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:

•  🏁 Comeback: GOAT action & more at Joyride 2025

•  🍟 La Dolce Vita: Cerro Abajo Genvua Preview

•  🍎 Final Round: UCI EDR Worldcup in Morillon / France

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👇 Quick Picks

🚨 End of an era: Nino Schurter’s Big Announcement

The 2025 World Cup stop in Lenzerheide will be his last ever World Cup race. The MTB legend, who’s smashed records throughout his career, will first line up at his final XCO World Champs in Crans-Montana before saying goodbye to the World Cup circuit on home soil in Lenzerheide. Schurter isn’t hanging up his bike completely — he still plans to race, just not World Cups or World Champs anymore. What a ride it’s been!

💥Deviate Cycles just dropped their first-ever eMTB

 The Kurgan. is a full-power, big-travel beast made for riders who go all in. With 165mm rear travel, a 180mm fork, and a Virtual High Pivot suspension setup, it’s built to stay smooth and stable even on the steepest and rowdiest trails. With the mixed-wheel combo (29” front / 27.5” rear) and the Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor (100Nm torque & 800wh battery) the Kurgan is simple, powerful, and trail-hungry.

🏁 Emerald Storm: New MTB movie about Irish Downhill MTB

Emerald Storm by John Lawlor is a absolute passion project dives into the roots of downhill mountain biking in Ireland, showing how a tiny local scene grew into producing some of the fastest riders on the planet like Ronan Dunne and Oison O’Callaghan. Covering 40 years and five generations of bikers, the film rides through the highs and lows—from chilled spins with friends to the intensity of the UCI World Cup. Now live on Red Bull TV!

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EVENTS

JOYRIDE 2025 - The Superbowl of Slopestyle!

What. A. Weekend.

Whistler threw everything it had at riders this year — during the week the weather changed a lot and practice time was shortened. But if there’s one thing Red Bull Joyride has proven in its 20-year history, it’s that the show always goes on. And despite the chaos, the world’s biggest slopestyle contest delivered one of its most unforgettable chapters yet.

The Story of the Weekend: Emil Johansson Rises Again

After four surgeries, months of rehab, and endless whispers that maybe his dominance was done, Emil Johansson silenced every doubter with one of the cleanest, most progressive runs in Joyride history.

It wasn’t just a comeback — it was a statement. Emil dropped never-before-seen contest tricks, blended his signature opposite variations, and stitched it all together with that impossibly smooth style. The result? His first Joyride win since 2023, and a reminder to the MTB world that he’s still the rider everyone is chasing.

Podium Battles and Drama

Behind Emil, the fight for the podium was pure chaos:

• Tim Bringer went nuclear on run one with a jaw-dropping stepdown double flip, only to slam out. He clawed back on run two, holding nothing back, and landed silver.

• Erik Fedko brought his trademark flow, style, and precision to earn his first Joyride podium since 2022.

• David Godziek, fresh off his 2024 Triple Crown, ended up fourth — a result that left fans divided. His lack of variety, plus a no-footer on a key feature where others pushed harder, left the judges favoring Emil, Bringer, and Fedko. Fair call or robbery? Depends who you ask.

A huge shoutout goes to Tobey Miley, who made his Joyride debut and stunned the Boneyard crowd with a fearless, polished fifth-place finish. That’s how you introduce yourself on the world’s biggest stage.

Women’s Contest: Victory and Frustration

On the women’s side, Alma Wiggberg once again showed nerves of steel, floating through the course with effortless confidence to take her second consecutive Joyride title. Robin Goomes and Shaelen Reno rounded out the podium, with strong runs of their own.

But here’s the issue: there were only three riders. At the biggest, richest, most prestigious slopestyle event of the year, the women’s field was reduced to a trio — a massive step backward after SilverStar’s deeper lineup earlier in the season.

Riders and fans were quick to question Crankworx’s decision not to call up alternates, leaving healthy, ready athletes sitting on the sidelines. The result was an anticlimactic field where podium spots were guaranteed before the first drop-in. The takeaway? The level of riding is there. The depth is there. The organizers need to catch up.

Joyride 2025: Messy but Magical

Yes, the weather forced slower speeds. Yes, the crowds were thinner thanks to schedule shakeups.

But none of that erased the fact that Whistler once again proved itself as the beating heart of mountain biking. The stoke, the progression, and the sheer madness of Joyride were alive and well. Emil’s redemption arc, Bringer’s all-or-nothing fire, Fedko’s style, and Wiggberg’s dominance all ensured this will be a year people talk about for a long time.

Slopestyle is alive. It’s raw. It’s evolving faster than ever.

Bring on Joyride 2026.

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RACING

Red Bull Cerro Abajo Genoa: Europe’s Wildest Urban Downhill Ride

Urban downhill is back — and this time it’s storming through the streets of Genoa, Italy, on August 24, 2025. For the second year running, the historic Mediterranean port city transforms into the stage for Red Bull Cerro Abajo, the wildest city race series on the planet.

Forget manicured bike parks or taped-off forest trails. This is raw, urban chaos: endless stair sets, sketchy alley drops, cobblestone carnage, and flat-out speed runs past ancient buildings, balconies, and screaming fans. Riders will tackle a 2.2 km course with nearly 300 meters of vertical drop, pushing speeds up to 80 km/h — faster than cars are allowed in the city.

The Riders: Legends vs. Local Heroes

The start list is absolutely stacked with a mix of world champions, freeride beasts, and hungry locals ready to prove themselves in front of a home crowd.

• Tomáš Slavík (CZE) – Last year’s Genoa champ and one of the most dominant forces in urban DH history. He knows how to tame city chaos like no one else.

• Juanfer Vélez (COL) – Three-time Cerro Abajo series king, bringing Colombian firepower back to Europe.

• Sebastián Holguín (COL) – Another Colombian shredder with podium pedigree, looking to keep the South American legacy alive.

• Bernard Kerr (UK) – A Hardline and Rampage regular, now taking his insane skillset into the streets.

• Pedro Ferreira & Pedro Burns (CHI) – The Chilean duo who’ve helped make urban DH a South American phenomenon.

• Brook MacDonald (NZL) – The “Bulldog” brings downhill World Cup aggression to the narrowest streets in Italy.

And then there’s the home team advantage: eight Italians — Chris Hauser, Davide Palazzari, Stefano Introzzi, Loris Revelli, Davide Cappello, Tommaso Francardo, Hannes Alber, and Mirko Vendemmia — all fired up to throw down in front of their own fans. Expect them to know the corners, the curbs, and the lines that can make or break a run.

The Course: Brutal Meets Beautiful

The 2025 Genoa track is nothing short of breathtaking — and terrifying. Riders launch from the top station of the Righi funicular on Monte Peralto, high above the city, before diving straight into Genoa’s medieval maze of alleys and staircases. It’s a course that blends old-world architecture with modern freeride insanity — part postcard, part warzone.

Genoa: Urban DH’s European Capital

When Genoa hosted its first Cerro Abajo stop in 2024, it instantly earned legendary status. Fans packed balconies, rooftops, and alleyways, turning the city into one massive arena. The event was so successful that Cerro Abajo locked Genoa in as a series stop until 2027.

Now branded Europe’s “Capital of Sport,” Genoa is fully leaning into its new identity. Every August, the city becomes a playground where history, culture, and gravity racing collide.

How to Watch

Can’t make it to Italy? No worries. The full race streams live and free on Red Bull TV:

📅 Sunday, August 24, 2025
🕕 18:15 CET

Set your alarms. Whether you’re into precision racing, sketchy stair sends, or just watching riders flirt with disaster at 80 km/h, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Bottom Line

Red Bull Cerro Abajo Genoa 2025 isn’t just a race — it’s a cultural mash-up of MTB madness and European history. Riders will send it past 500-year-old walls, land tricks in front of ancient piazzas, and charge staircases older than the sport itself.

This is downhill like you’ve never seen it before. And on August 24th, Genoa will once again prove why urban DH hits different in Europe.

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RACING

🎮 2025 Morillon Enduro World Cup #6 – Season Finale in the French Alps

The wait is over. After months of racing across the globe, the 2025 Enduro World Cup is down to its final stop — and it’s coming to a brand-new venue: Morillon, France, deep in the stunning Haute-Savoie Alps.

Set against a backdrop of jagged peaks, alpine forests, and endless descents, Morillon is about to host its first-ever World Cup round. And it’s not just a scenic postcard — this finale will be brutal. Riders face two full days, nine timed stages, 80 kilometers of racing, and a soul-crushing 4,800 meters of descending. The last weekend of the season is going to leave scars, both physical and mental.

The Race Format – Two Days, Nine Stages, Maximum Suffering

Enduro isn’t about one perfect run. It’s about surviving multiple battles over two long days. At Morillon, every stage feels like a race of its own.

Day 1 (Saturday) – 4 Stages
The action kicks off with Reverse River, the second-longest stage of the event, and arguably one of the most physically demanding. Riders will need to pace themselves but still send it — blow up too early and you’ll pay the price all weekend.

The rest of Saturday mixes long, flowing descents with tighter, more technical sections where line choice is everything. Expect plenty of drama as riders test setups and fight to stay upright on fresh, unpredictable alpine terrain.

Day 2 (Sunday) – 5 Stages
If Saturday was a war of attrition, Sunday is a straight-up battle for survival. The highlight? Grand Crét, a monster of a stage at 3.8 km and 660 meters of vertical drop. Wide-open alpine sections turn into punishing switchbacks and endless chunder fields — one mistake, and the seconds will bleed away.

Add in four shorter, more explosive stages sprinkled throughout the day, and riders will need to switch gears constantly between raw power, delicate handling, and sheer grit. By the time they roll into the final finish line, the fastest will be running on fumes.

The Riders – Who’s In and Who’s Missing

The 2025 season has been defined by two riders:

• Ella Conolly (GBR) – Already locked in as the women’s overall champ, her consistency and powerful riding have been unmatched all year.

• Sławomir Łukasik (POL) – The men’s overall winner, riding with the perfect mix of aggression and control to dominate the standings.

But here’s the twist: Conolly won’t be racing in Morillon due to fatigue. Neither will French powerhouse Morgane Charre, who is still rehabing from an injury. That leaves the women’s field wide open for fresh names to break through and steal the spotlight in the finale. Expect hungry contenders to go all-out for a podium that could redefine their careers.

On the men’s side, Łukasik may have the title wrapped, but the fight for second and third overall is still razor close. Riders just a handful of points apart will be forced to take risks, sending it harder than ever on every stage. One pedal slip, one line blown — that’s the difference between ending the season on the podium or fading into the pack.

Why Morillon Matters

Morillon isn’t just another venue — it’s the grand finale of the 2025 Enduro World Cup and a debut stage for the sport. That means:

• Riders will make history as the first to ever race this terrain at World Cup level.

• It’s a chance for redemption — a last shot to turn a tough season around.

• And it’s a preview of what’s to come. The Haute-Savoie region is hosting not just enduro, but upcoming XC and Downhill rounds, cementing itself as Europe’s MTB hotspot of the summer.

For the fans, Morillon offers everything: jaw-dropping scenery, savage racing, and storylines that will shape the next generation of enduro.

How to Follow the Action

• 📊 Live Timing: UCI MTB World Series website, updated all weekend.

• 🎥 Daily Recaps: Free YouTube coverage with stage highlights, rider interviews, and analysis after practice and race days.

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🎥 Video Of The Week

The best of the best will ride a Swatch Nines soon at two Locations in 2025:

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🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Racing Legend Tomas Slavik sits down with Rob Warner and talks about Urban DH:

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🚵‍♀️ 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