atherton off Commencal for 2012?

Rumour - new news, old news or nonsense?

More than likely be riding something else as most of their set up is through Madison who no longer distribute Commencal unless they ride for Commencal directly?!

they're on the commencal team, not really thru madison although this is the 4th season on commencal so maybe time to change.

 but i can't help think who's big enough to take on the athertons?

Will they all stick together?

Or maybe go there separate ways?

Chainreaction/Nukeproof?

Chainreaction/Nukeproof?

Lets hope not.

Trek?

Maybe a split as all the big teams have big names in them already meaning they would need to scrap the whole team to take on all 3. Trek would need to get rid of gwin to pay Gee, can't see that happening after this season.

Would have to be a new team to keep all 3 together.  Then, if Animal, Red Bull and Madison stay, its only really a frame deal.

I can't see a split happening, a big part of their marketing appeal is the fact that they're a trio.

The only bike brand that I could see taking them on to start a factory team would be Intense, if they were interested in restarting their team. All other big brands already have big names on their books, and the Athertons would need an entire team dedicated to them.

What about Orange - British team, British bikes?

I don't know, I'm purely speculating.

Atherton-Orange - nice...

Trek?

Gwinny and Leov are on 2 year deals.

What about Scott 11? Would require a big reshuffle but I'm sure they are not happy with the position they have filled for the past few years.

Morewood? They have the bikes but do they have the money to run a top team?

What about Orange - British team, British bikes?

I don't know, I'm purely speculating.

I can't see the Athertons on Orange. It doesn't really fit with the weekend warrior style that Orange has been going for recently. Also an Atherton-Orange team would eclipse the MTBCut team which I feel Orange are very proud of. A possibility all the same though