Reigning Olympic champions Nino Schurter and Jenny Rissveds headline the new SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team, which was officially launched this week with a four-year contract. SRAM has been a partner of the team since the beginning in 2002. Now as a title sponsor, the partnership includes RockShox as the suspension partner as well.

"We are excited to work with SRAM and RockShox towards our long-term goal, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo", said team director (and legendary XC racer) Thomas Frischknecht.

2017 SCOTT-SRAM Team

The SCOTT-SRAM elite men formation who will also participate at Cape Epic together: Top: Andri Frischknecht and Michiel van der Heijden. Bottom: Matthias Stirnemann and World Champion Nino Schurter. Photo by Christophe Margot​

The team also announced several new members, including UCI World ranking No. 5 Matthias Stirnemann. The Swiss talent will not only be a strong addition to the World Cup races but also ride aside Nino Schurter at this year's Cape Epic, which will be the first highlight of the 2017 season. Andri Frischknecht, who will race in the elite class for the first year, will team up at Cape Epic with former U23 World Champion Michiel van der Heijden. Swiss cyclocross specialist Marcel Wildhaber will also ride in the new team colors.

Find out why Nino Schurter was Mtbr's 2016 Rider of the Year.


The first training camp in sunny Tuscany with the new formation is already history. Massa Vecchia offered perfect conditions to get started with the new equipment. The team still relies on the wheels of DT Swiss. The new bikes are now equipped with SYNCROS components. The choice of tires is Maxxis. Schurter already won the Olympic race on Maxxis and with this strong brand the team sees great potential for developing great tires for the future. Odlo clothing (the former co-title sponsor) remains for apparel on and off the bike. Also remaining as a long time sponsor is the Swiss credit card company Cornercard.

2017 SCOTT-SRAM Team

With the addition of Maxxis, RockShox, and Syncros components, the team will ride with some of the market's most supreme products.​

"Working with living legends like Thomas Frischknecht and Nino Schurter is a true privilege we couldn't be happier about," said Reto Aeschbacher, brand manager of SCOTT Sports. "Their success and their undivided partnership have formed the image of SCOTT as a brand for many years. Cross-Country racing is the spearhead of development for the mountain bike industry. No other discipline influences the sport of mountain biking more than Olympic cross-country."

Find out all the details of the SCOTT Spark bike Schurter and the rest of his teammates will be racing in 2017.