2025 Race Talk

A dusk/night stage?? Really.... I guess they really are grasping at straws to breath some life/interest back into enduro. There has got to be an advantage dropping in mid-pack on the final stage when it's a touch brighter out compared to the last 10 riders at sunset, no? 

That was my thought and I think they're trying to get ahead of that by having the "F1 technology lighting system"...it is pretty wild how well lit F1 night races are but also there's no trees on F1 tracks so I don't think it's realistic to expect anything close to that level of vision. I would be pissed to crush all the stages before it and then have to drop in last. But maybe dusk/golden hour with lights will be tougher than when there's even less sunlight? Either way, they better allow riders to have lights on helmet/bike

Ehm, pretty much every rider out there is using go pro or similar, the only thing stopping them from using it to their advantage for miniscule outlay they could give to riders is their own stupidity. No, they would rather ban ho pro use for the race runs. Smart.

It’s wild too because they already have a formula that works but they’re too dumb to realize it.  EWS in its heyday had lots of attention and was selling bikes like crazy.  The trick to making it relevant again?  Don’t jam it into an already packed race weekend.  I said it before I’ll say it again there is too much content to watch on a triple header weekend.  Put it on the off weekends.  Look how well the first EDR was received this year.  It was the stand alone race on the weekend and everyone was stoked.  They need a broadcast team for each discipline.  Otherwise enduro just gets forgotten.  This would also help with DH and XC as those broadcast teams can be out on track and in the pits gathering information that will be relevant to the broadcast.  

Who knows.  Maybe the mtb guys in WB feel the same way and just don't have the budget.  They are awful communicators though I admit usually when they communicate the reaction is rarely remotely positive.  People would have ripped on them if they announced they'd only be broadcasting q2 when they can.  Now they get ripped on anyways.  But it's not necessarily in a super public and obvious way like in the comment section of their press release.  

I think we should just be proud of them for not deciding to introduce a night stage at every race or a whole night series.  I guess we can say this is progress?  And who knows if they pull off the execution it could be cool.  I agree though that it should be after sunset so everyone has the same conditions.  Falling sun you just get crazy blind spots that might be there for only 15 minutes.  And while I guess there is a certain consistency to inconsistency I don't think any of the competitors want to win or lose based on luck of when they dropped.  Plus who knows maybe the finish corral would be popping depending on where it's located compared to the other events that weekend.  I think this is one of those things where you just have to wait for the results before you judge it.  It could be really cool.  But i also get why people aren't necessarily super trusting of this organization pulling it off without issues.  Or that a focus on this by them won't lead to shortcomings somewhere else.

Next level will be night snow enduro. 

I mean they already have night events for World Cup mogul skiing and I believe slalom. The UCI also has their snow biking world champs. It not a big leap to your conclusion. Haha

They could run it during the day when the dh qualifying is on and nobody is around to watch

Don’t give them ideas

I don’t get it. What’s the point of a night stage if you’re gonna light it up like daytime? Whole point of night riding is the poor lighting. Which sounds downright dangerous in EWS. 

Rally night stages are craaaaazy. F1 night races are stupid unless it’s some place that’s just too hot during the day. 

I don’t know if this is really the best idea.. its definitely interesting but in my experience night riding is always better in theory than it is in results, and by that I mean it’s fun but when it’s fast it’s just dangerous. 

But if the racers think it’s good then I’ll support it

I found riding at night to be pretty sketchy with only 2000 lm of lighting, but it became a hoot at any speed after I bought an 8000 lm light.

The night stage could be a really cool event and it will probably look great, but as a race stage it's not great. Like others have said, there are going to be varying light conditions regardless of how much effort they put in. It's got to be so much easier to light an F1 course, you don't have rocks and roots. There will be shadows on this course I just don't see how that's not possible. They should make it an exhibition in the evening, but if this stage ends up deciding the race that would be really unfortunate. 

A night stage could be a cool idea, unfortunately nothing over the last couple of years makes me think WB/ Disco. cares about or understands mountain biking enough to pull it off well. 

well...guess darkness will maybe give some bigger time gap potential.
WindRock had a Night DH & video sucked but people loved racing it.

Thanks for the VitalRaw! Breaking Bad is no joke. That course ate bikes for a snack. My daughter’s bike immediately went to our LBS as soon as we got home 😂. First race in the 2025 Downhill Rockies series! 

DH wildcard teams announced for La Thuile:

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13th June 2025 – The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that eight wildcard teams have been selected for the fifth Downhill round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series that will take place in La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta (Italy) on July 3-6.

Four of the teams will be making their fifth appearance in this year’s Series, while there are returns for several other squads. All eight outfits are crammed full of up-and-coming talent, while there are also established names such as five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall champion Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) and UCI Downhill World Cup winner Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing – SR Suntour).

After three rounds, Daprela is the best-performing wildcard rider – the 24-year-old Frenchman recording two top-10 finishes to find himself 9th in the overall standings. He will be aiming to continue his strong form in Italy, while his team will also consider La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta as something of a home race – the Italian squad also featuring a strong line-up of local riders, including Davide Palazzari, Lorenzo Mascherini and Davide Cappello. With a partizan Italian crowd lining the venue’s brand-new downhill course, there will be extra motivation for the Rogue Racing – SR Suntour athletes as they take to the trail. And with the track continuing to evolve through training and qualifying, don’t be surprised if a wildcard rider makes it onto the podium for the first time this season.

The eight wildcard teams for round 10 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in La Thuile – Valle d’Aosta are:

Gwin Racing
Rogue Racing – SR Suntour
Goodman Santacruz
Team High Country
Kenda NS Bikes UR Team
YT Racing Development
The Alliance
Future Frameworks

No kidding. The boy dented the hell out of a FRONT wheel at the race first day of practice. We bent it back out and ran it for qualies then had to go with the spare on race day.

Val Di Sole track preview! Would be sick if UCI taped the course as wide as it is right now in some of the tech sections.

I love wide open tech sections. I want to see people really puzzling on how to get through it. I want it wide enough to pass. 

Sick track, can't wait to see it at WCDH pace

What a track.  Can't wait for this one

That spot where they had the trouble with a spring last year looks a lot drier.

I'd just add that VDS track gets pretty bad gopro effect... 

And keep the hype train rolling, this year we still get Champery worlds!

Over the years I have seen so many POV's of this track I know all the lines and most importantly exactly where to be...  At home watching the race on my computer...  I would never survive.  relentless!!!

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