The Lapierre Gravitiy Republic team started from scratch. Together with Pure Agency, the managing company behind the Lapierre Gravitiy Republic, the team grew bigger and stronger and ended up as one of the most successful downhill teams ever. In addition to four overall World Cup victories, three world championship titles and the title for the best team of 2014, Loic Bruni's downhill world championship title is certainly the team's biggest highlight. Lapierre is now discontinuing its activities in the Downhill World Cup.

But Bruni, of all people, is still without a bike and team - at least officially. It's reasonable to assume that a rider of this caliber doesn't have to worry about his immediate sporting future, i.e. that things are happening behind the scenes. At the same time, there are also rumors that a major German bike brand wants to get more involved in downhill racing. Whether Bruni is drawn to Germany by these circumstances, whether the Pure Agency is aiming for a new collaboration there, whether the other rumors about California turn out to be true, or whether it goes in a completely different direction, will probably be revealed soon.

Even though Lapierre is withdrawing from downhill racing, the French company is not swearing off racing. Next year, the bike brand will be focusing its efforts on enduro racing and expanding its racing team, which already includes Nicolas Vouilloz and Adrien Dailly, with additional riders.

Lapierre says thank you!