The 2011 rider line-up for the Steve Peat Syndicate outfit has been revealed, with Steve Peat spearheading the team’s assault on the downhill World Cup calendar.

At Sheffield Hallam University late last year Peat announced the brand new Steve Peat Syndicate team. The team is made up of amateur riders who will, as part of the Syndicate, enjoy pro-level support at all their races along with essential support, guidance and training from one of the most successful racers in this discipline.

Managed by British National Masters DH Champion, Tristan Tunstall, the team includes thirteen riders of all ages and levels of experience, from Youth to Veteran categories and, to keep the boys in check, also features a female rider all the way from New Zealand.

This first meeting offered the team their first get together, and the Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Science was the background for the riders to get to know each other and to cover such topics as the Syndicate ethos, aims and goals to social media and press training.

Time to get serious

After a quick change of clothes, the riders were taken to the University’s extensive sports testing facilities where they were put to work testing out their bodyweight and composition, power outputs and balance as well as being taught the importance and relevance of each test in becoming a world class rider.

Following that and just as they thought it was time for a rest and some lunch, in entered Dave Hembrough. Dave is the strength and conditioning coach at Sheffield Hallam’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Science and what followed proved to the riders once and for all just what being a top downhill racer needs – motivation, dedication and supreme physical fitness. Dave made them work.

Joined by Steve, the whole team spent the next hour being worked hard in the gym. From Yoga to power exercises and plyometrics, they were taken through all the basic exercises needed to prepare the mind and body for the rigors of downhill racing. Despite the hard work, fun was had all round with Dave and Peaty leading the way and bringing the SPS sense of fun to even the most demanding of training.

Sweaty, aching and clutching their pre-season workout plans, the next part of the day got the riders ready to roll again as they made their way over to the now world famous Warncliffe Woods for the really fun part, riding Santa Cruz bikes with their new team boss and MTB legend, Steve Peat.

How do you follow that? Well, a visit to one of Sheffield’s finest curry houses followed by 10-pin bowling is how. With the curry calories firmly burnt off the following day by hitting Wharncliffe’s finest downhill runs, the team bonding was well and truly underway.

‘’We had an amazing first couple of days together,’’ said Steve Peat afterwards.

‘’It was great to get all the guys together here at Sheffield Hallam University, a place so instrumental in my own training and development, to help kick start their racing with SPS.”

‘’We ride bikes and it has to be fun but ask any successful pro-rider and they’ll all tell you the same. To be the best you need the right training, the right support and the right set up too. That’s what we’re offering with SPS and I’m sure this bunch of guys will progress and get even faster over the coming months.’’

The team

Tristan Tunstall –  35 – Team Manager and British Masters DH Champion 2010

Jenny Beesley – 27 – Senior Women

Billy Matthews – 16 – Youth

Josh Lewis – 17 – Junior

Jack Read – 16 – Junior

Nathan Vials – 20 – Expert

Ally Simpson – 40 – Veteran

Ben Humphries – 16 – Junior

Chris Griffiths – 30 – Master

Dale Russell – 20 – Expert

Freddie Oxley – 15 – Junior

Michael Vickers – 25 – Senior

Tom Kelly – 25 – Expert

Steve Peat – 36 – Elite

Follow their progress this year at www.stevepeatsyndicate.com