Only a year ago, the Topeak Ergon Racing Team entered the Team Canyon Topeak Factory Racing over. But now came the bitter news that the professional team, which most recently specialised in MTB marathons and stage races, will be disbanded at the end of the year. The successes of recent years are impressive: multiple World and European Championship gold medals, numerous national championship titles, a medal at the Olympics, Cape Epic victory by Robert Mennen and Kristian Hynek in 2014, four victories in the US long-distance classic Leadville 100 and an overall victory at the BIKE Transalp in 2013 by Robert Mennen and Alban Lakata. The team has won five world championship titles alone: Irina Kalentieva in cross country (2007 & 2009) and Alban Lakata in the marathon (2010, 2015, 2017).
However, a press release has now been issued from Koblenz announcing the end of the team as of 31 December 2018. It states that the dissolution "is not synonymous with Canyon's withdrawal from mountain bike sponsorship". Canyon Managing Director Roman Arnold does not give any reasons in his statement: "In addition to our existing strong teams and athletes from the Olympic cross-country, enduro, downhill and freeride segments, we are open to new ideas."
A hint that the XC World Cup will soon have its own works team? This is not yet the case, with Mathieu van der Poel and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot currently flying the Canyon flag in cross-country as individual riders. Canyon also invests a lot of money in sponsorship in almost all other cycling disciplines.
The direct mail order company with his works team The company is represented in the Downhill World Cup by Troy Brosnan, as well as with an enduro team (including Ines Thoma) in the EWS and a slopestyle/freeride team (D. Berrecloth/Thomas Genon) in competitions. In addition, Canyon supplies bikes to two Pro Tour teams (Movistar & Katusha-Alpecin) in road racing.
Nevertheless, one wonders why the commitment to marathon racing has fallen by the wayside. After all, none of the other MTB racing disciplines fascinates as many mountain bikers as the marathon. Every week in the summer months, thousands of endurance athletes pin start numbers to their handlebars to compete in the long distance. Almost 20 per cent of our readership are also committed to amateur racing.
What's more, nowhere else can you experience professional athletes as closely as at stage races or MTB marathons. You start together, ride the same route and can ride the same equipment. Canyon Pro Sport Manager Andreas Walzer says: "The decision to close the XCM team does not mean that Canyon is turning its back on the XCM/XCO sector. We are shifting sponsorship focal points that have arisen due to growing commitment to another project - that's nothing unusual so far."
Interview Alban Lakata: "Has a bad flavour for me."
The team's best-known and most successful rider is the Austrian Alban Lakata (39). We spoke to him about the end of the team and his plans for the future.
BIKE: How surprising was the end of the team for you?
Alban Lakata: There had been rumours about this for some time. But we had hoped for a long time that a sponsor would come on board after all. However, I already realised last year when I only got a one-year contract.
And what reasons have you been given?
I don't know the exact reasons for this. It was said that money had to be saved. For me, however, the move is not entirely understandable. After all, marathon racing has lost none of its appeal and our squad was a great team, the atmosphere in the team was familiar. We have also delivered in terms of success in recent years. I can't think of anything that I personally could criticise.
You won two of your three marathon world championship titles on Canyon bikes. How bitter is the end for you?
I've been riding for the team for ten years, on Canyon bikes for eight years. That's over now. But an end like this is never nice, especially when you don't get a conclusive explanation. It has a bad aftertaste for me and tarnishes my positive memories.
Have you toyed with the idea of ending your racing career?
I want to drive for at least another three years. It may sound strange, but somehow I'm happy about the situation. Because it means I can make a fresh start. I already have something new in prospect. A team that takes a longer-term view and to which I can contribute my accumulated experience. We have to build up the structures first, but that appeals to me. Because I am a cyclist with heart and soul.
