Hello Vital MTB Visitor,
We’re conducting a survey and would appreciate your input. Your answers will help Vital and the MTB industry better understand what riders like you want. Survey results will be used to recognize top brands. Make your voice heard!
Five lucky people will be selected at random to win a Vital MTB t-shirt.
Thanks in advance,
The Vital MTB Crew
DHSE #2 track preview from TTC
Planned to race TTC since I've missed it multiple years in a row. But sadly gotta have a grape sized cyst removed from my right nut that week.
Promise I'll watch the replay. Go nuts guys. I'll be doing the same...kinda.
"STAY ON YOUR BIKE BIZUTCH! I DON'T KNOW HOW HE SITS DOWN WITH BALLS THAT BIG!" -Rob Warner Voice
crankworx rotorua DH POV with Tegan Cruz
I love that section up against the cliff face. Looks like a rad track, wish I was close enough to race the DHSE races
Have no clue how much I appreciate that. Thought for a few years it was scar tissue from taking shots from the back of the saddle off the back on descents.
No bigger scare for a guy than having pants around ankles & a 40 yr old woman running a scanner across your lady slappers.
Read the Lance Armstrong diagnosis stuff so many times over the years.
Doc saying "benign" was incredible.
Rude Jr snagged 2nd in the Crankworx DH too. seems to be in good early season form.
I know he seeded 2nd. I thought that race was this evening?
He got second in Air DH, you're correct that the DH race hasn't happened
must've misread it before I had enough coffee.
Bruni currently injured, and by my guesses Vergier too seen as he wasn't at the recent commencal muc off training camp.
Here is the post from Mr. Super Bruni. Separated collarbone sounds gnar.
Coming up at 6:10 pm PST.
Seeding results here: https://live.rawmotion.com/cwxrotorua2025
As long as you go to the doctor as soon as you find anything (and you check yourself regularly), you'll likely avoid chemo even if malignant. While scary at first, in the long run it's nothing compared to the thought of long term problems due to head injury and thinking you won't be able to ride anymore... Chemo is probably a different animal, but still.
What Armstrong did is all kinds of stupid to be honest... The problem is he is far from the only guy with an orange sized testicle in his pants not doing anything.
Living without a nut is about the same as having both. While one of the worst nightmares for the average guy, lopping one off to avoid more problems is a no brainer in the long run.
Kiwi Riders Jenna Hastings and Lachie Stevens-McNab Dominate at the RockShox Kārearea Downhill
On an action-packed day, the second round of the Crankworx Downhill Series took place this afternoon at Skyline Rotorua, marking the return of Elite Downhill racing to this renowned venue. After two years at Whakarewarewa Forest, the RockShox Kārearea Downhill challenged riders with a brand-new course, delivering steep descents, tight corners, and loose, unpredictable conditions. Kiwi talents Jenna Hastings and Lachie Stevens-McNab proved their dominance once again, repeating their gold medal performances from the Redemption Downhill in Christchurch earlier this season.
Jenna Hastings, coming in as the top-seeded rider, laid down a flawless and aggressive run, securing gold with a commanding 6.259-second lead over Switzerland’s Camille Balanche. Despite a challenging lower section that forced her onto the slower B-line, Louise Ferguson claimed third place, rounding out the women’s podium.
Women’s Top 5 Results:
1. Jenna Hastings (NZL) - 3:17.651
2. Camille Balanche (SUI) - 3:23.910
3. Louise Ferguson (GBR) - 3:26.000
4. Lisa Bouladou (FRA) - 3:28.688
5. Jess Blewitt (NZL) - 3:30.018
In the men’s race, local Rotorua rider Lachie Stevens-McNab thrilled the home crowd with a lightning-fast run to claim victory by a full 0.603-second margin over fellow Kiwi and former King of Crankworx, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene. The battle for third was fierce, with Matt Walker finishing just over three seconds behind Pene, followed closely by Yeti teammates Richie Rude and Ryan Gilchrist.
Men’s Top 5 Results:
1. Lachie Stevens-McNab (NZL) - 2:50.949
2. Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (NZL) - 2:51.552
3. Matt Walker (GBR) - 2:54.330
4. Richie Rude (USA) - 2:54.884
5. Ryan Gilchrist (AUS) - 2:56.746
Full results can be found online.
Watching the crankworx dh race yesterday. Anyone pick up on rob talking about a WC at Whistler 2026 being ‘strongly rumoured’ during Kyes run?
I've had that injury and it sucks; very painful, hard to stabilize and can take a long time to heal...
Charlie Makea's Crankworx run was glorious!
Man that race kicked ass. Turned it on last night just thinking it’d be ‘something to watch’ and holy shit, that track and the racing was unreal. The motorway bit too after the drop was proper. I typically yawn at jump sections in races but this one was raw and loose. Great job Crankworks and track builders. Gave the racers something to really get after.
Registration for NAEC / Enduro National Champs is open - official PR below
PRESS RELEASE: 2025 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Registration is open for the 2025 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup / USA Cycling Enduro and E-Enduro National Championship.
June 21-22, 2025 at the Silver Mountain Bike Park in Kellogg, Idaho
Visit www.naenduro.com to learn more.
Ask anyone who’s raced the NAEC in the last decade, and they'll tell you about the raw tracks, fierce competition, and the legendary 3,400' top-to-bottom Queen Stage. Every year, we combine fresh-cut trails exclusive to the race with some of North America's rowdiest lift-served terrain for an elite-level race experience and action-packed weekend. For its 10th year, the Schwalbe NAEC is taking racing to the next level as the host of the USA Cycling Enduro and E-Enduro National Championships. Competitors will be chasing the title and championship jersey and sleeve on some of Silver Mountain's most demanding trails. The NAEC podiums are here to stay, with a $12,000 pro purse and equal payouts, separate from the USAC National Championship podiums.
Registration Details:
$225 race entry, includes purchase price of two race day lift tickets.
Additional lift tickets for Friday practice can be purchased for $35.
All athletes are required to hold a valid license recognized by USA Cycling. This requirement includes active USA Cycling licenses, whether domestic or international, or an international license issued by another federation that permits competition within the United States. We have partnered with USA Cycling to offer an exclusive $20 license for all participants.
2025 Race Schedule:
June 19 - Course Release
June 20 - Practice Day
June 21 & 22 - Race Days
Our trusted race timing partner, Race Cascadia, will be there to ensure precise timing for all racers. There's still going to be some mechanical uplift for everyone (with ample spinning for Expert and Pros), and the Sport and Jr Sport racers get to experience a less technical course with less climbing (still lots of descending) that covers Silver's best intermediate-advanced terrain.
To register and find out more about the 2025 NAEC and the 2025 USAC Enduro and E-Enduro National Championships, visit www.naenduro.com
I also thought the track was a big step up from previous editions. Always sick to get a new course and much needed in this case.
I watched the full replay back and loved it too, but was surprised to only see six women (of 15 qualifiers) and missing that top 90 sec of track for every racer reminded me of how things were with RBTV for world cups.
Between missing half the course and some timing issues on screen, RBTV still struggling to deliver the quality WBD do. But I suppose that's the difference between $$$ and not?
US Pro Cup XC Temecula via Team Booger - the kids are punting!
Judging by the downvotes, as long as the coverage is free, showing only half the course, half of the women and the timing cutting out is all fine. Sweet
Seems like people will forgive quite a lot with a good user experience - single application globally available on all your devices and no cost access.
It's also Crankworx, people aren't expecting World Cup level camera coverage, timing systems, etc.
Also known as a separated shoulder...or an AC joint separation. Fun stuff.
Completely different injury. AC joint is shoulder blade/collarbone, what Bruni has is sternum/collarbone.
eastern states cup 2025 season announced
https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/details-announced-2025-maxxis-eastern-states-cup-season
Rough start to the year for Commencal Muc-Off. Healing vibes to Dylan and Loris!
Agree on the UX comment. The simplicity of the RBTV app is so good. I'd disagree on the timing comment as effective, accurate and consistent timing is a fundamental for DH racing.
My point is that what we got from RBTV at Crankwork Rotorua is basically what we always got at world cups. No full top to bottom runs, less women and glitches on screen. Even though everyone keeps barking on about how RB was so much better. My point being RBTV offered an inferior WC broadcast but the attraction was it was free
worst fist pound ever
Post a reply to: 2025 Race Talk