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:

•  🏁 Team News: World Cup or National Racing, what to do?

•  ⚡️ Red Bull vs. Anthill Films: Two new premium documentaries

• 🚵‍♀️ All Mountain Styles with new grips for more GRIP!

👇 Quick Picks

🚨 Rheeder Eyes Another Comeback?

Brett Rheeder might be stepping back into the spotlight—again. The Rampage champ and former slopestyle phenom already proved he could retire and still return to win. Now, he's hinting at another comeback—this time with his eyes on Natural Selection Bike 2026. While he's been heads-down building his company, Signature, and laying low from the comp scene, Rheeder says he’s ready to feel the heat of high-level riding once more. If he drops in, expect fireworks.

🚲 Edgar Briole is as back as you can be!

After getting wrecked at Hardline earlier this year, most riders would’ve tapped out. Not Edgar Briole. The French freerider just dropped Reborn, a jaw-dropping comeback edit that proves he’s not just back on the bike—he’s back with vengeance. Shot in brutal conditions, the video’s packed with massive hits, buttery style, and raw emotion as Edgar battles the weather and his own limits to ride like never before. Whether you followed his Hardline crash or not, this one’s worth your time. It’s gritty. It’s wild. It’s everything we love about freeride.

🫡 Jesse Melamed Steps Back From World Cup Racing

After 13 years of chasing podiums, Jesse Melamed is hanging up the full-time race plate. The Canadian Enduro World Cup legend surprised fans this week with news that he’s stepping away from the full circuit. While he’s not ruling out occasional races, his days of full-season grind are done. Jesse’s been a fan favorite—not just for his speed, but his grit, humility, and consistency at the top. No word yet on what’s next for the Canyon rider, but his legacy’s locked in.

RACING

🏁Nukeproof Steps In. Intense Steps Away. Axess Racing Turns the Page.

The 2025 season will be remembered as one of the most important years in the history of Axess Factory Racing. Now that the new year is near, the big news is here: Intense Cycles says goodbye, Nukeproof says hello, and Axess Racing enters a bold new chapter.

The relationship between Intense and Axess Racing was a good one! Joe Breeden joined the Intense factory program first as a rider, then gradually stepped into a leadership role that helped shape the direction of the entire team. Over the past two seasons, Axess Intense Factory Racing evolved into a serious, development-driven World Cup program with a strong and recognizable identity.

One of the defining achievements of this partnership was the development of the Intense M1 downhill bike. Axess Racing played a key role in testing, feedback, and refinement—both on the production bike and the experimental gearbox prototype.

Riders were deeply involved in the process, spending countless days testing setups, chasing marginal gains, and pushing the bike to its limits on the toughest tracks in the world. Beyond bike development, the team represented Intense with professionalism and energy. Engineers, mechanics, partners, and riders worked as one unit, creating an environment where everyone felt invested. Individual performances followed—riders progressed, learned, and delivered results that gave the entire Intense crew something to be proud of.

Intense Refocuses on the Future

Looking ahead, Intense is reshaping its racing strategy for 2026 and beyond. The brand will concentrate on U.S. based racing, with full support for domestic series like the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series. Selected American riders will also receive backing for specific World Cup and Crankworx events.

A major pillar of this new strategy is youth development. Intense plans to launch initiatives aimed at supporting young riders across the country, helping build a stronger long-term foundation for North American downhill racing.

Nukeproof Returns — And It’s Serious

While Intense looks inward, Axess Racing looks forward. Nukeproof has officially stepped in as the new title sponsor and bike partner for the next three seasons. Under the new name Nukeproof Axess Racing, the team will compete at the highest level of World Cup downhill aboard the Nukeproof Dissent.

This marks a major return to World Cup racing for Nukeproof—and it signals serious intent. Although the move happened quickly, it came together naturally. Nukeproof initially planned a later return to top-level racing, but after meeting with Joe Breeden and the Axess leadership at the World Cup in Les Gets, the decision accelerated. Shared ambition, aligned values, and a hunger to win made the timing feel right.

And Nukeproof isn’t just bringing bikes. The team will gain access to advanced performance resources, including aerodynamic testing at the Belgian Cycling Factory headquarters. Over the winter, riders will refine body position, equipment choices, and race kit optimization—searching for the tiny gains that increasingly separate podiums from mid-pack results.

Stability, Chemistry, and Bigger Ambitions

The 2026 rider roster reflects continuity and trust:

• Joe Breeden (Rider & Team Owner)

• Juanfer Muñoz

• Oscar Griffiths

• Mille Johnset

• Louise Ferguson

• Milatul Khaqimah

• Camden Rutherford

Keeping the core lineup intact allows the team to build on established chemistry while pushing performance even further. Axess Racing also confirmed its ambitions stretch beyond the World Cup circuit. The team plans to remain present at iconic events like Red Bull Hardline and Cerro Abajo, reinforcing its reputation as a squad that thrives when the stakes—and consequences—are highest. A full sponsor lineup is expected to be announced in January, adding even more structure to the program.

Other Team & Sponsorship News:

Big news from the downhill scene. Ryan Pinkerton is staying with Mondraker for the next three years. After building strong momentum with the team, both sides are ready to push even harder into the future. Last season showed how fast Ryan really is. He scored solid results like top finishes at Lake Placid, Mont Sainte Anne, and Loudenvielle. Even after a heavy crash in Lenzerheide, he proved his speed with some of the quickest splits on track. The potential is clearly there. On top of that, Ryan is now also joining the Monster Energy family.

Trek keeps rolling out news about its World Cup teams and now it has confirmed a big signing. Nina Graf will join the Trek Unbroken XC team for the 2026 season. Graf is coming off a breakthrough year in 2025. She scored three World Cup top ten results and finished seventh in Andorra, the best result of her career so far. On top of that she won her first elite German national title. After these performances she decided to move on from Lapierre Unity Racing and take the next step with Trek.

For 2026 Trek’s Downhill and XC teams will race under the Trek Unbroken name. Unbroken, a recovery tablet brand, became a title sponsor after joining Trek’s race program earlier this year. The tablets are made from Norwegian salmon and mixed with water to create a recovery drink that aims to help athletes feel fresh again. Trek says Unbroken has helped riders deal with the heavy load of World Cup racing, with less muscle soreness and better day to day freshness. As part of the deal Trek will also sell Unbroken products through its website and stores in the USA and Europe.

Sian A’Hern has also switched things up. After four years with YT Industries, she is now riding for Specialized. She shared the news on social media and said the new partnership helps her build dream bikes and keep chasing what truly motivates her. Earlier this year she already talked about leaving YT in a video on her YouTube channel.

Carson Storch has confirmed that his time with Propain Bicycles is over. After joining the brand in early 2022, he spent four strong years riding their frames. One of the highlights was his podium finish at Red Bull Rampage in 2023. Now he is ready for something new and says he is very excited to share what comes next.

There is stability for Samara Maxwell though. She has extended her contract with the Decathlon Ford Racing Team and will stay with the squad until after the 2028 Olympic Games. The early deal shows strong trust on both sides.

Simona Kuchyňková is celebrating a big milestone as well. After a great first season in the elite enduro World Cup, which included her first win and second place overall, she received her first Red Bull helmet. A huge reward for a breakthrough year!

MEDIA

🔥 Jacko vs. Loic — New Media From Red Bull x Anthill

Red Bull Media House and Anthill Films have a serious reputation for dropping the best MTB movies out there. This time they went all in with a full documentary about the massive 2025 downhill title battle between Jackson Goldstone and Loïc Bruni. This is pure cinema for anyone who loves racing, speed and drama.

“The Search for Milliseconds” pulls you straight into the world of Jackson Goldstone and his mission to become one of the youngest riders ever to win the UCI Downhill Elite overall title. After spending 19 months away from World Cup racing because of major knee surgery, Jackson comes back with one clear goal. Win. Anthill Films followed him from early season testing all the way to the final race of the year, capturing every moment of doubt, focus and pressure along the way.

The film is not just about racing between the tape. It shows the people around Jackson and the work that happens behind the scenes. Mechanics, coaches and engineers all chase tiny gains in a sport where a few thousandths of a second can decide who takes the crown. Every detail matters. Every run counts. Director Darcy Wittenburg explains that downhill racing has grown into something as complex as any mainstream sport. The preparation, the data, and the personalities behind the riders are just as important as raw speed. The film takes the time to slow things down and show what really goes into a winning race run.

This project was a true team effort. Footage came from many different creators and partners who all helped shape the story. Big thanks go out to Warner Brothers Discovery, Steel City Media, Cole Nelson, Sleeper Collective, BoomBox Group, Dorian Jouvenal, GoPro, Rob Parkin, Red Bull and Shimano. Anthill Films is also opening the door for communities to host their own screenings. Bike clubs, trail groups and local organizations can bring the film to their own crowd and share the stoke with riders and fans alike.

The timing of the “Must be Nice" story featuring Loic Bruni could not be better. In more than 30 years of Downhill World Cup racing, only 12 riders have ever won the overall title. Loïc Bruni sits among the greats with four overall wins from 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024. One more title would put him level with legends Nico Vouilloz and Aaron Gwin.

Bruni grew up inspired by Vouilloz, a rider who helped define downhill racing in its early wild years. Back then the sport was raw and experimental, far from the polished machine it is today. Matching his hero and locking his name into history has become Bruni’s ultimate goal. The 2025 season turned into one of the tightest title fights of Bruni’s career. He came into the final rounds with confidence and experience, but this year belonged to Jackson Goldstone. At just 21 years old, Goldstone delivered a career defining season. He won the overall World Cup and the World Championships at Mont Sainte Anne, becoming the first Canadian to ever pull off that double.

For Bruni, the dream of a fifth overall title will have to wait. For Goldstone, a new chapter in downhill history has already begun.

PRODUCTS

🚲 AMS Drops Two New Grips: Rise & Barcode

AMS just announced two fresh grips for mountain bikers who care about how their hands feel on the bars. The idea is simple: not everyone likes the same grip feel, so AMS made two different options that each give a unique vibe on the trail.

First up is the Rise. It mixes comfort and control in a cool way. The surface has a few different textures so your hand gets different cushioning depending on where you grab. It has a micro-diamond pattern for traction, ribbed pads on opposite sides for cushioning, and even inside ribs for people who hold closer to the stem. You can twist it on your bars and change the way it feels just by rotating it. It’s all about giving you confidence and control on techy trails.

Then there’s the Barcode. This one is more classic and chill. It’s got a ribbed pattern all over with even cushioning and a slightly bigger feel. It’s made for riders who like to go gloveless and just want a consistent, comfy grip from start to finish. No crazy zones, just a solid feel that’s easy to like.

Both grips use a single lock ring inside, so setup stays clean. They’re also part of AMS’s bigger lineup now, which includes other grips tuned for everything from super slick traction to super light XC rides. Basically, AMS is giving riders options so everyone can find something that feels just right for their hands and riding style.

Check them out here.

AMS Rise
Diameter: 30.6–33 mm (depending on rotation)
Length: 132 mm
Compound: Single-compound rubber
Lock: Single inside collar
Pattern: Micro-diamond, ribbed pads, inside ribs
Price: $37 USD / 32€ EU / £28 UK

AMS Barcode
Diameter: 31.5 mm
Length: 132 mm
Compound: Single-compound rubber
Lock: Single inside collar
Pattern: Classic ribs
Price: $32 USD / 28€ EU / £24 UK

🏁 Video Of The Week

We needed this - a full length MTB freeride film has arrived:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

A brazilian power house and positive guy - check Roger Vieira in a Podcast Interview:

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