Together with Team Manager Simon Williams and her coach and husband Adam Morka, Emily and Laurie will embark on their first full XCO racing season. Plans include the full World Cup program, the World Championships in Val di Sole and participation in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo at the end of July. "I was looking for partners who were fully aligned with our goals and ambitions," says Emily Batty. "Our program has prepared me perfectly for the next chapter in this sport and my performance will play a significant role in how we move forward." And Laurie Arsenault can hardly wait to start her first season after U23: "It feels like a dream to be part of a team like this. I see it as a huge opportunity to learn from and with the best. I still remember watching Emily at the Olympic Games and how she won her first national title. She has always been someone I wanted to be. I'm crazy excited!"

To prepare perfectly for this ambitious debut season right from the start, there has been a lot to do in recent weeks: The team launched the new website mtbracing.com and the social media channels "Canyon MTB Racing" for communication, sponsors and equipment suppliers worked closely with the Canyon Gear team and the designers to ensure a flawless visual appearance, and the work equipment for Emily and Laurie was finalized. "It's already been a great journey so far, with wonderful people involved," says a delighted Lars Hartwich, Canyon's Pro Sport Manager Gravity & MTB, about the new chapter in the professional sports division of the world's number one direct-2 consumer bike brand. "I've known Emily for a while from my time in the World Cup circuit. She is an exceptional athlete, a true role model and definitely a great mentor for Laurie. It makes me proud to be part of the Canyon MTB Racing story." Both Emily and Laurie rely on Canyon's Race-Fully Lux and the hardtail Exceed, depending on the requirements of the race.

The intensive collaboration over the last few months is an expression of Canyon taking its commitment to Olympic cross-country seriously. "XCO is extremely important to us," says Lars Hartwich. "Emily and Laurie are certainly much more than just prominent showcases for our MTB race bikes Lux CF SLX and Exceed CFR - they are guarantors of success and valuable input for our R&D and service team." The fact that Canyon is serious about its commitment is underlined by the specially created design for both the bikes and the other equipment of the two athletes - Emily Batty: "I can't thank Canyon and all the new team partners enough for how much they believe in us and in everything we still want to achieve in our sport. 2021 - here we go!"

Team Canyon MTB Racing will experience its race premiere on April 24 at "Bike the Rock" in Heubach. With its 20th anniversary in 2021, the classic event of the German MTB Bundesliga offers just the right setting to put Lux and Exceed on course for victory. Up-to-date information and the entire race calendar can be found at mtbracing.com.