Orbea unveils its first DH bike from the top of the World Cup podium

Orbea has just signed a perfect weekend at the Bielsko-Bia?a DH World Cup (Poland). Seagrave has been the fastest on a circuit that became complicated with rain, mud, and snow. With her spectacular descent, she has given the first victory to the new Orbea FMD Racing team and to the bike project that the brand has been working on for years.

 

 

 

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Tahnee Seagrave gives the unprecedented Orbea DH its first victory in the World Cup

Orbea has just unveiled its first specific DH mountain bike at the Bielsko-Bia?a Downhill World Cup in Poland, a prototype still under the OOLAB label that made a grand debut in this competition with Tahnee Seagrave's victory, a rider from the Orbea FMD Racing team.

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Neither snow, nor cold, nor the difficult conditions of the Bielsko-Bia?a track could stop Tahnee Seagrave. The British rider from the Orbea FMD Racing team achieved a spectacular victory in the UCI Downhill World Cup.

The day started with multiple incidents among the first riders. The American Abby Newkirk was the first to set a truly competitive time, dropping 17 seconds compared to Widmann and making it clear that the race demanded both skill and courage. Only a few rivals managed to stay close to her time: Marine Cabirou, Nina Hoffmann, and Gloria Scarsi — the latter competing with a curious belt and gearbox transmission, hoping to win the €100,000 prize for doing so with that system —. However, none managed to dethrone Newkirk.

Everything changed when Tahnee Seagrave took action. In the midst of a heavy snowfall, the British rider flew as if the track were dry. She was the fastest at the first three intermediate points and, although she lost some time at the end and even came close to going over the handlebars, she stopped the clock at 3:34.340, which would ultimately be the winning time.

Not even the reigning World Cup champion, Valentina Höll (YT MOB), could overshadow her.

"Due to the conditions, my brakes weren't working very well, and I think that helped me!", Seagrave joked after the victory. "You have to make the best of the situation. I was pumping the brake the whole time to make it work. I had a slightly dangerous moment at the end because I forgot to do it, but luckily I managed to stay on the bike."

The 29-year-old rider celebrated her first victory in the World Cup after several years marked by injuries: "I don't think it's too early to think about the overall. I feel healthier than ever, I've left behind a series of horrible injuries. It's been a couple of years of progressive comeback, and now I'm ready to give it my all again."

As for the bike, still without an official name, it has been presented to the public with a frame design entirely in carbon, except for the upper link machined in aluminum. This prototype stands out for its rear suspension with a design similar to the one Orbea uses in its successful electric bike, the Wild.

As for the assembly, the bike features a Fox 40 fork, a 7-speed transmission specific for downhill, a 35mm aluminum Renthal handlebar, Shimano XTR brakes, and Schwalbe tires mounted on Oquo alloy rims.

This debut could not have been better for the team and the brand, which will surely continue to make headlines in the upcoming World Cup events.