Giant is pleased to announce the return of international cross-country stars Adam Craig and Oli Beckingsale to its Global Mountain Bike Team. Both aim to follow stellar 2008 seasons, which cumulated in appearances at the Beijing Olympics.

Joining Craig and Beckingsale, from the United States and Great Britain respectively, on Giant’s Global team is veteran Australian downhill racer Jared Rando.

Craig, 27, repeated as U.S. Cross-Country Champion last season. He also collected his sixth consecutive U.S. Super D title. Consistent international results earned Craig a spot on the U.S. Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Games.
“Giant is behind me, and I’m behind them,” said Craig. “Any team that has supported me through a six year Super D National Championship streak must be doing something right and I’m looking forward to keeping the fun rolling in 2009.”

This year Craig will focus on the international World Cup Series plus a handful of North American events such as the Downieville Classic in California.

Beckingsale, a three-time Olympian, joins Craig as one of the top talents on the cross-country World Cup circuit. The 32-year-old has won the British National Championship five times (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007) and is considered one of the world’s most consistent cross-country racers over the last decade.

“It’s shaping up to be a great year and the bikes are better than ever,” said Beckingsale. “It’s a top team in terms of support and also team spirit. I’m looking forward to hitting the World Cup 100 percent and also having a crack at the marathon world championships in Austria.”

Craig and Beckingsale have played integral roles in developing Giant’s most advanced cross-country race bikes, including the 2009 Giant Anthem X. The bike was unveiled last summer at the 2008 U.S. MTB Championships in Vermont, where Craig used the Anthem X to defend his title on the technical trails of the Mount Snow ski resort.
“It's great to be continuing into my seventh year with Giant so I can keep a close eye on all of the awesome new bike projects we have in the works right now,” said Craig. “Every year I've ended up testing and racing something better and it's made riding and racing more entertaining.”

On the gravity side, Rando also plays a key role in product development. A veteran of international downhill and dual slalom racing, Rando is Giant’s lead athlete for testing long-travel downhill bikes.

Beyond the three man Giant Global team, Giant will also continue to support its North American squad consisting of cross-country riders Kelli Emmett and Carl Decker, as well as Canadian freeride talent Kurt Sorge.

With the sport’s top cross-country, downhill and freeride athletes on its roster, Giant looks forward to continuing its longstanding presence atop the competitive mountain biking world in 2009.
GIANT GLOBAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM
Oli Beckingsale (Great Britain), XC, Short Track
Adam Craig (USA), XC, Short Track, Super D
Jared Rando (Australia), 4X, DH, DS
GIANT NORTH AMERICA MOUNTIAN BIKE TEAM
Carl Decker (USA), XC, Short Track, Super D
Kelli Emmett (USA), XC, Short Track, Super D
GIANT NORTH AMERICA FREERIDE TEAM
Kurt Sorge (Canada), Freeride
Jeff Lenosky (USA), Freeride, Trials
GIANT NORTH AMERICA MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM SPONSORS
Shimano. Michelin. Fox Racing Shox. Hincapie Sportwear. Thule. MRP. Fizik. Pro.