KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team Kicks Off World Cup Season with a Top 10 Finish for Kelsey Urban
This past weekend, the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup took place in Araxá, Brazil. The KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team came out strong, with a fantastic 10th-place finish from Kelsey Urban. The reigning U.S. national champion joined the team this year and is racing on a fully customized Raft RS in her signature Stars and Stripes design.
Following the Olympic year of 2024, a fresh wind is blowing through the KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team. The squad welcomed several new riders with impressive résumés. Kelsey (26) is the standout new name. She’s had a stellar start to the season, taking a win in Temecula and earning podium spots in various Spanish races. In the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race in Brazil, she rode a consistent and impressive race, finishing 10th!
But Kelsey isn’t the only new face on Bart Brentjens’ team. There’s also the experienced German rider Julian Schelb (32), who claimed silver (Short Circuit - XCC) and bronze (Olympic - XCC) at last year’s European Continental Championships in Romania. This weekend, he opened his World Cup season with 27th in the XCC and 28th in the XCO.
Following the Olympic year of 2024, a fresh wind is blowing through the KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team. The squad welcomed several new riders with impressive résumés. Kelsey (26) is the standout new name. She’s had a stellar start to the season, taking a win in Temecula and earning podium spots in various Spanish races. In the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race in Brazil, she rode a consistent and impressive race, finishing 10th!
But Kelsey isn’t the only new face on Bart Brentjens’ team. There’s also the experienced German rider Julian Schelb (32), who claimed silver (Short Circuit - XCC) and bronze (Olympic - XCC) at last year’s European Continental Championships in Romania. This weekend, he opened his World Cup season with 27th in the XCC and 28th in the XCO.
Kelsey’s Bike
Like all of her teammates, Kelsey can choose between our Raft RS and Probe RS. The Raft RS is a full-suspension MTB with 100mm of travel, a steep seat angle, and agile steering that delivers precise handling. The Probe RS is a hardtail built for progressive geometry and direct power transfer.
Promising U23 Talent
Another standout addition to the team is 22-year-old Dutch rider Tom Schellekens. He made the move from Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development and has already claimed two major victories in Spain this season. In Brazil, he just missed the podium in the U23 Olympic race. Teammate and fellow Dutch rider Rens Teunissen Van Manen took 5th in that same event. In the Short Circuit, Rens finished 6th and Tom came in 7th. Oleksandr Hudyma also delivered solid performances, finishing 18th and 23rd.
Carla Hahn (19), who was vice-European champion in the U23 XCC last year, continued to show her potential with an 8th-place finish in the Short Circuit and 19th in the Olympic race. She teams up with her more experienced compatriot, Lia Schrievers (27), a two-time German national champion who finished 17th in the Olympic race and 21st in the XCC.
Carla Hahn (19), who was vice-European champion in the U23 XCC last year, continued to show her potential with an 8th-place finish in the Short Circuit and 19th in the Olympic race. She teams up with her more experienced compatriot, Lia Schrievers (27), a two-time German national champion who finished 17th in the Olympic race and 21st in the XCC.
Setbacks and Comebacks
Latvian rider Martins Blums also made the trip to Minas Gerais but suffered a heavy crash on Friday and was unable to start. The dramatic footage made waves online, but thankfully he avoided serious injury. Meanwhile, Dutch rider Lotte Koopmans is still recovering from a crash earlier this season in Spain. She’s working hard behind the scenes to come back stronger than ever.
The next round of the UCI MTB World Cup is scheduled for next weekend, again in Araxá. After that, the series shifts to Europe. We’ll continue to support our riders every step of the way!
Photos: Piotr Staron
The next round of the UCI MTB World Cup is scheduled for next weekend, again in Araxá. After that, the series shifts to Europe. We’ll continue to support our riders every step of the way!
Photos: Piotr Staron
Raft XC
Raft XCThe lightweight Raft XC is a full suspension MTB with 100mm suspension travel. Its 100mm rear suspension is designed with performance in mind, a remote lock out lets you sprint with direct power transfer to the rear wheel. The agile handlebars and steep seat angle guarantee razor-sharp handling and power transfer. Thanks to the longer wheelbase and slacker headtube angle, you won't lose time on descents either.
Discover the Raft XC
