4X: joost Wichman naar Cannondale Factory Racing

From Bedford To World Cup Podiums... Cannondale Factory Racing! A new program for 2008 is the “Cannondale Factory Racing Team” – comprised of young riders on the way to the top of their game in downhill racing. “Professional support, style and a well-run program, topped with tons of fun and dedication is the recipe for this team. We chose riders based on their dedication to the sport, desire to progress, talent and great personality,” states Daniel Hespeler, Cannondale’s Brand Manager of MTB Teams.

Cannondale Factory Racing continues a long history of racing programs at Cannondale and will be seen on race tracks and podiums all around the world. The main focus will be the Nissan UCI World Cup, the UCI World Championships plus some European and North American Races.

The line up of Riders includes Dutch four-cross star Joost Wichman and, for downhill, the two-time US National Champion Duncan Riffle from Santa Barbara, California. Riding with them will be the UK’s premier junior talent, Sam Dale. “My very first real mountain bike was a Cannondale Super-V, and my dad had Super-V’s as well before I even knew what a mountain bike was. Now that I have the chance to be involved with Cannondale Factory Racing, I feel like I have a great home and family that has the same endless drive and passion for the sport of mountain bike racing as I do,” says Riffle. Teammate Wichman feels much the same. “Racing is the thing I love to do most. I have been racing since I was five years old so I can’t imagine a life without racing. It feels so good to be on a team with such a great name in this sport. 2008 is the year where I want to show everybody that I am capable to be on the podium consistently, and even win World Cup Races,” says Wichman. Sam Dale, who spent the first few days with the team on the Judge, says he’d like to place in the top 20s at World Cup races. “When I heard about the chance to be on the Cannondale program, I was super excited and could not wait to get on the bike. Having my first runs in on the Judge, I have to say it feels super smooth and handles amazing,” he said. The Cannondale Factory Racing Team is supported by technikdirekt.de, UFO, SRAM, Avid, Rock Shox, Gravity, Mavic, Maxxis, Fizik, Crankbrothers and e13. Riders will race aboard Cannondale bicycles such as the Judge, Perp, Chase and Prophet.

Check out www.cannondale.com for more info.