#1 got me more confused…is that a World Cup soccer reference? Is snailbeach saalbach? Who cares about Alran twins insisting on a three way trade with Specialized and Norco (with that whole rumor about Minnaar has to be their butler for 90 days) when #1 is hanging out…
I know it's not DH, but interesting:Cannondale XC is folding for 2027. Enve has a made-in-USA XC bike almost ready to debut, possibly at Soldier Hollow Utah...
I know it's not DH, but interesting:
Cannondale XC is folding for 2027.
Enve has a made-in-USA XC bike almost ready to debut, possibly at Soldier Hollow Utah UCI race.
(Enve is based in Utah and owned by Utah cyclists)
Cannondale team and staff will transition into the Enve XC team for 2027
wow!
did you just drop a heavy duty XC sclusie in here?
I wondered that too. Fmb are in a tough position with Kaos tagging along and everyone else being a bit up & down to put it politely. Combined with the desperation move of Maes putting a floating brake arm on the rear end of the bike.
Snailbeach is in Shropshire, England. Shropshire being home to many DHers before nearby mid/north Wales became the spot. Even our muchly improved Neil Beaumont comes from the area. And let's not forget Pearce Cycles, Dave, Lyndsey and all they have done for mountain biking.
On the German Website mtb-news.de there is a picture from Troy Brosnan with the following text:"Gerüchten zufolge wird der australische Canyon-Fahrer in der kommenden Saison gleich...
On the German Website mtb-news.de there is a picture from Troy Brosnan with the following text:
"Gerüchten zufolge wird der australische Canyon-Fahrer in der kommenden Saison gleich zweimal in die Haute Savoie reisen dürfen."
Which means:
"Rumor has it that the Australian Canyon rider will get to travel to Haute-Savoie twice in the coming season."
So will there be a World Cup and World Champs in Les Gets?
Yes, Chris Kilmurray said that during some track walk this year; the question is, will the World Cup and Worlds be on the same track, or will we have a new downhill track in Les Gets?
On the German Website mtb-news.de there is a picture from Troy Brosnan with the following text:"Gerüchten zufolge wird der australische Canyon-Fahrer in der kommenden Saison gleich...
On the German Website mtb-news.de there is a picture from Troy Brosnan with the following text:
"Gerüchten zufolge wird der australische Canyon-Fahrer in der kommenden Saison gleich zweimal in die Haute Savoie reisen dürfen."
Which means:
"Rumor has it that the Australian Canyon rider will get to travel to Haute-Savoie twice in the coming season."
So will there be a World Cup and World Champs in Les Gets?
Yes, Chris Kilmurray said that during some track walk this year; the question is, will the World Cup and Worlds be on the same track, or...
Yes, Chris Kilmurray said that during some track walk this year; the question is, will the World Cup and Worlds be on the same track, or will we have a new downhill track in Les Gets?
They could bring back the classic (think ski pistes) Les Gets DH they were racing ~2019. Unless that was replaced for land access? Mont Chéry has as few trails as it does due to local farmers I believe.
As far I know, I dont see how a new track could be built on Mont Chery. Les Gets town council has recently cancelled it after publishing results from a public survey (farmers have been pretty vocal during it).
Considering Morzine is working on fixing the status quo on Le Pleney tracks, building a dedicated DH track would not be that wild though. Or maybe Chatel will host one now the EDR is dead and they now have the time for DH.
Morzine off piste world cup lets freaking go!!!! Considering Morzine is working on fixing the status quo on Le Pleney tracks, building a dedicated DH track would...
Morzine off piste world cup lets freaking go!!!!
Considering Morzine is working on fixing the status quo on Le Pleney tracks, building a dedicated DH track would not be that wild though. Or maybe Chatel will host one now the EDR is dead and they now have the time for DH.
As much as I like the idea, the Pleney gondola does not give much vertical for a world cup track. It's a very fast lift, but only gives around 500m vert (less than Fort William), if you hard a world cup level track, descending on the steep gradients (rather than meandering like mainline), it'd be one short race time. I don't know what the terrain from the chairs above the Gondola is like.
Quentin BarbeNano Lavergne Lucy JenkinsHarry SchofieldAnton ZierlArleigh Kemp Not sure if Megan Pretorius or Mack Manietta (both Canadian) are moving to junior next year?Others please add to my...
Quentin Barbe
Nano Lavergne
Lucy Jenkins
Harry Schofield
Anton Zierl
Arleigh Kemp
Not sure if Megan Pretorius or Mack Manietta (both Canadian) are moving to junior next year?
Others please add to my list if you know of any other fast ones moving up
As I made this list and looked at the American races, it made me think that our category system holds back development in some ways compared to what the European's do?
Some more fast kids from NZ moving to u19: Lewis Laird, Joel Burkitt, Mason Parr, Addison Rutherford, Emi Summers.
Canadians Megan Pretorious and Mack Manietta moving to U19 in 2028 I believe
On the German Website mtb-news.de there is a picture from Troy Brosnan with the following text:"Gerüchten zufolge wird der australische Canyon-Fahrer in der kommenden Saison gleich...
On the German Website mtb-news.de there is a picture from Troy Brosnan with the following text:
"Gerüchten zufolge wird der australische Canyon-Fahrer in der kommenden Saison gleich zweimal in die Haute Savoie reisen dürfen."
Which means:
"Rumor has it that the Australian Canyon rider will get to travel to Haute-Savoie twice in the coming season."
So will there be a World Cup and World Champs in Les Gets?
The UCI MTB World Championship locations have actually been announced all the way out to 2031.
2027: Haute-Savoie, France, with DH and XCO/XCC at Les Gets 2028: Leogang, Austria 2029: Czechia, with XCO/XCC at Nové Město and DH/Enduro at Dolní Morava 2030: Durango, Colorado, USA 2031: Trentino, Italy
Dolní Morava is an interesting one for 2029. They’re building a new gondola and World Championship-standard DH track, with the aim of having it completed by the end of 2027 and tested at a major international race in 2028.
And Les Gets hosting Worlds again in 2027 is a pretty good excuse for another French Alps trip!
Some more fast kids from NZ moving to u19: Lewis Laird, Joel Burkitt, Mason Parr, Addison Rutherford, Emi Summers.Canadians Megan Pretorious and Mack Manietta moving to...
Some more fast kids from NZ moving to u19: Lewis Laird, Joel Burkitt, Mason Parr, Addison Rutherford, Emi Summers.
Canadians Megan Pretorious and Mack Manietta moving to U19 in 2028 I believe
Some more fast kids from NZ moving to u19: Lewis Laird, Joel Burkitt, Mason Parr, Addison Rutherford, Emi Summers.Canadians Megan Pretorious and Mack Manietta moving to...
Some more fast kids from NZ moving to u19: Lewis Laird, Joel Burkitt, Mason Parr, Addison Rutherford, Emi Summers.
Canadians Megan Pretorious and Mack Manietta moving to U19 in 2028 I believe
Dropping "It’s time to retire" right after his World Champs run felt like a classic Loris quip—but every joke carries a grain of truth. With contract renewals on the horizon, financial realities will drive the narrative. Commencal has options, but Loris knows his market value. He remains a rock-solid World Cup finalist, meaning a high-tier paycheck is non-negotiable.
Dakotah Norton
A tough realization may be setting in: the massive personal and financial investment simply isn't yielding the corresponding World Cup results. Calling time on the Elite DH circuit to transition into freeride, US-focused racing, or new ventures might actually be the healthiest move. It removes the suffocating "need to perform" pressure. Sad for the fans, but likely the right call for him.
Aaron Gwin & Neko Mulally
Gwin aligning with Neko’s Frameworks setup makes complete sense, likely taking on a hybrid rider-owner or managerial role. However, Neko won't be handing over the keys. Frameworks is his brainchild, born from raw grit and engineering passion—he loves the hands-on project too much to yield total control.
Danny Hart
If Norco doesn't extend his World Cup contract, expect an official retirement from top-tier racing. He is primed to step directly into a full-time, UK-based development and testing role. In truth, his value as a master tester and brand ambassador has been his primary strength for a while now.
Josh Bryceland
The "Ratboy" era defined a generation, but top-tier racing is ancient history for him. Since stepping away from the World Cup circuit, he built a life around low-pressure jibbing, 50to01 crew culture, and pure fun. However, as industry budgets contract hard, brands are cutting loose high-cost lifestyle ambassadors who don't fit current metric-driven marketing.
If he steps back into the pit area, a line spotter, mentor, or vibe-manager role makes total sense—his track reading capabilities and bike control are undeniable. The hurdle is financial realism: brands are tightening their belts, and paying a premium for an old-school, free-spirited rider to hang out at races is a hard sell to modern corporate marketing teams. If he stays involved, it will likely be on his own terms through grassroots projects rather than a formal corporate contract.
Benoît Coulanges
A deeply frustrating season leads to heavy questioning. His raw speed and technical caliber put him among the world's elite, but execution on race day keeps slipping away. When peak physical capacity fails to translate into podiums, burnout sets in fast.
Tahnée Seagrave & Finn Iles
While rumors link them under one banner, Tahnée’s transition into a team management or media role feels increasingly imminent. She already holds immense structural influence within her setup, and her body language suggests she is no longer willing to take the extreme risks required to win in modern Women's Elite DH. Her departure from the start gate will leave a massive void.
Richie Rude
Enduro dominance doesn't automatically translate to longevity without strategic diversification. He needs to make a definitive pivot or double down on his core strengths, as opportunities outside the specialized mountain bike ecosystem remain limited.
Myriam Nicole
The end of an era feels close. Her passion for the sport remains unquestioned, but the sheer physical and mental toll of endless recovery cycles has taken its toll. Expect her to either step into an advisory role within the Commencal structure or step away from the circuit entirely to pursue a life outside racing.
Amaury Pierron
The "all-out or hospital" riding style is unsustainable over a long career. Walking the razor's edge has delivered historic wins, but remaining relatively intact after years of high-speed impacts is a finite luxury. The central question isn't his speed—it's whether he is willing to keep paying the physical price.
Loris VergierDropping "It’s time to retire" right after his World Champs run felt like a classic Loris quip—but every joke carries a grain of truth. With...
Loris Vergier
Dropping "It’s time to retire" right after his World Champs run felt like a classic Loris quip—but every joke carries a grain of truth. With contract renewals on the horizon, financial realities will drive the narrative. Commencal has options, but Loris knows his market value. He remains a rock-solid World Cup finalist, meaning a high-tier paycheck is non-negotiable.
Dakotah Norton
A tough realization may be setting in: the massive personal and financial investment simply isn't yielding the corresponding World Cup results. Calling time on the Elite DH circuit to transition into freeride, US-focused racing, or new ventures might actually be the healthiest move. It removes the suffocating "need to perform" pressure. Sad for the fans, but likely the right call for him.
Aaron Gwin & Neko Mulally
Gwin aligning with Neko’s Frameworks setup makes complete sense, likely taking on a hybrid rider-owner or managerial role. However, Neko won't be handing over the keys. Frameworks is his brainchild, born from raw grit and engineering passion—he loves the hands-on project too much to yield total control.
Danny Hart
If Norco doesn't extend his World Cup contract, expect an official retirement from top-tier racing. He is primed to step directly into a full-time, UK-based development and testing role. In truth, his value as a master tester and brand ambassador has been his primary strength for a while now.
Josh Bryceland
The "Ratboy" era defined a generation, but top-tier racing is ancient history for him. Since stepping away from the World Cup circuit, he built a life around low-pressure jibbing, 50to01 crew culture, and pure fun. However, as industry budgets contract hard, brands are cutting loose high-cost lifestyle ambassadors who don't fit current metric-driven marketing.
If he steps back into the pit area, a line spotter, mentor, or vibe-manager role makes total sense—his track reading capabilities and bike control are undeniable. The hurdle is financial realism: brands are tightening their belts, and paying a premium for an old-school, free-spirited rider to hang out at races is a hard sell to modern corporate marketing teams. If he stays involved, it will likely be on his own terms through grassroots projects rather than a formal corporate contract.
Benoît Coulanges
A deeply frustrating season leads to heavy questioning. His raw speed and technical caliber put him among the world's elite, but execution on race day keeps slipping away. When peak physical capacity fails to translate into podiums, burnout sets in fast.
Tahnée Seagrave & Finn Iles
While rumors link them under one banner, Tahnée’s transition into a team management or media role feels increasingly imminent. She already holds immense structural influence within her setup, and her body language suggests she is no longer willing to take the extreme risks required to win in modern Women's Elite DH. Her departure from the start gate will leave a massive void.
Richie Rude
Enduro dominance doesn't automatically translate to longevity without strategic diversification. He needs to make a definitive pivot or double down on his core strengths, as opportunities outside the specialized mountain bike ecosystem remain limited.
Myriam Nicole
The end of an era feels close. Her passion for the sport remains unquestioned, but the sheer physical and mental toll of endless recovery cycles has taken its toll. Expect her to either step into an advisory role within the Commencal structure or step away from the circuit entirely to pursue a life outside racing.
Amaury Pierron
The "all-out or hospital" riding style is unsustainable over a long career. Walking the razor's edge has delivered historic wins, but remaining relatively intact after years of high-speed impacts is a finite luxury. The central question isn't his speed—it's whether he is willing to keep paying the physical price.
It's impressive how bland and corporate this is, if it isn't slop and you wrote it yourself, bravo!
(Your username is the abbreviation for Return on Investment, right?)
Not a rumour but I remember how much crap Felix Griffith got in the 2025 rumours about only being on Syndicate because of $, but the kid’s pretty damn good. He’s no Alran, Vermette, or Goldstone as a junior but still impressive.
Oh hey guys, sorry I’m late. What did I miss?
Who do we think this is referring to? Sibs or spouses?
#1 got me more confused…is that a World Cup soccer reference? Is snailbeach saalbach? Who cares about Alran twins insisting on a three way trade with Specialized and Norco (with that whole rumor about Minnaar has to be their butler for 90 days) when #1 is hanging out…
I know it's not DH, but interesting:
Cannondale XC is folding for 2027.
Enve has a made-in-USA XC bike almost ready to debut, possibly at Soldier Hollow Utah UCI race.
(Enve is based in Utah and owned by Utah cyclists)
Cannondale team and staff will transition into the Enve XC team for 2027
wow!
did you just drop a heavy duty XC sclusie in here?
I think this is more likely referring to contract extensions clauses of +1 year like you see in other sports (football, F1 etc.)
I read it as spouses, i.e. 'we can't invite him to the wedding, we don't have spacer for his plus-one'
Which DH couple has a contract up? Finn is the obvious.
Bernard looking to get a female race winner/contender?
On the German Website mtb-news.de there is a picture from Troy Brosnan with the following text:
"Gerüchten zufolge wird der australische Canyon-Fahrer in der kommenden Saison gleich zweimal in die Haute Savoie reisen dürfen."
Which means:
"Rumor has it that the Australian Canyon rider will get to travel to Haute-Savoie twice in the coming season."
So will there be a World Cup and World Champs in Les Gets?
causing kaos?
Maybe related to logistics and travel? I'm not sure. It could also be a hint at something completely different.
I wondered that too. Fmb are in a tough position with Kaos tagging along and everyone else being a bit up & down to put it politely. Combined with the desperation move of Maes putting a floating brake arm on the rear end of the bike.
Snailbeach is in Shropshire, England. Shropshire being home to many DHers before nearby mid/north Wales became the spot. Even our muchly improved Neil Beaumont comes from the area. And let's not forget Pearce Cycles, Dave, Lyndsey and all they have done for mountain biking.
fully shired out, Snailbeach looks perfect!
Yes, Chris Kilmurray said that during some track walk this year; the question is, will the World Cup and Worlds be on the same track, or will we have a new downhill track in Les Gets?
They could bring back the classic (think ski pistes) Les Gets DH they were racing ~2019. Unless that was replaced for land access? Mont Chéry has as few trails as it does due to local farmers I believe.
As far I know, I dont see how a new track could be built on Mont Chery. Les Gets town council has recently cancelled it after publishing results from a public survey (farmers have been pretty vocal during it).
Morzine off piste world cup lets freaking go!!!!
Considering Morzine is working on fixing the status quo on Le Pleney tracks, building a dedicated DH track would not be that wild though. Or maybe Chatel will host one now the EDR is dead and they now have the time for DH.
As much as I like the idea, the Pleney gondola does not give much vertical for a world cup track. It's a very fast lift, but only gives around 500m vert (less than Fort William), if you hard a world cup level track, descending on the steep gradients (rather than meandering like mainline), it'd be one short race time. I don't know what the terrain from the chairs above the Gondola is like.
Some more fast kids from NZ moving to u19: Lewis Laird, Joel Burkitt, Mason Parr, Addison Rutherford, Emi Summers.
Canadians Megan Pretorious and Mack Manietta moving to U19 in 2028 I believe
The UCI MTB World Championship locations have actually been announced all the way out to 2031.
2027: Haute-Savoie, France, with DH and XCO/XCC at Les Gets
2028: Leogang, Austria
2029: Czechia, with XCO/XCC at Nové Město and DH/Enduro at Dolní Morava
2030: Durango, Colorado, USA
2031: Trentino, Italy
Dolní Morava is an interesting one for 2029. They’re building a new gondola and World Championship-standard DH track, with the aim of having it completed by the end of 2027 and tested at a major international race in 2028.
And Les Gets hosting Worlds again in 2027 is a pretty good excuse for another French Alps trip!
I wonder if Addison is any relation to Ernest
@boozed no relation, but both did BMX back in the day in NZ. Addison & Camden (Nukeproof) are siblings.
It's impressive how bland and corporate this is, if it isn't slop and you wrote it yourself, bravo!
(Your username is the abbreviation for Return on Investment, right?)
Hablo un poco de inglés, pero no muy bien. Siempre hago todo lo posible para hacerme entender.
Downhill has been submitted as a new olympic Discipline for the Summer Games in Brisbane 2032.
Now the IOC has to approve it…
Any existing tracks suitable around there? I know Illinbah was considered back in the day.
Not a rumour but I remember how much crap Felix Griffith got in the 2025 rumours about only being on Syndicate because of $, but the kid’s pretty damn good. He’s no Alran, Vermette, or Goldstone as a junior but still impressive.
I would think the track just needs to be in Aus. Surfing wasn’t in Paris
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