CUBE restructures Factory Racing team

Bavarian bike manufacturer CUBE steps up its sponsorship with new signing Jess Blewitt for the Downhill Factory Racing team, the creation of a new Cross Country Factory Racing team, and the expansion of its own Next Generation talent development squad.

New Zealander Jess Blewitt joins the Downhill Factory Racing team from the 2024 season. The 21-year-old is one of the rising stars of the downhill racing circuit and a regular fixture on the podium despite injury troubles. “I'm stoked on the team and the bike. I immediately felt part of the CUBE family,” says the CUBE Factory Racing rider. Seven-time German Downhill Champion Max Hartenstern and 21-year-old Simon Chapelet stay with Factory Racing.

CUBE has created the new Cross Country Factory Racing team in a move to expand its commitment to the Olympic discipline and integrate cross country into the factory team. Kira Böhm moves to Factory Racing from CUBE’s own development team, and is joined by Norwegian Champion Knut Røhme and young Swissman Finn Treudler. This professional environment is the ideal platform for the cross country athletes to unlock their full potential and establish themselves amongst the best riders in the world.

There is also more sponsorship for young athletes. Alongside its long-standing commitment in cross country, from 2024 the Next Generation team will also add downhill to its programme. The goal is to give talented young riders the opportunity to develop as athletes and step up to the respective pro team.

Creating a family atmosphere and building long-term relationships is very important to CUBE, and putting the spotlight on young athletes further cements these values, says CUBE's founder and owner, Marcus Pürner.

The UCI Cross Country World Cup kicks off with two stops in Brazil, while the Downhill World Cup calendar gets under way in Fort William, Scotland, in early May. All in all, the cross country team will take on eight races while the downhill squad have seven on the schedule. The big goal of the season is the World Championships in Andorra from 28 August to 1 September, before the closing races in the United States and Canada. The Next Generation riders will be targeting the podium at the European Championships in the U15 and U17 age categories.