The 2010 Mountain Bike racing season is now definitely upon us and although this may be the first official word you’ll have had on the all-new TORQ Performance team, a lot has been going on behind the scenes to make this happen. 2010 represents a new era of focus and dedication for the TORQ team and they’ve set their goals high…
Photography: www.joolzedymond.com
TORQ UK has joined forces with TORQ Australia to build a 10-person UCI-registered Anglo-Australian trade team. Neither Australia nor the UK has any other trade teams riding the World Cup circuit, so on both sides of the globe, not only are the riders representing the TORQ brand, but they’re representing their respective countries too.
TORQ UK Team Manager Rob Barker says, “Our UK riders aren’t necessarily the strongest on paper in the UK, but they are young and extremely capable of improvement. Collectively, they’re certainly a force to reckoned with, so we hope to continue our domination of the team events. I have selected the squad as a long-term project and am looking forward to seeing what these riders will be able to do. They’ve been chosen on personality as well as ability too, because it’s integral to the TORQ ethos that these riders are ambassadors to the sport and to their generous sponsors. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to be racing in Europe against such big names in Mountain Biking and alongside the likes of Dan McConnell, TORQ Australia’s key rider who represented his country at the last Olympics. As a unit, we expect the international TORQ team to do extremely well.”
Photography: www.joolzedymond.com
Ben Gaby, the Marketing Manager for Kona, the ever-faithful frame sponsor says, “Kona Bicycles are delighted to be working with the TORQ racing team again for the 2010 season. We believe the team has the correct balance of focus and approachability, with some exceptional athletes that can tackle the diverse 2010 events calendar. The team will be riding the brand new Kona Kilauea carbon race hardtails, developed for the rigours of top mountain bike racing.”
Steve Cromwell of Fisher Outdoor Leisure, the importers and distributors of SRAM, Avid, Rockshox and MET says, “As Britain’s highest profile XC race team we felt that the TORQ riders would be a great showcase for SRAM Mountain bike products and MET helmets. We hope that by using the SRAM XX drivetrain, Avid brakes and Rock Shox Sid forks they can take their riding to another level.”
Photography: www.joolzedymond.com
As well as competing at the World Cups, the TORQ/Kona riders have a busy domestic calendar too, so will be racing all the rounds of the British Mountain Biking Series as well as key team events like Kona Bikefest, Bontrager Twentyfour12, TORQ in your Sleep and the season closer, Marin Dusk Till Dawn.
For a full list of the Events that TORQ will be attending, please click on the following link:
www.torqfitness.co.uk/events/events-list
We will be keeping the media and public updated on the team’s progress through these pages on the TORQ website over the coming season along with rider interviews, reviews of our sponsor’s products and some insight from some of our other sponsors, so please pop back to the TORQ site regularly to see what’s going on.
Photography: www.joolzedymond.com
TORQ would like to take this opportunity to thank their generous sponsors for 2010. Without them, our guys wouldn’t get a ride:
www.konaworld.com – Frames
www.sram.com – Groupsets, Suspension Forks and Brakes
www.met-helmets.com – Helmets
www.ritcheylogic.com – Handlebars, Stems and Seatposts
www.schwalbe.com – Tyres
www.exposurelights.com – Advanced Lighting
www.juicelubes.co.uk – Lubrication
www.lakecycling.com – Shoes
www.jagwireusa.com – Cables and Housing
www.crankbrothers.com – Pedals
www.bikeboxalan.co.uk – Bike Boxes
www.fizik.com – Saddles
www.superstarcomponents.com – Hubs and Headsets
www.alexrims.com – Rims
www.sapim.be – Spokes
www.maxgear.co.uk – Glasses, Compression, Tools
www.champ-sys.co.uk – Performance Cycle Clothing
www.joolzedymond.com – Photography
www.fibrax.com – Brake Hardware
www.sport-torque.com – Torque Wrenches
www.cycleops.com – Power Measurement, Turbo Training and Bike Racks
www.notubes.com – Tyre Sealant
www.portablepressurewashers.co.uk – Cordless Pressure Washing
Photography: www.joolzedymond.com
