New line-up and EWS focus for Team CRC Mavic

Following a hugely successful 2017 season in which Sam Hill was crowned the Enduro World Series Champion, Team CRC Mavic will focus all their attention on enduro this year with Sam Hill, Elliott Heap and new rider Kelan Grant racing at the EWS.

While Team CRC Mavic take a step back from the UCI Downhill World Cup this year, the guys will continue to work closely with Nukeproof to help develop their downhill products.

Team Manager Nigel Page is excited for another year of glory at the top of the world stage:

“With the success of downhill legend Sam Hill becoming Enduro World Series Champion in 2017, we’re concentrating on one discipline in 2018 and that will be enduro. With its awesome mix of natural diverse tracks, plus all the tactics and new venues the EWS provides it really has given Sam a new lease of life.

Elliott Heap remains on the team and after some great results in 2017 as a first year elite rider in downhill, Elliott will focus on the under-21 category of the Enduro World Series. Elliott won the Irish round in 2017.

Team CRC Mavic dominated at the EWS round in Wicklow with Elliott Heap winning the Under-21 race, Sam Hill narrowly missing out on first in the Pro Men category and Nigel Page bagging second in the Masters category.

We feel to concentrate 100% on one discipline is the right thing to do. After 10 amazing years of competing in the UCI Downhill World Cup with some great results and great times we’ve decided to take a break from downhill racing at World Cup level for this year to concentrate on the EWS and a few other select events.

While the team’s focus switches to enduro this year we say farewell to young ripper Mike Jones, who’ll continue to pursue his goals in downhill. Mike is like part of the family and has had some amazing success as part of the team with two World Cup podiums, numerous top ten finishes and a fourth place at the World Championships in Andorra.

Mike Jones on his way to a fifth place podium at the sixth round of the 2017 Downhill World Cup in Mont Sainte Anne.

We wish Mike all the very best for his future and I know he will reach his goals! Thanks Mike, it’s been awesome to have you around.

We’re excited to welcome Belfast-based enduro ripper Kelan Grant to the team. His super positive attitude is backed up with some fantastic results in the UK and Ireland, taking wins at the 2017 Ard Rock Enduro, Tweedlove, Red Bull Fox Hunt and he’s the reigning Irish National Enduro Championship.

Here’s Kelan winning his qualifying heat at the 2017 Megavalanche on board his Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro:

We are very proud that the team remains as Chain Reaction Cycles Mavic, with SRAM, RockShox, Muc-Off, MRP, 100% and Mudhugger as team sponsors. We are very excited and proud to announce we will be partnering up with Michelin tyres for 2018 too. Michelin are probably the most iconic tyre brand in the world and they have some amazing enduro tyres and plans for the future that we can’t wait to be involved with.

Look out for more news and info about the team after our team camp in February 2018.

We are really excited for a new chapter of the team to begin, bring on 2018!

Cheers, Nigel.”