SCOTT-Odlo MTB Signs Michiel van der Heijden

A new era is about to begin for SCOTT-Odlo MTB Racing: Michiel van der Heijden, the current U23 XCO World Champion, will join SCOTT`s Cross-Country team, replacing Florian Vogel, who leaves Thomas Frischknecht`s equippe after 13 years. The team manager has had an eye on van der Heijden for several years: "Ever since I saw Michiel winning the junior World Championships in 2010 I followed his career closely. With him we not only have an incredibly capable and fast rider, but also a personality that could not fit any better with our team. I'm looking forward working with this exceptionally talented athlete for the years to come." 

"The flying Dutchman" van der Heijden has signed a contract until 2016. Along with 3x World Champion Nino Schurter (CH) and U23 rising star Jenny Rissveds (SWE), the young blood is a hopeful addition for the team`s future towards the Olympic Games in Rio.

Van der Heijden has stepped onto the U23 World Championship podium three years in a row, finally winning the title this past September in Hafjell, Norway. So far Michiel has two MTB World Championship titles (2010 Junior, 2014 U23), one silver and one bronze medal at Worlds and a cyclo-cross World Championship medal from 2012 to his name- a very well rounded rider indeed.

Needless to say, this is a pretty impressive palmarès at the age of 22- something we have only seen from the likes of someone like Nino Schurter. In the UCI World ranking list Michiel is currently seated in 11th place.

When asked about his future with the SCOTT-Odlo team Michi says: "I am looking forward to having the opportunity to work with Nino in the next few years. Being a part of the SCOTT-Odlo team gives me the chance to improve going into my first years as an Elite. In addition the SCOTT-Odlo team is well known in the mountain bike scene to offer the best equipment possible."
Along with Nino Schurter and Michiel van der Heijden it is Marcel Wildhaber (CH) to be the third man in the elite category. The cyclo-cross and eliminator specialist is also signed until 2016 just like the two U23 athletes Jenny Rissveds of Sweden and Andri Frischknecht (CH).

Consistant partnerships are of high value these days in Cross-Country racing. The sponsorship structure of SCOTT-Odlo is on solid ground: Odlo, DT Swiss, Cornercard, SRAM and Zurich are all on board until the Olympic year in 2016, as well as all of the suppliers of the team.