2026 Team Rumors

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storm.racing
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Silverton, CO US
9/29/2025 1:25pm
sspomer wrote:
laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

Screen Shot 2025-09-29 at 1.32.08 PM.png?VersionId=i
PisgahGnar wrote:
I think they are looking at the shock, with a handlebar mounted lockout/compression adjust. Interesting Syndicate riders would not have that on some of their bikes yet...

I think they are looking at the shock, with a handlebar mounted lockout/compression adjust. 

Interesting Syndicate riders would not have that on some of their bikes yet, but I guess they are almost exclusively running coils. 

V10s also have a fit issue which is why the head on them comes different than the standard so they might not be able to fit that tech in

1
1
Brian_Peterson
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9/29/2025 1:43pm
sspomer wrote:
laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

Screen Shot 2025-09-29 at 1.32.08 PM.png?VersionId=i

They're wondering how Asa goes so fast without the extra linkage..

7
MJT420
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9/29/2025 3:12pm
jonkranked wrote:
i would guess that there may be some concern about breach of contract if they signed to another team without being officially released from yt given...

i would guess that there may be some concern about breach of contract if they signed to another team without being officially released from yt given the uncertainty of the brands future. i'm with you 100% that they've been put in an extremely poor situation not only not getting paid, but also potentially having to self fund the remainder of their season.  If the rumors in the PB post shared by krabo83 are true that they are footing their own travel expenses, then it would be a really bad look for YT to leave their team in this kind of position - not paying them but also refusing to release them. 

DirtyHal wrote:
How is YT going to afford the lawyers to enforce any contract dispute?  Also Is it possible for the riders to Lien YT?  EDIT*  If they...

How is YT going to afford the lawyers to enforce any contract dispute?  Also Is it possible for the riders to Lien YT?  

EDIT*  If they are contracted to the Mob and the mob isn't getting Paid could they go after Whitely for their missing funds and then force him to reckon with YT?  I see this situation in the contracting world where Subcontractors go after the GC for funds to be paid even though the GC has a paid when paid contract with them and hasn't been paid by the owner of the project.

Trek has a history of frugal startup teams for sure, but then they'll just go and sign the Athertons or Loris, not exactly predictable. Vali on trek would be cool, not sure if they're in the mood for spending money now or not though. 

Brian_Peterson
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9/29/2025 3:18pm

She left YT for Trek and then went back to YT. So, would a return to Trek be that crazy? 

amaranth wrote:
Ah damn you got me there. Good point, I guess not so crazy. I do think Trek is going the cheap route with getting rid of...

Ah damn you got me there. Good point, I guess not so crazy. I do think Trek is going the cheap route with getting rid of Loris and signing some newer riders, not sure if Vali fits that, or maybe they decided that direction is wrong and they're gonna go all in again on the big names. 

With Loris, it seemed like there was something with either the bike or the team structure he wasn't happy with.. But, after he'd committed to leaving, he pulled a big win out of the bag.. Lachie wasn't a bad pick, he was already going fast on a Session.  He might need a little more time to get used to Elite.. Vali had a rough start on Trek, but it looked like it was more mental errors possibly being nervous about moving up.. Her last season with Trek was pretty good, as I recall it.. But, maybe  a fresh start with Commencal is what she needs..

Grumbly
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9/29/2025 6:07pm
sspomer wrote:
laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

Screen Shot 2025-09-29 at 1.32.08 PM.png?VersionId=i

lol. Spomer just fanning the fires. Related but unrelated - why is the 2025 thread pinned but not this one? Surly we can move on. 

11
owl-x
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Shell Beach, CA US
9/29/2025 6:21pm
If I was Markus Flossmann I'd be doing everything I could to look after the Mob riders and staff just from a public relations perspective. If...

If I was Markus Flossmann I'd be doing everything I could to look after the Mob riders and staff just from a public relations perspective. If he wants to rebuild the brand then being seen to have done the right thing could be a good start .

That’s the DAMN truth. 

But you’re not a sociopath. 

Flossmann seems like the kind of guy who’d absolutely balk at releasing these riders. 

 

2
9/29/2025 8:51pm
Grumbly wrote:

lol. Spomer just fanning the fires. Related but unrelated - why is the 2025 thread pinned but not this one? Surly we can move on. 

User name checks out...  😉🤣

1
trexyz
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9/29/2025 9:56pm

It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek seems much more realistic, they definitely have the resources. And don’t forget, when she signed with YT she said it was one of the best offers on the table. She’s the number one to beat on any given day, and she deserves that level of support and pay.


 

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Bananamoon
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9/29/2025 10:50pm

Trek have Sacha and Ella signed today with Ella moving up to elite next season. Ella is supposedly back (from injury?) and given her relative inexperience I wouldn't be surprised if she have a great developing potential. 

1
9/29/2025 10:59pm
trexyz wrote:
It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek...

It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek seems much more realistic, they definitely have the resources. And don’t forget, when she signed with YT she said it was one of the best offers on the table. She’s the number one to beat on any given day, and she deserves that level of support and pay.


 

Commencal can pay directly part of her salary if needed. I heard they had the same kind of agreement when Benoit Coulange and Camille Balanche were riding for Dorval.

3
9/29/2025 11:57pm
trexyz wrote:
It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek...

It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek seems much more realistic, they definitely have the resources. And don’t forget, when she signed with YT she said it was one of the best offers on the table. She’s the number one to beat on any given day, and she deserves that level of support and pay.


 

I can see Vali on Commencal Les Orres but possibly on a deal that allows her to bring over some personal sponsors like helmets , clothing etc to bump up her wages . 

1
boozed
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9/30/2025 12:42am
sspomer wrote:
laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

Screen Shot 2025-09-29 at 1.32.08 PM.png?VersionId=i

"You boys never seen a Horst link before?"

26
9/30/2025 3:05am
trexyz wrote:
It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek...

It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek seems much more realistic, they definitely have the resources. And don’t forget, when she signed with YT she said it was one of the best offers on the table. She’s the number one to beat on any given day, and she deserves that level of support and pay.


 

I can see Vali on Commencal Les Orres but possibly on a deal that allows her to bring over some personal sponsors like helmets , clothing...

I can see Vali on Commencal Les Orres but possibly on a deal that allows her to bring over some personal sponsors like helmets , clothing etc to bump up her wages . 

Does she have any personal sponsors other than sram/rockshox currently?  I thought part of the yt schtick was that their riders were only sponsored by yt.  She only has sram on her yt jerseys.  Not that past and new sponsors won’t want to sign her.  But it seems most teams are moving away from allowing individual sponsors for apparel and other things over the past several years.


Could definitely see trek adding someone for next season.  If not Vali then perhaps Dak?

9/30/2025 5:17am
trexyz wrote:
It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek...

It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek seems much more realistic, they definitely have the resources. And don’t forget, when she signed with YT she said it was one of the best offers on the table. She’s the number one to beat on any given day, and she deserves that level of support and pay.


 

I can see Vali on Commencal Les Orres but possibly on a deal that allows her to bring over some personal sponsors like helmets , clothing...

I can see Vali on Commencal Les Orres but possibly on a deal that allows her to bring over some personal sponsors like helmets , clothing etc to bump up her wages . 

Does she have any personal sponsors other than sram/rockshox currently?  I thought part of the yt schtick was that their riders were only sponsored by yt...

Does she have any personal sponsors other than sram/rockshox currently?  I thought part of the yt schtick was that their riders were only sponsored by yt.  She only has sram on her yt jerseys.  Not that past and new sponsors won’t want to sign her.  But it seems most teams are moving away from allowing individual sponsors for apparel and other things over the past several years.


Could definitely see trek adding someone for next season.  If not Vali then perhaps Dak?

I think she has Sweet Protection for helmets

casey79
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9/30/2025 6:45am Edited Date/Time 9/30/2025 6:47am
trexyz wrote:
It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek...

It would be great to see Vali riding for Commencal Les Orres, but I doubt they have the budget for a rider of her caliber. Trek seems much more realistic, they definitely have the resources. And don’t forget, when she signed with YT she said it was one of the best offers on the table. She’s the number one to beat on any given day, and she deserves that level of support and pay.


 

I can see Vali on Commencal Les Orres but possibly on a deal that allows her to bring over some personal sponsors like helmets , clothing...

I can see Vali on Commencal Les Orres but possibly on a deal that allows her to bring over some personal sponsors like helmets , clothing etc to bump up her wages . 

Does she have any personal sponsors other than sram/rockshox currently?  I thought part of the yt schtick was that their riders were only sponsored by yt...

Does she have any personal sponsors other than sram/rockshox currently?  I thought part of the yt schtick was that their riders were only sponsored by yt.  She only has sram on her yt jerseys.  Not that past and new sponsors won’t want to sign her.  But it seems most teams are moving away from allowing individual sponsors for apparel and other things over the past several years.


Could definitely see trek adding someone for next season.  If not Vali then perhaps Dak?

Vali has had a number of personal sponsors, many of them for 5-10 years:
Adidas Five Ten since 2016
Alpro since 2023
Ergon since 2016
GoPro since 2019
Mini since 2023
Oakley since 2018
Red Bull since 2018
Saalbach since 2018
SRAM since 2016
Rockshox since 2016
Sweet Protection since 2025

Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres sponsors:
Commencal
Schwalbe
LesOrres Bike Park
Rockshox
SRAM MTB
TLD
Duke Racing Wheels
Muc-off
Northwave
Renthal Cycle Products
Time
Tioga usa
Fidlockbike
Feed back sport
Acros
fasap training

There are a few clashes notably Saalbach v LesOrres Bike Park, Saalbach being Vali’s home. Others include Ergon v Renthal, Time and Tioga usa, Sweet Protection v TLD and Adidas Five Ten v Northwave.
 

 

6
krabo83
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9/30/2025 7:33am
casey79 wrote:
Vali has had a number of personal sponsors, many of them for 5-10 years:Adidas Five Ten since 2016Alpro since 2023Ergon since 2016GoPro since 2019Mini since 2023Oakley...

Vali has had a number of personal sponsors, many of them for 5-10 years:
Adidas Five Ten since 2016
Alpro since 2023
Ergon since 2016
GoPro since 2019
Mini since 2023
Oakley since 2018
Red Bull since 2018
Saalbach since 2018
SRAM since 2016
Rockshox since 2016
Sweet Protection since 2025

Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres sponsors:
Commencal
Schwalbe
LesOrres Bike Park
Rockshox
SRAM MTB
TLD
Duke Racing Wheels
Muc-off
Northwave
Renthal Cycle Products
Time
Tioga usa
Fidlockbike
Feed back sport
Acros
fasap training

There are a few clashes notably Saalbach v LesOrres Bike Park, Saalbach being Vali’s home. Others include Ergon v Renthal, Time and Tioga usa, Sweet Protection v TLD and Adidas Five Ten v Northwave.
 

 

at least renthal shouldn‘t be a problem since she‘s using their bars already Wink

and rightfully so, best bars out there Tongue

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Alec_Ruston
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9/30/2025 9:40am
Bananamoon wrote:
Trek have Sacha and Ella signed today with Ella moving up to elite next season. Ella is supposedly back (from injury?) and given her relative inexperience...

Trek have Sacha and Ella signed today with Ella moving up to elite next season. Ella is supposedly back (from injury?) and given her relative inexperience I wouldn't be surprised if she have a great developing potential. 

I saw on Ella’s insta feed that she was back on the bike, in Åre and she’d also been at Brages event in Trysil by the look of it. I am not sure she was physically injured, I think it was more about not being in the right head space, so to say. I asked at the Trek team tent in Champery (before she posted on instagram) and they were a bit cagey about saying what it was. 

Heres hoping she’s fit and ready, because she is a rider with a lot of promise. 

2
piratetrails
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9/30/2025 2:07pm
sspomer wrote:
laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

Screen Shot 2025-09-29 at 1.32.08 PM.png?VersionId=i
boozed wrote:

"You boys never seen a Horst link before?"

*crab link

9
stefkrger
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DE
10/1/2025 4:03am

YT mob riders seem to have arrived in the US. Notably no mention of YT in any of their socials. Really excited to see if we might actually get some new ride reveals during practice 

1
canadmos
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10/1/2025 6:37am
stefkrger wrote:
YT mob riders seem to have arrived in the US. Notably no mention of YT in any of their socials. Really excited to see if we...

YT mob riders seem to have arrived in the US. Notably no mention of YT in any of their socials. Really excited to see if we might actually get some new ride reveals during practice 

I saw a video short of Kasper's coaching stuff and he was riding a Yeti. Dont remember where I saw it though, so not sure if old or new.

 

Is he still injured?

1
krabo83
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10/1/2025 7:01am
canadmos wrote:
I saw a video short of Kasper's coaching stuff and he was riding a Yeti. Dont remember where I saw it though, so not sure if...

I saw a video short of Kasper's coaching stuff and he was riding a Yeti. Dont remember where I saw it though, so not sure if old or new.

 

Is he still injured?

latest video from 2 days ago he‘s on an yt e-bike.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPMNlZFjvKZ/?igsh=bmJ3dHYzbGR3NXFn

 

63expert
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10/1/2025 8:53am
sspomer wrote:
laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

laurie and jackson looking really interested in frameworks here. 😲 from neko's insta stories

Screen Shot 2025-09-29 at 1.32.08 PM.png?VersionId=i
boozed wrote:

"You boys never seen a Horst link before?"

*crab link

2026 Crabworks 6000

2
stefkrger
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10/1/2025 9:12am Edited Date/Time 10/1/2025 9:14am
If I was Markus Flossmann I'd be doing everything I could to look after the Mob riders and staff just from a public relations perspective. If...

If I was Markus Flossmann I'd be doing everything I could to look after the Mob riders and staff just from a public relations perspective. If he wants to rebuild the brand then being seen to have done the right thing could be a good start .

We tend to forget in our small bubble how little their regular customer is interested in the behind the scenes of their race program. Most will have heard the company is undergoing restructuring and that’s about it.

In fact I know a lot of YT owners who ride their bikes much more regularly than I do, yet could not care less about DH as a sport 

11
krabo83
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10/1/2025 9:58am

vali‘s on her tues, but looks like in the rockshox pits.

IMG 3593
11
jonkranked
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10/1/2025 10:23am
Grumbly wrote:
Yes. Contracts are bilateral - they hold both sides to the terms set out. YT failing to pay would almost certainly be a material breach of...

Yes. Contracts are bilateral - they hold both sides to the terms set out. YT failing to pay would almost certainly be a material breach of contact, terminating the agreement and freeing the riders from their oblations as defined in the contract. We've already seen Osin race in unbranded kit so at least one rider views their contract as terminated. 

the riders are probably in the right to view the contracts as terminated for the reasons you stated, however they'd likely need lawyers to avoid any legal liability if they were to just walk away / sign with another team right now.  the season is in its final 2 weeks with back to back races, and I'm sure the riders / their agents (if any) have neither the time / interest / funding to pick that fight right now.  another likely factor would be how long they have left on their contract.  

the other aspect separate from any contract breach is the UCI rules.  i did find the post I mentioned concerning it (below).  as far as I can tell, none of the listed criteria have actually been met based on publicly available information - only that YT has entered self administration (a few places mention insolvency, but nothing i've seen indicates that they are actually insolvent).  not sure if / how german law differs from US law, but self administration doesn't inherently equate to insolvency; while it can mean a company is insolvent, it can also only mean that it is be imminent. again, being the final 2 weeks of the season i'm not sure that's a risk riders are interested in taking.

I'm sure there's more going on than is public right now.  will certainly be interesting to see how this plays out, especially with yt being reacquired by flossman. 

 

 

1
virxxu
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Madrid, Madrid ES
10/1/2025 1:40pm
They may have a team they sponsor in Spain, too... Also, there are 2 US riders on the Mondraker WC DH team.. Perhaps hoping to increase...

They may have a team they sponsor in Spain, too... Also, there are 2 US riders on the Mondraker WC DH team.. Perhaps hoping to increase their US market share by sponsoring them?

We don’t have a team supported by mdk or any team at all… I sincerely wish they would help certain Spanish rider who’s currently privateer and already made it through finals 3 times this year, much better than a lot other people with plenty of resources… someone give Dani a chance!!

7
BGoldstone
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Squamish, BC CA
10/1/2025 5:08pm
krabo83 wrote:
vali‘s on her tues, but looks like in the rockshox pits.

vali‘s on her tues, but looks like in the rockshox pits.

IMG 3593

Looks like she’s pitting with Rock Shox and OC and Kolb are on their own. Oisin said in Wyn’s vid that the team guys are keeping it going without support from the brand

7
sspomer
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Boise, ID US
10/1/2025 5:46pm
krabo83 wrote:
vali‘s on her tues, but looks like in the rockshox pits.

vali‘s on her tues, but looks like in the rockshox pits.

IMG 3593
BGoldstone wrote:
Looks like she’s pitting with Rock Shox and OC and Kolb are on their own. Oisin said in Wyn’s vid that the team guys are keeping...

Looks like she’s pitting with Rock Shox and OC and Kolb are on their own. Oisin said in Wyn’s vid that the team guys are keeping it going without support from the brand

in our pit bits vid, you can see YT (not sure if all or just some) in the forbidden pits. 10:04 mark

Screen Shot 2025-10-01 at 6.45.31 PM

 

11
virxxu
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10/2/2025 8:16am

the other site just posted an interview about what´s happening in YT mob, bassically they're covering their own expenses for lake placid and MSA...

2
63expert
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10/2/2025 8:54am

In the future, top riders might be like “Ima need to see 12 months of pay in escrow”

14

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