Aaron Gwin off YT for 2019 World Cup season

YT Mob parts ways with Gwin and Neko Mulally for 2019 season

Terry McKall December 21, 2018

Despite the abismal conditions American Aaron Gwin managed to put down an amazing run and take the win. — Aaron Gwin on his way to winning 2017 Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup, one of last year’s most memorable finishes. Photo: Matt Stetson

After three years, Aaron Gwin and Neko Mulally are parting ways with YT Industries.

Between 2016 and 2018, the Gwin and Mulally racked up 14 podiums, six wins and two World Cup Overall titles.

Having the two top level American racers on YT bikes certainly helped establish the YT Mob as one of the big names in downhill racing. The company’s press release announcing the departure wasn’t clear whether the team would continue to have the same presence in the Men’s elite ranks going forward, though.

“Now is the time to go back to the core and take the gained knowledge to our roots,” YT CEO Markus Flossmann said in a press release announcing the change. “Pass it on to the next generation, identify the next Young Talents and redefine the rules once again.”

Neither Gwin or Mulally have made any announcement about where they will be racing in the coming year. With YT out of the mix, there’s only a few teams that could afford to add the five-time World Cup overall winner to their roster without making big changes to their line up.

La Bresse World Cup Finals Downhill DH — Valentina Höll at La Bresse. Image: Bartek Wolinski/Red Bull Content Pool

While Gwin and Mulally may be gone, it’s not the end of the YT Mob on the World Cup circuit entirely. YT still supports Valentina Höll. The Austrian junior dominated the downhill circuit this season, winning the junior women’s World Cup overall and junior UCI downhill world championships in her first year of international racing. Höll isn’t just fast for a junior, either. Her times have already been faster than many of the elite women.