RockShox Trek Race Team switch to Continental’s Gravity range
RockShox Trek Race Team has selected Continental as their official tire partner for 2023, with reigning Downhill World Champion Vali Höll (Austria) and frequent Junior podium fixture Tegan Cruz (Canada) both returning for a third season riding for the youngest and most exciting team on the World Cup circuit.
Continental’s Gravity range of tires was officially launched in April 2022, following three year’s development by Continental’s category-leading R&D team and testing by athletes across the Continental Atherton, Continental Nukeproof, and Pivot Factory Racing teams. A wide-ranging portfolio engineered from the ground up to meet the demands of every rider, the Gravity range was designed to instil maximum confidence on every type of trail.
This close relationship between athlete and engineering was proven with Continental-supported teams enjoying an exceptional 2022 season. Highlights included Continental-Atherton rider Andreas Kolb becoming European Champion, plus a mud-soaked UCI Downhill World Cup in Snowshoe saw podium finishes for Continental riders: three Elite men, where Bernard Kerr (P2), Andreas Kolb (P3) and Ronan Dunne (P4) posted career-best finishes, while Aimi Kenyon took P2 for the Junior women.
Oliver Anhuth, Head of Marketing TwoWheel Tires, Continental said: “In the wake of a standout 2022 season that saw Vali become the first Austrian Downhill World Champion in Les Gets, plus memorable podiums for Tegan, we can tell that RockShox Trek Racing are set to bring significant ambition to the Continental family for 2023. The addition of Vali and Tegan’s voices to our testing team will ensure we continue to bring every mountain biker a no-compromise tire set up, wherever and whatever they ride.”
Vali Höll, 2022 Downhill World Champion, Two-time Junior Downhill World Champion and multiple Downhill World Cup winner, RockShox Trek Race Team said: “Stoked to partner up with a German brand who pushed hard to develop the best tires possible over the last few years. Loving the Kryptotal rear for both wheels.”
Tegan Cruz, RockShox Trek Race Team, said: “Hopped on the Continental Kryptotal front and rear and immediately felt comfortable pushing in mixed terrain. Excited to work with a company so focused on future development.”
JT Evans, mechanic for Tegan Cruz and the RockShox Trek Race Team, said: “One of the Achilles’ Heels of DH racing – especially at the World Cup level – going back as far as I can remember has always been punctures and flat tires. In the past it always had to be a tradeoff between lower pressures for traction and enough tire pressure to support the tire profile and not destroy rims. I am blown away from our early season testing with the new Conti tires. Between the different compounds, casings and tread patterns there is a tire setup for every condition and every track. A quick glance at the results sheets from last season shows that they had done their homework and were onto something special. The whole team is excited to add Conti to our camp for racing this season. The new tire compounds are insanely grippy, roll extremely well and the casings seem to be just the right amount of suppleness and support.””
