Welcome back to the #1 MTB newsletter brought to you by RECON, mountain biking’s fastest growing media brand and online store.

On today's ride:

•  🏁 A tough Mudder in Les Gets France 2025

•  🍟 XCO is back: Fast legs in France!

•  🍎 Classic: Preview Champery DH World Champs

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👇 Quick Picks

✅ Camille Balanche Announces Retirement

Camille Balanche is calling it a day. The Swiss rider just announced on Instagram that this season will be her last after her brain injury from 2023 is still holding her back. After the World Cup in Les Gets, she revealed that the World Champs in Champéry will mark the end of her career. Balanche has been one of the consistent names in women’s downhill over the past years, stacking up wins and podiums. Before hanging up her number plate, she’ll still line up at Worlds and the final three World Cups in Switzerland, the US, and Canada.

💥Enduro World Championships - Rude and Hoskin won!

The Enduro World Championships returned to Switzerland for the second time, serving up stunning alpine trails and all-out racing. Riders tackled six brutal stages spread across two days, with every second counting in the hunt for the rainbow jersey. After tight battles and big risks on the descents, Richie Rude powered his way to the men’s title, while Ellie Hoskin claimed the women’s crown. Both riders now wear the rainbow stripes as the newly crowned world champions in enduro.

🏁 Riders Favourite: The Castle Ride Premiere

The Castle Ride went down in pure style. The riders smashed the unique course, which winds straight through the old castle walls, and turned the event into a full-on MTB showcase. The winner Johannes Fischbach brought his trademark speed and control, while his teammate Lukas Huppert impressed with flow and creativity. Together, they set the tone for the whole competition and proved why they’re among the strongest names in the scene right now. Fans lined the course and got exactly what they came for: a mix of racing vibes, big tricks, and the unbeatable castle atmosphere - and two new kings of the Castle Ride. 👑🔥

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RACING

🔥 Les Gets Goes Off (Again) — Mud, Madness & Downhill at Its Best

When the World Cup comes to Les Gets, you just know it’s going to be chaos, and 2025 delivered in full. Cold rain, a track that turned into a mud pit, thousands of screaming fans, and results that shook up the season. Forget just the podiums, the real winner this weekend was downhill itself.

👶 Juniors - The Future Is Here

Even before the elites dropped in, the juniors lit up the hill. Conditions were brutal: cold, soaking rain, and a track that looked more like a swamp than a World Cup course. But Rosa Zierl didn’t blink. The Austrian Cube rider kept things mostly upright and once again proved she’s the rider to beat. Holding off Aletha Ostgaard and Cassandre Peizerat, Zierl stretched her overall lead and showed she’s building something special this season.

The men’s junior race was even more electric. All eyes were on French prodigy Max Alran, who had already shocked everyone in quali with a time quicker than the elites. The pressure was insane: home crowd, rain pouring, expectations sky-high. But Alran was ice cold. He rode smooth, confident, and dropped a 3:56 run, not only crushing the junior field by four seconds but clocking the fastest run of the entire day. Asa Vermette slotted into second, with Tyler Waite in third, a podium that’s becoming a regular sight in the juniors.

👩‍🚵 Elite Women - Hemstreet’s Breakthrough

If the juniors set the tone, the elite women brought the drama. The big storyline this year has been the duel between Vali Höll and Gracey Hemstreet. Vali has been the consistent force, leading the overall but still searching for a statement win. Gracey, meanwhile, has been riding like every run is win-or-crash.

In Les Gets, the track was hard for everybody and Gracey made it count. She sent a near-flawless run, aggressive but controlled, and dropped into the hot seat with a time that looked unbeatable. All that stood between her and victory was Vali, the last woman down the hill. The crowd roared, chainsaws blared, and the pressure was suffocating. But Vali couldn’t keep her speed her whole run, after she was the fastest till the last sectors. It was heartbreak for Höll, but pure joy for the Canadian. Vali is still learning the Overall tough!

And then came Marine Cabirou. Just months after breaking her back, the French rider stormed back with a wild, fearless run that landed her in second place. The comeback vibes were off the charts — proof once again that Cabirou is one of the toughest riders in the game.

👨‍🚵 Elite Men - The Irish Takeover

Then came the men’s final, and for once, it wasn’t all about the French. After years of home dominance in Les Gets, it was Ireland’s turn to shine. Ronan Dunne had been on fire in practice all week, and when it mattered, he rode like a man possessed. Fast, stylish, loose but in control, his run looked different from everyone else’s. Crossing the line nearly three seconds up, Dunne claimed his second career World Cup win and announced himself as a true title contender for Champery, where he practiced a lot during this summer.

Behind him, Martin Maes showed that his La Bresse elite win a years ago was no fluke, backing it up with another strong second place on Flat Pedals. Andi Kolb rounded out the podium, a result that sets him up perfectly heading into World Champs and his slide after the finish is already legendary.

And the French? For once, they weren’t the stars of the show. Loïc Bruni kept things safe and salvaged a fifth place, important for the overall. Amaury Pierron was on a Winning run but crashed hard, while Rémi Thirion, last man down, couldn’t knock Dunne off the hot seat. For the first time in years, Les Gets belonged to someone else than a french winner. 2002 Steve Peat was the Last non-french winner Here!

🎉 Chaos Level: Les Gets

And then there was the atmosphere. Les Gets did what only Les Gets can do: the race ended in total anarchy - as usual. Fans flooded the track, waving flags, spraying beer, setting off flares, and hugging riders. Chainsaws roared, mud became a dance floor, and the whole mountain turned into a festival. The best part? Despite the chaos, it was nothing but positive vibes — thousands of people celebrating downhill in the purest way possible.

RECONs Take:
Last weekend had everything: juniors proving the future is in good hands, emotional comebacks in the women’s field, an Irish takeover in the men’s, and a crowd that once again proved why Les Gets is the heartbeat of the World Cup. It was messy, it was unpredictable, and it was unforgettable — exactly what downhill should be.

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RACING

Sunshine, Speed & A Home Victory That Shook XCO Les Gets

After the mud-slinging downhill chaos earlier in the week, the cross-country racers got a little luck from the weather gods. The Les Gets course dried out, the sun came back, and what followed was pure fireworks across all categories. From rising U23 talent to dominant performances in the elites, it was a weekend that had everything — capped by a dream home win for France.

🌱 U23: Rising Stars Step Up

The U23 races lit up the French Alps. In the women’s field, Italy’s Valentina Corvi powered through the climbs and controlled the descents to secure a confident victory. Over in the men’s race, Finn Treudler of Germany proved he’s a name to watch, riding smart and fast for the win.

For the German camp, the excitement didn’t end there. Benjamin Krüger scored back-to-back silver medals in both Short Track and XCO — consistency that could carry serious weight going into Worlds. Momentum is building.

👩 Elite Women: Rissveds in a League of Her Own

The women’s race started fast and furious, with attacks flying from the opening lap. But once Jenny Rissveds hit the front, the race was effectively over. The Swede won also the XCC Race and was untouchable, opening up a gap that stretched beyond a minute by the finish.

Even a sketchy moment — where a mechanical forced her briefly off the marked course — couldn’t derail her. Officials ruled no penalty, and Rissveds hammered to the line, claiming one of the most dominant XC wins of the season.

Behind her, Alessandra Keller surged late to grab second, edging out Samara Maxwell, who still landed on the podium despite calling it her “worst” result of the year so far. Meanwhile, Puck Pieterse, fresh off her Tour de France road exploits, struggled to find rhythm in her MTB return, rolling in 10th.

👨 Elite Men: Luca Martin Ignites the Crowd

If the women’s race was about dominance, the men’s was pure drama. On the final lap, the crowd erupted as Luca Martin, last year’s U23 World Champion, launched a decisive attack. He powered past Italy’s Luca Braidot on the climb, then sent it full-gas down the descent to hold a 12-second gap at the line.

It was Martin’s first-ever Elite World Cup victory — on French soil, in front of thousands of home fans, and just two days after finishing runner-up in Short Track. The perfect breakout weekend.

Braidot still impressed with a gritty second place, while Switzerland’s Mathias Flückiger grabbed third, sharpening his form ahead of Worlds on home ground. And then there was Mathieu van der Poel: the Dutch superstar finally back in the MTB mix, finishing 6th after Starting from far behind. Not the fairytale return, but a strong signal that he’ll be in the medal conversation when Worlds arrive.

🌍 Next Stop: World Championships in Switzerland

With Les Gets in the books, the World Cup now takes a pause — but the spotlight only grows. The 2025 World Championships are just around the corner in Switzerland. Rissveds and Martin may have painted big targets on their backs, but Worlds always brings surprises. New tracks, national pride, and rainbow jerseys on the line: the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown.

RECONs Take:
Les Gets delivered on every level: rising U23 stars, a flawless Rissveds masterclass, and a home-crowd victory that will go down in French MTB history. Now it’s time to reset — because the biggest race of the year is next.

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RACING

🚀 Steep, Brutal, Legendary — The Rainbow Stripes Are On the Line in Champery, Switzerland

The mud has barely dried from Les Gets, and already the downhill world is bracing for an even bigger showdown: the 2025 World Championships in Champéry, Switzerland. The fastest riders alive are chasing not just gold, silver, and bronze — but the rainbow jersey, the most iconic piece of clothing in mountain biking.

And this isn’t just any Worlds. Champéry is back, a venue etched into MTB history. The last time it hosted Worlds in 2011, Danny Hart delivered the run that defined a generation. Now, fourteen years later, the track is ready to add another unforgettable chapter.

🏔 A Track With History

When Champéry first hit the World Cup calendar in 2007, it stunned the scene. Nobody was prepared for just how steep and raw it was. Riders described it as borderline impossible, with sections so vertical they looked unrideable. That year, Matti Lehikoinen took the win, but the real story was Sam Hill’s rain-soaked charge — a run that slipped through his fingers but became an instant legend.

Four years later, the venue made history again. The 2011 World Championships gave us Danny Hart’s “perfect storm” of a run — sliding, scrubbing, and somehow holding it together on soaked roots and mud to take the rainbow stripes. His wild descent has been replayed more than any other run in downhill history.

Since then, Champéry has been largely absent, only popping up for smaller races and last year’s European Championships, where Andi Kolb and Lisa Baumann took wins. But the course itself hasn’t changed: 1.7 kilometers of track, dropping nearly 600 vertical meters. It’s shorter than many modern World Cup venues, but far steeper. Open to the public year-round, plenty of pros have been sneaking in practice laps all summer. The consensus? It’s still as rowdy, raw, and intimidating as ever. And if the rain shows up — which it almost always does in Champéry — we’re looking at pure chaos.

🌈 The Battle for the Rainbow Stripes

At last year’s Worlds in Andorra, Vali Höll and Loris Vergier left with gold. For Höll, it was a third straight world title. For Vergier, it was the crowning moment of his career, coming after Loïc Bruni’s heartbreaking crash near the finish line. Both return as favorites, but the competition this year is stacked.

In the juniors, Austria’s Rosa Zierl has been the rider of the season, her consistency and composure making her the clear favorite. But on the men’s side, things are wide open. French sensation Max Alran has been lighting up the junior ranks all year, even throwing down times that beat the elites. The only problem? He’ll have to beat defending champ Asa Vermette from the U.S., who already proved last year that he can handle pressure when it matters most.

For the elite women, all eyes will be on Höll. She may still wear the rainbow stripes, but she hasn’t actually won a race in over a year. That opens the door to rivals. Gracey Hemstreet has been riding like every race is win-or-crash and could easily steal it. Marine Cabirou has come roaring back from injury and looks ready to contend. And then there’s Lisa Baumann, who already proved her speed here last season at Euros.

On the elite men’s side, the field is stacked with heavy hitters. Loïc Bruni wants redemption after last year’s near miss, and he thrives when the pressure is highest. Jackson Goldstone has already shown he’s the real deal, despite being so young, and would love to make Worlds his breakthrough. Then there’s Ronan Dunne, who’s been on another level all season, winning big and riding with fearless aggression. Add in defending champ Loris Vergier, local hero Rémi Thirion, and Austrian powerhouse Andi Kolb, and you’ve got one of the deepest men’s Worlds fields in recent memory.

🔥 Why This One Feels Special

The truth is, Champéry is not just another venue. It’s downhill’s holy ground — a mountain that exposes weakness, punishes hesitation, and rewards only the boldest, most committed riders. In dry conditions, it’s terrifying. In the wet, it borders on unrideable. That’s why every fan, rider, and team is buzzing: this race won’t just be about who’s fastest. It will be about who can survive the mountain and still attack when it matters most.

Champéry is where Sam Hill created myth, where Danny Hart became immortal, and where countless riders have either launched their careers or been broken by the mountain. This weekend, it will crown new legends.

RECONs Take:
The 2025 World Championships aren’t just another race — they’re a return to the steepest, rowdiest, most legendary venue in downhill history. With rainbow stripes on the line, a stacked field of riders, and rain looming in the forecast, Champéry is primed to deliver the kind of drama we’ll be talking about for years. Get ready — downhill’s holy ground is back.

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🎥 Video Of The Week

The Sleeper Video Crew did what they can do best in Les Gets:

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🎧 Podcast Of The Week

The newest Podcast about Champery has many insights:

🚵‍♀️ Giveaway Period Finished

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX Giveaway. The winner is Kate M. from New Jersey and she has gone for her first shred on it! Stoked is an understatement… More to come, and keep your eyes peeled for the next giveaway bike!

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This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by Nic Bean, Michael Sikand, Justin Rausch, and Marc Brodesser