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:
🏁 Exciting Racing and Surprise Winner at Lenzerheide
⚡️ SRAM Eagle Transmission Updated!
✨ US Open Killington - Top-Racing in the States
👇 Quick Picks
🚨 Team News: Scott-SRAM MTB Racing 🚨
Big shake-up in the squad after Nino Schurter’s farewell race in Lenzerheide last weekend. With the legend stepping away from World Cup racing, Scott-SRAM is already shaping its next chapter: Fabio Püntener signs with the team and will line up for the final two World Cup rounds of 2025 in Lake Placid and Mont-Sainte-Anne. A young talent ready to prove himself on the big stage. Filippo Colombo extends his contract all the way to 2028, giving the team a strong and reliable cornerstone for the future. 🚵♂️🔥
🚲 Commencal Drops the New META HT V3
No fluff, just pure fun! That’s the vibe of the all-new META HT V3. With a refreshed frame design, this hardtail levels up comfort while keeping you locked into every twist of the trail. The geo is dialed for hardtail shredding: longer reach for max stability, a 64.5° head angle for confidence when it gets steep, and a steeper seat tube that makes climbing less of a grind. And the SIGNATURE build? Loaded with tough, dialed components so you can send it straight out the box.
🚵♂️ Durango is Back - UCI Confirms the Big News!
Durango, Colorado, is gearing up to host the 2030 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, 40 years after kicking off the very first Worlds in 1990! 🎉 Leading up to the big event, Durango will throw down a major international MTB race in 2028 and a UCI World Cup in 2029 at Purgatory Resort. Expect epic Downhill, XC Olympic, Short Track, and even Ebike action. Purgatory GM Dave Rathbun says it best: “Biking and Durango are synonymous. Can’t wait to show the world what we’ve got!”
RACING
⚡️ Lenzerheide Delivers: Chaos, Close Calls & a Huge Comeback
From Pierron’s redemption to Seagrave’s nail-biter, Lenzerheide had it all. Lenzerheide has never been a quiet stop on the World Cup calendar — and 2025 was no different. The eighth round of the season served up everything: redemption arcs, photo-finish margins, fresh talent rising, and crashes that flipped the standings on their head. As the series enters its final stretch, Switzerland gave us one of the most dramatic weekends yet.
Full Speed for Amaury Pierron in Lenzerheide! Photo: UCI World Series
🚹 Men’s Race: Pierron Rises From the Ashes
Amaury Pierron came into Lenzerheide with history hanging over him — a brutal vertebra injury here in 2023, a collarbone break earlier this year, and a season plagued by mechanicals. Starting from the Last Chance Qualifier slot, no one expected him to contend.
But Pierron thrives on chaos. His finals run wasn’t flawless, but it was fast, gritty, and — against all odds — unbeatable. For nearly 90 minutes, one rider after another failed to match his time, although Amaury himself was sure the top guys will beat him. When the dust settled, Pierron had not only his 13th career win (tying Sam Hill), but also one of the most emotional victories of his career.
Behind him, Henri Kiefer delivered a breakthrough second place, his first elite podium and a statement ride for the 20-year-old German. Lachie Stevens-McNab took third, while Loïc Bruni kept his overall campaign steady with fifth. His main rival, Jackson Goldstone, went down mid-run, handing Bruni a crucial 100-point buffer with two rounds left - the battle for the Overall is tight and sets up for a great show down in the US and in Canada!
Epic Riding in the Swiss Alps. days Photo: UCI World Series
🚺 Women’s Race: Seagrave by a Whisper
If Pierron’s win was about redemption, the women’s race was about nerves.
Tahnée Seagrave hadn’t been feeling sharp all week. Forced into finals through the dreaded Q2, she rode without expectation — then sat on the hot seat as challenger after challenger failed to edge her time. It came down to Nina Hoffmann, who was within reach at every split. When she crossed the line, the gap was just 0.06 seconds.
Seagrave, stunned, claimed her third win of 2025. Hoffmann settled for second but looked ferocious, while Marine Cabirou completed the podium. Vali Höll once again missed the top three — her World Cup win drought now stretching past 15 months (but she won at Worldchamps in Champery) — and Gracey Hemstreet battled to fourth just days after a hospital-sending crash. The women’s overall? Wide open and only getting hotter. Interesting: There are some rumours of Vali already talking with other teams after the main Sponsor of her team, YT Industries is financially is struggling.
Roots, Speed and Lines - Lenzerheide was a exciting race! Photo: UCI World Series
🌱 Juniors: The Future Is Here
The juniors stole headlines with runs that would shake even the elites.
Asa Vermette (USA) — riding without the World Champ’s jersey for the first time this season — unleashed a dominant winning run just 0.008 seconds slower than Pierron’s winning elite time. That’s not a typo. It was dominance with a message: he’s ready for the next level.
Jonty Williamson and Oli Clark joined him on the men’s podium, while title-leader Max Alran struggled with rear-wheel issues and could only manage fourth.
On the women’s side, Rosa Zierl once again destroyed the field — her time fast enough to have beaten Seagrave in the elite race. At this point, she looks set to wrap up the overall before the season finale.
📈 What’s Next
From Pierron’s miracle comeback to Seagrave’s razor-thin victory, Lenzerheide delivered a round to remember. But the fight isn’t over:
Men’s overall: Bruni vs. Goldstone, now separated by 100 points.
Women’s overall: Hemstreet pushing, Höll searching, Seagrave rising.
Juniors: Zierl and Vermette (and the Alran brothers) riding at levels that already compare to the elite field.
Next stop: Lake Placid — a brand-new venue with unknown challenges, followed by the grand finale at Mont-Sainte-Anne. With the overall titles still undecided, every run from here on is make-or-break.
Fast girls and lots of Celebrations! Photo: UCI World Series
RECONS TAKE: Lenzerheide gave us redemption, heartbreak, and the kind of drama that only downhill can deliver. If this is how the final stretch of 2025 begins, the last two rounds are going to be unmissable.
Firmware v2.53.8 Unlocks Quicker Multi shifting: SRAM just gave your Eagle AXS Transmission a serious speed boost. With the new update, big gear jumps are now faster, smoother, and more in sync than ever — without sacrificing the ability to shift under load.
No new parts. No tools. Just smarter software.
🚀 What’s New
Faster Multi shifts → Dump three (or more) gears in one hit, and the derailleur now moves quicker through the range.
Refined Timing → The update syncs derailleur movement with cassette rotation, so the chain catches the ramp at the perfect moment.
Shifting Under Load → Still rock-solid. Hammering uphill? No problem — that core strength hasn’t changed.
🔧 Why It Matters
Big shifts are usually where drivetrains struggle: hesitation, lag, or that awful clunk when the chain doesn’t quite know where to go.
This update smooths it out by fine-tuning the order of operations:
Derailleur hits the target gear position.
Chain engages the right shift ramp.
Timing ensures the handoff is instant and fluid.
The result? Multi-gear jumps feel like one seamless motion. On the trail or in a race, that means less drivetrain crunching — and more confidence when the terrain suddenly tilts.
📲 How to Get It
Updating is as simple as ever:
Open the SRAM AXS app
Connect your Transmission
Follow the prompts
No shop trip, no hardware swaps. Just a quick update and you’re rolling with the latest performance upgrade.
✅ Compatibility
SRAM Eagle AXS Transmission
Limited Edition Eagle Transmission 1987
Fresh and clean - SRAM knows how to impress! Photo: SRAM PR
RECONS Take: With v2.53.8, SRAM has made the Eagle Transmission smarter where it counts: big, fast shifts. Whether you’re racing for seconds or just charging into steep terrain, the update makes your drivetrain feel more intuitive — and more bulletproof.
RACING
🇺🇸 Fox US Open 2025: Killington Goes Full Send
Fast Racers in Killington - the Tracks looks promising!
Big Names. Big Cash. Big Energy. The Beast of the East Awaits: The Fox US Open of Mountain Biking is back — and it’s dropping into Killington, Vermont (Sept 24–28, 2025) for five days of pure freeride, racing, and festival madness. This isn’t just another stop on the calendar. It’s the grand finale of the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series, and with one of the sport’s biggest cash purses on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The US Open isn’t about polished World Cup vibes. It’s about raw racing, pro/am chaos, and the whole MTB community coming together for one last summer blowout.
🔥 Stacked Lineup (With Some Big Gaps)
The start list is loaded. Asa Vermette, the breakout US junior star, is in. Troy Brosnan is back, proving experience still counts against the new-school chargers. And dozens of hungry rippers are ready to chase the kind of payday that can change a career. Also going to race is the GOAT Greg Minnaar, who normally is standing beside the track as the Team Manager of the Norco Racing Division, but for sure is not slow!
But there are some notable absences: Nina Hoffmann and Jackson Goldstone are skipping the US Open to save their legs (and their luck) for the last two World Cups in North America. It’s a smart move — but it opens the door wide for underdogs to steal the spotlight.
⚡️ The Spirit of the US Open
What makes this event unique? The Pro/Am Open Class.
Anyone with the guts can line up against the fastest in the world. One start gate might hold a kid fresh out of juniors; the next, a World Cup legend. It’s intimidating, it’s chaotic, and it’s exactly why the US Open has been the ultimate proving ground since 2003.
It’s not just bragging rights, either. The race ties directly into the US Downhill National Series, so points are on the line alongside cash. For riders chasing recognition, this is a career-defining weekend.
Fall Racing with lots of Price money! Photo: US Open
🌟 Beyond the Tape
The US Open has always been more than just a race. The 2025 edition delivers a full menu of MTB culture:
Next Gen Youth Downhill: Categories for riders under 14, where the future stars sharpen their teeth.
Adaptive Downhill: A crowd favorite — adaptive athletes ripping the same course and showing what true grit looks like.
Dual Slalom: Bar-to-bar chaos, elbows out, pure entertainment.
Best Whip Invitational: Saturday night under the lights on Ramshead’s massive jump line. The biggest names in style throwing it sideways for nothing but glory.
🏔 Why Killington Hits Different
Known as “The Beast of the East,” Killington isn’t just a venue — it’s part of the challenge. Think high-speed berms, rock gardens, loamy woods, and jumps that test both nerves and skill. The terrain guarantees tight racing and rowdy crashes.
The vibe is unmatched, too. With free spectating, the resort swells with families, fans, and core riders. You can grab a Ramshead lift ticket for prime views, but honestly, the atmosphere is electric no matter where you watch.
📜 Legacy & Culture
The Fox US Open launched in 2003 with one goal: put American mountain biking back on the map. By giving amateurs a shot at the pros — and backing it with serious prize money — it created a breeding ground for legends. Two decades later, it’s still delivering: launching careers, writing stories, and reminding everyone that MTB is about more than podiums.
🔥 Why You Can’t Miss It
Round 5 of the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series
The Open Class chaos where anyone can race the elites
Best Whip madness under the lights
Next Gen energy + Adaptive inspiration
One of the biggest purses in MTB
Bottom line: the Fox US Open is where racing meets culture, and Killington is about to deliver the rowdiest send-off of the summer.
🎥 Video Of The Week
The GOAT of freeride and Slopestyle always delivers with his edits:
🎧 Podcast Of The Week
Crash or Podium - Mille Johnset tells about her way to the Worldcup Elite:
🚵♀️ 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
