Oakley :: Mountain Bike

Bikes, Athletes, Races & Hockey(?) at the 2013 Sea Otter Classic

Elishia Matta; Photo: Caroline Buchanan — April 23, 2013 15:57

Nearly ten thousand athletes and some fifty thousand fans make the annual pilgrimage to Monterey, California for the mountain bike season opener, the Sea Otter Classic. Now one of the world’s largest bike festivals, the Sea Otter Classic began as a modest one-day event in 1991 after a local bike shop suggested that co-founders Frank Yohannan and Lou Rudolph put on a mountain bike race. A fantastic tribute to the power of suggestion…

Marianne Vos Continues Domination of UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships

John Ohail — February 06, 2013 12:32

Among a multitude of nicknames, Marianne Voss has been dubbed the Queen of Cycling. She proved why this name is fitting, once more, at the 2013 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. The 25-year-old secured her firth successive championship and the sixth of her career. Her winning time of 43 minutes was 1:34 minutes faster than runner up Kate Compton (USA).

Kurt Sorge Claims Victory At 2012 Red Bull Rampage

John Ohail — October 11, 2012 11:06

Canadian Kurt Sorge came away with the victory at the 2012 Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah. With over 2,000 fans lining the course in the Southern Utah desert, Sorge nailed a pair of gutsy performances, beating out some tough competition. Sorge’s second run proved crucial to his victory as he beat out competitors who threw down a handful of backflips and other gutsy tricks. Also, Oakley riders made up five of the top ten finishers. The seventh edition of the highly anticipated event did not disappoint as some of the best mountain bikers in the world soared to new heights and conquered the highest start in the event’s history.

Purpose Beyond Reason: Oakley Designers Spawn New and Improved Icon Sender For 2012 Red Bull Rampage

John Ohail — September 19, 2012 15:47

Deep in the heart of the southern Utah desert, the world’s most outrageously talented mountain bikers will gather for this year’s Red Bull Rampage. Never seen the event before? It’s just as crazy as it sounds. Forty foot drops onto bone crushingly solid rocks, insanely large custom-built features designed to launch grown men to unimaginable heights and some of the world’s most crazed mountain bike riders willing to push the limits of gravity, speed and human capability.

Queen of the Mountain: Rachel Atherton Wins In Norway - Clinches Second Career Overall World Cup Title

John Ohail — September 18, 2012 13:39

All she needed was a fifth place or better finish in Norway, but that’s not Rachel Atherton’s style. The British mountain bike star crushed a stacked field at the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup stop in Norway to claim the overall title for the second time in her career. Her win in Norway brought her season points total to 1450, putting her atop the women’s downhill mountain biking world once more. What’s even more impressive about Atherton’s season is that she was unable to compete in the first of seven World Cup stops due to a shoulder injury. Even with her absence in Pietermaritzburg, she was able to secure the season title.

Greg Minnaar Claims Second Career Mountain Bike Downhill World Championship

John Ohail — September 04, 2012 13:46

It had been nine years since South Africa’s Greg Minnaar won his first world championship, and this weekend it looked like not a day had passed since his first victory in 2003. Minnaar secured his second set of rainbow stripes this weekend at the 2012 Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships in Leogang, Austria.

Jaroslav Kulhavy Tops London Mountain Bike Podium; Nino Schurter, Marco Aurelio Fontana Take Second, Third

John Ohail — August 15, 2012 11:13

The Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Kulhavy was far from the favorite in the men’s mountain bike competition this year in London. The world champion had yet to collect a world cup win during the season. He entered the race in England quiet and poised to surprise the world-class field. He did just that, sprinting to the victory during the final 200 meters, beating out Switzerland’s Nino Schurter for the top prize, by just one second. Almost as remarkable was the third place ride by Italy’s Marco Aurelio Fontana. Fontana lost his seat and seat post during the final lap of the course and finished just 25 seconds behind the second place finisher, with nothing to sit on.

Vive La France! Julie Bresset Gives Country Its First Cycling Title In London

John Ohail — August 12, 2012 10:16

French mountain biker Julie Bresset took the London course by storm Saturday, to give the French their first top cycling finish in London. Bresset finished the six 4.7-kilometre laps 62 seconds faster than the next finisher – German Sabine Spitz. Young Georgia Gould of the United States of America rounded out the podium, crossing the line just six seconds later, securing third place.

Catharine Pendrel Wraps Up UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Title

John Ohail — July 08, 2012 17:21

There was a battle high in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. The prize for the victor; a RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Championship. With her victory at the sixth stop on the cross-country World Cup series, Oakley’s Catharine Pendrel also secured the overall 2012 World Cup title. She highlighted a day that saw her LUNA Pro team take the top three spots in the race. Teammates Katerina Nash and Georgia Gould finished second and third respectively.

Downhill Mountain Bike Star Rachel Atherton Takes Val Di Sole By Storm

John Ohail — June 04, 2012 10:23

The downhill mountain bike circuit has been without one of its most prominent figures for most of the past two seasons. Rachel Atherton (GT Factory Racing) had been nursing a shoulder injury for much of that time, but this weekend at the second round of the Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy, she proved she is back and that she means business. The twenty-four year-old dominated the rough, technical course, finishing 4.485 seconds faster than any other woman on the course.

Age Is Just A Number: 40-Year-Old Brian Lopes Claims MTB World Cup Eliminator Victory

John Ohail — April 17, 2012 12:06

Oakley mountain bike legend Brian Lopes proved once again that age is nothing but a number when he took top prize in the inaugural MTB World Cup Eliminator held in Houffalize, Belgium. The forty-year old American Lopes took down a field full of younger mountain bike studs in the first World Cup running of this exciting new format. His convincing win in the men’s race gives him World Cup victories in three disciplines: dual slalom, four cross and now eliminator. Lopes has claimed more World Cup wins than any other male mountain biker in the sport’s history – why not add one more to the trophy case?

Cyclocross: Brian Lopes Claims Second Consecutive Southern California-Nevada District Title – Eite Men’s Class

Andrew De Lara — December 07, 2011 03:25

Make it two years in a row.

After Thanksgiving dinners and holiday cheer, Oakley’s long-time Mountain Bike Star Brian Lopes threw on some skinny tires and took it hard to the competition at the “Turkey Trot” – Southern California-Nevada District Cyclocross Championships in Verdugo Park.

Busting out a total time of 58:19:8 – Brian emerged with the Men’s Elite Class victory, blazing the 2.7 km course and leaving the more than 500 overall racers in his dust.

Image: Corey Keiser

Championship Splatter: Special Oakley Radar XL Design for World Champion Bike Athletes

Andrew De Lara — April 26, 2011 14:36

“Where can I get those splattered paint Oakley Radars that Fabian Cancellara was wearing in the Classics?”

Answer: Unless you own a current World Champion Jersey, You’d have a pretty hard time. Because they’re not on sale to the general public.

A special retro design for our World Champion bike athletes, this specially customized exclusive piece can only be found on the faces our top riders/racers as they hand out the pain and throw down against the best 2-wheel no-motor racers on the Planet.

As a special reward and a show of support for our elite athletes, this is our way of displaying our spirit.

Young Gun: Freeride Mountain Bike Star Cam Zink Hits Oakley’s One Icon Magazine-Issue 2

Andrew De Lara — April 25, 2011 16:18

Some people would call Cam Zink crazy.

Most people wouldn’t speed down the side of a mountain and fly off a 40-foot cliff – busting out a 360 degree spin during the fall. And survive. But for Oakley’s long-time MTB star, it’s just another day on the job.

Read about his rise to Red Bull Rampage (the most insane Freeride Mountain Bike event on the Planet) glory last year…all in Oakley’s One Icon Magazine – Issue 2. And drop into the culture and spirit of Oakley.

12 Gauge! O Freeride MTB Star Cam Zink Returns to Interplanetary HQ, Gets New Titanium Watch

Andrew De Lara — March 17, 2011 19:01

Superbowl Champs get rings. Big deal.

Oakley’s Red Bull Rampage (the absolute gnarliest Freeride Mountain Bike Event on the Planet) Champion Cameron Zink got a new, shiny, Titanium Special Edition Oakley 12 Gauge watch for his 2010 feats, including the FMB World Championship Title. Now that’s sick.

The MTB ripper, in California to ride and chill in the 70 degree weather, dropped into Oakley’s Interplanetary Headquarters on March 17. From new eyewear (Oakley Plaintiff: aviator style) to fresh Oakley Troy Lee Designs Special Edition goggles, Cam got up to speed on the latest and greatest at the Big O.