Raphaël Gagné joins Europe-based Silverback OMX Pro Team for 2018

Raphaël Gagné is the first rider announced to the new Silverback OMX Pro Team for the 2018 XCO season. The Canadian racer from Quebec City has signed with the Europe-based UCI World Cup team for three years, meaning Silverback OMX will be his home team throughout his quest to return to the Olympics in 2020. Gagne represented Canada at Rio in 2016, his first Olympic appearance.

For 2018, Silverback bikes has stepped up into a title sponsor role in the renamed Silverback OMX Pro Team. Gagné is looking forward to the new team environment, saying that “joining a European based UCI World Cup team with years of experience is very positive.” Both parties hope the step up to a team with experience supporting a full World Cup season will help Gagné achieve better international results, including a return to the Olympics when they land in Tokyo in 2020. The team will be racing on Silverback’s SBC Sesta model full suspension XC bike.

For 2018, Gagné is planning on racing a full World Cup calendar with Silverback OMX, targeting results in the top 15. His ultimate goal is to improve on his sixth place at Windham World Cup round in 2015 and move into the top five at a World Cup. The 2015 national champion has represented Canada before on multiple occasions, winning a gold medal at the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto, as well as racing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and multiple world championships and World Cup events.

Silverback OMX is a well established cross-country mountain bike team based in Britain. It’s goal is to become the top ranked UCI XCO team, starting with a new-look 2018 rider roster.  OMX saw great success in 2017, with team leader Annie Last winning Lenzerheide World Cup round and a historic silver medal at Cairns mountain bike world championships. Last has moved to KMC Ekoi SR Suntour Team for 2018, after several years at OMX.