Welcome to the Cotic Bontrager Race Team homepage. This is where you will find all the information about our activities this season, the people involved and information about our sponsors and partners.
Why Race?
This is Cotic's first racing effort (now in its third year supporting elite cross country and marathon racer Kate Potter), and as a company who were firmly ensconced in the trail rider market, why did we start a race team? Well, firstly there was the matter of perception of our Soda model. This frame is capable of taking a beating and using long travel forks, but due to careful design it only weighs 3lb in the small size, and we felt it could make the basis of a fantastic race bike, as Kate has already set about proving. Secondly, there was the matter of racing improving the breed. We want to move into other areas of the market, and the shear mileage Kate racks up on her racing and guiding duties make her a fantastic durability tester, and developing frames for racing use pushes us to produce frames that are a light and durable as they can be. For this reason, Kate rides a lightweight, short travel full suspension prototype (dubbed the KP24, for now!) on rougher courses across Europe, Australia, Canada and possibly South Africa in order to ensure that if we do bring it to market it's the best it can be. Finally, Kate is a fantastic athlete, and we felt that a focused effort just on her would reap benefits by not having to ask sponsors for too much, or spread a budget too thin. As a result, we have a fantastically well supported team, where Kate has all the equipment and support that an elite athlete should expect. In short, it meant we could do it right.
Team Members:
A few people have asked why we're calling this a 'Team' when we only have one rider. Well, it takes a good deal of effort to ensure an Elite athlete is able to compete at the highest level, so as well as Kate Potter, here are the people who will be contributing to the success of the Cotic Bontrager Race Team this season...
Kate Potter :: Athlete.
Kate is the person who makes it all happen on the race track. She's now into her 5th season of top level competition and has gone from strength to strength since joining Cotic late in 2006 in order to race in her native Australia, where she took 2nd overall in their NPS and a bronze medal at their Aussie National Champs. Kate first came to prominence on the race scene in 2004 by winning the first 24hr solo race she ever entered, the Shimano Sleepless in the Saddle, and soon established herself as a formidable competitor at the ultra distance events. In 2005 she also diversified into short course XC racing in the UK NPS, and in 2006 came second in her category with her then team mate in the TransAlp. Cy has known Kate for some time now, as she's wife to Cotic test pilot Ian Potter, and co-owns AQR Holidays.
She will campaign the 2009 and 2010 season for the Cotic Bontrager Race Team, competing in the UK National Points Series, World Cup Series across Europe and Canada, plus select mountain bike stage races and road cycling events.
Kate races a Cotic Soda titanium hardtail with Bontrager Wheelworks and Components throughout, as well as a prototype Cotic full suspension frame (called the KP24) designed for her use in the ultra distance events. When on guiding/skills training duties with AQR Holidays, Kate will be riding a fully Bontrager equipped Cotic Soul.
You can keep up with Kate's progress on her blog.
Ian Potter :: Mechanic and Skills Coach.
Ian is Kate's husband, but also her race support and skills tutor. Ian is an extremely experienced mountain bike guide, and spends most of the year riding the wheels off bikes in the mountains around Luchon in the Pyrenees for AQR Holidays. He has been instrumental in Kate's progression as a rider and athlete, and as Cotic's main test pilot he also knows Cotic bikes inside out. Ian will be working the pit at most of the UK NPS races, as well as Mountain Mayhem making sure Kate and her bikes are in the best condition for each and every race.
Ian rides a Cotic Soda, and whatever prototype frame Cy throws at him at the start of each season!
Cy Turner :: Team Coordinator, Bike Designer.
As the man behind Cotic, Cy does the deals, makes sure equipment is in the right place at the right time, and hopefully ensures the season runs smoothly. When he's not doing that, he's designing the frames that Kate races, amongst other things. Cy will be attending the ultra distance events this season to ensure Kate and Ian have the support they need throughout the day and night.
Cy rides a Cotic Soul when he's not riding development bikes.
Paul Dexter :: Mechanic and Team Support.
Paul is another massively experienced rider and mechanic, as well as a Cotic test rider and AQR Holidays guide. He is Kate's race support when Ian has guiding duties. Paul is also part of the pit crew along with Ian and Cy at the ultra distance events.
Paul rides a Cotic Soul and one of the new KP24 prototypes.
Photo Credits:
photo of Kate after the Tour De France VTT 2008 by Kelvin Owers
photo of Kate riding at Sherwood Pines NPS 2007 by Joolze Dymond
photo of Ian outside the workshop in Luchon in 2006 by Kelvin Owers
photo of Cy at Mountain Mayhem 2003 by Niall Flinn
photo of Paul relaxing in Luchon in 2007 by Niall Flinn
Kate is the person who makes it all happen on the race track. She's now into her 5th season of top level competition and has gone from strength to strength since joining Cotic late in 2006 in order to race in her native Australia, where she took 2nd overall in their NPS and a bronze medal at their Aussie National Champs. Kate first came to prominence on the race scene in 2004 by winning the first 24hr solo race she ever entered, the Shimano Sleepless in the Saddle, and soon established herself as a formidable competitor at the ultra distance events. In 2005 she also diversified into short course XC racing in the UK NPS, and in 2006 came second in her category with her then team mate in the TransAlp. Cy has known Kate for some time now, as she's wife to Cotic test pilot Ian Potter, and co-owns AQR Holidays.
Ian is Kate's husband, but also her race support and skills tutor. Ian is an extremely experienced mountain bike guide, and spends most of the year riding the wheels off bikes in the mountains around Luchon in the Pyrenees for AQR Holidays. He has been instrumental in Kate's progression as a rider and athlete, and as Cotic's main test pilot he also knows Cotic bikes inside out. Ian will be working the pit at most of the UK NPS races, as well as Mountain Mayhem making sure Kate and her bikes are in the best condition for each and every race.
As the man behind Cotic, Cy does the deals, makes sure equipment is in the right place at the right time, and hopefully ensures the season runs smoothly. When he's not doing that, he's designing the frames that Kate races, amongst other things. Cy will be attending the ultra distance events this season to ensure Kate and Ian have the support they need throughout the day and night.
Paul is another massively experienced rider and mechanic, as well as a Cotic test rider and AQR Holidays guide. He is Kate's race support when Ian has guiding duties. Paul is also part of the pit crew along with Ian and Cy at the ultra distance events.
