Welcome back to the #1 MTB newsletter brought to you by RECON, mountain biking’s fastest growing media brand and online store.

Jackson Goldstone dominated Loudenvielle, but he’s thrashing the track at Leogang this weekend with equal ease.

Watch this insane clip of Jackson hitting a massive jump and landing perfectly to zip across a wall.

Also, Shimano finally dropped their wireless XTR after what feels like a geological era of waiting. Spoiler alert: it's pretty sick.

On today's run:

•  🏁 Loudenvielle World Cup Report

•  🇯🇵 Shimano launch the new XTR

•  🍎 Riding School From Mastery: Gap Jumps

👇 Quick Picks

🏁 Triple World Cup in Leogang Austria

Right now, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is going down in Leogang – and it's massive! With Downhill, XCC, XCO and Enduro all in one stop, it's a rare chance to see the world's best riders from every team in one place. Expect sick runs, close battles, and a crowd going wild. Can't be there? No stress – the livestreams are on fire and totally worth checking out online.

🐣 More Power for TQ's Small Motor: Meet the HPR60

TQ just dropped a beefed-up version of their compact e-bike motor: the TQ-HPR60. It now delivers 60 Nm of torque and 350 watts of power. TQ is that tech-driven company near Munich that's been quietly building some of the slickest compact motors in the game. The HPR60 is their answer to riders wanting more grunt without the bulk.

🦸 Canyon Value Drops Drastically

Ouch. Investment firm GBL has written down its stake in Canyon—from €460M to just €261M in 2024. That puts Canyon's total value around €522M, way down from €800M in 2020. What's behind the drop? Overstocked warehouses after overestimating post-COVID demand. Those unsold bikes are tying up cash and losing value fast. Canyon lost €38M in 2024 alone. The bike industry reality check continues.

RACING

🐻 Canada’s Conquerors

The Downhill World Cup in Loudenvielle just dropped one of the craziest race weekends we've seen in a while.

The French mountains served up gnarly weather, steep lines, and even steeper surprises — and it was the young Canadian crew that absolutely stole the show.

Canadian Takeover

Gracey Hemstreet and Jackson Goldstone made Loudenvielle their playground. Hemstreet, just 20, laid down a killer run that had her go from dead last at the first split to crossing the line in first. She clawed back over six seconds — yep, six — to take her first elite World Cup win and made history as the first Canadian woman ever to do it.

With Vali Höll riding great but not as dominant as usual, Gracey Hemstreet took her shot – and nailed it. The wind gave her trouble at the top, but the steeper the trail got, the more she pushed. Thankfully for the rest of the field, the Loudenvielle course is just over three minutes — if it were any longer, she might’ve run away with it even harder. A huge win for the young Canadian.

Goldstone, also born in 2004, bounced back from a rough 2024 filled with injury to dominate the field. His win puts him just one away from tying the legendary Canadian' Stevie Smith's World Cup record.

For Goldstone it was the second half of the track that really made the difference. Jordan Williams looked sharp and sat in the hot seat for a while — until Jackson Goldstone dropped in. The wind hit him hard at the top, but once he got into the bottom half, it was like he floated over everything – holes, braking bumps, zero traction? Didn’t matter.

This was the first time Canada has ever pulled off a double win in the elite category. Big moment for maple syrup and politeness.

The New Format Delivers Drama

The new qualifying system means no protected rider spots — and it's already shaking things up. After two rounds, big names have missed finals completely. Just 11 elite women and 19 elite men have made it into both finals so far. The field is wide open, and every race weekend feels like survival of the fastest.

For the first time since 2016, there wasn't a French winner on home soil. That insane 8-year streak is finally over — a massive moment in downhill history.

Next stop: Leogang – no time to rest

And just like that, we're headed to Leogang this weekend for the triple threat — Downhill, XCC, XCO, and Enduro all in one massive stop. It's Austria's chance to show the world how you properly throw a World Cup party. Bring on Kaiserschmarrn, Kässpatzen, and another shot at glory. The Canadian kids just proved anything can happen in 2025. No rest for the fast — we can't wait.

TECH

🇯🇵 Finally: Shimano releases the new XTR

After around seven years, Shimano has dropped the all-new XTR M9200 series. And yeah, it's a pretty big deal. This next-gen drivetrain is lighter, faster, and fully wireless — no more cables, no more mechanical shifting. It's Shimano's response to SRAM's AXS tech, and they're going all in.

Fully Wireless – No More Cables

The M9200 Di2 marks a first for Shimano's flagship MTB group: it's completely wireless. No cable versions, no mechanical options – just smooth, electronic shifting through the air. There's even an e-bike version that pulls power directly from the bike's battery.

• Total drivetrain weight: 1,720 g

• Price: ~€2,010 for the full set, or €999 for upgrade kit

The Derailleur – Smart, Tough, and Ready for Abuse

Most of the magic happens in the new RD-M9250 derailleur. It's wireless, with the battery hidden inside the parallelogram. The shape is more compact and rounded, designed to glide over roots and rocks. Shimano's "Impact Recovery" tech helps it snap back into place after impacts.

The e-bike version unlocks Autoshift (automatic gear changes) and Freeshift (shifting without pedaling). Shimano says Bosch motor support is coming too.

The Shifter – Customizable and Clicky

The SW-M9250R shifter is wireless, light, and super customizable. You can adjust position, angle, and pick from different shifting styles: multi-shift, double-tap, or single-click. There's even a third programmable button for computer control.

Battery life? Two small coin cells power it for up to two years.

New Brakes – More Power, Less Fade

Shimano also dropped a new XTR brake lineup featuring one-piece 4-piston calipers, new brake pads with cooling fins, and thinner orange mineral oil that handles heat better. They're aiming to solve the "wandering bite point" issue they've been known for.

The new XTR isn't just an update — it's a full reboot of what high-end MTB shifting looks like. Wireless, smart, fast, and tough as nails. Pricey? Sure. But if you're chasing top-tier performance, this group has it all dialed.

RIDING SCHOOL

📐 How to Hit Gap Jumps on Your MTB

Gap jumps are one of the most intimidating features in mountain biking—but they're also one of the most rewarding. The physical skills needed to hit them aren't much different from other jumps, but mentally, they can be a huge hurdle. If fear has held you back, don't worry. With the right progression, mindset, and practice, you can learn to hit gaps with confidence.

The Gap Jump Progression

1. Start With Rollers

• Rollers teach you how to move the bike underneath you and push into the ground

• Focus on staying in balance and learning how to generate speed with body movement

• This builds the foundational skill of pumping, which you'll use in every type of jump

2. Graduate to Tabletop Jumps

• These jumps have no gap, just a flat top, making them ideal for learning proper takeoff and landing

• Practice jumping with control, not just speed

• Focus on body position in the air and matching your landing angle for smooth touch-downs

3. Learn on Roller Doubles

• These look like gap jumps but have a rollable center

• First, land safely in the middle

• Then aim to touch the top of the landing

• Gradually progress until you're clearing the roller completely

• These build both skill and mental confidence without the pressure of a true gap

4. Visualize the Real Thing

• Once you can consistently clear roller doubles, ride them while visualizing an actual gap

• Imagine there's no center at all—just air

• Mentally removing the safety net helps your brain adjust before the real thing

Time for the Gap Jump

When you're ready to hit a true gap, don't change anything about your body position or approach. Picture the landing and takeoff as one connected surface. Commit fully—hesitation is the #1 cause of mistakes. Recall the balance and technique you've practiced on rollers, tables, and roller doubles.

Chances are, the gap is no bigger than what you've already been clearing—it just looks scarier. Keep your mindset strong, trust your progression, and send it.

Common Mistakes

• Rushing the process — Take your time with each step, especially roller doubles

• Too much speed, too little control — Gap jumps aren't about going fast, they're about precision

• Changing your technique mid-jump — What worked on tables and rollers will work here too

• Staring into the gap — Focus on your takeoff and landing, not the empty space

With Mastery, you can learn MTB skills fast. It's an app making it simple to learn MTB skills from top pros. The app is launching soon so join the waitlist to ensure you get first access.

🎥 Video Of The Week

The fastest riding in Loudenville.

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Toby Ricco, the founder of Bimotal, breaks down his revolutionary tech turning your analog bike into an e-bike.

🚵‍♀️ Current Giveaway Bike

Our newest giveaway bike is a Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX. Entries are now open on ReconMTB.com! Read more about the bike. USA customers only are eligible to win.

This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by Nic Bean, Michael Sikand, Justin Rausch, and Marc Brodesser