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With the number of wildcard slots available I don't think many teams are going to be too worried about it? As far as I'm aware in DH every team that's applied for wildcard status has got it? It's only in XC where they had a surplus number of teams, so some didn't make the cut at certain rounds.
Scott have Vicky Clavel and one of the juniors (Zoe Fayolle) has been using the team's hand me down kit and bike this season. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets inducted for the UCI points, she's amassed enough to make it more than worth their while.
That's just swapping 1 RB helmet for another though.
Oh shoot. Had a brain fart for a second and had it in my head Nina had a RB helmet. Ha ha.
I'd hate to see Nina get let go from the Syndicate.. But, Vali and Nina would have a good shot of being on the podium together on any given weekend.
While Laurie hasn't been great, the team has a history of sticking with riders through rough patches.. Looking at his Hardline rides, he seems to coming back little by little..
with this whole points thing and the media attention the main female riders get now I would not be surprised if 3 male 1 female rider teams turn into 2 and 2 soon. Vali and Nina is a stacked team for the syndicate if they can make it happen.
yes I understand the syndicate only has 2 blokes at the moment too.
I don’t think Vali will part ways with SRAM. They’ve been sponsoring her since day one, and when I was in Saalbach this summer, every board featuring Vali also had RockShox on it. Switching from a full SRAM setup to new brands would take some adjustment not that she couldn’t adapt, she’s the number one to beat every weekend but given her long history with SRAM, it seems unlikely. Remember, when she re-signed with YT, one of the reasons was that she could continue working with SRAM, even while the rest of the team was on Fox.
A Red Bull Sram team would be formed especially for her if was required
I was thinking along those same lines. They (Vali/Kolb/Oisin), must have some pulling power, as team, could become, for an example; Team SRAM/Haro/Cannondale or AN-Other frame manufacturer.
could the vali to follow her trainer (the ravanels?) point to vali -> commencal mucoff? pretty sure the ravanels ride commencals and they only have miriam in elite women and from my understanding the limit is currently 4riders per category so they definitely have space to field another elite woman.
I was curious so I searched Google for "who is the most famous female mountain biker ?"
Vali didn't appear. Rachel, tahnee, Rachel rusch .
BUt with Vali being Austrian where Red Bull are based I bet they would be eager to do everything they could to have her at the top of the sport for the next decade
My bad, some lazy Google-fu on my part.
Vali joining Commencal Mucoff would be hilarious. Imagine adding her along with the Alran's to their Elite rosters. Jeez. I wonder how connected the Mucoff and Schwalbe teams are. Some roster swapping?
The wildcard's gotta be an all new team structured around Vali. The Red Bull idea, can never say never. They were strongly considering it for XC with Picock and they already did it with a road team. Who else has a RB helmet that is up for a new contract?
which teams currently have 2 redbull helmets?
off the top of my head theres:
- Santa cruz synidacte (Jackson, Laurie)
- Specialized gravity (Loic, Finn)
- FMD/Orbea (Tahnee, Martin)
is there any others?
Which other RB helmet riders are potentially free for 26 besides Vali? Asa signed an extension and I don't think Ronan or Gracey are moving since they're only on 2nd year with new teams.
If I had to guess which team ends up with 3, it would be Specialized, especially if they pick up a junior (woman?) who happens to get a helmet. Next most likely would be FMD, least likely Syndicate since they have a pretty large roster and if anything would lose Laurie for another elite male. Pure speculation though.
If Jess goes to Atherton, you win the internet
Whispers from the Lenzerheide pits.
Norco to chase the $100k belt drive payday in ‘26:
Vali to Commencal.
Kolb to Cube.
I'm holding out for Halfords to resurrect their DH team, sign Vali and have her racing 2026 on a rebadged Intense, preferably in a PVC gimp-suit. 🤣
Gracey could be the one to win it if they go that way..
This just in - Norco to never release a new DH bike to the public ever again. (This is a joke. I hope.)
Any word on Oisin?
Bruni’s partner is looking ready to pop & due in October. Will he miss the final rounds to be there for the birth and / or after?
managed by Christian Horner
More rumours....
Vali to Trek or Commencal LES ORRES- She likely has to stick with SRAM
Kolb to SCOTT or Cube?
Oisin to Pivot or whatever that program becomes BK Factory Racing maybe ? or Mondraker?
Maybe Oisin will stay with YT. He was kept on by YT when they didn't have a "Mob"
More whispers:
Dak off Mondraker for ‘26.
Oisin was not wearing YT gear in today's race. Just plain TLD jersey and pants.
Kolb was still in his YT Mob kit. Vali was in a YT world champ kit.
right move by him.
Does anyone know when Lauries contract is up ? I mean it would suck to be kicked why you are down but the past 2 years due to the concussion and injuries things just don't seem to be gelling for him and was wondering if SC would bring someone else in like Oisin
Is there any room opening up at Atherton Racing, who will be the first team to win that 100k ? Its almost worth investing in a rider just to make the 100k back or does it go to the rider and not the team ?
Finn has had a bit of bad luck also this season but as the saying goes "a change is as good as a holiday" this may help him get back to where he wants to be rather than living in the shadow on Loic.
Why not frameworks?
Angel gives zero viability to the brand / sponsors (at least compare to others).
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