Insync Bikes Pulls Out of Mountain Biking, DH Team to Continue with New Sponsors

Jan 3, 2020
by James Smurthwaite  
3rd for Vero Widmann

Insync Bikes has completely pulled its mountain bike program leaving its race team of Harry Molloy, Veronika Widmann and Chris Cumming and its ambassador Patrick Robinson without a frame sponsor for 2020.

2019 was a strong year for Insync with Widmann finishing the year third in the elite women's rankings having picked up four World Cup podiums along the way. The team was also apparently developing a new bike to race at the start of this year as they spent all of the 2019 season running re-badged YT Tues frames.

Harry Molloy, Insync Team Manager, told us that they had a five-year deal inked but a new CEO came in and shut down the mountain bike arm of the business. Molloy did assure us that the team is set to continue and he had been hard at work to secure a new frame sponsor.

bigquotesI am sorry to announce that our collaboration with Insync Bikes will not carry on for the 2020 season. A few weeks ago a change in management has caused an abrupt halt to the marketing program. With a 5 year plan in motion, a new prototype and a season standing on the elite women World Cup podium, this news was a shock for all of us. We are forever grateful for the support and time we had together. 2020 will see the continuation of the team with exciting new opportunities, announcements will be made in due time.—Harry Molloy, Team Manager and Racer

bigquotesI am grateful for the opportunities Insync has given me. It has been a pleasure to represent them around the world from India to Mexico to New Zealand. It was a pleasure to work closely with the design team to build a signature dirt jump bike. I am not sure about the new path Insnyc will take with lots of changes going on in the company but I wish all the best for the Insync family.—Patirck Robinson, Ambassador


Posted In:
Industry News DH Racing Racing Rumours Veronika Widmann


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57 Comments
  • 109 1
 Bye bye bye
  • 2 1
 Here we go
  • 11 5
 I want you back
  • 8 0
 This is Tear'in up my heart.
  • 7 0
 @MikeAzBS: You're tearing me apart Lisa!
  • 4 1
 This I promise you
  • 1 1
 They are out before I knew they were in. At least keep the boy bands beebop music coming for the milenials.
  • 2 1
 Thank you for pulling out. As seen in FF#99, MTB should be about population control.
  • 3 1
 Does this mean that one person (Veronika Widmann) will move on to be a mega hit and the rest will fall into obscurity? If so Veronika...stay away from Britney...she crazy.
  • 3 2
 comment of the year already
  • 82 0
 Kinda ironic that this is actually the first time I've ever heard of Insync bikes..
  • 2 1
 Me too!
  • 42 3
 Kind of a shit move by Insync to dump them right now. The team has done great on the stickered up YT bikes and it wasn't too long ago that there was this press release that the team was helping with the development of the new DH bike they'd be riding in 2020. You just can't dump a team at that stage. All the best to the team, all the shit to that new CEO.
  • 15 3
 You can dump a team at any stage. Companies don’t sponsor teams to donate money with no projected return on investment of some sort.

Teams and sponsorships in any sport are investments, and large ones at that. It should be no surprise that business decisions are made. Take it or don’t have racing. They will be better off without a financially floundering sponsor.
  • 3 2
 @tkrug: Yeah they're actually lucky the new CEO didn't start in April, cause then they'd probably be pretty much f*cked.
  • 10 13
 Yes all that’s true and thanks for the mansplain but that doesn’t mean it’s not a shit move @tkrug:
  • 1 0
 I view such a contract as a mutual agreement. The company supports the team, the team does well at the races and helps with the development of the new bike. Unless something really bad happens, you don't just break such an agreement. Apparently this is the biggest bike manufacturer in the world so I don't see how you first agree that you will sponsor a team and use their input on your new bike and then drop them three months later.

www.pinkbike.com/news/uk-bike-brand-insync-starts-production-on-new-dh-bike.html
  • 3 1
 @tkrug: Yes but if you can't commit, you don't sign a contract. Not Ok to let athletes like that.
  • 18 0
 Maybe they can be picked up by the Backstreet Boys? Heard they are touring again..
  • 11 0
 Remember when greg minaar rode for haro on an intense frame? Pepperidge farm does
  • 1 0
 Everybody back then was on M1 frames, even Giant I think.
  • 1 1
 @TrevZ:
Haro used a rear triangle of an M1 but the front end was different spec wise
  • 8 0
 Get Transition on the phone!
  • 6 0
 Get Joe Smith on board too, Transition as frame sponsor!
  • 7 3
 dOeS aNyOnE RiDe fOr AnYoNe iN 2020 Hope they get a good frame, Widmann's been going strong last season.
  • 3 0
 argh what a shame, hopefully they get a good deal - great results and a cool team of people!
  • 2 0
 I hope they find a frame sponsor soon. If not, I think it would be best for them to just keep using the same frame from last season, which Vero did very well on.
  • 5 0
 what's an insync?
  • 3 6
 Moisturizer...
  • 1 0
 Boy band?
  • 1 0
 I had the privilege of watching Harry and Chris boost the big jumps at the Whip Offs in Innsbruck earlier this year... its clear these dudes are going places. Pumped to see where they end up. Atherton's maybe?
  • 2 0
 Looking at their bike catalog, they seem to be a step up from Dicks Sporting Goods bikes. www.insyncbikes.com/mountain-bikes.list
  • 1 0
 Given that, then they probably did these riders a favor from a health and wellbeing standpoint.
  • 2 0
 Best move is to get a few cans of spray bike and get wild on a new paint scheme on those 2019 YT tues. It's not like they will be outdated in such a short time.
  • 2 1
 Are we going to hear, of any new teams or is it all down hill from hear?
Under current system, if you cant get into top 66, you have no place in World Cup DH
  • 2 0
 I doubt think it’s so much about the frame itself but the money received to pay for other expenses.
  • 1 0
 @meathooker: Bottom line it all comes down to money! I would bet that their are better rider, that just do not even want to be part of the rat race or have tried & no longer interested?
  • 1 0
 You mean top 69? Smile
  • 2 0
 Obviously the 'frame' sponsorship didn't do that company any good, since none of us seems to have heard of them 'til now.
  • 4 0
 Who?
  • 1 2
 I feel a law suit against the nee team boss coming on if he has stopped the team within the contracted time good luck to him but mostly good luck to the others finding the sponsors
  • 3 0
 Is that even a brand?
  • 2 0
 Transition is free for a small team which is not to expensive ????
  • 2 0
 I guarantee you the Backstreet Boys would not have bailed so quickly.
  • 3 2
 Atherton frames would be good.......
  • 2 2
 Wow mention a law suit and everyone hates you would hate me if it was your contract they pulled mid point would you
  • 1 0
 Never have a Boy Band name, cause it's always ends in bye bye bye!
  • 2 3
 CEO sounds like a right bellend! That’s the Insync brand down the drain... long live FS racing
  • 4 0
 Such a shame , I was just gonna get some of their products.

Wait, what do they sell again?
  • 1 0
 When in doubt...
  • 2 3
 These brands and new bosses are money hungry
  • 2 0
 Yes, because you should run a business to lose money.
  • 2 4
 Who?
  • 9 0
 Mike Jones!
  • 5 1
 281-330-8004!
  • 2 0
 Oh, discount outlet all apart bikes with front mechs an 1995 geometry...... That's who
  • 1 0
 @oregontradesman: haha - awesome.







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