🔥 Castle Ride BCVS: One-time Urban MTB Spectacle in Sion
The World Champs week is kicking off in style: with the Castle Ride BCVS, an urban downhill like no other. Riders will drop in from the top of Tourbillon Castle — a spot usually closed to the public — before tearing down stairways, cobbled streets, and ancient alleys of Sion’s old town. For the first time ever, urban downhill and slopestyle athletes team up in mixed crews. 15 squads will battle it out, blending speed, skill, and freestyle creativity. Live stream on Red Bull TV on Saturday!
💥Scott finally revealed the new Scott Gambler!
The new Scott Gambler 2025 just dropped: a carbon downhill machine with a hidden shock, 210 mm travel in the rear and 203 mm up front. It’s super adjustable with flip chips for geo, reach and chainstays, and you can ride it mullet or full 29. At just 16.85 kg and rocking a bold new look, the Gambler RC comes in at €7,599 and feels built to charge straight through the toughest DH tracks. 🚀
🏁Next Victim: Company Behind NS Bikes Struggles!
The bike market takes another hit: Polish media report that 7Anna, the company behind brands like NS Bikes, has filed for bankruptcy. According to Polityka, the 7Anna Group submitted a request for insolvency. CEO Tomasz Cybula told the magazine: “We got hit with too many blows in a short time—no company could survive that. We had big plans and awesome projects this season, but we couldn’t risk the company. Filing was the only option.”
RACING
🔥 Urban Downhill is Back — and Brazil Just Took the Crown
A win in his 4th Urban DH Race- Roger Viera is a quick learner! Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
The Red Bull Cerro Abajo World Series blasted off in Genova — and a Brazilian underdog just flipped the script on the entire field. The streets of Genova turned into a high-speed gauntlet as the 2025/26 Cerro Abajo World Series opened in Italy. On the sport’s fastest, most technical course, 30-year-old Brazilian Roger Vieira delivered a dream debut — storming to his first-ever World Series victory with a time of 2:41.007.
“I’m speechless. Everything clicked — my lines, my pedaling, my braking. Today belongs to Brazil.” Roger Viera / Pivot Factory Racing
The course? Brutal. A 2.2 km plunge down 280 meters from Monte Peralto through Genova’s medieval alleys. Riders hit 80 km/h on slick stone steps, blind jumps, and car-width corners while fans lined every creuze and caruggi, turning the city into a stadium.
Race with a view - Genova is an ideal city for Urban DH! Photo: Red Bull Contentpool
Chaos, Crashes & Comebacks
Defending champ Tomas Slavík (Ghost Bikes) survived a huge qualifying crash and still fought through pain to 7th.
Viral wipeouts: Marty Vrza + two test riders reminded everyone just how dangerous urban DH can be - heal up soon!
Germany’s Johannes Fischbach (Raymon) and France’s Adrien Loron as the Veterans rounded out the podium behind Vieira, while Colombian Sebastián Holguín narrowly missed out. Loron did the Goldstone move and put 3 kg of extra weight on the bottom bracket of his Scott Gambler!
🇮🇹 Best Italian finisher: Hannes Alber in 14th — giving the Genova crowd something to cheer for.
Big crowds and such a vibe - despite all risks the riders love Urban DH! Photo: Red Bull Contentpool
What’s Next? This weekend the BCVS CASTLE RIDE in Switzerland will be broadcasted on Red Bull TV and give the Urban DH experts a new chance to showcase their skills! With the World Series now rolling, all eyes turn to the next stop. Can Slavík claw back? Can Vieira prove he’s not a one-hit wonder? One thing’s certain: this season is full gas, unpredictable, and must-watch.
Our Takeaway:Urban downhill isn’t just back — it’s scarier, faster, and wilder than ever.
RACING
World Cup Comeback: Les Gets Mud Party & 2026 Calendar Announced
Off camber grass sections and a lot of new lines - Les Gets always delivers! Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
The Mont Chéry track is legendary in downhill lore. Think: Steve Peat’s heartbreaker at Worlds 2004, the chaos of French fan takeovers, and the French sweep at recent big races. This isn’t just another stop — Les Gets is where stories are written.
This year’s build takes things up another notch. Riders will open with the iconic off-camber grass and a epic road gap, before dropping into a redesigned forest section: untouched loam, wider taping, and raw dirt lines waiting to be burned in. It’s fast, it’s fresh, and it’s wild.
But here’s the kicker: the forecast. Heavy rain is set to drench the mountain, and compared to previous years, the ground is softer and fully saturated. Translation? Chaos guaranteed. Mud spikes, ruts, and wild saves will define racing this weekend.
Will the double fences and the police hold back the fans this time? Photo: Red Bull Contentpool
👀 Storylines to Watch:
🇫🇷 French Dominance — French men have won every elite race here since 2021, plus Worlds. Will home turf magic strike again?
💪 Big Comebacks — Myriam Nicole, Finn Iles, Marine Cabirou & Anna Newkirk are all back from injury, adding fresh firepower.
🌧 Mud Masters — Which riders will thrive when conditions get sketchy?
And did we mention it’s the last weekend of the French summer holidays? Expect thousands of screaming fans, chainsaws, horns, and pure anarchy on the hill. Watch it LIVE on Discovery!
📰 Fresh News Off the Track
RockShox Becomes Official Series Partner Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe announced RockShox as the official suspension partner of the WHOOP UCI MTB World Series. More branding, more exposure, but don’t worry — no spec rules are changing. Riders still run what they want.
Why it matters: RockShox has been there since downhills early days, and now they’re part of the sport’s biggest stage.
Pierron was THE man in 2024, who will be the King of 2025? Photo: Red Bull Contentpool
🌍 Looking Ahead — Full 2026 World Cup Calendar
The newly announced 2026 MTB World Series calendar is a milestone: new continents, legendary debuts, and a long-rumored Whistler World Cup finally confirmed.
📅 Full Calendar:
May 1–3: Race of South Korea, South Korea (DH, XC) (first time in Asia since 2001)
May 22–24: Nové Město Na Moravě, Czech Republic (XC)
May 28–31: Loudenvielle-Peyragudes, France (DH, Enduro)
June 11–14: Saalfelden-Leogang, Austria (DH, XC, Enduro)
June 19–21: Lenzerheide, Switzerland (DH, XC)
June 26–28: Val di Fassa, Italy (Enduro)
July 3–5: La Thuile, Italy (DH, XC, Enduro)
July 8–12: Pal Arinsal, Andorra (DH, XC)
July 17–19: Aletsch Arena – Bellwald, Switzerland (Enduro)
Aug 14–16: Haute-Savoie, France (DH, XC)
Aug 21–23: Haute-Savoie, France (Enduro)
Sept 19–20: Soldier Hollow, Utah, USA (XC)
Sept 25–27: Whistler Bike Park, Canada (DH) 🚨 First Ever!
Oct 2–4: Lake Placid, New York, USA (DH, XC)
🔥 Our Takeaway: The series goes global again, with Asia back on the map, North America stepping up, and Whistler finally on the big stage.
🏆 And Then… Champery World Champs Next Weekend
No rest for the wicked. After Les Gets, riders roll straight into Champery, Switzerland for World Championships — one of the gnarliest tracks on the planet.
🪨 Champery DNA — Steep, rooty, and brutal. It’s where Danny Hart laid down the greatest run of all time in 2011.
🥇 Rainbow Stripes — With Worlds just one week after Les Gets, expect riders to balance all-out aggression with keeping it upright.
🎭 Back-to-Back Hype — Two of downhill’s most iconic venues, back-to-back weekends. Buckle up.
EVENTS
🚀 Swatch Nines 2025: Two Venues, More Sports, Pure Progression
No contest pressure but many hours of producing Top Notch Content! Photo: PR Swatch Nines
Swatch Nines MTB 2025 is doubling down with two venues, new sports, and a stacked rider lineup. From September 4–13, Germany and Austria transform into progression playgrounds — and the whole action sports world will be watching.
✈️ Two Venues, Double the Action
Big Air at Green Hill Bike Park (Germany, Sept 4–6) The Nines crew built a Big Air setup where progression is the only goal:
🚀 Super-sized jumps designed for creativity
🛟 Soft landings + Masters of Dirt airbag for safe trick testing
🏐 Berg trampolines & aerial coaches to help riders refine style before send
👉 Expect to see the tricks here that shape the future of Big Air.
No alpine mountains but a creative and BIG course at Greenhill Bikepark! Photo: PR Swatch Nines
Freeride + Slopestyle in Bike Republic Sölden (Austria, Sept 9–13) The second stage shifts to Sölden, where pros co-designed lines by riders, for riders. Sam Hodgson, Matt Macduff & Simon Moratz shaped freeride + slopestyle runs with:
Freshly built lines tested and approved by the pros
A freeride + slopestyle combo zone you won’t find anywhere else
A brand-new skatepark for BMX & skate boarding to join the session
Simon Moratz: “The best part is we couldn’t stop riding once it was finished — that’s the vibe we want.”
🌟 Roster Highlights
The world’s best across MTB, BMX, and skate are locked in, here a few bike VIPs:
Women’s Field:
Alma Wiggberg 🇸🇪 — back from injury, ready to send
Robin Goomes 🇳🇿 — fearless freeride energy
Casey Brown 🇨🇦 — freeride legend
Patricia Druwen 🇩🇪 — young powerhouse rising fast
Men’s Field:
Emil Johansson 🇸🇪 — the slopestyle wizard
Tim Bringer 🇫🇷 — style king
Dawid Godziek 🇵🇱 — trick machine
Erik Fedko 🇩🇪 — local hero, global skills
The female athletes are pushing each other at Nines everytime! Photo: PR Swatch Nines
Nico Zacek (founder): “With MTB, BMX and skate all in one, this year will be something truly special.”
🎟 Public Sessions — Your Chance to Watch Live
For 2025, fans finally get more access:
Green Hill, Germany: Sept 6 (13:00–16:00) at the BYND The Hill Festival
Sölden Night Shoot: Sept 12 (19:00–21:00) — cinematic vibes under the lights
Sölden Day Session: Sept 13 (13:00–16:00) — daytime action for all ages
🎶 Festival Mode: Beyond the Riding
BYND The Hill Festival (Sept 5–7, Green Hill): MTB, music, gear testing + side events.
Bike Republic Sölden Festival (Sept 12–14): public sessions, challenges, and even a world record attempt.
Our Takeaway: Swatch Nines 2025 is more than a jam — it’s a movement. Two countries, two venues, and three sports colliding in one massive progression session - embedded within great bike festivals and the chance to watch the pros shred! Whether you’re into freeride, slopestyle, BMX, skate, or just festival vibes, September is going to be unforgettable.
🎥 Video Of The Week
The youngest Hardline Wales winner had the Sleeper Video Crew with him:
🎧 Podcast Of The Week
In our newst Podcast episode Charly Murray introduces us to the Enduro Worldcup Scene:
🚵♀️ 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!
This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by Nic Bean, Michael Sikand, Justin Rausch, and Marc Brodesser
