Minnaar to ride alongside Peat, Rennie
Former world downhill champion and two-time World Cup champ Greg Minnaar of South Africa has signed a two-year deal with the Santa Cruz Syndicate team. After four years with Team G-Cross/Honda, Minnaar has decided to race on the Santa Cruz V10 bike next year, alongside fellow World Cup racers Steve Peat and Nathan Rennie. Honda announced the end of its G-Cross program in October.

"Racing for Team G-Cross/Honda for the past 4 years was an amazing experience,” Minnaar said. “ It's clear that the Syndicate is driven by people who love to race. We are going to be a pretty tough team to beat."

Minnaar’s first event appearance for the Syndicate will be the Sea Otter Classic, next April.

Dahle-Flesja Back on her Bike
After suffering from an tenacious viral infection this summer, four-time world cross-country champ Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå is on her way back to competing with the world’s elite. At the moment, the Norwegian is at home in Stavanger before heading to Boulder, Colorado, for a couple of weeks to train in January.

“I have fully recovered and therefore am fully motivated,” Dahle-Flesja said. “Although I cannot really train as much and at the same level of intensity as in previous years yet, I am still convinced that I will be competing for the podium within the world elite next season.”

After a viral disease struck her in May this year, Dahle Flesjå is going to compete in her first mountain bike race in March 2008. As the reigning Olympic champion, the Norwegian is considered one of the serious contenders at Beijing’s Olympic Games, but she is still not inclined to put herself under pressure.

“Thinking about medals does not make any sense yet at the moment,” Dahle-Flesja said. “I guess I will be able to give a more precise estimate on my chances for the Olympic games by the month of May.”

USA to announce Olympic Long team at year’s end
In early 2007 USA Cycling will pick a 16-member Long team of cross-country racers to choose the four representatives (two men, two women) for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The team will consist of eight men and eight women, with the top-5 ranked men and women in the 2007 UCI standings earning automatic bids. USA Cycling will then choose the remaining six athletes.

With the UCI season all-but over, the rankings are not expected to change by the end of the year. If USA Cycling bases its choices solely on UCI ranking, the respective long teams would be as follows:

Men
Adam Craig — ranked No. 16 with 808 poits
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski — No. 28, 628 points
Todd Wells — No. 32, 583 points
Jeremiah Bishop — No. 37, 516 points
Sam Schultz — No. 71, 295 points
Michael Broderick — No. 783, 286 points
Sam Jurekovic — No. 114, 191 points
Jeff Hall — No. 161, 130 pointsWomen
Georgia Gould — ranked No. 6 with 1375 points
Mary McConneloug — No. 9, 1152 points
Willow Koerber — No. 11, 1014 points
Heather Irmiger — No. 26, 707 points
Susan Haywood — No. 47, 408 points
Shonny Vanlandingham — No. 76, 266 points
Kelli Emmett — No. 82, 244 points
Lea Davison — No. 98, 198 points
USA Cycling announces AMBC schedule2008 USA Cycling American Mountain Bike Challenge.
MARCH8 Spa City Extreme 6-Hour MTB Race – Hot Springs, Arkansas16 SERC #1 – Gainesville, Florida15-16 Keyesville Classic – Lake Isabella, California30 Chickasaw Trace Classic – Columbia, TennesseeAPRIL6 SERC #2 – Bryson City, North Carolina20 Tiger Rag 2008 – Clemson, South Carolina27 Greenbrier Challenge – Frederick, Maryland27 SERC #3 – Winder, GeorgiaMAY3-4 Idyllwild Spring Challenge – Idyllwild, California4 SERC #4 – Ducktown, Tennessee4 6th Annual Coyote Classic at Avimor – Boise, Idaho18 Stump Jump 2008 – Spartanburg, South Carolina25 SERC #5 – Athens, GeorgiaJUNE1 Bump & Grind – Pelham, Alabama14-15 Subaru Cup – Mt. Morris, Wisconsin15 SERC #6 – Clemson, South Carolina22 Dawg Dayz MTB Classic – North Little Rock, Arkansas29 Campmor H2H 13th Annual Bulldog Rump – Andover, New Jersey29 SERC #7 – Chattanooga, TennesseeJULY6 DINO Challenge AMBC – North Vernon, Indiana13 SERC #8 – Anniston, Alabama25-26 SERC #9 – Fontana, North CarolinaAUGUST29-31 Camp Eagle Classic MTB Festival – Rock Springs, Texas30-31 Laddies Loppet – Callaway, MinnesotaOCTOBER4 Road Apple Rally – Farmington, New Mexico25-26 Piney Hills Classic XV – Ruston, Louisiana

Barel leaves Kona
Having won two world titles in his five-year run with Kona bicycles, Frenchman Fabien Barel is leaving the team.

"It has been a pleasure to be a part of the downhill racing team and to help that image grow,” Barel said. “I wish everyone were as fortunate to work as closely together as we have," said Barel according to Kona's website. “I have worked with Kona longer than any other brand and the Kona groove will keep spreading for me, whatever I do. I intensely thank Kona for the support and for accepting me as part of their family."

Barel has not yet announced his plans for the future.