Giant Factory Off-Road Team announces its 2024 roster, bikes and technical partners – Mountain Bike Press Release

WAs the start of the 2024 racing season approaches, the Giant Factory Off-Road Team announced its new roster, which includes a comprehensive collection of XC, downhill and enduro athletes. With a strong mix of young talent and proven veterans, the squad is targeting major international events around the world, with a focus on UCI World Cup races.

Last year was a season of change for the team as they refreshed their XC roster, brought in new downhill talent and launched the new Glory Advanced DH bike to support these efforts. The changes paid off as the team collected World Cup victories and national titles in XC racing, returned to the World Cup podium, won another national title in DH and scored two victories in the inaugural UCI Enduro World Cup series. In the end, it was one of the most successful years in the team’s long history.

The core of the team remains intact this year with its well-rounded squad of World Cup winners and national champions, as well as two new riders: U23 XC racer Dario Lillo from Switzerland and U21 Enduro racer Sascha Kim from Australia.

“We have had an exciting 2023 season, with half the squad new at the start of the year.” said Giant Factory off-road team manager Sebastian Boyington. “The successes of both new and returning athletes over the past year demonstrate the strength of this team’s focus and its ability to adapt and change. This year we are developing further and welcoming two new young athletes.”

Cross country

In XC racing, Canadian Carter Woods is back after a groundbreaking season in the U23 rankings in which he won multiple World Cup races and finished in the top three in both Olympic Cross-Country (XCO) and Short Track (XCC). Woods also won elite men’s XC and short track national titles in Canada. This year, the 22-year-old wants to continue that momentum and move up to the elite men’s category in the World Cup.

The Belgian Jens Schuermans is also returning to the XC squad this year. The two-time Olympian had a strong first year with the team in 2023, highlighted by a top-five overall finish in the Elite Men’s World Cup XCC series. Between the XCO and XCC World Championships, Schuermans achieved seven top-10 finishes.

Joining Woods and Schuermans is newcomer Dario Lillo, a 21-year-old who competed in both the Podium.

“This will be Dario’s last year competing in an U23 race and his goal is to win the overall classification.said Boyington. “We are excited to be part of this effort and support him in his promotion to the elite men’s category in 2025 with his teammates Carter and Jens.”

All three XC athletes have a choice of racing bikes depending on the conditions and terrain. The Anthem Advanced 29 full suspension bike is the choice for technical trails and the XtC Advanced SL 29 hardtail is the choice for smooth, fast XC trails.

DH and Enduro

On the gravity racing side, Luke and Remy Meier-Smith, Australian brothers who excel in both DH and enduro racing, are back in 2023 after a successful first season with the team. Older brother Luke wasted no time in making an impression, winning the Australian Elite Men’s National DH Championship last February. A few weeks later he made history when he won the first World Cup Enduro race at the season opener in Tasmania. The 20-year-old, competing in an elite men’s World Cup for the first time, stunned the field with victory.

Luke’s younger brother Remy also had a solid first year with the team, posting several impressive World Cup DH results, including a top-10 finish in the elite men’s class at age 18. Remy also recently landed on a U21 podium at the World Cup EDR opener in Tasmania this year.

The Meier Smith brothers join returning DH veteran Rémi Thirion. The 33-year-old French rider has seven World Cup podium finishes in his career, including one win. Thirion struggled with injuries last year, including a concussion sustained in a fall at the European Championships, which caused him to miss several World Cup rounds. However, he put in a strong performance in the second half of the season, achieving a podium finish in the fifth round of Loudenvielle, France.

Thirion and the Meier-Smith brothers will primarily ride the new Glory Advanced DH bike, which was developed together with the team and launched last year.

The Enduro team sees the return of French rider Youn Deniaud, who had the best season of his career in 2023, including his first World Cup victory in Loudenvielle. Deniaud has been a consistent leader for the team in recent years and is aiming for victories and a top overall World Cup result again in 2024.

The enduro team also includes Sascha Kim, a 19-year-old young talent from Australia.

“Sascha attracted significant attention in 2023 when he won the first two U21 EDR World Championships in March.said Boyington. “He later proved that these victories in Tasmania were not just home advantage when he achieved two further podiums in Austria and France. We’re excited to welcome Sascha to Youn this year and beyond as he moves up to the elite category.”

Both Deniaud and Kim will compete primarily on their Reign Advanced road bikes, along with shorter travel Trance X Advanced 29 trail bikes for select events. Additionally, all athletes will ride and train on Giant e-bikes, including the Trance X Advanced E+ and Trance X Advanced E+ Elite.

In another personnel change, long-time Giant Factory Off-Road Team driver Mckay Vezina is making the transition from athlete to employee. The Canadian will support the gravity team behind the belt as a performance coach.

Team partner

On the technical side, the team welcomes back most of its sponsors from 2023, including FOX suspension products, Maxxis tires, Shimano Drive and brake components, MRP chain guides, HT pedals and PROFESSIONAL Cockpit components. Additional components and equipment include Giant WheelSystems, Saddles and accessories, including the clutch tool system.

On the clothing side, the team continues its partnership with Cuore of Switzerland. New XC, Enduro and DH kits for the 2024 season will be unveiled in April. 100% will supply full-face helmets, body armor, goggles and gloves, while Giant supplies other helmets including the Rev Pro for XC and the Rail and Realm for trail/enduro. Giant also supplies shoes, including the Charge Pro XC shoe.

You can follow the Giant Factory Off-Road Team all season long Instagram And Facebook.

2024 Giant Factory Off-Road Team

• Youn Deniaud (FRA), Enduro
• Sascha Kim (Aus), Enduro
• Dario Lillo (SUI), XC
• Luke Meier-Smith (AUS), DH
• Remy Meier-Smith (AUS), DH
• Jens Schuermans (BEL), XC
• Rémi Thirion (FRA), DH
• Carter Woods (CAN), XC

Sponsors of the 2024 Giant Factory Off-Road Team

• Suspension forks/shock absorbers: FOX
• Wheels: giant
• Tires: Maxxis
• Pedals: HT
• Drive & brakes: Shimano
• Bar/stem: PROFESSIONAL
• Saddle: giant and PRO
• Seat post: FOX
• Handles: ODI
• Chain guides: MRP
• Tire insert: CushCore
• Cycling shoes: giant
• Racing kits: Cuore
• Cycling glasses: 100%
• Helmet: Huge & 100% (full face)
• Protection: 100%
• Gloves: 100%
• Other: Park Tool, Finish Line Lubrication and Cleaning Products, Stan’s Tire Sealant, GoPro Cameras, Thule Gear