DH World Cup thread

RustyMTB said:
Also heard rumours of juniors being scrapped from 2026. Would strongly deplore that if true, it's a great nursery for elite & would be an own goal imo.
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It won't be scrapped in 26, however yes there's lots of talk of 27 and onwards not happening.

Which confuses me though as to WHY... There's no more consequence to having them there, they get more money from the entries and no Elites are complaining about not getting enough practice because of juniors etc... I don't really understand any logic behind the decision.
 
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Weeksy said:
It won't be scrapped in 26, however yes there's lots of talk of 27 and onwards not happening.

Which confuses me though as to WHY... There's no more consequence to having them there, they get more money from the entries and no Elites are complaining about not getting enough practice because of juniors etc... I don't really understand any logic behind the decision.
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We might be looking at it backwards - it could be the teams themselves wanting to do away with it? It's expensive to put on a season of international racing as a team manager, and you could argue that juniors don't really help sell bikes.

I still think it should remain though. Only when the best race against the best can they reach their full potential.
 
RickBullotta said:
We might be looking at it backwards - it could be the teams themselves wanting to do away with it?
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I don't believe that's the case, i talk to a fair few racers from WC and team mechanics, managers etc fairly regularly, none of them have shown me anything that makes me think that.
 
At a guess, juniors are a marginal cost. If you are already at the races with pits, a truck, mechanics and all the rest of it, then a couple of juniors aren't a massive oncost in the scheme of things & you might just unearth the next Vali Holl or Jackson Goldstone. If they are doing away with them, I would guess it's the hand of the broadcaster at it more than the teams.
 
RustyMTB said:
Kolb's gone to SC, Oison O'Callaghan to Trek allegedly, Dak & Dylan Maples leaving Mondraker again, allegedly and off to Frameworks & Vali to Commencal Schwalbe Les Orres is the extent of everything I've heard so far.
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Maples was on Commencal? Either way Dak leaving is interesting will free up some space at Mondraker.

Best place for team rumours of course is the one and only Vital https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2026-team-rumors
 
I would hope she has at least another season in her, without injuries she's still a formidable weapon & Vali is joining the other Commencal team anyway.
 
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Brendog is raffling off his 2023 Rampage bike in aid of Adolf Silva. (y)

thedreambikecompetition.co.uk

Brendan Fairclough's SCOTT Adolf Silva Fundraiser - Dream Bike Competition

Win My 2023 Rampage Scott Gambler – Supporting Adolf Silva I’m raffling off my Scott Gambler — the bike I rode at Red Bull Rampage — to help raise funds for Adolf Silva. Adolf suffered a serious spinal injury at this year’s Rampage after a massive crash attempting a double-backflip step-down...
thedreambikecompetition.co.uk thedreambikecompetition.co.uk
 
RustyMTB said:
Brendog is raffling off his 2023 Rampage bike in aid of Adolf Silva. (y)

thedreambikecompetition.co.uk

Brendan Fairclough's SCOTT Adolf Silva Fundraiser - Dream Bike Competition

Win My 2023 Rampage Scott Gambler – Supporting Adolf Silva I’m raffling off my Scott Gambler — the bike I rode at Red Bull Rampage — to help raise funds for Adolf Silva. Adolf suffered a serious spinal injury at this year’s Rampage after a massive crash attempting a double-backflip step-down...
thedreambikecompetition.co.uk thedreambikecompetition.co.uk
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I have tickets already
 
Laurie Greenland is off Santa Cruz. Hindsight is the only perfect science but it did cross my mind after they signed Andi Kolb that three male elite riders on one team wouldn't be a thing. I feel for the guy, he had a rough time with Covid & then IIRC, a long bout of glandular fever & his results have been on the slide for a couple of seasons. Would love to see him find a perch, regroup & put the last couple of years behind him.
 
Added this to the Pic of the Day thread but thought I’d share here. Yesterday I found this VHS tape in my old tool box with a recording of a 1999 WC DH event. I used it to test VCRs we put in custom vehicles at Ultrasmith.
I’m that old.

IMG_1213.jpeg
 
RustyMTB said:
Hindsight is the only perfect science but it did cross my mind after they signed Andi Kolb that three male elite riders on one team wouldn't be a thing.
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Unlike SC having Minnaar, Goldstone and Greenland? Or Minnaar, Shaw and Vergier? There's room for three if they want there to be three...

You'd have to assume Greenland is off based on both results and not fitting in to the team structure/vibes. I don't see him being fought over by the big teams, but the Red Bull lid does bring a certain cachet and he's got the skill if he can get himself physically and mentally in the right place.

My bet is Orbea FMD for his next team, with Atherton being an outside pick and Pivot being a distant third. Bernard needs the points and if there's a bargain to be struck, he'll be all over it. Dodgy Rog can't carry the team for another year!

I hear Axess Nukeproof being spoken of for Loz due to his relationship with Olly, but they have a pretty stacked roster already and I can't see the funds being that available, unless he's going cheap. I know Breeden rates him though...
 
dotcodotuk said:
Unlike SC having Minnaar, Goldstone and Greenland? Or Minnaar, Shaw and Vergier? There's room for three if they want there to be three...
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A team can obvs offer to anyone but when it comes to budgets, we ain't in Kansas anymore. Dodgy Rog qualified about twice? last season, I know he's signed on again for a year but I can't see PFR pulling up any trees in 2026 with what they have. Orbea FMD have party Marty & Oli Zwar who are both close but I think their biggest problem is a gen 1 bike that needs developing.
 
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Breaking news: Aaron Gwin will be joining Neko Mullaly again - as part of the Frameworks Racing team for 2026. That's such awesome news. I'd love to see Frameworks build more types of bikes too.
 
RickBullotta said:
Breaking news: Aaron Gwin will be joining Neko Mullaly again - as part of the Frameworks Racing team for 2026. That's such awesome news. I'd love to see Frameworks build more types of bikes too.
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So no more intense?
 
RickBullotta said:
Breaking news: Aaron Gwin will be joining Neko Mullaly again - as part of the Frameworks Racing team for 2026. That's such awesome news. I'd love to see Frameworks build more types of bikes too.
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I find it interesting Specialized e-bikes is a sponsor.
 
RickBullotta said:
Ha. I was as surprised it was buried in there as anyone! Spec does support other kinds of race series, notably the GNCC series. But another bike team? That's interesting for sure.
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warming up on ebikes instead of rollers is the next big thing in dh racing, therefore they needed some
 
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