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Jackson has just got an undeniable talent for riding mountain bikes and making it look amazing. There’s something special going on there for sure.
…So why am I finding him so hard to root for this season? Genuine question. Am I the only one?
I am not finding it hard to root for him. Now if he keeps going next year or two like this it will change maybe. I am enjoying his taking it to those who had been dominating.
For this year I'll give him a bye just because he's missed out on the two previous champs due to injuries. If it becomes like Vali and he's going for four on the trot it'll be a case of Anyone But Jackson.
I'm pretty sure Rampage and Hardline are actual Red Bull events, along with the Cerro Abajo. Crankworx is its own entity with Redbull as a title sponsor. Hardline and Cerro Abajo seem to be picking up steam with each event, so probably no danger there. Rampage is a ratings juggernaut, just needing some fresh ground for a venue.
Nope, sorry but Jackson has been the people's champ since that balance bike video.
He seems to be a nice, head screwed on kid.
I'd take that over someone who calls him self "Super Bruni" any day of the week.
Loic is a nice dude.
Jackson is a nice kid.
We’re generally lucky in this sport.
No doubt Goldstone is a nice kid but he’s far from the average mtb bro. He’s basically a factory product, groomed to a level beyond what we’ve seen in the past (no BK jokes please 😂).
I think our expectations as fans and his own expectations are just so high that his first rainbow jersey and WC overall feel like a bit of a formality. What’s more exciting is the fact that he’s got the potential to be an all time record breaker. I’ll be rooting for him in 2040.
Wasn't the Super-Bruni thing a joke a fan came up with a few years ago? I know Loic has said he leans into it for world champs weekend to try to get into an unbeatable headspace. Virtually every interview I have seen of him makes him seem like a good dude.
Anyway, before talking up Jackson 4x gold titles etc, I'm seriously wondering if the Alran brothers arn't going to lock down every race next year. All the Commencal elites have been saying they can't believe the speed and lines their juniors are pulling off, and apparently they only get stock bikes vs all the proto stuff the elites are on.
I find it hard to root against Jackson for a bunch of reasons:
1. He's obviously a generational talent on a bike.
2. He looks like he has fun every time he gets on the bike, whether it's practice, in a race or at the local dirt jumps.
3. (Maybe the most important to me) He seems to be stoked for everyone. He placed 16th in Les Gets and is reposting Ronan's winning run. He's almost always at the finish line, waiting to congratulate his competitors. He might be one of best riders on a bike, but he hypes up everyone around him and just seems to be a super positive dude.
Yes it was. Do people think Loic started calling himself that? He just enjoys having a bit of fun with it.🤣
I'll be sold on Jackson when he finally posts a POV of a winning run during which he chatters away and never breathes heavily, the way he does in his course previews.
😉
Wildcard teams for Lake Placid and MSA:
9th September 2025 – The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports can confirm that 16 wildcard teams – eight cross-country and eight downhill – have been selected for rounds 15 and 16 of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York (USA) on October 3-5 and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) on October 9-12.
While all eight teams that applied for a downhill spot secured a wildcard, it was another competitive selection process in cross-country, with only eight of the 13 applicants selected.
The majority of qualifying teams have already featured in the 2025 series, but there will be a first appearance for Canadian outfit Forbidden Dunbar Racing Team.
The eight-strong Downhill and Enduro team is supported by British Columbia-based manufacturer Forbidden Bike Co. and bike shop Dunbar Cycles, and is predominantly a Canadian-focused team with Australian Connor Fearon and Brit Alex Storr also part of the ranks. While the majority of its racing has taken place in North America this year, including Ryder Wilson’s win in the Crankworx Silver Star Canada Cup and Emmy Lan’s back-to-back second places at Crankworx Silver Star and Crankworx Whistler, the pair have also featured once in the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series at the UCI Downhill World Cup in La Thuile – Valle D’Aosta (Italy).
Elsewhere, Lexware Mountainbike Team will be the only Endurance team to have a 100% wildcard qualification record for the whole of 2025, while Goodman Santacruz, Rogue Racing - SR Suntour, Team High Country and Kenda NS Bikes UR will manage the same in downhill.
Finally, the return of Gwin Racing to the wildcard fold gives Aaron Gwin (Gwin Racing) the chance to become the joint-most successful downhill athlete at Mont-Sainte-Anne in the venue’s 27th UCI Downhill World Cup. The legendary American rider has three wins (2011, 2012 and 2017) at the iconic Canadian spot, and needs one more to equal Steve Peat’s record.
The 16 wildcard teams for rounds 15 and 16 of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Lake Placid Olympic Region, New York and Mont-Sainte-Anne are:
UCI Downhill World Cup:
Kenda NS Bikes UR Team
Rogue Racing - SR Suntour
Goodman Santacruz
Team High Country
Future Frameworks
The Alliance
Forbidden Dunbar
Gwin Racing
UCI Cross-country World Cup:
BIXS Performance Race Team
Bike Team Solothurn
Lexware Mountainbike Team
KTM Factory MTB Team
Thömus Akros - Youngstars
Cabtech Racing Team
Trinity Racing
Massi
On the Downtime pod they were saying that for a practice day at worlds, Amaury was following Max and getting his lines, and having to push to keep up. The biggest name on one of the biggest teams following a junior is definitely a sign of what's to come when they get to elites. Those juniors are insane.
and there is a pipeline of super fast frenchies riding commencal bikes (under commencal 101 some of them) that are today U17 cat, coming to juniors in 2026 and 2027.. remember these names.. Sacha Brizin, Leo Godin and the younger but faster Nano Lavergne and Quentin Barbe.. ..
I think Spesh could bring the Spanish kid in Gen Specialized to Juniors..
I think it's pretty easy to root for Jackson when he pulls out some insane gap in his finals run that no one else has done. Seems to be a regular occurrence
welcome to all the greats of their time. Nico, Sam Hill, Gwin (and others) keeping lines quiet until race day and then sending them.
I don't think amateurs really understand the value of line choice and walking the tracks.
Sam Hill has said before that he had to keep them quiet because the French had so many spotters everywhere (way more than other teams back then) looking to see what secret lines other people were eying up or practicing.
The French have been on it for a lot longer than anyone else when it comes to World Champs.
Maybe it was when he was podium his first year & being a dork getting involved in the winner's celebration a little too much. 😆 Seems like it was Bruni or something? Sort of a WWE style pointing & exaggerated hand motions. I remember someone cracking a "home schooler" behavior joke about it in the chat.
I like the kid. Insane talent but him winning sucks but only cause I'm a USA homer!
Which forum do I go to complain about the D4 helmet now being $650???
from the sleeper world champs video. Who brakes like this??!
Pinkerton.
Showing the DOUBLE FREEDOM ROCKETS to the competition all the way down the track for worlds!
He needs little American flags or bald eagles on the middle finger tips next year.
They should call him Middley instead of Pinky!
Thank you ladies and gents... I"ll be here all week. Tip your bartenders.
Can’t imagine being anything other than very much pro- Boost Bro.
He seems to like riding bikes as much as anyone on the planet. Does psycho DH lines at mega speed and could probably break out a double backflip in a half hour again. Cmon! All while maintaining appropriate grammar for the situation: “we played to win the game” pro sportstalk in big interviews and “holy shit dude swinging off the back of it” in ripping vids.
You diss JG you diss yourself!
I know it’s highly unfashionable to agree with @bizutch but I know exactly what you mean. Trying a little too hard to look “stoked” for the guy that just beat him.
I resubmit my call to eliminate trackside linespotters.
Anybody have insights to the NY track? Updates or riding videos?
And what’s with the build team bailing or whatever?
Vital RAW NW Cup Stevens Pass - track looks so fun!
Canadian MTB celebrates Goldstone's latest win: https://cyclingmagazine.ca/mtb/from-the-roots-of-champery-to-the-hearts-of-millions-goldstone-goes-global/
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