Felt bikes announced a partnership this week with Kenda tires to sponsor a four-rider pro mountain bike squad, set to focus on major national and international cross-country and endurance events. The team will include Colin Cares, Amanda Carey, Judy Freeman and Andy Schultz.
“I’m really excited to be racing for Felt,†said Schultz, the 2005 U.S. Under-23 National Champion from Tucson, Arizona. “Felt has a great pedigree in racing and a history of sponsoring great racers. I’m honored to have this company’s support.â€Â
Schultz and the Kenda-Felt team will specifically target the Pro XCT series, but will keep a varied and broad schedule, especially with endurance riders like Carey, who has taken second in the Leadville 100 twice, in 2007 and 2009. Freeman, a new recruit to the Kenda-Felt team, is coming off a stellar 2009 season in which she represented the USA at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Australia.
Riders will have their choice of Felt bikes, but most are expected to choose from Felt’s Nine Series bikes, which have gained a major following among endurance racers. “I think the Nine will be the weapon of choice for Leadville,†said Cares.
In addition to the Nine Series bikes, Kenda-Felt riders will be involved with the development and prototype testing of a new, yet-to-be-named Felt carbon fiber full-suspension XC bike, which is targeted for 2011 consumer availability.
