January 20/21 14:21 pm - Emily Batty Signs with Canyon

Posted by Editoress on 01/20/21
 

Canadian mountain bike Olympian and current national champion Emily Batty announced today that she will be riding on Canyon bicycles for 2021, after 12 years with Trek. The online-based Canyon will be expanding into Canada this year. Further details on Batty's new Canadian-based team are expected to be announced next month.

"Last season, everything was so unknown, and I didn't want to waste valuable mental and physical capacity in 2020 without knowing races were for sure happening", states Emily. "So, while my performances could have been way better, I feel like I'm going into 2021 more hungry, rested, and motivated than most of my competitors. And now, I have some huge goals I'm very excited about: I have Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup goals. I want to go big on the performance side of things this year."

"Emily is a fantastic addition to the Canyon family - both for her ability on the bike as well as what she brings in terms of her personality", enthuses Canyon CEO Armin Landgraf. "I am convinced that, with all her experience, she won't only perform when it's race time - she'll also provide us with valuable feedback that we can use in the further development of our bikes."

Emily shares his enthusiasm on this side of her role, explaining: "My new Canyon bikes are amazing. The Exceed and the Lux are both so well-balanced from front to back, and I can push them without losing the front wheel. Canyon is already looking for my feedback, and I feel like I finally have a voice and stake in how the product is developed." And Emily is already well up to speed with her new Canyon bikes, singling out the characteristics that make the Lux and Exceed so strong: "Most manufacturers' answer to the modern XC race bike has been to have a slackened head tube angle, longer top tube, and a shorter rear triangle, but it's not as simple as that. Canyon has done an impressive job at thinking big picture on every performance attribute of their XC race bikes."

However, as Emily explains, her move to Canyon wasn't one purely prompted by sporting motivations: "It was time for a change, and I've learned that it takes so much more than just equipment and infrastructure to continue making progress in our sport. The very first time I visited Canyon headquarters, Roman Arnold had me over for lunch with his family at his home. I already feel so welcomed, aligned with their values, and connected to the brand. Everyone is in my corner, and they are forward-thinking and innovative. When you see it in person, meet the people, and experience their company culture, you quickly realize they are as good as it gets."

Canyon founder Roman Arnold echoes Emily's optimism: "I've been following Emily's career for a while - we've been active in the professional olympic cross-country racing scene for some time now. I'm delighted that Emily has placed her trust in us, and I'm sure that she will be able to develop even further in her new setup."