Welcome to RECON, the newsletter making you smarter about MTB in 5 minutes.

Today we’re announcing the lucky winner of the gear giveaway we ran last week with none other than the GOAT, Greg Minnaar.

Scroll to the bottom to find out who won. Best of luck to ya 🤞

In today’s issue:

• 📋 Refresh: What The New UCI Rule Changes Actually Mean

• 🚲 New Rig: The Transition Sentinel Is A Mighty Fine Steed

• 🇮🇹 Cerro Abajo: What happened in Italy?

📸 Pic: 5040 Peak in Vancouver Island

🤑 Business: Fox Racing Part Of $1B+ Buyout

Vista Outdoor has agreed to sell its Revelyst business unit — which includes Fox Racing, Giro, Bell, and CamelBak — to PE firm Strategic Value Partners for a price of $1.125 billion. The deal has not been finalized and depends on shareholder approval.

🙋‍♂️ Poll: Red Bull Rampage

Last week we asked you guys if Rampage should be more focused on freeride or slopestyle riding. 14/14 respondents want it to stay a freeride event above all else.

😹 Friday Meme

RACING

🏆 Major UCI World Cup Changes Explained

The UCI and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports just dropped some major updates for World Cups in 2025. We dug into the new rulebook and press release and broke down everything you need to know.

👶 New Junior Category for Enduro Racing
Enduro will now have its own Junior category at World Cups. The U21 category that Enduro used previously is being replaced by this new format, set for men and women aged 17-18. This shift brings Enduro in line with Downhill, making the structure more uniform across gravity disciplines.

🏆 Three-Rider Podiums
Mountain bikers spraying champagne are about to look a whole lot more like F1 drivers. Starting next year, Elite DH, XC, and Enduro podiums will only feature the top three riders, matching the format Enduro has already adopted. This shift streamlines the ceremony and focuses the attention on fewer rides, making mountain biking victories all the more special.

🌍 Continental Race Series for DH and XC
With World Cups becoming more exclusive, a new Continental Race Series for Downhill and Cross Country will be created. This gives riders across different continents a shot at qualifying for the World Cup. While Enduro doesn’t yet have a continental series, WBD hinted at potential new pathways for aspiring Enduro racers.

🔢 Career Numbers and Custom Kits
XC and Downhill racers who’ve won a World Cup will now have the chance to choose their own career number (2-999), adding a personal touch to their competitive identity. Numbers become available again once riders retire. As for kits, the rule requiring elite teams to wear identical outfits has been scrapped. Teams will still submit their designs to the UCI, but the “identical look” requirement is gone, opening up new opportunities for riders to express their style and personality.

🚠 Minimum Lift Capacity for DH Venues Increased
A subtle but impactful change: the lift capacity required for DH venues has jumped from 100 to 250 riders per hour, meaning some classic locations like Lourdes may no longer qualify to host events. This could impact venue choices for 2025 and beyond.

🗣Our Take
The 2025 changes are a necessary evil to grow the sport and take it to the next level. While it’s unfortunate that some passionate players might be filtered out, the guys at WBD have big ambitions to drive more eyes to mountain biking. For MTB to keep expanding, it needs to be digestible for the masses, and that means creating a format that’s exciting and understandable to a broader audience. We’re going to see some tough decisions made, but these changes are essential if we want MTB to become a global household name. Sacrifices now can lead to big rewards later on for the sport.

BIKES

🚵‍♀️ Transition Drops Sentinel V3

It’s been over four years since Transition last updated their 150mm trail bike Sentinel.

While the 2020 version was well-received, the 2025 Sentinel brings a few meaningful updates—think of it as more of the iPhone 6 to 7, instead of the 5 to 6.

The biggest changes? Mixed-wheel compatibility, size-specific chainstay lengths, and in-frame storage (called the “Boom Box”).

📋 Here’s what you need to know:

• Travel: 150mm rear, 160mm front

• Wheel Size: 29" or MX (27.5" for XS)

• Head Angle: 64°

• Reach: 415-530mm across six frame sizes

• Starting Price: $3,299 USD

The Boom Box adds handy frame storage, but the real star is the flexibility to run mixed wheels or full 29" setups. The size-adjusted chainstays improve handling for different riders, while a new mud-flap keeps debris out of your bearings. Just beware, tire clearance is a bit tight.

Geometry tweaks include a slightly steeper 64° head angle and size-specific seat tube angles, giving you more control and comfort, especially on steep, technical trails. The 2025 model’s refined build options offer both aluminum and carbon frames, with prices ranging from $3,299 to $7,899 USD.

🗣 Our Take: Transition is building the do-it-all bike. They’ve clearly learned from the entire history of MTB, and it shows in the Sentinel. From mixed-wheel setups to in-frame storage, this bike seems to pack every feature a rider could ever need. If it were me, I’d go for the top-level X01 AXS build—I just appreciate the finer things, and I know this bike will last me forever. You can ride one year in 150/160mm with full 29" wheels, and another in mullet (long stroked to) 160/160mm. It’s hard to beat that versatility! The "GiddyUp" Horst link suspension is timeless, with a versatile leverage ratio that adapts to any setup—even ultra-premium brands are coming back to this system (cough cough, Santa Cruz). Whether you opt for a lightweight air shock for playful trail rides or a coil shock for serious downhill plowing, this bike is ready for anything—from flowy spins to racing on the World Cup EDR stage.

EVENTS

🇮🇹 Red Bull Cerro Abajo Finale

The latest Red Bull Cerro Abajo event was like an American college student in June.

It went to Italy for the first time.

Last weekend, Red Bull’s diabolical, 3 stop urban downhill MTB race completed its final stop of the year and European debut in Genova, Italy.

Background: Cerro Abajo races see elite riders turn cities into obstacle courses. Riders blast down narrow, steep streets filled with staircases, sharp turns, and massive drops, all within arm's reach of spectators who line the course. The series has been running since its inaugural 2003 race in Valparaiso, Chile and has been credited with growing awareness for mountain biking among urban audiences as well as South America more broadly. The recent race in Genova was the event’s first appearance in Europe, signalling Red Bull’s plans to expand it.

What Happened? The tight course, just under three minutes long, kept the race close until top qualifiers Tomáš Slavík and Juanfer Velez charged down the course in the final runs. Slavík took the win with a blazing time of 2m 42.505s, edging out Velez by just 0.477s.

While Slavík claimed victory in Genova, Juanfer Velez secured the overall championship title, thanks to his earlier win in Guanajuato, Mexico. His second-place finish in Genova was enough to keep him at the top of the standings, beating Slavík by just four points. Sebastian Holguín rounded out the podium, making it two Colombians in the top three of the championship.

Final Results:

1. Tomáš Slavík (CZE) - 2m 42.505s

2. Juanfer Velez (COL) - 2m 42.982s

3. Sebastian Holguín (COL) - 2m 45.888s

Watch the event replay event here.

🎁 Greg Minnaar Giveaway Winner

It’s not everyday you win a brand new FOX helmet, pair of Viris goggles, and a shirt signed by your favorite sport’s biggest athlete.

Congratulations to Mark Aguilar, an outdoors loving MTB enduro rider, for winning our gear giveaway with Greg Minnaar. Look out for an email and IG DM from us for getting your shipping info.

For everyone else: just because you didn’t win, doesn’t mean you can’t win free gear from us. Scroll down to learn about how you can get free gear by sharing this newsletter with your friends.

🎥 Banger Of The Week:

This 10-year-old Australian has some serious talent.

👂 Ear Candy:

Will we ever see Josh Bryceland between the tapes again?

📰 Headlines and Hitters

• 10 Tips For New Mountain Bikers

• NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller Is Super Into MTB

• Natural Selection Tour Announces Surf, Ski, and Mountain Bike Events for 2025

• The 10 Best Bikepacking Routes in North America

• Brook MacDonald’s Insane Comeback

🗞 Catch Up On RECON

Miss a recent issue? We got you covered.

• Was Brendog Robbed At Rampage?

• The GOAT of MTB Retires

• Billionaire Bike Park

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