Guido Tschugg leaves Haibike
"Guido Tschugg is getting old!", "He's had his day!", "It's not enough for a real mountain bike anymore!". When Guido Tschugg switched to e-mountain biking in 2015, many people were already labelling him as an old man. But the former Rampage participant (the only one in Germany to date) didn't care what others thought.
Instead, together with Haibike, he fully focussed on establishing the e-MTB. With action-packed images and advertising campaigns, he improved the reputation of e-mountain bikes and made a significant contribution to the development of e-mountain biking. In recent years, more and more professionals who also enjoyed electrified biking have followed his example.
And Tschugg impressively proved this year that he is far from being an old hand: he became Masters World Downhill Champion - without a motor. It is now also known what Tschugg can expect in 2018. On E-MTBs of the the newly launched e-bike brand Husqvarna Bicycleshe will continue to refine the image of electrified mountain bikes. He will also support the brand as a consultant. For Tschugg, it's a double success. "For me, the Husqvarna commitment is a dream come true - for the first time in my career, I can fully live out my passion for eBikes and enduro/motocross riding with a sponsor," says the newly crowned world champion.
Sam Pilgrim rides a Haibike
British slopestyle ace Sam Pilgrim will be representing Haibike from January. For example, he can look back on winning the FMB World Tour (Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour) in 2013. Even if he is no longer on a par with Nicholai Rogatkin, Brandon Semenuk, Brett Rheeder and co., he is still one of the best trick riders in the world.
If there's one thing Sam Pilgrim doesn't like, it's riding uphill: "I personally hated pedalling uphill, it was just something that sucked in between the fun stuff." In his home town of Colchester in the UK, however, you will search in vain for the lift that transports rider and bike uphill in a relaxed manner. If you want to rock the trails here, you first have to sweat or - like Pilgrim - get on an e-mountainbike. "I first saw Haibike on Youtube and I remember thinking it was crazy you could pedal up to the top of a freeride line or downhill track and then blast down without feeling worn out. Now everything is fun."
Pilgrim will be competing on his custom-made Haibike dirt bike at a number of FMB World Tour events in 2018 and will otherwise rely on his Social media platforms demonstrate "what's possible on an ebike with new tricks and big jumps" with adrenaline-fuelled videos.
