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Haley Smith, Peter Disera return to Norco Factory Team XC ranks for 2017

Disera's brother, Quinton, will also join the team this season

Haley Smith

Norco Bicycles has announced the roster of the 2017 Norco Factory Team, following a trail of successes its riders have blazed through the North American circuit. This year, competing for the first time as part of the full UCI World Cup circuit — along with a few prestigious North American events, of course — the squad will be welcoming back a pair of veteran names, while introducing some powerhouse talent

For 2017, Haley Smith and Peter Disera will be rolling out in Norco Factory Team colours once again. Disera’s brother, Quinton, will also join the team’s ranks.

A four-year veteran of the Norco Factory Team, 2017 will be the second season for Haley Smith as part of the Elite Women’s field. Last season, Smith took top honours at the 2016 XCO Mountain Bike Canada Cup Series, after a blistering series finale victory in Whistler, B.C. At the XCO Canadian championships, meanwhile, Smith placed fourth.

“I’ve been with Norco for the past five seasons,” Smith said, “and it has been a privilege to grow as an athlete alongside the program. Everything about Norco feels like home: the people, the bikes, the camaraderie. I’m elated to be transitioning to a World Cup program with the team; it really is a dream come true.”

Peter Disera, too, is embarking on his fourth season in a Norco Factory Team saddle — and for the Canadian all-’rounder, 2017 is also expected to be a big year.

Peter Disera
Peter Disera at the 2013 world mountain bike championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

“I am stoked to be a part of the Norco Factory Team for the 2017 season,” Disera said, looking back at a 2016 season that saw him win the U23 Men’s XCO Canadian championship, a win at the third round of last season’s Canada Cup competition, and a fourth-place overall finish in overall Canada Cup series rankings. To top off an astounding 2016 in Disera’s other disciplines, he also took the U23 cyclocross Canadian championship, while turning in one strong performance after another as part of the H&R Block Pro Cycling road squad.

“This year,” Disera said, “is going to be great with Haley Smith holding it down on the women’s side, [and] Quinton and I on the men’s side.”

“I am super excited to be joining the Norco Factory Team,” Quinton said, calling it one of his long-term goals. “I couldn’t think of anywhere else I would want to start my U23 years with.” As he kicks off that new momentum, Quinton looks back at a second-place Junior Expert finish at the XCO Canadian championships in 2016, riding for Team Ontario/Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau, as well as a second-place finish at the 2016 U23 cyclocross Canadian championships.

“It’s an honour to team up with Haley Smith and my brother Peter,” Quinton said. “I cannot wait to get this year started!”

Quinton Disera
Quinton Disera

According to Kevin Haviland, the team co-ordinator for the Norco cross-country squad, the team is putting its best power at the front of the pack as it bursts on to the World Cup stage, and has some towering goals as 2020 draws nearer. “We believe that Haley, Peter and Quinton all have the talent to be successful on the world stage,” Haviland said, “and elevating the Norco Factory Team program to the World Cup level will provide them the opportunity to develop as we approach the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.”

Once again, Norco Factory Team will be riding the SRAM-equipped Norco Revolver, outfitted with Kenda tires.