Dorval AM Commencal is a smaller World Cup team, but one with an outsizes impact on downhill racing. So it is surprising to hear that the very successful squad will cease operations at the end of the 2024 season.
The team announced Wednesday that this would be its last season.
“DORVAL AM has to step away from the sport and as a small team, we were unable to find another sponsor and get enough budget to keep racing at this level,” the team posted in an statement. “We will finish the season like there is no tomorrow and we will see where the waves are leading our staff and riders.”
That ends an incredible 11-year run for the squad. During that time, Camille Blaanche earned a world championship title and a World Cup overall title, the team won five more world championship medals and landed on 42 World Cup podiums. That includes five World Cup wins, like Benoit Coulanges’ stunning win at home last year in Les Gets.
The current roster includes Blanche, Coulanges, Monika Hrastnik – who was recently on the podium this year in Val di Sole – and Baptiste Pierron. There is no news yet where any of the four will ride next season.
Dorval AM Commencal is the latest in a series of closures for long-standing teams. Madison Saracen recently announced it would end it’s decade-plus run. GT Factory Racing closed at the end of 2023.
Dorval AM team statement
After 11 successful years racing DH all over the world, it’s time to pull the curtain on this amazing adventure for the Dorval AM racing team.
Claude Pierré started the team in 2013 with the idea to help bring young riders to the races. One of them was Benoit. There was very little hopes and budget, and they had to fight to make the team what it is today. Allowing us to race full seasons. A decade later, we’ve proudly been at the top of the World rankings, winning World Championships in Junior and Elite category, many European & National titles, winning World Cups and a season overall with Camille in 2022. Everyone in the team will keep these memories deep in their hearts. Passion is key, and we always had this as our priority, pushing all in the same direction.
Now it’s time to change direction. DORVAL AM has to step away from the sport and as a…
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