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CAN WE PLEASE STOP WITH THE RELATIONSHIP STUFF? this is a dead horse that is now pulp. (not saying i agree with it). PLEASE KEEP IT OUT OF TEAM RUMORS AT THIS POINT Go make another thread if this is that big of a deal for you guys

I hate to be even mentioning the subject again but could all the people making snide comments about a certain relationship stop and think about how the younger party feels about having her private life as a topic of conversation? Most of the people frowning on the relationship probably waffle on about mental health constantly while being oblivious to the effect their own comments have on people. I'm all for free speech but these professionals are entertaining us and putting their lives on the line for peanuts and some readers of these Mtb sites are talking trash about riders private...

I believe the situation is good for pivot factory. It's well known that BK does everything on a very small budget compared to other major brands. Even without exceptional results, it brings great visibility to the brand (I think Jenna's story is only noticed by sports nerds), and now Roger has brought a new perspective. For 2026, it's a big question mark. After all, there won't be enough points, so something will change: either there will be investment in new names, or it will become a wildcard team, continuing with reduced investment and some visibility in the pits.

Hey, Chris Ball. You can take your Mr Nally mask off anytime now.

Hahaha "They are claiming their paid channels have significantly more views than the highlight shows on the most popular (and free) streaming platform in the world." @sspomer, well put. I agree, this reporting seems off. Anecdotally, most people I know now ONLY watch the highlights because its free. Which is a shame because the racing has been bonkers these last few years.

WBD Whoop UCI MTB Series reporting their viewing metrics for 2025 so far in the PR below. I try to add some personal insights after. 2025 WHOOP UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD SERIES SEES RECORD-BREAKING MID-SEASON MILESTONES The 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series has so far attracted 56 million cumulative views and 15 million watch hours across WBD channels, supported by strong digital, on-site, and content engagement. 6th August 2025 – Record-breaking broadcast performances, significant digital engagement, and over 250,000 passionate fans attending in person have marked the first 11 rounds of the 2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World...

Just popping in here to say that after being somewhat of a ric defender for the past year and a half, last weeks broadcast was the straw that broke me. He isn’t the guy for the job and it’s yet another factor stopping me from paying 40 CANADIAN DOLLARS a month to watch the races.

he’s probably high up in the running for least insightful sports commentator of all time.

When dozens of Emmy winning programs put their stuff on YouTube to reach an audience under 45 wbd is like nah this is too popular to share with google. Can Chris ball ask them for the numbers on how many people watch Jon Oliver on YouTube versus max and hbo. I’d bet the numbers are staggeringly in favor of YouTube. But maybe I’m letting anecdotal evidence cloud my judgement too much.

I actually like the Q1 + Q2 format now. It seems that it raised the level because now everybody gets his chance to enter finals. They are all fast ass hell. In the same time it becomes more like DH skiing, everyone is spectecular and so it is just a nuance of skill and mental game that decides between win and hospital. I am not sure it will benefit the sport. What I do not like is that WB abolished the free brodcast of the finals. So I only look the the highlights. I am only one person but if...

MTB-adjacent news; the Warner Bros/Discovery Omincorp/financial dumpster fire that currently holds the rights to the UCI World Cup Broadcasts is being unpicked at great speed. Hopefully this makes watching World Cup broadcasts even more of a confusing and expensive endeavour, as seems to be the grand plan going forward.

At this point , we desperately need a "simulcast" audio commentary that we can sync to a muted broadcast. There has to be 2 or 3 dudes out there with the knowledge , wit and skill to save us from the WB offering , which seems to be getting worse rather than better and is detracting from the pleasure of watching WCDH racing for a lot of people.

Gambling is gnarly. We absolutely do not want gambling in our sport.

Hey guys, I just came across this. Not a new product but an ingenious way to get handlebars perfectly aligned.

There’s still not been any official clarification on course markers vs obstacle designators vs line gates, right? Cathro said he’s talked to a guy who works there but we’ve all worked places with guys and he really does seem to be focused on becoming a clickbait YouTuber now (see today’s thing on the suspension lights). It’s either no big deal or an existential threat to DH racing. I go back and forth. Seems easy enough to say “here’s how tracks are defined” and move forward, but that really hasn’t been WB’s bag so far. Weak. Don’t worry, introducing gambling into...

Not all European WC races are in the EU, not all races are in the Schengen area. There is no universal visa, if you want a Visa for a European nation, Schengen or otherwise you have to apply to a specific country. There is no single EU body for Visas. The vast majority of WC racers not from European nations (i,e, Canada, USA, Aus and NZ) do not need a Visa to enter an EU country, those nations have reciprocal Visa waiver programs with EU nations. Visas have never been a major issue before, there are 10 WC DH races...

I've mentioned this worrying trend in depth in a few podcasts over the course of last year. From last year they have hindered the ability of many top 50/60 riders to garner any points in qualifying. Pretty soon very few riders (even much less than now) will be able to rightfully enter a World Cup without being on one of the World Series top teams or federation entries. With the switch to the points now staying with the teams and not the riders this year there will even less power of advantage and bargaining for top riders. (Note if teams...

"Bring back fi... four man podiums!!"