Martin Maes and the Path That Defines Us

In downhill, as in life, greatness is not measured only in seconds.

It is measured in the ability to rise after every fall, in the strength to believe when everything seems lost, and in the determination to keep moving forward.

At Orbea, we believe in that path. And what we have experienced this season alongside Martin Maes is exactly that: a lesson in resilience, trust, and unwavering passion that reinforces our way of understanding cycling.

Our relationship with Martin has always been about more than results. From the very beginning, we were united by a way of working that goes beyond racing: the conviction that growth means sharing effort, constantly evolving, and believing in long-term projects.

In enduro, he was one of the world’s great references, but above all, he was a traveling companion.

With him we learned that bicycles are not built only in workshops, but also in the bond between those who design them and those who push them to the limit.

That is why we worked side by side with our engineers, bringing together ideas, learnings, and dreams to create machines that represent the best of a rider and the best of a brand.

When it was time to open a new chapter in downhill, that connection became even stronger.

In the first tests of the new DH bike, even before its launch, Martin was once again key in transforming sensations into technology and emotions into progress.

That way of working together not only gave life to a race-ready bike: it also strengthened a relationship built on trust and a shared ambition.

The start of 2025 put us to the test. Crashes and bad luck marked the first races and reminded us that the road to great results is never simple.

But they also reaffirmed something that is part of our identity: the importance of continuing to believe, even when everything feels uphill.

As a brand, we chose to work in silence, to remain firm in our values, to trust our people and our projects. Because we know that what matters is not avoiding the hits, but rising again after every one of them.

In Les Gets, we saw how all that work found its reward. On one of the most iconic stages of downhill racing, Martin turned months of shared effort into speed, confidence, and commitment. The clock confirmed it with an extraordinary second place.

A result that, for us, feels like a victory because it symbolizes much more than a fast run: it represents the strength of resilience, the value of trusting the process, and the reward of moving forward when the path gets tough.

At Orbea, we don’t see results as an end, but as a reflection of who we are. This achievement reminds us that being part of this family means believing in long-term projects, growing alongside those who share our vision, and always betting on the unity between rider, team, and brand.

Martin’s podium in Les Gets is his, without a doubt. But it also belongs to everyone who has been part of this journey: engineers, mechanics, teammates, and all the people within Orbea who share the same passion for bicycles.