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

On today's ride:

•  🏁 Aaron Gwin, Dakotah Norton & others joins their new Teams!

•  ⚡️ From the Matrix: Wireless Fox NEO Dropper Post

• 🚵‍♀️ Get the Grip: Michelin Dual-Compound Performance Line
  

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👇 Quick Picks

🚨 World Cup Overall Winner Maxwell Hits Pause…

Samara Maxwell is hitting pause. The New Zealand star and 2025 XC World Cup overall winner is stepping away from elite racing in 2026 to take a full sabbatical. She’ll disconnect from competitions, media and social platforms to recharge and reset. With full backing from her team, sponsors, medical staff and Cycling New Zealand, Maxwell plans to rebuild her form after the break and come back all in for the 2028 Olympic Games.

🦈 Shark-Attack Jack with new Goals and an ending Chapter

After 14 years at the top level of racing, Jack Moir is calling time on his World Cup career. The Australian enduro star announced on Instagram that he will no longer race at Enduro World Cups. Before focusing fully on enduro, Moir also picked up strong results in the Downhill World Cup and became well known for sharing the scene through his popular vlogs. The 2021 World Enduro Champion says he has been feeling burned out and wants to make space for other passions without the constant pressure of racing. He also revealed that the decision was already made at the start of last season.

🫡 Salvation: Rescue for Syntace and Liteville

After filing for insolvency last autumn, there is now clear news: Syntace and Liteville have officially been taken over by SL International GmbH. The new investor stepped in at the turn of the year and has already taken over operations, securing the future of both brands. Most jobs are expected to stay in place, and founder Jo Klieber will continue to be involved. SL International GmbH was founded late last year and is led by industry insider Ralf Kindermann. He previously worked as COO at Internetstores and currently holds board roles at major players like JobRad and Bike24.

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RACING

🔄 The World Cup Team Carousel Keeps Spinning — 2026 Edition

The offseason might be cold, but the downhill World Cup scene is heating up. With sponsor exits and team shutdowns in the rearview, 2026 is off to a fiery start with team shakeups, fresh lineups, and a few curveballs no one saw coming.

Let’s kick things off with one of the biggest surprises:

🐐 Is This the Final Chapter for a Legend? Aaron Gwin joins Frameworks Racing

Aaron Gwin, one of the greatest downhill racers of all time—is making a move no one had on their offseason bingo card. At 38, instead of winding down, Gwin is leveling up.

He’s stepping away from his self-run Gwin Racing setup and jumping aboard Neko Mulally’s Frameworks Racing program. It’s not just a swap of jerseys—this is a full reboot with a new title sponsor and a new team name: Frameworks Racing TRP.

Gwin’s career arc already includes five overall World Cup titles, and now he’s hunting for another late-career surge à la Greg Minnaar—who podiumed at nearly 42.

🚴 Last season, Gwin rode for Crestline. This year, he’ll be piloting Frameworks-built bikes, fully integrated into the grassroots-meets-pro squad that Mulally has been building from the ground up.

Is this Gwin’s final season? Maybe. But one thing is clear: he's not just here to ride—he's here to win.

The move also brings him back together with an old friend. Gwin and Frameworks founder Neko Mulally raced together back in the Trek World Racing and YT Mob days. That shared history clearly played a role in the decision. With Gwin on board, Frameworks has turned into a real US super team. Anna Newkirk and Asa Vermette are already part of the squad, while Spaniard Angel Suarez has left the program. Rumors about Dakotah Norton joining Frameworks were floating around for months, but Norton eventually signed with Scott instead (read below).

Contract until 2027, then what?

Gwin’s deal runs for the next two seasons. That means full focus on racing again. In recent years he had to juggle injuries, team management and running Windrock Bike Park, which he has owned since 2023. Even with all that on his plate, he still showed serious pace whenever he raced and regularly landed inside the top 15.

Gwin himself sounds motivated and realistic at the same time. This could be the final stop of his career, with his 40th birthday coming up near the end of the contract. His résumé is already insane: 23 World Cup wins and five overall titles, more than anyone else in history. The only thing missing is a world championship win. Maybe this is the last big attack.

Scott DH Factory Team reveals its 2026 line up - Dakotah Norton and Jess Blewitt joining Scott

Scott has officially confirmed its downhill team for 2026 and closed the book on one of the worst kept secrets of the off season. Dakotah Norton is in. After years with the Mondraker Factory Racing Crew, who just signed young gun Oli Clark, the American is now riding the Scott Gambler. Norton is still chasing his first World Cup win and could be Scott’s biggest hope next to Benoit Coulanges. Norton’s 2025 season was anything but easy. A serious motocross crash left him unable to walk for months, but he came back strong and nearly landed on the podium at the season finale in Mont Sainte Anne.

Norton says he is excited about a fresh start. New people, new bike and a new challenge seem to be exactly what he was looking for. Much quieter but just as interesting is the signing of Jess Blewitt. The New Zealander comes over from Cube and brings huge potential. Injuries slowed her down in the past, but she has recently put more focus back on racing and is considered one of the strongest talents in the women’s field. She plans to spend the winter in France to prepare properly and even work on her French along the way.

Scott now runs two women in the team, as Vicky Clavel stays on board. The French rider impressed in 2025 with solid results, including a top ten at the world championships in Champéry. Benoit Coulanges and Ethan Craik also remain part of the program, while Dylan Levesque has retired and Goncalo Bandeira is no longer on the factory roster. The team will race the latest Scott Gambler and continues its partnerships with brands like Michelin, Fox, Shimano and Motorex. DT Swiss joins as a new sponsor.

A New Home after the Mob Era - Oisin O’Callaghan joins Trek Unbroken DH

Every year there is one team move everyone knows before it becomes official. This year, that title clearly goes to Oisin O’Callaghan joining Trek Unbroken DH. After six years with YT Mob, the Irish racer had to look for a new team when YT Industries went insolvent during the 2025 season and the program ended early. Alongside names like Vali Höll and Andi Kolb, Oisin was suddenly on the market.

Trek Unbroken DH now fields a strong line up with Oisin, Matt Walker, Lachie Stevens McNab, Sacha Earnest and Olli Davies. While there may not be a single dominant superstar, the team has serious depth and multiple podium capable riders. The switch to Trek felt natural for Oisin. He actually raced Trek bikes back in 2018 and 2019 and his father runs a Trek bike shop, so the brand has always been close. He will race a prototype Session that builds on the current production bike and is designed purely for rough and fast World Cup tracks.

Oisin tested the bike right after Mont Sainte Anne and immediately felt at home. According to him, the bike stays calm in braking bumps and carries speed with less feedback, which is exactly what modern downhill racing demands. The new title sponsor Unbroken should also give the team a solid financial boost, while Fox Head steps in as the new clothing partner.

Kasper Woolley goes all in on downhill - Signing with MS Racing for 2026

Another interesting move comes from Canada. Squamish local Kasper Woolley has signed with MS Racing for the 2026 season. Known mainly for his enduro background, Woolley officially committed to downhill at the end of 2024 and now seems fully locked into the discipline. After three years with YT Mob, competing in both enduro and downhill, this marks a clean new start. Injuries have slowed him down in the past, but he appears healthy and motivated heading into 2026.

MS Racing is clearly excited to give him room to grow, especially with one World Cup round taking place in his home town. His first race with the team is expected at round one in South Korea. The takeaway is clear. The World Cup paddock is changing fast. Legends are chasing one last shot, young talents are stepping into the spotlight and teams are rebuilding with fresh energy. If this off season is any indication, the next season is going to be wild.

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TECH

📏 Fox Transfer Neo now goes up to 225 mm

Fox just pushed its wireless dropper post even further. The Transfer Neo is now available with a massive 225 mm of travel, made for modern mountain bikes and riders who want as much freedom of movement as possible when things get steep and technical.

With this new option, Fox clearly reacts to the trend toward longer dropper posts. More drop means more space to move behind the saddle, more control on descents and an overall more confident ride. The 225 mm version is aimed at taller riders or bikes with long seat tubes that can actually use all that extra travel.

Wireless tech with smart details

Like the rest of the Transfer Neo lineup, the new long travel version runs fully wireless using Fox’s Neo technology. Battery and motor are placed in a way that improves tire clearance, which is especially important on bikes with modern geometry and wide tires. The main battery delivers around 30 to 40 hours of ride time, while the remote uses a CR2032 cell that should last about a year.

Another nice touch is the Schrader valve at the head of the post. It allows riders to fine tune air pressure to match personal preference. The post is also fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating, so rain and mud are not an issue. Using the Fox app, riders can check service intervals and activate different modes.

Sizes, travel and pricing

The Transfer Neo is available in diameters of 30.9 mm, 31.6 mm and 34.9 mm. Travel options range from 100 mm all the way up to the new 225 mm version. Fox keeps the stack height compact at 47 mm, measured from the bottom of the controller to the center of the saddle rails. This makes it easier to fit a long travel post even if leg length or frame space is limited.

For the 34.9 mm version, Fox uses dedicated inner and outer tubes instead of adapted smaller systems. This should reduce friction and weight while improving overall performance. The Fox Transfer Neo in Factory trim, including all accessories, comes in at a price of 1,319 euros. It clearly sits in the premium segment, but it also delivers top level wireless tech and one of the longest drop options currently available. More info can be found at ridefox.com.

PRODUCT

🚲 Michelin with New Dual-Compound Performance Line Tires

Michelin is stepping up its mountain bike game by rolling out two new tire ranges made for enduro riders. With the launch of the Wild Enduro Performance Line and the E Wild Performance Line, Michelin is bringing race inspired tech to everyday riders across the U.S. and Canada.

Michelin Wild Enduro Performance Line

The Wild Enduro Performance Line is built for riders who want speed, control, and confidence without sacrificing comfort. The tire uses a double ply casing with a 33 TPI construction that helps smooth out trail chatter and keeps the ride feeling stable and predictable, even on rough descents.

Extra protection runs from bead to bead to strengthen the sidewalls and boost overall durability. Michelin also added pinch protection to reduce the risk of flats and sidewall damage when riding hard through rocks and roots. On the trail, the combo of Magi X and Gum X rubber compounds keeps rolling resistance low while delivering strong grip in corners, especially when heading downhill. The result is a tire that feels fast, tough, and ready to be pushed.

The Wild Enduro Performance Line comes in multiple sizes for both 29 inch and 27.5 inch wheels. Riders can choose versions tuned for mixed soft terrain, mixed hard terrain, or rear wheel use, making it easy to dial in the right setup. According to Brandon Chapel, Michelin’s bicycle brand manager for North America, the new tires reflect more than a century of cycling innovation and draw directly from Michelin’s racing experience to meet the needs of real world riders.

Michelin E Wild Performance Line

For e mountain bikes, Michelin introduces the E Wild Performance Line, a tire designed to handle the extra weight, torque, and speed that come with electric assistance. Based on the brand’s E Wild Racing Line, this version focuses on durability, grip, and efficiency for everyday riding.

The bi compound tread blends Gum X and Magi X rubber to balance traction, smooth rolling, and long lasting performance. Added protection against pinches and punctures increases reliability, while reinforced construction allows riders to run lower air pressures for better grip without compromising control.

The E Wild Performance Line is available for both front and rear use in 29 inch and 27.5 inch sizes. Riders looking to upgrade their e bike setup can find more details at michelinman.com/bicycle.

🏁 Video Of The Week

One of the OG freeride legends is still shredding and putting out epic edits:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

The Jones Twins chat about their 2025 projects like Mavrix and more plans:

This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by the Recon Team with a special shoutout to Marc Brodesser!