December 9/10 11:58 am - Emily Batty Joins Subaru-Trek

Posted by Editoress on 12/9/10
 

It is now official:  Canada's top women's U23 mountain bike pro, Emily Batty will move to the Subaru-Trek for 2011.  Batty has raced for the Trek World Racing team for the past two years, but lost her spot to elite rider Willow Koerber for next season.  She will stay within the Trek family by joining the cross-country squad run by Jon Rourke.

"[We are] excited to have a young talented rider like Emily joining the Subaru-Trek program.  She's a dynamic individual with tons of potential," commented Rourke by e-mail. " Joining the team gives her some additional support and opportunities for personal development, as she balances both World Cup and North American racing.  Looking forward to great things from her and the rest of the Subaru-Trek team as the 2011 race season unfolds."

Rourke says that Batty's schedule is expected to include the World Cup circuit, Sea Otter and selected U.S. XCT and Canada Cup races.

Subaru-Trek official announcement:

Current U23 Canadian Champion Emily Batty will join North America’s premiere mountain bike team, Subaru-Trek, for the 2011 season.

Batty will add youth and a lot of talent to a roster that already includes podium regulars Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Sam Schultz, Heather Irmiger, and Russell Finsterwald. Willow Koerber will stay aboard Trek in 2011 as she moves to the World Cup scene as the newest member of the Trek World Racing program.

With Batty’s move to the Subaru-Trek team, she will continue to race a full World Cup schedule while also looking to bag some podiums on the US and Canadian circuits. “Trek World Racing was great,” says Batty. “With Subaru-Trek, I’ll continue to get the best possible support. Also, Subaru-Trek offers a family feel. Being around that collection of riders who are all at the top of their game will be very motivating.”

Repeating as the top team in North America and third in World rankings, the Subaru-Trek team will continue racing a full Pro XCT Series in addition to World Cup events. Eleven years of title sponsorship by Subaru have produced a roster of incredibly well-rounded, accomplished riders. Results have included World Cup podiums, multiple US National Champion jerseys, US National Series titles, a Singlespeed World Champion tattoo, and the occasional Iceman Cometh trophy.
 
Riders Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Heather Irmiger, Sam Schultz and U23 rider, Russell Finsterwald will round out the rest of the 2011 roster. As a University of Colorado freshman, Finsterwald will be riding for U23 titles domestically and abroad. Meanwhile, JHK, Heather, Sam, and Emily will be racing a full Pro XCT schedule in addition to globe-trotting for Olympic qualification points at World Cup events as they compete to represent USA and Canada at the 2012 Olympics.
 
The 2011 Subaru-Trek team is online (soon) at www.trekbikes.com/subarutrek