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?

Now in its third year supporting elite cross country and marathon racer Kate Potter, Cotic Bontrager has supported Kate from a regular National level XC winner and solo 24hr racer to a fully fledged World Cup XC racer, with a World Championship appearance to boot. Each season, Cy and Kate and Ian sit down and try and figure out how to make Kate's Soda better. It is from these discussions that the latest frames have features and tube specifications that Kate has raced tested throughout the previous seasons. Simply put, racing improves the breed, and with Kate doing such big training and racing mileage, we're putting what we learn into the production frames and increasing our understanding so that all Cotic bikes are better as a result.

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. During her time with Cotic Bontrager, Kate has grown into a world class athlete, appearing in the top 50 in several World Cups, and representing Australia at the World Championships in Canberra in 2008. She's a superb ambassador for the sport, her sponsors and herself. She's married 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.

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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, team manager 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 makes sure Kate's bikes are in tip top condition for every race, does the deals, makes sure equipment is in the right place at the right time, and hopefully ensures the season runs smoothly.

Ian rides a Cotic Soda, a Cotic Hemlock, 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 designs all the frames that Kate rides.

Cy rides a Cotic Soul and a Cotic Hemlock.

Paul Dexter :: Mechanic and Team Support.

Paul is another massively experienced rider and mechanic, as well as a Cotic employee 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.