Cycling: The XC scene is upside down. The contracts for the coming season are currently being sealed, but many professionals are still completely without a team.
The news is surprising: The Giant Pro XC Team and the Liv Pro XC Team will not be continued in the coming year. Both teams were very successful in the Wetlcup circus this season, which made Giant's decision not to extend the contract any further and to withdraw all the more amazing.
Jolanda Neff announced her move to the Stöckli Pro Team a few weeks ago. The overall World Cup winner is the big favorite for the upcoming title races. With the elimination of both teams, the future of ex-world champion Maja Wloszczowska, runner-up Eliminator world champion Emil Lindgren, cross-country runner-up European champion Fabian Giger and U23 world champion Michiel van der Heijden is also uncertain.
Pauline Ferrand Prevot is now faced with the big question of whether she can compete on a mountain bike next year. As a road pro, she tried her hand at the World Cup this year and was able to defy Jolanda Neff promptly. With two World Cup victories, she had a great season and was already making plans to compete in the UCI MTB World Cup in 2015.
However, team manager Jan ten Tusscher remains optimistic. At the moment there are many drivers, including Moritz Milatz and Eva Lechner, without a contract and if he should be able to set up a suitable sponsorship package in the coming weeks, he sees no problems in being able to build on old successes.