Traditional chain-driven drivetrains have been a staple of downhill bikes on the World Cup circuit since the sport was born but chain malfunctions are still rife. Although that adds to the excitement, take Aaron Gwin's outstanding win at Leogang in 2015, belt drives appear to be a solution. As a result, Gates is poised to set downhill alight, offering €100,000 to the first person to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup using a Gates belt-drive system.

• SRAM MTB drivetrains 2024: SX to XX SL explained
• microSHIFT Advent drivetrain review
• SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission groupset review

Belt drives are used in a plethora of applications but they're yet to be widely adopted in mountain biking. They're resistant to stretching and corrosion, and, because they're a single piece, there's no opportunity for a link to weaken. 

Gates says that there's also a whole host of benefits when used with a gearbox on a bike. The brand states that the combination provides riders better control, balance and handling as there's less unsprung mass at the rear wheel and that mass is concentrated towards the centre of the bike. All of this reduces rebound forces when riding.

Belt drives and gearboxes aren't commonly used in mountain biking, let alone downhill, where bikes need to be as durable as possible – however, Gates has raised the stakes with the Gates Belted Purse Prize.

The Gates Belted Purse Prize awards a whopping €100,000 to the first elite rider to win a UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup race using a Gates belt-driven bike. 

"With the advancements Gates has achieved through materials science and engineering innovation, the time has come to make history. Gates intends to show that the benefits of belt drives and advanced gearing solutions are applicable at the highest levels of mountain bike racing. And along with sport fans around the world, we’re eager for the 2024 UCI downhill races as the Gates Carbon Drive Prize adds to the excitement.” - Chris Sugai, General Manager, Gates Global Mobility.

Will this kickstart a new era of downhill bike design? 

• www.gatescarbondrive.com

You might also like:

• Cyclo-cross vs gravel bike: what are the differences?
• MTB enduro racing for beginners
• off-road Opinion - E-bikes aren't a menace, it's all about trail etiquette