Santa Cruz htSQD
An XC team bent on doing things differently, Santa Cruz htSQD comprises three riders with three distinct styles – each with ambitions to be competitive at cross-country races and one with an eye on the Olympics.
03 June 2021
SANTA CRUZ HTSQD
In a year of firsts, we’ve decided to stick to the theme – partnering with Santa Cruz htSQD to outfit their riders for the upcoming cross-country MTB season. A category we’ve been involved with before through former Canyon//SRAM rider and world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, cross-country racing is a discipline more closely related to cyclocross and road, and the only discipline included in the Olympic Games.
The Santa Cruz htSQD roster represents some of the finest MTB talent in North America, with their sights firmly set on the biggest XC races on the calendar. For 27-year-old Arizonan Keegan Swenson, the Olympics beckon – named as a rider on USA Cycling’s MTB long list for the 2021 games. Alexis Skarda rounds off the trio with her all-round approach to MTB racing. A World Cup veteran, she’s bringing her professional experience to a mixed schedule of XC and exciting ultra events this year.
In Tobin Ortenblad, htSQD has its very own chameleon – equally adept on the cyclocross course as he is at XC. An under-23 national champion in the former, he’s looking to make his mark on the latter, racing hard in the flat bar scene this season
Keep an eye on the US CUP cross-country schedule for the team’s head-turning kit, along with the start line at the 2021 Olympic Games.
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