Matti Lehikoinen has joined Pole Bicycles, to work directly with founder Leo Kokkonen on marketing and product development.
He said: “This will be a new and exciting chapter in my life, and I am eager to share my knowledge and work closely with the guys at Pole Bikes.
“We are both based in Finland, so it’s fascinating to see where this close relationship takes us.
“Pole is a rapidly growing company, and they are stepping up they’re game once again.
“We are launching Enduro Race Team soon to compete in the Enduro World Series.
“I will be in charge of the team as a manager. We will have a great roster of riders that are all young and talented guys.
"I believe that they are all capable of being top ten guys next year.
“The goal for the team is to be here for the long-term and to give these riders a solid and strong platform to build upon and improve their results.
“With my past experience, I think I can be a big help for the riders.
“I have been in their boots before, and I can relate to what it’s like to be out there on a tough day, and those are the moments when a rider needs the most help.
“Mountain biking is changing faster than ever, and I believe that together we can be part of a story that defines mountain biking in the future.”