November 17, 2012 – Cannondale is happy to announce its partnership with Team Sho-Air Inc. and launch Sho-Air/Cannondale. Operating out of Southern California. Sho-Air/Cannondale will be Cannondale’s North American arm of its global mountain bike race category. The team will represent Cannondale’s factory mountain bike efforts in North America and will support the Cannondale Factory Racing Team during their North American World Cup appearances.

The Sho-Air/Cannondale force will consist of professionals Max Plaxton, Pua Mata, Alex Grant, Jeremiah Bishop, Tinker Juarez, and Manny Prado as team support. Before joining Sho-Air /Cannondale, Grant, Bishop, and Juarez were members of Cannondale Factory Racing. Also featured on the team will be motorsports legends Eric Bostrom and Josh Hayes. The team will be managed by five-time amateur National Champion and Director of Team Operations, Tyson Kady.

Plaxton is a five-time National Champion, two-time Pan-American Champion, and was awarded a Bronze Medal at the 2006 U-23 World Championships. Juarez has represented the U.S. in two Olympics, is a three-time U.S. Cross-Country National Champion, and is a four-time U.S. 24-Hour National Champion. Bishop has led the U.S. National Team on seven occasions, including his gold medal winning performance in the 2003 Pan American Games and his eighth place finish at the 2006 World Championships. Mata is the reigning USAC PRO XCT, PRO UET and Marathon National Champion. Most recently, Mata placed first in the La Ruta de Los Conquistadores race in Costa Rica, her first ever attempt. Grant placed second on the men’s side, his third second place finish in the past four years.

Sho-Air/Cannondale will be riding the Cannondale Scalpel 29’er and the Cannondale F29. With 100mm front and rear travel, the Cannondale Scalpel 29’er possesses Cannondale’s unique Lefty fork, along with unstoppable 29’er momentum with the quickness and agility of a 26’er. The hardtail F29 features an ultra-light, ultra-stiff frame and 29’er Race Geometry for relentless momentum with the weight and agility benefits of a 26″ bike.