Who am I racing for in 2025?
My new bike sponsor.
I was originally going to beat around the bush and write a whole article to make you read to the bottom before you find out who I’m partnering with. But, that seemed mean.
So, I am so incredibly excited to say that I am now an ENVE athlete.
There are some contracts that you sign as an athlete that just feel different. Contracts that fifteen-year-old Joe would think are amazingly cool. I still remember the excitement when Colin Sturgess called me up to offer my Madison-Genesis contract back when I was still at school - it’s that day I thought this pro-cycling dream had a chance. Then, the butterflies when I signed for Axeon. I have the exact same announcement writing this.
The opportunity to work with the guys in Utah is not one I take lightly. They make incredibly amazing bikes and wheels. It's world beating performance that meets style - the dream combination.
Also, moving to ENVE brings the opportunity to work closely with Alexey. I’ve been very open that the ‘Alexey model’ is one that I’ve wanted to follow since leaving the road. The chance to learn from him on and off the bike is proper exciting.
How did it come together?
I first met Neil Shirley - ENVE’s Director of Marketing - at Sea Otter in April. It was the week after I finished on the podium at Redlands, and in that middle ground before I headed to Speedweek with Rebellion.
A few months later, I’m at Unbound Gravel and go to chat to Neil again. It’s June, and at that point in time I presume that I’ll be with Ribble in ‘25, but it never hurts to make new friends, and you never know where the cycling merry-go-round will take you.
I had Rebellion that I'd built at Ribble, but equally there was a big part of me that wanted to race for a brand that could support me on the ground in the US. Come September, when I got the call that Ribble Rebellion was to fold, I started to look around. At the time, Ribble were still debating what to do with their off-road programme, so I felt a little inbetweeny, but I was very much ‘on the market’.
I was walking into a hotel in Barcelona, the same day I’d been told Rebellion was to fold, that I first heard ENVE could be interested. This was via Ryan Sosna-Bowd of Portfolio Sports, the man who deals with most of my contracts.
There were a few bits of back and forth, and then two-months later, while on our epic road trip down the west coast, I got official word it was going ahead.
A very very excited Joe.
What happens when you sign a new contract?
Signing any contract partnership is a process.
There’s the part where you agree what’s going to be in the contract, and then there’s discussions about what the next steps are: who I need to get to know, the equipment specs and so much more.
I spoke to Alexey pretty soon after I signed to get the low-down on everything to do with them. We’re both roadies at heart so we speak the same language. We were on the phone for an hour or so, and he was a goldmine of information.
Then, there’s the real fun part: equipment.
When you’re in the process of signing with a new partner, one of the first things that you do is scroll through their website or social media. I think most athletes will have daydreamed about racing for a certain team, or a certain brand at one point or another in their career.
I’ll be riding the MOG, Melee, and Fray depending on the race. I’m pretty excited to get them between my legs and get to know each combination.
What’s coming up?
I’m sitting in Girona writing this. It’s one of my favourite times of year. Life is simple: training, logistics, and writing.
I’ll be releasing a Substack in the next few days going through my calendar for 2025, and what my goals are. My first race is going to be the Santa Vall here in Girona, and I’ll be first meeting up with the ENVE guys in early March. I’m heading out to their HQ in Ogden, Utah - a stone’s throw away from Salt Lake City. From there, we’ll drive south and have a few days with all of the athletes on a training/media camp.
Then, the season properly starts in Oklahoma at Mid South Gravel.
While you’re here…
I’ve added a paid subscription and a ‘Buy Me A Coffee’ link to this post. As the year progresses, I’m planning on building this blog and putting out articles which I’ve always wanted to write but for whatever reason, haven’t wanted to pitch.
Any money that I make from either my Substack or BMaC link will go straight back into supporting my 2025 racing project. I am planning on keeping all content on here free to view though.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/joelaverick
Project TAG, proudly partnering (both for my athletic and influencing ability) with…
Great news for you Joe, you deserve the break, Enve get an articulate ambassador for their brand
Congrats