Giant Factory Off-Road Team reinforces its squad in search of podiums and victories

Giant's factory Off-Road team has just announced major signings for 2023, a season in which the latest changes to the UCI's approach to the World Cup are going in the direction the team has been heading for years, bringing all mountain bike disciplines under one single umbrella.

The Giant Factory Off-Road Team for XC, DH and Enduro 2023 arrives with a major renovation to end the low profile they were keeping the last few seasons.

Giant Factory Off-Road Team reinforces its squad for 2023 

The Giant Factory Off-Road Team XC lineup introduces 3 new signings that combine talent and youth, an ideal combination with which the team aims to assault the podium of the Elite and Under-23 World Cup.

Among the new signings is Belgian Elite XC champion Jens Schuermans. At 29 years old, Schuermans is a two-time Olympian (2016, 2020), has 5 World Cup podiums and last season finished 12th overall in the World Cup standings.

"Joining the Giant Factory Off-Road Team for XC is something very special," Schuermans said. "I had a good season in 2022 with several top-10 finishes at the World Cup, but I missed the podium a few times. Podiums are where I want to be, and I think this World Class team and its staff can help me achieve that goal. I've been testing my new Anthem Advanced Pro 29 for a few weeks now and I'm very happy with my new race machine."

The multidisciplinary Alexandre Balmer is another new addition to the Giant Factory Off-Road Team. The Swiss cyclist will split his season between XC World Cup with the Giant Factory Off-Road Team and WorldTour road racing with the Jayco AlUla team. The 22-year-old has won two World Championships as a junior in 2018, winning gold in XCO and Team Relay. Balmer also won the European XC world title as a junior that year and has several Swiss national championships on the road.

 

The third signing for the XC team is Canadian Carter Woods. The 21-year-old has been one of the strongest riders at the 2022 Under-23 World Cup and won the Canadian XC Champion title in his category. For 2023 he joins the Giant Factory Off-Road Team with the goal of continuing to make the U-23 World Cup podium and trying to win the World Championships in his category.

The XC squad will be completed by Frenchman Antoine Philipp who has been racing with the team since 2020 and last season managed to get into the Top 10 of the World Cup in the Snowshoe event.

The four riders will race most events on the new Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 full suspension, but will also have the Giant XTC Advanced SL 29, the stiff option for less technical and faster events.

Enduro and DH formations are also reinforced

Australian brothers Luke and Remy Meier-Smith join the Giant Factory Off-Road Team 2023 to bring their talent and youth to the team's DH and Enduro events.

 

At 20 years old, Luke Meier-Smith already has a great record of achievement in both disciplines. Last year he twice finished inside the Top 10 at the DH Elite World Cup and was fourth at the DH Elite National Championships in Australia. In enduro, Luke won five EWS 2022 races in the Under-21 category and won the overall classification.

Remy Meier-Smith is the current Australian National U19 DH champion at the age of 18. Last season he achieved 4 podiums in the Junior World Cup and won the silver medal in the DH World Championships in his category.

The two will join the current roster of Frenchman Rémi Thirion (DH), Canadian Mckay Vezina and Frenchman Youn Deniaud (Enduro), and Australian Josh Carlson (e-MTB).

Full Giant Factory Off-Road Team 2023 roster

• Alexandre Balmer (SUI), XC
• Josh Carlson (AUS), e-MTB
• Youn Deniaud (FRA), Enduro
• Luke Meier-Smith (AUS), DH & Enduro
• Remy Meier-Smith (AUS), DH & Enduro
• Antoine Philipp (FRA), XC
• Jens Schuermans (BEL), XC
• Rémi Thirion (FRA), DH
• Mckay Vezina (CAN), Enduro
• Carter Woods (CAN), XC