Marin/Rabobank Takes Enduro Team to New Heights in 2016

Proving that 2015 was not a fluke, the this year’s Marin/Rabobank Enduro Team is off to an even stronger start in the California Enduro Series this year. Now halfway through the 2016 season, the top-ranked team boasting California-based riders holds the top spots for both the pro men and pro women categories. And they’re continuing their dominance at races on non-CES weekends, grabbing podiums at Sea Otter, TDS Enduro, and Ashland Spring Thaw.


Marin/Rabobank re-signed two pros from last year’s team: Evan Geankoplis, 24, who finished second overall in CES in 2015, and Brianne Spiersch, 31, who grabbed third overall.

Not letting off the throttle, in the off-season, the team signed 2015 CES champ Amy Morrison, 27, who had been in discussions with at least one other team. Next, the team went after SoCal standout Essence Barton, a 23-year-old who has had stellar performances in multiple disciplines at 2015’s Kamikaze Bike Games.



“Becoming a part of the team all stemmed through a simple conversation on supporting women athletes,” said Essence. “I am very passionate about women being able to excel in athletic disciplines with the proper support. Here with Marin/Rabobank, I am given just that. I am honored to be a part of a team that supports men and women athletes, and I can’t wait for the second half of the season.”

Marin/Rabobank also landed Cory Sullivan, 25, a NorCal shredder who, in 2015, landed multiple podiums and was in the hunt for CES’ overall until a shoulder injury sidelined him.


2016’s first CES event, Fontana, was telling. Evan won the men’s pro category by 16 seconds, providing a strong indicator that his improved fitness matched his technical skills. Cory Sullivan was fourth. No stranger to SoCal racing, Essence won the pro women’s category by a staggering 25 seconds. On this weekend, the highly anticipated matchup between teammates Essence and Amy did not materialize, with Amy dropping out with the flu. Brianne was tenth in pro women, with an illness, unfortunately, dominating her weekend.


At the second CES race, Battle Born Enduro in Reno, women’s pro Amy Morrison crushed the field by 43 seconds. Essence stood next to Amy on the podium with a third overall. Evan was second among the pro men, missing the top spot on the podium by less than one second. Cory, who was in fourth spot heading into the last stage, suffered a flat and ended up 16th.

Toro Park saw lots of Marin/Rabobank jerseys on the podium, with Amy and Essence taking first and second respectively in pro women, and Evan and Cory finishing second and fourth respectively in pro men. Brianne, who does most of her training at Toro and was expected to podium at CES’ third event, sat out, still fighting an illness.


The fourth round at China Peak further cemented the team’s dominance, with Evan and Amy both cinching second place finishes over the weekend, keeping both competitors atop the series overall pro men and pro women fields. The Marin/Rabobank Enduro Team continues to lead in points for the CES Team Competition.

Overall, the midpoint results in CES-sanctioned events in 2016 have been strong. In just their second season of collaboration, Marin and Rabobank are working hard to promote a focus on winning. Marin supplies each rider with multiple bikes; most riders have chosen the Attack Trail 9 all-mountain/Enduro machine and a Mount Vision 9 trail bike. Rabobank provides financial support including entry fees, travel, lodging, licenses, season passes and other equipment. Valued partners including E13, WTB, KMC, Sweet Protection, Bell Helmets and Analog Forest, all have having stepped up with great team support.

“Financial support cannot be underestimated,” states Matt VanEnkevort, CEO of Marin Bikes, “neither can team culture, which clearly has contributed to individual and collective successes in 2016.”

“We forged a relationship with Rabobank based more on a shared vision, and a great relationship between the people involved. Rabobank has a big investment in California and has cycling in their DNA. Marin is a bike company who has been in California for more than 30 years now. We wanted to have a team based in California, promoting California riders, and as a Marin-based company, I liked the plan, and the people behind it. Everyone wants to be involved with a winning program, but I prefer to be involved with winning people.”

If the mid-season results are any indicator, don’t be surprised if the Marin/Rabobank men and women are competing with each other for their overall championships.

Words by Chris Holmes, Brand Director, Marin Bikes, chris.holmes@marinbikes.com

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