Christopher Blevins, the 2021 Short Track World Champion and winner of the last Cross-Country World Cup in Snowshoe, is joining the Specialized Factory Racing team on a multi-year contract. This will allow the American rider to compete in multiple disciplines. "I'm very excited to be joining Specialized Factory Racing. It's a great environment and I'm really looking forward to the 2022 season with the Cape Epic, the Cross Country World Cups and everything in between. The SFR set-up offers me world-class equipment, but most of all I feel at home in the atmosphere of the team. Everyone on the team has heart, and there's good humor too, so when things get tough, everyone sticks together," says Blevins.

The US American is the youngest male rider on the team, has big goals for the coming season and believes he can learn from his teammates, including 2020 cross-country world champion Jordan Sarrou. "I have my sights set on the Cape Epic in the spring. It's a race I've wanted to do for a long time and now that I'm old enough to tackle it, I want to win it. With nine cross-country World Cup races in 2022, there are plenty of races to step up for, as well as some short-track races. The short track is inspiring and I would love to fight for a podium there. Being in the same team as Jordan Sarrou and Gerhard Kerschbaumer is exciting and I'm looking forward to learning from them."

Batten aims for more consistency

Blevins is not the only new addition to Specialized Factory Racing: his compatriot Haley Batten has also joined the team on a multi-year contract.
"Being part of the Specialized Factory Racing Team for 2022 is extremely motivating for me. The program is built with passion and big goals, and it's an environment I'm excited to be a part of. Having developed as an athlete in 2021, I believe this team and the people involved will help me improve and prepare for the season ahead. In my second season in the Elite World Cup, I want to show more consistency and make my mark at big events like World Championships. I know that there are many aspects of my preparation that I can still improve on and so I want to show that I am capable of being one of the best riders in the world," says Haley Batten.

More riders, more challenges for the team

Benno Willeit, team manager of Specialized Factory Racing, explains the reasons for the expansion of an already successful team. "It's very exciting to add two more top riders to the team, especially young, talented riders like Haley and Chris. But make no mistake, we have to do our best to ensure each rider can achieve their goals in a race year. Adding riders to an existing structure means we need to hire additional staff to handle the additional mechanical, physical and logistical challenges. We rely on our world-class support team who work hard and passionately to ensure that no one feels left out. With six elite riders, made up of equal numbers of men and women, we can be present as a team at the biggest races of the year and perform at the highest level, while ensuring riders get the rest and training they need to reach the heights set for them. A new era for structuring an elite team, and with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris just around the corner, just the right time to start."

World Cup and World Championships in her sights

At just 25 years old, Sina Frei (short track world champion 2021 and Olympic silver medalist) is the longest-serving rider in the team and has high ambitions for the coming season. "After a year with Specialized Factory Racing, I feel very comfortable in the team and in the structure and am looking forward to further success in 2022. My main focus is on the overall cross-country World Cup podium and the World Championships in Les Gets," says Frei.

Austrian young talent Laura Stigger completes the SFR women's team and wants to build on the experience she has gained in her first year as an elite athlete, as she explains: "Everyone in the team gets on very well and we have a great understanding. There's a wealth of experience and knowledge among the riders and staff, and I'm looking forward to learning even more next year."

The "old hands"

Jordan Sarrou and Gerhard Kerschbaumer remain two of the pillars of the team, focusing on individual podium finishes and will undoubtedly play a mentoring role in an otherwise young team of drivers. "The team supports us very well. We have a big role in the team and the staff trust you and vice versa. The team is very experienced, knows the ropes and makes life very easy for us. I'm still very motivated to improve on my previous performances and I love winning. This is my job and I love what I do," says Jordan Sarrou, looking forward to the new season.

Kerschbaumer is eager to show his true potential in 2022 and believes he has all the necessary tools to achieve his goals in the coming season: "My dream is still to become world champion, and that spurs me on to keep racing, and Specialized Factory Racing supports me in every way to be successful."

The Specialized Factory Racing team continues to focus on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season, Sea Otter Classic, Cape Epic, Specialized marketing activities and national championships. The team is proud to be supported by Sram, Rockshox, Wahoo, Cliff, HT Components, Retül, Roval, Motorex, Evoc, and Supacaz.

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