The announcement of new teams and new signings continue at speed as the Gravity transfer window hots up.
We might still be five months out from the first UCI Downhill World Cup of the 2025 season, but the off-season action is keeping Downhill fans on the edge of their seats after a turbulent start to the transfer window.
While jaws were left firmly on the floor in December with the news of Trek Factory Racing cutting ties with not one but two UCI Downhill World Champions (in the form of Reece Wilson and reigning rainbow jersey holder Loris Vergier), there have been further announcements and updates since that have continued to shake up the start hut.
Although the final destination of Vergier is still unknown, 2020 UCI Downhill World Champion Reece Wilson has teased that he will be leading a brand-new team for the 2025 season – AON Racing. Information is currently limited about who else will be joining the 28-year-old Scotsman at the outfit, but he has confirmed that the team will be riding prototypes from Swiss brand Gamux.
Another new team joining the ranks is the Tahnée Seagrave-led collective Orbea FMD Racing – The Gravity Cooperative. The British multiple UCI World Cup winner leaves the Canyon stable after five seasons and brings her Follow My Dream Racing roster including Phoebe Gale, Oliver Zwar and freeride-focused brother Kaos Seagrave to Spanish manufacturer Orbea. The Belgian UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Cup winner Martin Maes will also race in the new collective’s colours having moved over from the Orbea Fox Enduro Team to focus on Downhill, while junior Darragh Ryan completes the team.
With Seagrave out, it’s Marine Cabirou in at Canyon – the French pinner joining the Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team. The 27-year-old looked back to her best in 2024, winning two UCI DH World Cups and podiuming at the rest to finish as runner-up in the overall standings to Vali Höll (YT Mob).
Fabien Barel, Canyon CLLCTV team mentor, said: “Marine’s got everything: raw talent, insane speed, and a fearless approach to racing. We’re stoked to have Marine with us, this partnership will raise the bar for both her and the team in 2025.”
Cabirou’s old team, Scott DH Factory, meanwhile have replaced one French rider with another – Benoît Coulanges signing for the Swiss outfit after the closure of the Dorval Commencal team.
Elsewhere, Andreas Kolb has left Contintenal Atherton and hooks up with his compatriot Vali Höll at YT Mob. The reigning European Champion was one of the most consistent riders in last year’s UCI Downhill World Cup series, only finishing outside the top 10 once, and will hope to improve his fortunes aboard a proven race-winning bike.
Santa Cruz Syndicate meanwhile have been another team to confirm their 2025 roster early. The return of Jackson Goldstone after a long injury lay-off will feel like a new signing but the Steve Peat-managed team have also added the juniors Ellie Hulsebosch and Felix Griffiths to their ranks. The pair were free agents after their old teams – Union Race Team and Madison Saracen – folded at the end of the 2024 season, and both are exciting prospects worth keeping an eye on.
