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:

•  🏁 Red Bull Hardline Wales: A new winner or Repeat?

•  🍟 National Champs - one run, a lot of honour!

•  🍎 Fox Chalet Morzine - big mountains, great trails.

👇 Quick Picks

 🤖 Action Alert! Swatch Nines is back and bigger than ever!

Mark your calendars: from September 4–13, 2025, the Swatch Nines MTB takes things to the next level with two back-to-back stops—first at Green Hill Bikepark (Germany), then at Bike Republic Sölden (Austria). An all-star lineup of the world’s best male and female riders will be dropping in for the most diverse and longest edition of the event yet. Expect next-level tricks, insane features, and non-stop action across two countries. Double the parks, double the madness. Don’t sleep on it! 🔥

💥Ibis announces new Trail weapon Ripmo AF

The Ripmo AF is back and badder than ever — same rowdy DNA, but wrapped in tough aluminum. With 160mm up front, 150mm in the back, and DW-Link suspension, this rig eats up steep descents and still climbs like a champ. Flip chips let you run 29” or mix in a 27.5” rear. It’s coil-ready, has built-in frame storage (bags included!), and rocks the same progressive geo as its carbon twin — just way easier on the wallet. What an enduro slayer from Ibis!

🏁 Ride in Peace: A well-known Italian Pro died in the Alps

Andreas Tonelli, known for his friendly nature and sharing his mountain adventures online, has tragically died after falling during a solo ride near Vallelunga in Val Gardena, South Tyrol. He had posted a story from the 2,905m-high Piz Duleda on July 15 around 7:15 pm, but didn’t return. A friend raised the alarm, and rescue teams found him in a ravine later that night. He had fallen about 200 meters. Ride in Peace Andreas!

RACING

Red Bull Hardline 2025: The Most Savage Race on Dirt Returns

Massive Features. Zero Margin. Full Send Only. While the UCI World Cup takes a mid-season nap, Red Bull Hardline is gearing up to terrorize tires and test nerves once again. No start list stress. No points on the line. Just pure, unfiltered downhill chaos in the wild hills of Dyfi Valley, Wales. Let’s get into why 2025’s edition could be the wildest one yet.

🛠 The Hardline Origin Story

Back in 2014, Dan Atherton built a track in the Welsh Mountains so ridiculous he didn’t even tell people about it until it was ready to shred. The concept? Combine World Cup speed with freeride sketchiness and huge air time — and then set it loose in the rugged home area of the three Athertons, who at this point of time already were absolute legends in the world of Muuntainbike Racing!

The first race in 2014 was raw, experimental, and just slightly unhinged. Over the next decade, Hardline became the proving ground for downhill’s boldest — a place where legends are made, and bones are sometimes broken.

It’s not just a race. It’s a flex. If you survived Hardline in the first years you’ve got the respect of the entire MTB world. Nowadays the pros got so good at riding, that for some of them every millisecond counts, a win or a podium at Hardline means a lot of media coverage and racing prestige.

Tip: Watch the newest interview with Dan and Gee (Podcast of the Week below!).

🧪 Testing Features Before They Kill You

The true madness of Hardline starts long before race day. The course is constantly evolving, and testing new features often means someone has to hit them blind — with no guarantee of survival.

Gee Atherton (after suffering injuries that nearly ended his career during the last years) has been open about how terrifying early testing can be. Bernard Kerr, Matt Jones, and a tight circle of trusted riders are usually the ones brave (or mad) enough to guinea pig the latest creations.

This year, sources close to the Atherton crew say at least two new features are under wraps until just days before the race. And yes — one of them is rumored to be bigger than anything we saw in Tasmania or last year’s Wales course.

👊 Women Are Changing the Hardline Narrative

One of the biggest evolutions? The rise of women at Hardline.

In past years, lack of access, practice time, and course support kept women sidelined from racing. But that’s shifting. Riders like:

• Louise Ferguson (with Gracey Hemstreet missing the most Hardline-ready female)

• Hannah Bergemann (freeride queen with Rampage pedigree)

• Vaea Verbeeck (bringing World Cup speed + Crankworx style)

…are pushing Hardline from being a “men’s only” challenge to something bigger. With more practice days and proper infrastructure this year, 2025 might be the turning point for full women’s participation, while in Tasmania the ladies conquered the track in Wales the big booters called the 90s still have to be cleared.

⛓ Last Year’s Recap: 10-Year Anniversary Chaos

2024 marked a decade of Hardline, and it delivered: sunny skies, dialed dirt, roaring crowds.

✅ Ronan Dunne dominated with insane control and confidence, adding to his Tasmania win
✅ Bernard Kerr missed out after a weather-related cancellation — and he’s not over it
✅ The crazy Columbians Velez & Iniguez conquered the Top-5 and are hungry for more!

But not everything was smooth. Early-week storms wiped out key practice time for women, preventing most from hitting full course runs. That misstep cast a shadow on an otherwise epic event — and it’s something organizers are fixing for 2025.

🔥 2025 Riders to Watch

🟩 Bernard Kerr – The winningest Hardline rider ever (x3). Missed out in 2024. Vengeance mode activated and hungry after missing out the worldcups 2025.
🔥 Ronan Dunne – Reigning champ. Fastest man on the hill. Zero fear. Just back after an injury though!
🧨 Juanfer Velez – the king of urban DH is confident after some great worldcup experiences!
📈 Asa Vermette – With Jackson Goldstone missing he could be one to spoil the party of Kerr and Dunne!
🚺 Louise Ferguson – Took on 2024 with limited time. Now coming back with a point to prove.
💥 Gee Atherton – If he drops in, we are happy to see the British Legend healthy and fast!

🕒 Red Bull Hardline 2025 – Where to Watch

📍 Date: Sunday, July 27
📺 Streaming: Free on Red Bull TV

Broadcast Start Times:
🇬🇧 14:30 BST (UK)
🇪🇺 15:30 CEST (Europe)
🇺🇸 6:30 PDT / 9:30 EDT (US)
🇦🇺 23:30 AEST (Australia)
🇳🇿 01:30 NZST (New Zealand – Monday morning)

☁️ Weather Outlook

The Dyfi forecast is looking… spicy.

• Friday: Cloudy, 20°C, calm

• Saturday: Partly cloudy, 18°C — great for practice

• Sunday (Race Day): Morning rain, 18°C — could make wood + rock extra sketchy

📣 Bottom Line?

Red Bull Hardline 2025 is shaping up to be one of the gnarliest editions ever. New features. Faster riders. Bigger stakes. And a potential turning point for women’s freeride.

This isn’t only about podiums.
It’s about survival for some and about glory for the top tiers. Important: Full Commitment. And sending it when every fiber of your brain is saying “maybe not today.”

📺 Tune in.
🔥 Witness the madness.
🧠 Then ask yourself if you’d even ride the roll-in.

TRAVEL

New: Fox Racing Opens Dream MTB Chalet in Morzine

Alpine Trails, Iconic Style, and All the Support You’ll Ever Need

Fox Racing just opened the most dialed mountain bike chalet in the Alps, and yeah... it’s a whole vibe.

Say hello to the Fox Chalet Morzine, built in collaboration with the bike travel experts at Atlas Ride Co. This isn’t just another place to stash your gear. It’s part basecamp, part museum, and all-time experience for any rider looking to eat, sleep, ride, and repeat in the heart of the French Alps.

🏔 Why Morzine?

Because Morzine is MTB heaven. Set in the Portes du Soleil, one of the world’s largest lift-accessed trail networks, Morzine gives you instant access to everything from flowy jump lines to raw alpine descents. And now, with the Fox Chalet sitting right in the middle of it, you can literally wake up, roll out, and drop straight into the goods.

🛠 What Makes the Fox Chalet Different?

This isn’t just some branded cabin with a sticker slapped on the door. The Fox Chalet is purpose-built for riders, packed with style, service, and deep MTB history. Here’s what you get:

🚲 Instant Trail Access
You’re minutes (or less) from multiple lifts and legendary tracks. Morning laps? Afternoon freeride session? Sunset descent? It’s all right outside.

🧰 Full Support, All Day
Need a rental rig? Lift pass? Last-minute tire swap? The Atlas Ride Co team is on-site with bike rentals, mechanical support, guided tours, and concierge service. You ride. They handle the rest.

🧢 Real MTB Culture Inside
The chalet’s decked out in Fox Racing heritage — with curated pieces, retro displays, and immersive corners that nod to the brand’s legacy in moto and MTB since ‘74. It’s a place that feels as fast as it looks.

🛏 Chill in Style
Rooms are clean, cozy, and rider-ready. Group trip with your riding crew? Solo shred-cation? There's space — and space to unwind — for everyone.

🚐 Custom Adventure Options
Want a private shuttle to explore hidden zones? Looking to tack on a scenic loop or rest day detour? It’s all on the menu. No locked-in schedules here — just flexible, ride-first vibes.

📅 Summer + Fall Bookings Open Now

The Fox Chalet is live for summer and fall 2025, and riders are already grabbing dates.

Pricing varies depending on stay length and any extras like guiding, bike service, or shuttle support — but everything’s scalable and customizable. Whether you want to chill or go full-send all week, it’s built to fit.

🔗 Reserve your spot + check availability:
atlasrideco.com/fox-chalet

🎒 Final Thoughts? Pack the Full-Face.

Fox Chalet Morzine isn’t just a pit stop. It’s a rider-designed, trail-connected, service-backed launchpad into some of the best terrain in Europe. Whether you’re chasing bike park laps, big mountain descents, or just that post-ride beer in the sun, this is where pro-level experience meets everyday accessibility.

And yeah, it’s got just enough Fox swagger to remind you why the brand still runs deep in MTB.

✈️ Book it.
📍 Ride it.
🤘 Make it your best trip yet.

RACING

🏆 National Champs Recap – Big Wins Before Hardline & Euro Champs

Wild weather. New names. National pride. Here’s who’s flying into the second half of the season with serious heat.

With the World Cup on summer break, all eyes turned to National Champs weekend — and it delivered. From stormy showdowns in France to a classic Fort Bill brawl in the UK, this year’s national races were full gas from top to bottom.

And with Red Bull Hardline coming in hot, and the European Champs in La Molina just around the corner, this was more than a shot at a flag jersey — it was a statement.

🇫🇷 Les Gets, France – Wet, Wild & Full of Surprises

You never get an easy ride in Les Gets — and this year’s French Champs threw riders into greasy chaos. With weather flipping fast and the track getting slicker by the minute, the elite men’s field got shaken up hard.

Mathieu Balizet stepped up with a great ride, taking the win in a race where consistency beat speed. Big names struggled because of the changing weather and track conditions while Balizet had a chance to master the unpredictable lines.

French Elite Men
🥇 Mathieu Balizet
🥈 Malo Rochet
🥉 Noé Clerc

In the women’s race, Lisa Bouladou played it clean and controlled — and it paid off. She grabbed her first national title, ahead of heavy hitters Zoé Fayolle and Chloe Cres Clement.

French Elite Women
🥇 Lisa Bouladou
🥈 Zoé Fayolle
🥉 Chloe Cres Clement

🇬🇧 Fort William, UK – Back with a Vengeance

No World Cup? No problem. Fort Bill proved it’s still the UK’s gnarliest battleground, and the racing didn’t disappoint.

Jordan Williams came out swinging with a high-speed masterclass, holding off Charlie Hatton and Matt Walker in one of the tightest races of the weekend. Fort Bill might’ve been quiet this year, but these three made it loud.

British Elite Men
🥇 Jordan Williams
🥈 Charlie Hatton
🥉 Matt Walker

In the women’s race, Louise-Anna Ferguson finally sealed her first national title — and did it with emotion and raw pace. After a season of near misses, she’s rolling into Hardline with all the momentum. Eyes up — she’s ready to send.

British Elite Women
🥇 Louise-Anna Ferguson
🥈 Phoebe Gale
🥉 Mikayla Parton

🇨🇭 Wierihorn, Switzerland – Tight Battles & Big Statements

The Swiss Champs were all about head-to-head grit. In the women’s race, it came down to just a few seconds between Camille Balanche and Lisa Baumann — with Balanche taking it thanks to her signature power and precision. She’s still the standard in Swiss DH.

In the men’s field, Elia Saurer grabbed a huge win, showing he’s the next big name in Swiss downhill. A clean run and a cool head made the difference.

Swiss Elite Men
🥇 Elia Saurer
🥈 Yannick Baechler
🥉 Lino Lehmann

Swiss Elite Women
🥇 Camille Balanche
🥈 Lisa Baumann
🥉 Delia Da Mocogno

🇮🇹 Madesimo, Italy – Fast, Flow, and Familiar Faces

The Italian Champs brought smoother conditions but no shortage of action. Davide Palazzari took a clean win in the men’s elite field, while Veronika Widmann did what she does best: dominate.

She’s been the top of Italian women’s DH for years — and shows no signs of letting go.

Italian Elite Men
🥇 Davide Palazzari

Italian Elite Women
🥇 Veronika Widmann

🔜 What’s Next: Hardline, Euro Champs, and Les Gets

These national titles aren’t just shiny jerseys — they’re launchpads. Here’s what’s coming next:

• Red Bull Hardline (full article above!) – Expect Louise Ferguson, Jordan Williams, and Bernard Kerr to bring that flag energy to the most unhinged race of the year.

• European Championships (La Molina, Spain) – More flags, more bragging rights. Balanche, Widmann, and Goldstone will likely headline what’s shaping up to be a mid-season showdown.

• World Cup resumes (Les Gets – Aug 31) – The elite fields are heating up fast. Expect big names and even bigger momentum shifts.

🎥 Video Of The Week

This is how product launch videos should look like - pure riding and great action:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

The raddest brothers in DH racing about their most famous baby - Red Bull Hardline:

🚵‍♀️ Giveaway Period Finished

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX Giveaway. The winner has been contacted and we are lining up delivery of the bike! More to come, and keep your eyes peeled for the next giveaway bike!

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