A team’s value is worth more than just any individual rider and over the past decade, we have seen some incredible groups of riders come together to create something special. From Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar and Josh Bryceland on the Santa Cruz Syndicate to the stacked 2019 Commencal team, here are some of the legendary teams from the past decade.

1. Monster Energy Specialized: 2010-2011

After great success with Monster Energy/Iron Horse, 2009 marked a big move for Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough when the team switched frames to Specialized. Keeping the Monster Energy name, the team brought young Australian rider, Troy Brosnan, onboard and the team quickly proved its worth at the top of the sport when Troy took the Junior title and Sam took the Elite title at the World Championships at Mont-Sainte-Anne in 2010.

Both Brendan and Sam struggled with multiple injuries over the two seasons but also both delivered multiple World Cup podiums across the two years and both also finished in the top 10 at Worlds in Champery.

Coming into 2011, while still technically a junior, Troy took a huge step and from the third race of the year, broke into the top 20 in the world. That started a result streak that has seen him only ever drop outside the top 20 in races he has finished once. Troy would continue to bring the team success with another Junior World Championships title in 2011.

Riders: Sam Hill, Brendan Fairclough, Troy Brosnan

Three World Championship titles; Both Junior and Elite gold medal at the 2010 World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne

At the end of 2011, Brendan Fairclough would move on from the Monster Energy team and would join the Scott team for 2012. Both Troy and Sam would stick with the Monster Energy team for another year with Sam eventually moving onto his current team of CRC Nukeproof in 2013 and Troy staying on Specialized to race alongside Aaron Gwin.

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