Now celebrating their sixteenth season, the Santa Cruz Syndicate consolidates their position as the most successful downhill race team in history.
Sponsors
Bringing together the finest bikes, components and equipment to allow the Syndicate team to reach the top step.
One of the most sought after brands in the bicycle world, Chris King continues to set the bar impossibly high and does so independently of whatever fad or passing craze the competition has latched onto. From their iconic headsets to their incredibly durable hubs, everything (including the bearings) is made in Oregon, USA, to the most stringent environmental and manufacturing standards.
“The decade long relationship with the Syndicate and Chris King has pushed us to be a better company. Our Buzzworks division is a direct result of digesting the feedback from riders and consulting the mechanics to make adjustments to products. It's a point of pride for us to have such an enduring relationship with such an incredible group of individuals that make up the Syndicate.”
— Bob Scales
If it’s got wheels and goes fast offroad, there’s a good chance Fox manufactures a shock absorber to make it go even faster. Rolling into our eighth year on Fox forks, shocks, and dropper seatposts, we’ll once again tap into the expertise of a company with over four decades of racing experience. Expect lots of puzzling, podiums, and Jordi-trolling with Fox in 2019.
“We started working with the Syndicate back in 2012 and it’s been a huge success ever since. Aside from the countless podiums we’ve achieved together, our engineering team rapidly learns to up our game from working with a team of riders at this level. The team aligns with our philosophy of work hard play hard, which keeps us motivated and hungry at the same time. For Fox, working with the Syndicate doesn’t feel like work and that chemistry is hard to come by.”
Owning some of the most iconic tread patterns to ever leave their mark on the trail, Maxxis has been a long time sponsor of the Syndicate. From the High Roller to the Minion DHF and more recently, the Assegai (designed in collaboration with our very own Greg Minnaar), Maxxis has kept our riders on the best rubber out there—even when we needed 29er DH tires before they existed.
“Few teams can match the consistency and results of the Syndicate over the past decade-plus of racing, and we’re extremely proud of the role we’ve played in that success. By the same token, the feedback from the team has been integral to the evolution of our tread patterns, rubber compounds, and construction methods. Cheers to another season of puzzling at the pointy end of the field!”
— Aaron Chamberlain
Few brands have had as much impact on the technological advances that have catapulted mountain bikes from humble modded beach cruisers to state-of-the-art speed machines as Shimano. They’ve been involved with professional mountain bike racing from day one and part of the Syndicate since 2012, and we’re looking forward to another season between the tape.
“For almost 100-years Shimano has been creating outstanding cycling products and apparel, including flagship mountain bike components such as XTR and SAINT. Shimano is proud to develop the elite products that have taken the [Santa Cruz] Syndicate’s athletes to countless victories; this, in turn, helps develop the product template for limitless global mountain bike rides.”
— Ben Hillsdon
British as meat pies and chippies, and as badass as they come, Burgtec was born to fulfill a need for race-ready components for elite World Cup athletes and weekend warriors alike. Rider-owned and operated from the outset, 2019 marks Burgtec’s first year as an official sponsor providing Greg, Luca, and Loris with bars and stems, and they’re even working on a new grip design with Greg.
"Anyone who’s played close attention to the [Syndicate’s] bikes over the years will know we've been covertly supplying components for Peaty, Greg and Josh for over a decade. Now that we’re an official team sponsor, we’re especially proud knowing that the team liked our products so much, that they were adamant we had to be officially involved. That just pumps us up to make even better products for the team and our customers."
— Dan Critchlow
Flying quietly (or not so quietly if you’re a Vital slideshow fan) under the radar in 2018, the Syndicate will be flying the Reserve flag prominently in 2019. Having already climbed the box in Andorra for their first World Cup win under Loris Vergier last year, we’ll be looking forward to seeing more Reserve DH wheels in the ‘Today’s Fastest’ spot.
"We've used the Syndicate to test carbon product for a long time, and working on a downhill rim was a no-brainer, really. World Cup DH racing has to be the single toughest environment for a rim, and the stakes are incredibly high. Whether it's torture testing under Danny MacAskill and helping Greg solve puzzles, we love the high-level feedback we get from our athletes, and it helps us make better, stronger products."
— Nic McCrae
The UK's leading specialist mountain bike stores, Stif Mountain Bikes has been pinning it since '84. Whether you're looking for a brew and a chat, desperately need that spare part before your race next weekend or are looking for some advice on your next purchase, they're always happy to help.
'We’ve been supplying the UK with the best stock of Santa Cruz bikes and supporting racers since the original Tazmon in 1994. Now we’re elevating that support to the World Stage whilst expanding our retail reach right across Europe and beyond. Whether Loris needs a fresh Santa Cruz tee for the podium or a customer needs a new V10, we’ve got it covered.'
— Sammy Shithson
WD-40’s now iconic blue and yellow livery has been a staple favorite amongst cyclists for over 60 years. Joining the Syndicate for another year in the pits, WD-40 will supply the team with all the bike-specific lubricants, degreasers, and cleaning products they need to keep the V10s shipshape and ready for action.
“Working with the Syndicate is a major part of our efforts to prove the efficacy and reliability of our products, and the riders and mechanics help us spread the importance of bike maintenance to cyclists of all levels. Everyone on the team including athletes, mechanics, and support crew alike are genuine in what they do – as a brand we find this most important.”
— Robin Baloochi
Born by the legend himself, Peaty's delivers high performance, eco-friendly bike products that don't cost the earth. If the Head Coach with no less than 52 World Cup podiums, 17 wins, and three overall series titles made them, the Syndicate will race them.
"Joining forces with the Syndicate is something I have wanted to do from the start with Peatys Products. I feel honoured to have been a part of Santa Cruz and the Syndicate for most of my career and still work closely with the guys today. Obviously for me World cup racing is the creme de la creme of mountain biking, and something I hold very close to my heart."
— Steve Peat
Nawa Technologies use proprietary nanomaterial technology licensed from MIT to enable products in a range of carbon fiber applications to be tougher, lighter, and more durable. From the aerospace industry to the production of advanced bicycle wheels, Nawa was an obvious choice when it came to choosing a composites technology partner for the Santa Cruz Syndicate.
“Composite wheels used in downhill racing are exposed to hostile environments, so the engineers at Nawa Technologies and Santa Cruz collaborated to strengthen the Syndicate’s Reserve race wheels for the demands of elite World Cup racing. We achieved this by supplying NanoStitch, which enhances impact resistance in advanced composites while adding virtually zero weight. Nawa is excited about this new partnership and we are looking forward to working with the most successful team in the history of downhill mountain biking.”
— Pascal BoulangerOne of the most sought after brands in the bicycle world, Chris King continues to set the bar impossibly high and does so independently of whatever fad or passing craze the competition has latched onto. From their iconic headsets to their incredibly durable hubs, everything (including the bearings) is made in Oregon, USA, to the most stringent environmental and manufacturing standards.
“The decade long relationship with the Syndicate and Chris King has pushed us to be a better company. Our Buzzworks division is a direct result of digesting the feedback from riders and consulting the mechanics to make adjustments to products. It's a point of pride for us to have such an enduring relationship with such an incredible group of individuals that make up the Syndicate.”
— Bob ScalesIf it’s got wheels and goes fast offroad, there’s a good chance Fox manufactures a shock absorber to make it go even faster. Rolling into our eighth year on Fox forks, shocks, and dropper seatposts, we’ll once again tap into the expertise of a company with over four decades of racing experience. Expect lots of puzzling, podiums, and Jordi-trolling with Fox in 2019.
“We started working with the Syndicate back in 2012 and it’s been a huge success ever since. Aside from the countless podiums we’ve achieved together, our engineering team rapidly learns to up our game from working with a team of riders at this level. The team aligns with our philosophy of work hard play hard, which keeps us motivated and hungry at the same time. For Fox, working with the Syndicate doesn’t feel like work and that chemistry is hard to come by.”
Owning some of the most iconic tread patterns to ever leave their mark on the trail, Maxxis has been a long time sponsor of the Syndicate. From the High Roller to the Minion DHF and more recently, the Assegai (designed in collaboration with our very own Greg Minnaar), Maxxis has kept our riders on the best rubber out there—even when we needed 29er DH tires before they existed.
“Few teams can match the consistency and results of the Syndicate over the past decade-plus of racing, and we’re extremely proud of the role we’ve played in that success. By the same token, the feedback from the team has been integral to the evolution of our tread patterns, rubber compounds, and construction methods. Cheers to another season of puzzling at the pointy end of the field!”
— Aaron ChamberlainFew brands have had as much impact on the technological advances that have catapulted mountain bikes from humble modded beach cruisers to state-of-the-art speed machines as Shimano. They’ve been involved with professional mountain bike racing from day one and part of the Syndicate since 2012, and we’re looking forward to another season between the tape.
“For almost 100-years Shimano has been creating outstanding cycling products and apparel, including flagship mountain bike components such as XTR and SAINT. Shimano is proud to develop the elite products that have taken the [Santa Cruz] Syndicate’s athletes to countless victories; this, in turn, helps develop the product template for limitless global mountain bike rides.”
— Ben HillsdonBritish as meat pies and chippies, and as badass as they come, Burgtec was born to fulfill a need for race-ready components for elite World Cup athletes and weekend warriors alike. Rider-owned and operated from the outset, 2019 marks Burgtec’s first year as an official sponsor providing Greg, Luca, and Loris with bars and stems, and they’re even working on a new grip design with Greg.
"Anyone who’s played close attention to the [Syndicate’s] bikes over the years will know we've been covertly supplying components for Peaty, Greg and Josh for over a decade. Now that we’re an official team sponsor, we’re especially proud knowing that the team liked our products so much, that they were adamant we had to be officially involved. That just pumps us up to make even better products for the team and our customers."
— Dan CritchlowFlying quietly (or not so quietly if you’re a Vital slideshow fan) under the radar in 2018, the Syndicate will be flying the Reserve flag prominently in 2019. Having already climbed the box in Andorra for their first World Cup win under Loris Vergier last year, we’ll be looking forward to seeing more Reserve DH wheels in the ‘Today’s Fastest’ spot.
"We've used the Syndicate to test carbon product for a long time, and working on a downhill rim was a no-brainer, really. World Cup DH racing has to be the single toughest environment for a rim, and the stakes are incredibly high. Whether it's torture testing under Danny MacAskill and helping Greg solve puzzles, we love the high-level feedback we get from our athletes, and it helps us make better, stronger products."
— Nic McCraeThe UK's leading specialist mountain bike stores, Stif Mountain Bikes has been pinning it since '84. Whether you're looking for a brew and a chat, desperately need that spare part before your race next weekend or are looking for some advice on your next purchase, they're always happy to help.
'We’ve been supplying the UK with the best stock of Santa Cruz bikes and supporting racers since the original Tazmon in 1994. Now we’re elevating that support to the World Stage whilst expanding our retail reach right across Europe and beyond. Whether Loris needs a fresh Santa Cruz tee for the podium or a customer needs a new V10, we’ve got it covered.'
— Sammy ShithsonWD-40’s now iconic blue and yellow livery has been a staple favorite amongst cyclists for over 60 years. Joining the Syndicate for another year in the pits, WD-40 will supply the team with all the bike-specific lubricants, degreasers, and cleaning products they need to keep the V10s shipshape and ready for action.
“Working with the Syndicate is a major part of our efforts to prove the efficacy and reliability of our products, and the riders and mechanics help us spread the importance of bike maintenance to cyclists of all levels. Everyone on the team including athletes, mechanics, and support crew alike are genuine in what they do – as a brand we find this most important.”
— Robin BaloochiBorn by the legend himself, Peaty's delivers high performance, eco-friendly bike products that don't cost the earth. If the Head Coach with no less than 52 World Cup podiums, 17 wins, and three overall series titles made them, the Syndicate will race them.
"Joining forces with the Syndicate is something I have wanted to do from the start with Peatys Products. I feel honoured to have been a part of Santa Cruz and the Syndicate for most of my career and still work closely with the guys today. Obviously for me World cup racing is the creme de la creme of mountain biking, and something I hold very close to my heart."
— Steve PeatNawa Technologies use proprietary nanomaterial technology licensed from MIT to enable products in a range of carbon fiber applications to be tougher, lighter, and more durable. From the aerospace industry to the production of advanced bicycle wheels, Nawa was an obvious choice when it came to choosing a composites technology partner for the Santa Cruz Syndicate.
“Composite wheels used in downhill racing are exposed to hostile environments, so the engineers at Nawa Technologies and Santa Cruz collaborated to strengthen the Syndicate’s Reserve race wheels for the demands of elite World Cup racing. We achieved this by supplying NanoStitch, which enhances impact resistance in advanced composites while adding virtually zero weight. Nawa is excited about this new partnership and we are looking forward to working with the most successful team in the history of downhill mountain biking.”
— Pascal BoulangerOne of the most sought after brands in the bicycle world, Chris King continues to set the bar impossibly high and does so independently of whatever fad or passing craze the competition has latched onto. From their iconic headsets to their incredibly durable hubs, everything (including the bearings) is made in Oregon, USA, to the most stringent environmental and manufacturing standards.
“The decade long relationship with the Syndicate and Chris King has pushed us to be a better company. Our Buzzworks division is a direct result of digesting the feedback from riders and consulting the mechanics to make adjustments to products. It's a point of pride for us to have such an enduring relationship with such an incredible group of individuals that make up the Syndicate.”
— Bob Scales
