twice now for race analysis, tech talk and all the chat from the Downhill scene.
Jamie Edmonson
- DOB: March 7, 2001
- HOMETOWN: Nethy Bridge, Scotland
- SOCIAL: @jamie_edmondson
Jamie is the pro rider featured in our ‘Pete’s Pros’ series in the upcoming issue of Singletrack Magazine. Have we got our finger on the pulse of the up and coming talent or what?! Order your copy here to see what makes Jamie tick and keeps this youngster’s feet on the ground (when he’s not riding over it).
Here’s the official team intro:
‘A proud Scot, active trail builder, cat lover, and lifelong racer, Jamie Edmondson does dual duty in both
enduro and downhill disciplines. This 19-year-old wet-weather specialist grew up in a little village down
the road from Aviemore, Scotland, and is motivated to jump from privateer last year to an integral part of the world’s youngest gravity-fueled elite race team in 2021. “I’m looking forward to being a part of the
team and having the support when I need it,” said the affable Scotsman. Jamie will focus his racing on the World Cup circuit mixing in Enduro World Series events along the way.
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“I like to feel good on a downhill track… you’re on the limit and by the end of the weekend, you’re hitting every turn as fast as you can. I think that’s pretty addictive when you get used to it. That’s what it is for me.” — Jamie Edmondson’
Ethan Shandro
- DOB: February 18, 2002
- HOMETOWN: North Vancouver, Canada
- SOCIAL: @3thanshandro
Two-time Canadian National Junior Downhill Champion Ethan Shandro is a familiar name in mountain
biking. Shandro’s debut performance as a junior on the World Cup circuit dropped jaws in 2019. After a
2020 season spent dormant and recovering from injury, he is looking to get back on dirt with his fierce-
but-fun style of riding. Ethan will continue to focus on his recovery for the time being and look to add
regional races when back up to speed.
“Coming into this year, I am looking to get back to 100 percent health wise and spend time with the team in and out of the races. I’m stoked to be part of this young team as we head into 2021 and see what we are all capable of. My top goal is to get back to World Cup races.” – Ethan Shandro
Yes, this Ethan Shandro is son of Andrew Shandro, who was also a guest on the Making Up The Numbers podcast – back when we thought there was going to be a 2020 season. Ah well.
Tegan Cruz
- DOB: September 29, 2005
- HOMETOWN: Pemberton, Canada
- SOCIAL: @tegster2005
The Sea-to-Sky region of British Columbia pumps out a bunch of fast kids, but few are as quick as
Pemberton’s Tegan Cruz. It helps when you’re raised on a farm with a pump track in the Coast Range’s
steepest terrain and a quick drive to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Add in a tireless work ethic and a
brother who races World Cup, and you have a recipe for success. At 15 years old, the “Tegster” could be Canada’s next rising star. The 2021 race season will see Tegan focus regionally on races within B.C. as well as a few trips to Europe, should travel restrictions allow.
“I feel fortunate and excited to be riding with and learning from a World Champion, as well as teammates who have tasted the World Cup podium. Ethan and I have had many great times riding together and traveled a bit over the years. I look forward to bringing a youthful attitude and definitely some laughs and smiles.” – Tegan Cruz
Team Support
The youngsters are being sent out into the word with a full team of professional support behind them.
Mathieu Gallean will support Vali and the rest of the RockShox Trek Race Team in 2021. This current UCI Masters Downhill World Champion has been a key part to Vali’s success. “Mat rides similar to me, so he thinks a lot about my bike set-up. I trust him when trying new things, I just hop on it and it works out. Mat has been my mechanic since my first year of World Cup, 2018.” – Vali Höll
JT Evans has worked in the bike industry on and off for 20 years and even pulled wrenches for the legendary John Tomac. He will support all team activities with a specific focus on Jamie Edmondson during World Cup events. Evans has worked as a mechanic with the SRAM TLD Racing team since 2016. He is the father of two well-behaved sons, owns his own design company, and still races his bike from time to time.
“At one point I wanted to be a bike racer, but just didn’t have the head for it. Being a mechanic is my way of still being around it and being able to contribute to a team. Having been on the other side of it, I understand what the athletes are going through, what they have sacrificed, and what they are trying to accomplish.” – JT Evans
Rounding out the crew is team Physio Phillip Bacher, Athlete Performance Manager Andrew Shandro, and Managing Director John Dawson.
The team is hoping to compete in the following events (subject to world events, weather, stray asteroids, etc etc…)
- UCI DH World Cup
- April 24-25: Maribor, Slovenia
- May 22-23: Fort William, Scotland
- June 12-13: Leogang, Austria
- July 3-4: Les Gets, France
- Aug. 24-29: World Championships Val di Sole, Italy Sept. 4-5: Lenzerheide, Switzerland
- Sept. 18-19: Snowshoe, WV. USA
- National Championships – Austria, Canada, UK Enduro World Series – Select
- CRANKWORX Events – Select Regional Events – Select
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Go Jamie! Really excited for what this year brings for you.
Great to see a team taking on young talent as well.