Panaracer Tires renews contract with Gravel Racing Team2017.01.17

Hayward, CA., Panaracer Tires is happy to renew its contract with the Panaracer/Stan’s NoTubes p/b Bicycle X-Change Gravel Team. Formed in 2016, the Kansas based team found great success over the course of the emerging gravel racing calendar, with a sweep of the age group wins at the Land Run 100. The team also stood on the podium at the Dirty Kanza 200, Gravel Worlds, and the Texas Chainring Massacre. The team returns with a similar calendar in 2017, but sees the addition of some new faces.

Bob Cummings, team manager, will once again anchor the squad, and will be joined by two new riders on the elite squad: Rob Bell and Mat Stephens. Bell has been racing bicycles since 2006. As a former national champion speed skater, Rob enjoys racing anything with wheels. Having competed in almost every cycling discipline, Bell will look to a full calendar of gravel events this coming season. Stephens began racing while in college at Texas A&M and has since raced at the national level in all disciplines. Over the past few years Mat and his wife Lauren have committed to racing full time, and are normally found training together. Mat has always enjoyed riding gravel but 2017 will be his first season focusing on these events.

The team will have access to the entire range of Gravelking tires from Panaracer. The Gravelking SK has been a team favorite; coming in sizes from 26c to 40c in both tubed and tubeless versions means there is ultimate versatility to cover the range of terrain that falls into the category of gravel racing. A new addition to the tire choices is the Gravelking Mud. Sharing a tread with the Regacross tire, the Gravelking Mud features an open tread pattern that will prevail in the muddiest conditions that the team experiences in 2017.

Joining the three elite riders are Karen Pritchard, Desiree White, and Mike Marchand. In 2016 Pritchard took age group wins at Gravel Worlds, the Dirty Kanza 200, and also the Land Run 100. She will be joined by new teammate White who also won her age group at Gravel Worlds. Mike Manchard came to the attention of the team after his age group win at the Crusher in the Tushar. He hails from Nebraska, and will represent the team across the Midwest and further afield in 2017.

2017 Panaracer/Stan’s NoTubes p/b Bicycle X-Change Team Roster: Elite Men: Bob Cummings (C) Rob Bell Mat Stephens Master men: Mike Marchand Women: Karen Pritchard Desiree White

For information on the full range of gravel tires contact us on 411@panaracer.com For media enquiries contact chris@thorpemarketing.com For team enquiring contact bobcummin@aol.com