1 #7/2014 ContiTireNews

ContiTireNews For the online version please click here: > English version #7/October 2014 > German version

Editor responsible under press law: Continental/Division Tires Alexander Bahlmann of Media & Public Relations PLT Top performance for all forms of bike Buettnerstraße 25 | 30165 Hannover Phone: +49 511 938 2615 Continental tires - the choice of pro cyclists E-Mail: [email protected] Author: Klaus Engelhart 2 #7/2014 ContiTireNews

›› Top-end technology for top-end athletes ›› Ridden to victory in the ›› The first choice for downhill and freeride racing

Powerful sports cars, fast motorbikes and big The whole world watched in awe as trucks: Continental is well known as a producer specialist André Greipel (Germany) sprinted to of excellent tires for powerful vehicles. But the sixth Tour de France stage win of his career cycle sport also benefits from the company’s in Reims – at the end of stage six of the Tour. leading-edge technology. the road, the And worldwide TV audiences watched with track, or off-road, the choice of equipment is bated breath as young French rider Tony becoming increasingly important in compe- Gallopin gritted his teeth to ride himself into tition. Choosing the right tires for the condi- the yellow jersey on stage nine in the Vosges tions is part of everyday life for the riders and mountains, then again when he won the the teams. And nowhere is that clearer than eleventh stage to Oyonnax three days later. at the Tour de France. After 3,656 kilometres (or 2,271 miles) of racing, the Movistar and BMC Racing teams, riding on A long tradition of Tour de France success Continental race tires, were in fourth and fifth The world’s toughest bike race pushes both places overall. () took riders and their equipment to the very limits. fourth place overall, with And that includes the bike’s tires. Whether the (USA) finishing fifth to put two riders using riders are streaking downhill on wet, rain-soaked Continental tires into the „Top five“ of the 2014 roads, sprinting out of each hairpin bend, or Tour de France. climbing towards a mountain-top finish in sea- ring heat, high above the tree line, tires play All of the „Conti teams“ benefitted from an exten- a crucial role in the race for the yellow jersey. sive stock of Continental tires, suitable for every A puncture in a time trial is every bit as serious conceivable road surface, for every special as crashing in a bunch sprint at the end of a demand, and for all weather conditions. Just stage. So for many years, several top teams like a motor racing team, top teams have placed their trust in the expertise of take careful decisions about which tires best Continental’s tire specialists. This year, the suit the weather conditions and that day’s teams riding Continental tires in Le Tour were stage profile. Then there are training tires, and LottoBelisol, Movistar, Lampre Merida, Orica specialist tires for use on steeply banked velo- GreenEdge and BMC Racing. dromes. For cycling teams, tire decisions have The US-based BMC Racing Team reached the fourth place in the team appreciation at the Tour 2014 become as important as they are in Formula 1. 3 #7/2014 ContiTireNews

Sebastian Kienle becomes Ironman World on Hawaii

High performance tires for road racing Cavendish, and André Greipel Corinne Abraham and Sebastian Kienle won oldest and most spectacular com- Our ultra-light race tires are handmade at on the podium, all of them riding Continental this year’s Ironman European Championships. petition in the world, the Hawaii Ironman. He Continental’s German tire factory in Korbach. tires. won the World Time Trial The Brownlee brothers won the gold and was riding on Continental ultra-light special They are popular in the Tour de France pelo- championships using high-performance Conti bronze medals at the 2012 London Olympics, tires 23mm GrandPrix TT. With a total time of ton, but they are also used at all of today’s tires made at our plant in Korbach, Germany. and Germany’s Stefan Bötticher took the silver 8 : 14 : 18 Kienle crossed with over five minutes major road races. In recent years, the World Top cyclists also rely on Continental tires in medal in the Sprint at last year’s World Track ahead of Ben Hoffman to the finish line. Road Race championships have seen Mark and in . For example, Championships. Sebastian Kienle also won the 4 #7/2014 ContiTireNews

MTB legend Richie Schley swears by the Continental Mountain King II and the Trail King Hall of Famer Julien Absalon won the World Cup XC in 2014 and the European Championship XC 2014 & 2013

Mountain biking two bronze medals in the road races, triathlon, our tire development benefits from his many ment program, winning the overall title in At the 2012 Olympic Games, riders using on the track and in . In moun- years of experience. This year, riders who the 2014 Mountain Bike World Cup and the Continental tires were successful in a wide tain biking, Continental works closely with benefitted from that include Steffen Thum cross-country titles in the European champi- range of cycling disciplines. The quality of a number of riders, including MTB legend and Julien Absalon. Thum won the MTB onships in both 2013 and 2014. Continental’s tires was underlined by a medal Richie Schley. He is a big fan of Conti’s XC Series. Absalon also reaped haul that included four golds, two silver and Mountain King II and Trail King tires. And the benefits of our ongoing tire develop- 5 #7/2014 ContiTireNews

The first choice for downhill and in the same discipline. Fancy something even freeride racing funkier? Try Peter Henke, the German slopestyle Even in branches of cycling that enjoy slightly pro. Or Sweden’s Martin Söderström, the best less media coverage, the top riders still choose dirt jumper in Europe. Then there’s Kenny Belaey, Continental tires. Riders such as Brits Rachel one of the top mountain bikers on the trials Atherton, and her brother Gee Atherton. Rachel scene. And freeride legend Andreu Lacondeguy Atherton was British downhill national champion (known as „LaContiGuy“). What do they have in in 2013 and 2014, and she won the prestigious common? They all use Continental tires. As does World Cup series in 2013. Her brother, Gee Sam Pilgrim, the 2013 FMB World Tour champion. Atherton, won the downhill title at the 2014 On the track, German sprinters Miriam Welte World Championships. and Kristina Vogel won the 500m at this year’s World Track Championships. Manon Carpenter also won a world champion- And Britain’s Katy Curd is the new fourcross ship in 2014 on Continental tires. She is the world champion. And then there’s Danny reigning British downhill champion, and she also MacAskill, the highly talented mountainbiker rode Conti Mud Kings and Kaiser 2.4 Projects whose fearless exploits have been viewed by to World Cup victory and to a world title in 2013 over 100 million people on YouTube.

The cycling press awarded us top marks Given the long list of wins by top cyclists using Continental tires in the various different branches of cycle racing, it is no surprise that our tires regularly come out on top in comparison tests carried out by the cycling press. This year, Conti’s Race King 2.0 RS, GP 4000s II and GP TT are three products Danny MacAskill, the Scottish MTB wonder talent, reached with his youtube video “Way Back Home” more than that have all been winners in comparison 33 million clicks tests. The Race King 2.0 RS was awarded top place by Mountain Bike (issue 03/2013), whilst the Grand Prix 4000s II and the for everyday cycling, as shown by a comparison It is suitable for All Mountain bikes and Enduro Grand Prix TT were each top of their class test in the German aktiv Radfahren magazine: bikes with 140 mm or more suspension travel. in the RoadBike (issue 10/2013) test. The winner was the Top CONTACT II (1/2014). Available in ProTection format, these new models feature the latest Apex reinforced sidewalls, And the run of success by Continental’s tires New products for the new year RaceSport and UST technology. Continental has continued this year. The Grand Prix 4000s II To build on our unique position in the non- has new offerings for owners of city bikes won the „wider racing tires“ comparison test motorised two-wheel sector, Continental will and trekking bikes, too. The Classic RIDE is a in Tour (1/2014) magazine. Meantime, the Trail be launching several new products next year. very traditional, robust tire that offers excellent King versions 2.4 and 2.2 PT was the test win- Our 25 mm Grand Prix TT follows the trend puncture protection. It is now available in ner in Mountain Bike (8/2014). Mud King 1.8 PT for slightly wider racing tires. This dedicated creme, brown, grey or black, and uses the Britain’s Gee Atherton, right, and compatriot Manon was also a test winner in Mountain Bike 11/2014. race tire has been specially developed for original profile design that dates back to 1982. Carpenter celebrate their gold medals after the Elite But Continental doesn’t just make tires for time trials and triathlons. The Trail King 2.2 / 2.4 Downhill classes of the 2014 UCI Mountain Bike professional bike racers. We also make tires is our new model for heavy terrain.