Hattie Harnden secured her first-ever UCI MTB DH World Cup victory, while AON Racing team celebrated its first World Cup win — and they did it on a Gates belt-drive bike. With that historic win came another milestone: Harnden claimed the €100,000 Gates Belted Purse.

With its new H2 two-speed system, UTgear is moving from specialist belt-drive tools into drivetrain technology. For OEMs and dealers, the bigger story is the expertise behind it: making belt-drive bikes easier to build, service and repair.

Over the years, but consistently, belt drives have made their entry into the e-bike and bicycle market. Last year alone, Gates sold one million bicycle belts globally, demonstrating the increasing adoption of belt drive technology worldwide. What gave reason for this transition in drive systems? "The bicycle is becoming a more practical form of everyday transportation, and riders increasingly expect the same reliability and ease of use they receive from other mobility products," says Chris Sugai, General Manager, Mobility Business Unit at Gates Belt Drives.

From downhill racer to belt drive specialist, Frank Schneider from Universal Transmissions reflects on 15 years of product development, hands-on testing, and why real-world experience matters more than specifications.

At Eurobike, Gates Belt Drive showcases three new sprocket product families — Cruise, Cruise Plus, and Commute — designed to bring clean, durable and low-maintenance drivetrain technology to more bicycle categories. Alongside the launch, Gates highlights the European support network that helps OEMs turn belt drive innovation into market-ready bikes.

Downhill racing has always been the crucible for cycling innovation — a place where extreme terrain, speed, and stress test every component of the bike. For Gates, the pioneer of belt-driven drivetrains, this environment has acted as the ultimate proving ground.