Introducing Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Unconventional New Team Manager

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 epic mountain bike destinations across North and South America. Two free days at each, a third at half price, and no blackout dates. Just you, your bike, and an endless world of trails. Even better, there’s loads of new spots to explore this year, including Highland in New Hampshire and KRB in New Mexico. Well that’s what you get with Loam Pass . For just $250, you unlock over 100 days of riding across top bike parks, shuttles, and trail systems. Whether you’re chasing park laps or finding hidden gems, it’s got you covered. But don’t hang around, that early bird price ends May 1st 2026. Head to loampass.com, grab your pass, and start planning those road trips. PNW Components This episode is sponsored by PNW Components . I’ve been riding their Loam Carbon Handlebar and have been impressed with the ride quality, maintaining a positive steering feel, while reducing the vibration you feel through the bar. Tested to the highest standards, shaped to give you all day comfort with modern bike geo and with a lifetime warranty. It’s no surprise that it’s fast become PNW’s best selling product. Check them out at pnwcomponents.com . Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular  Patreon  donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head  here . Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at  downtimepodcast.com/shop . Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at  downtimepodcast.com/newsletter .

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Introducing Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Unconventional New Team Manager is an episode from Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast by Downtime MTB.

This episode is 1:25:14 long.

This episode was published on Apr 7, 2026.

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