Introducing Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Unconventional New Team Manager

Introducing Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Unconventional New Team Manager

April 6, 2026 · 1h 25m

About this episode

Rob Copeland discusses his unconventional transition from academia to managing the Santa Cruz Syndicate mountain bike team.

The Santa Cruz Syndicate has a new manager and it’s not necessarily who you’d expect. Rob Copeland’s background isn’t racing or the MTB industry, it’s psychology and academia, yet now he leads one of the most exciting teams in the sport. With years spent at Sheffield Hallam University studying performance and human behaviour, could Rob be the man to shake up how MTB teams are run? In this episode we dive into what drew him to the Syndicate, how he made the transition from academia to elite sport, what he’s already started implementing, and how he plans to lead some of the best athletes on the planet into the future. This is a conversation about vision, strategy, and the future of a team that’s looking to redefine mountain bike racing. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Rob Copeland. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here . Follow the Syndicate on Instagram @santacruzsyndicate and on YouTube here . Podcast Stuff Sponsoring Partners Santa Cruz Bicycles This episode is a paid partnership with Santa Cruz Bicycles who helped make this conversation possible. You can check out their entire range over at santacruzbicycles.com . Loam Pass Picture this, over 70…

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