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Colin Strickland on his bicycle
Colin Strickland is losing sponsors amid the investigation into Moriah Wilson's death. (Photo: Sean Berry/Red Bull Content Pool )

Sponsors Cut Ties with Colin Strickland Following Death of Moriah Wilson

Specialized and Rapha parted ways with the elite cyclist. Police have accused Strickland鈥檚 girlfriend and business partner, Kaitlin Armstrong, of murdering Wilson.

Published: 
from VeloNews.com
Colin Strickland on his bicycle
(Photo: Sean Berry/Red Bull Content Pool )

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Pro cyclist has lost multiple sponsors amid the Moriah Wilson murder investigation.

Strickland, 35, became a central figure in the case after police accused his girlfriend and business partner, Kaitlin Armstrong, of shooting and killing Wilson in Austin, Texas, on May 11. According to an arrest affidavit distributed by the Austin police, Strickland told police that he and Wilson had pursued a romantic relationship in 2021 during a break in his relationship with Armstrong. Strickland also told police that he had purchased a nine-millimeter handgun for Armstrong in December, which investigators believe was used in the killing.

In response to these details, component brand Enve Composites, bicycle company Specialized, and apparel brand Rapha all cut ties with Strickland.

鈥淲e were horrified to learn about Moriah Wilson鈥檚 death and as more details continue to come out in the media, the shock and sadness deepens,鈥 reads a statement from Enve Composites. 鈥淗er murder and subsequent details regarding her death have been hard to process and as an industry, we鈥檙e left in a position we鈥檝e never been in before. After speaking with Colin, we鈥檝e mutually agreed to end the contract and partnership. We hope that Moriah鈥檚 family and the cycling world as a whole are able to heal in time.鈥

Another sponsor, Allied Cycle Works, distanced itself from Strickland in a comment provided to听痴别濒辞狈别飞蝉.听

鈥淕iven the circumstances, Colin Strickland is not expected to represent Allied at future races,鈥 the comment said.

Specialized, which sponsored Strickland鈥檚 helmet, shoes, tires, and mountain bike, was the first brand to cut ties with him. It released a statement on Saturday, May 21, parting ways with Strickland.

鈥淗e will no longer be a sponsored athlete for the brand,鈥 a statement said.

Rapha, Strickland鈥檚 clothing sponsor since January 2020, issued an updated statement on Tuesday.

鈥淟ike many, we have been following the news around the incredibly tragic death of gravel and mountain bike prodigy and prominent member of the American cycling听肠辞尘尘耻苍颈迟测,听Moriah 鈥楳o鈥 Wilson. We are deeply saddened byher senseless death and we are sending our condolences to Mo鈥檚 family and friends. In light of recent events we have mutually agreed to end our partnership with Colin Strickland with immediate effect.鈥

In addition to providing apparel, Rapha provided Strickland with a 鈥渟ponsorship fee,鈥 but the brand would not detail that amount. Strickland鈥檚 contract with the brand was signed through the end of 2022.

Strickland is also sponsored by energy-drink company Red Bull.

On Monday,听VeloNews contacted Red Bull and received an email from a senior communications manager that read, 鈥渢hank you for reaching out. This is a matter for the authorities.鈥 The representative declined further comment. Another one of Strickland鈥檚 sponsors, the Austin, Texas, caf茅 The Meteor, also declined to provide plans about its future relationship with Strickland. The Meteor also sponsored Wilson.

Chris St. Peter, cofounder of The Meteor, told VeloNews, 鈥渨e have no other comments at this time, other than we mourn Mo鈥檚 tragic death and extend our deepest condolences to her family.鈥

An arrest warrant was issued for Armstrong on May 19, and and being sought by the U.S. marshals.

filed by the Travis County District Court on the same day, Strickland spoke about his relationships with both Armstrong and Wilson in a voluntary interview. Strickland said he was with Wilson in the hours leading up to her death on May 11.

The affidavit reveals the two went swimming at the Deep Eddy pool in Austin and afterward ate at Pool Burger. The affidavit states that Strickland dropped Wilson off at the friend鈥檚 house where she was staying and left without entering the house.

Minutes later, a car registered to Armstrong pulled up. About an hour and a half later, Wilson鈥檚 friend returned home to find the 25-year-old shot to death, the affidavit read.

Strickland told police he had not seen Armstrong since May 13. He has not been charged with a crime, and he issued a statement saying he has fully cooperated with authorities. The statement, issued to the Austin American-Statesman on May 20, said he felt 鈥渢ortured about my proximity to this horrible crime.鈥

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Lead Photo: Sean Berry/Red Bull Content Pool

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