Greg Minnaar

[Duane_Bosch]

3 hours ago, Bub Marley said:

Till what age do downhill racers normally compete? Greg is 42 years old so perhaps that came into their thinking. It does leave a sour taste but perhaps they offered him a different role but he was insistent he still wanted to compete?

At the Elite level it's very much a young mans sport. The rider closest in age to GM who's won a WC or World Champs is Danny Hart at 33. Just shows how incredible he is as an athlete. Kelly Slater like.

Source
https://mtbdata.com/ranking/2024/downhill/men-elite/2024-07-30

The team manager role at SC had already been taken up by Steve Peat and they had already hired the next big thing in the sport being Jackson Goldstone. Sucks but it's professional sport.

Edited August 2 by Duane_Bosch

[Shebeen]

4 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

My take on this is that Santa Cruz got taken over by new management, and this meant the original relationship built up over decades was essentially over.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-bikes-founder-rob-roskopp-is-joining-specialized-bikes.html

old news I know, but these things happen!

[DieselnDust]

Santa Cruz bikes is owned by Pon Holdings, the same entity that owns Cannondale and cervelo 

[Jewbacca]

I see Greg is retiring after Andora... 

The end of one helluva career at the top!

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, Jewbacca said:

I see Greg is retiring after Andora... 

The end of one helluva career at the top!

https://www.bikemag.com/news/the-end-of-an-era

[Danger Dassie]

https://www.treadmtb.co.za/minnaar-fired-up-for-his-final-world-champs/

 

 

[Robbie Stewart]

And just like that the curtains draw to a close on a once in a lifetime career. Thank you Greg. May the next chapter at Norco shine even brighter. 

[Duane_Bosch]

On 10/6/2024 at 6:58 AM, Robbie Stewart said:

And just like that the curtains draw to a close on a once in a lifetime career. Thank you Greg. May the next chapter at Norco shine even brighter. 

Greg Minnaar

Kelly Slater
Robby Naish
Valentino Rossi
Ricky Carmichael

All redefined what it means to be a professional athlete.

Edited October 7 by Duane_Bosch

[Robbie Stewart]

On 10/7/2024 at 8:53 AM, Duane_Bosch said:

Greg Minnaar

Kelly Slater
Robby Naish
Valentino Rossi
Ricky Carmichael

All redefined what it means to be a professional athlete.

I can't argue with your selection. I was actually thinking the same.