Gates Redefines High-Performance Racing with Historic UCI Downhill Racing Victory

Gates Industrial Corporation Ltd. (NYSE: GTES) announced a groundbreaking achievement in cycling: Harriet (Hattie) Harnden of AON Racing won the first-ever UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Series victory on a belt-driven bike, earning the €100,000 Gates Belted Purse. The race took place in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, France, with 20 elite riders competing on high-performance Gates Belt Drive systems. This milestone validates Gates' belief that belt drives are superior to traditional chain systems in demanding downhill racing conditions, offering smooth consistency and reduced maintenance. Harnden praised the Gates Belt Drive for its reliability, stating it allowed her to focus entirely on the race, a critical advantage in a sport where every second counts. The win reflects the collaborative efforts of Gates, AON Racing, and mechanics, engineers, and support crew. Chris Sugai, General Manager of Mobility at Gates, highlighted the achievement as a result of industry-wide collaboration and engineering innovation. Beyond racing, this victory underscores Gates' broader commitment to developing scalable, durable drivetrain solutions for mobility applications, including sports, commuter bikes, and micromobility platforms. The insights gained from this race are influencing new product development, enhancing durability, power transfer, and responsiveness across Gates' product line. As urbanization and electrification accelerate, Gates is positioning belt drives as the future of bicycle drivetrain technology.