Kate Courtney’s Elevating MTB

With four stages in some of the country's most beautiful landscapes, it was the perfect challenge for the former World Champion to dial in the fit and feel of her ALLIED BC40 XC mountain bike, connect with the MTB community, and kick off what she hopes will be a benchmark year on and off the bike.

Though just 29 years of age, the multi-time American champion's MTB career is already one we can easily envy. She learned mountain biking in Marin County, dropping a pin on the infamous Mt. Tamalpais as her first-ever ride, then raced on to capture two National titles, three World Cup wins, and the World Championships jersey. She makes winning on the bike look easy. But she knows it's not, and beyond that, she wants more people to realize how difficult it is for some to even get on a bike at all.

For 2025, Kate is focused on growing women's and girls' access to mountain biking by showing how competitive females race at the highest level of the sport. Racing under her She Sends Foundation, which promotes representation for women and girls, and inclusivity for all people who identify as female or non-binary, Kate is breaking free of the traditional racing-team format to take control of the script and amplify her mission for inclusivity through the power of mountain biking.

Getting a bike engineered with you in mind and specced to meet the demands of the trails is a big part of engineering passion and drive to ride. And that's what Kate loves about partnering with us.

"In building my new program, having the right equipment to chase my racing goals was one of the most important decisions. Before signing with ALLIED, I had the chance to test the BC40 and was blown away from my first ride. It ticked all the boxes of what I was looking for in a race bike—in particular, a stiffer platform with improved pedaling efficiency." —Kate Courtney

We designed BC40 for world-class performance on modern XC courses, and tuned it right here on its namesake, our legendary Back 40 trail in Bentonville, AR. It's a lightweight race bike with sharp handling, endless stamina, and the confidence to bomb into trail features other XC bikes might tuck tail and run from. It also fits 100mm, 110mm, or 120mm suspension setups, allowing you to customize your travel for fast to chunky terrain. Kate believes its high performance and versatility will be keys to being immediately competitive on the World Cup circuit.

"Having equipment you can trust is critical in being prepared for top-level events and allows more of your focus to go towards physical and mental preparation," she says.

We're stoked to get this journey started with you, Kate.

You can catch Kate racing her BC40 in this year's World Cup events, advocating for more women and girls in the sport, and building momentum towards her long-term goal in L.A. 2028.

Check out her full interview below.

ALLIED:  You just kicked off your 2025 in South Africa. How’d it go and what was the course like?

Kate: The Tankwa Trek was certainly not the big goal of the season—but it was an incredibly meaningful event for me as it was the first time I stood on a start line with She Sends across my jersey. It felt like the perfect challenge to start the season and keep making progress in my training as we build towards the first World Cup races in April.

This race was meant to be more of a training race for me as part of a camp with my coach and a few of his other athletes. Above all, the goal was to get a great training stimulus in and enjoy the unique opportunity to race with a partner. It was the perfect opportunity to find the fun and flow in a lower pressure race environment while also challenging myself in unfamiliar terrain.

Stage racing in South Africa is just plain rough. The terrain and heat are unforgiving and the routes extremely challenging. No matter your position in the race, there are no easy days out there as managing the terrain alone is enough of a challenge. Given the terrain, the Tankwa Trek was the perfect place to test my equipment before the world cup season begins and continue to dial in the fit and feel on my BC40.

 ALLIED: What does mountain biking mean to you? Can you describe your perfect riding experience?

Kate: From the first time I rode a mountain bike on Mount Tam, it opened up the world to me. It gave me a way to explore the places I love, connect with the people in my community and explore the limits of my capabilities. Above all, mountain biking is freedom.

ALLIED: Does partnering with us represent a shift in focus for you, or is this move a natural step in your evolution as a racer and representative in the MTB community? What makes us your bike sponsor of choice?

Kate: The opportunity to partner with Allied came out of a shift in my approach to racing this year. While my World Cup focus remains the same, starting my own program gave me the opportunity to think really critically about my equipment, environment and the partners I wanted to work with. Even before I connected with Allied, the idea of bringing an American brand to the World Cup start line was of course a dream. When I tried the bike and met the passionate people behind it, things quickly fell into place. I really feel it was the perfect fit between what Allied was looking for in an athlete and what I was looking for in both a bike and a partner to reach my goals on and off the bike.

ALLIED: You said it took 30 minutes on the BC40 to decide it was the bike for you. Can you describe that test ride? How is BC40 compared to other elite bikes you’ve raced?

Kate: In building my new program, having the right equipment to chase my racing goals was one of the most important decisions. Before signing with Allied, I had the chance to test the BC40 and was blown away from my first ride. It ticked all the boxes of what I was looking for in a race bike—in particular, a stiffer platform with improved pedaling efficiency. I am also incredibly excited about the possibility of being a part of the evolution of this bike. It is already more than competitive on the World Cup circuit, but I think it has the potential to be the best bike on the start line.

ALLIED: What are your competitive goals for 2025?

Kate: In 2025, I will be focused on the World Cup Series and World Championships XCO events.

ALLIED: What are some short- and long-term goals for your She Sends Foundation?

Kate: In both the short and long term, the goal is to grow the She Sends Foundation to contribute significantly to opportunities and inspiration for women and girls in the sport.

ALLIED: Bentonville is a hot spot for young riders to become involved with the sport. Will there be any links between She Sends and any grassroots programs here or in other parts of the country?

 Kate: I hope so! There are many amazing grassroots organizations working to get more girls on bikes in the Bentonville area, especially the Women of Oz. I would love to find more ways to empower and support their awesome work!

ALLIED: What is your BC40 setup for the World Cup Circuit? Or does it vary based on course?

Kate: We are still in the testing phase to dial in my setup! It will vary based on the course and conditions from one event to the next.

ALLIED: How does establishing your own team and a more hands-on relationship with a bike brand like Allied give you the edge in your competitive goals?

Kate: Running my own program certainly introduces some new responsibilities - but it also opens up so many opportunities to get an edge in reaching my competitive goals. One of the things I am most excited about in working with Allied is the chance to collaborate closely with the product and marketing teams. It is so clear to me that everyone at Allied has a deep love for the sport and a desire to think creatively to make the best bikes possible—and do anything they can to help their athletes win on them.  

ALLIED: You maintain physical and mental health as priorities in life and in competition. Do the BC40’s capabilities assure you that it’s ready for race-day so you can focus more on preparing your mind and body for the event?

Kate: Having equipment you can trust is critical in being prepared for top level events and allows more of your focus to go towards physical and mental preparation.

ALLIED: In your eyes, what makes the BC40 ready for the World Cup? Is it a bike destined for rainbows?

Kate: There are quite a few elements that go into making a top level race bike and the BC40 checks all of the boxes.

ALLIED: When you think about mountain biking 5–10 years from now, where do you hope to see the sport and the community?

Kate: I hope that access and opportunity continues to expand in our sport. Beyond racing, I think the mental and physical benefits of getting outside on a bike can change people’s lives. For young girls in particular, the bike can be a source of freedom, an opportunity to build confidence and a way to connect with others. Seeing more women and girls represented in our sport is something I am committed to contributing to in the coming years!