South African cross-country (XC) superstar Alan Hatherly, the reigning elite men’s world champion and 2024 UCI World Cup overall winner, has joined the Giant Factory Off-Road Team for the 2025 season. The addition of Hatherly signals the team’s ambition to dominate XC racing on the global stage, building on its already strong momentum.

Hatherly’s 2024 season was nothing short of remarkable. In addition to clinching the world championship title and the World Cup overall, he earned a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Joining Giant marks an exciting new chapter for Hatherly, who will race under a combined program with Giant’s WorldTour road racing partner, Team Jayco AlUla. Alongside his mountain bike commitments, Hatherly will explore opportunities on the road, gaining valuable experience and testing his versatility as an athlete.

“I am incredibly excited for this new chapter in my cycling career. Combining road and MTB is new and refreshing, and I am really looking forward to where this journey can go.”

“I am incredibly excited for this new chapter in my cycling career and very grateful for the opportunity to ride for [Team Jayco AlUla ownership group] GreenEDGE Cycling for the next two seasons,” Hatherly said. “Combining road and MTB is new and refreshing, and I am really looking forward to where this journey can go.”

Hatherly leads a formidable XC roster for the Giant Factory Off-Road Team, which includes Belgian Olympian Jens Schuermans, Swiss U23 standout Dario Lillo, and Canadian XC talent Carter Woods. With this powerhouse lineup, the team is poised for strong results in the 2025 UCI World Cup series and other major international races.

All four XC athletes have their choice of race bikes depending on conditions and terrain. The Anthem Advanced 29 full-suspension bike is the go-to machine for technical courses and the XtC Advanced SL 29 hardtail is the choice for smooth, fast XC tracks.

Expanding Giant’s Winning Legacy

The Giant Factory Off-Road Team enters the 2025 season with a sharpened focus on XC and downhill (DH) racing. While the enduro program has been paused, the team has bolstered its DH squad with the addition of Canadian national champion Jakob Jewett and his younger brother, Dane Jewett, alongside returning riders Rémi Thirion of France and Luke Meier-Smith of Australia.

With Hatherly leading the XC charge and a deep talent pool across both disciplines, the Giant Factory Off-Road Team is set to continue its upward trajectory, aiming for podium finishes and championship victories throughout 2025.

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