Irmiger signs with Subaru-Gary Fisher

Breakout rider and newlywed (to U.S. Cross Country National Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski) Heather Irmiger recently inked her first factory deal; with JHK's Subaru-Gary Fisher team. The Boulder, Colorado racer, who won her first NORBA cross country in Brian Head, Utah in 2005, was previously sponsored by Tokyo Joe's and Schwalbe.

"I began discussing plans for next year with the team at Brian Head, but really began nailing down details between Mammoth and Interbike," she said on Thursday. "My general program for 2006 will be to race the full NORBA national schedule along with major races such as Sea Otter." Irmiger also says she hopes to "dabble in a few world cups, looking toward the Olympics in 2008" but her actual schedule is yet to be determined. Irmiger says the move will allow her to focus full time on racing in 2006.