Welcome back to the #1 MTB newsletter brought to you by ReconMTB.com - the store where you can win a new bike by shopping for bike gear.

We wheelie think you’ll like today’s stories:

• 🏁 Poland World Cup Opener Report

• 🛑 Orbea’s New Rallon DH Bike

• 🎁 New Giveaway

👇 Quick Picks

🛖 Rumble in the Jungle: Crankworx Cairns Just Started!

Crankworx Cairns 2025 just started in Australia and it’s already going off. The jungle trails are alive as legends Emil Johansson, Dawid Godziek, and Alma Wiggberg return with serious heat. Godziek is on deck to defend his Slopestyle crown, Johansson is back from injury, and Wiggberg is ready to throw down after missing Rotorua. Watch on Red Bull TV.

🇨🇿 XCO World Cup Nove Mesto 2025 Kicks Off

The XCO season restarts with a bang: Nove Mesto 🇨🇿 is back and louder than ever. After a long post-Brazil break, it’s game on—new energy, new contenders. Van der Poel and Puck Pieterse are now serious threats, and the rest of the pack has something to prove. Catch the livestreams on Discovery+ or Eurosport, and check YouTube for full recaps and social highlights.

🦸 Revel Bikes Founder Steps In To Save The Company

Just months after announcing its closure, Revel Bikes is riding again. The Colorado brand is being revived by its founder Adam Miller, aiming to bring back the innovation and quality that made its carbon and titanium builds cult favorites. It’s a second wind for a fan-favorite—and a good sign for rider-owned brands everywhere.

RACING

🥇 Bruni Rules. Seagrave Strikes. Poland Delivers.

Total Chaos. Total Class. The 2025 DH World Cup kicked off in Bielsko-Biała with deep mud, freezing temps, and snow. But amid the carnage, two riders stood tall: Loïc Bruni and Tahnée Seagrave.

Bruni rode like the weather didn’t exist—fastest at every split, smooth where others slipped, and unshaken under pressure. His 3:04.867 was just enough to edge Oisin O’Callaghan by 0.156s, with Amaury Pierron rounding out the podium after a gritty run from the LCQ.

Controversy? Plenty. Pierron sparked drama after allegedly missing a course marker in qualis. Harriet Harnden had a full-on media guy run into her line mid-run—no re-run granted. And the new LCQ format meant big names like Goldstone and Brosnan barely scraped in, while Hatton and Wilson missed out entirely.

⚡️ Seagrave’s Storm Show

By the time the elite women dropped, it was full snow-globe madness. Tahnée Seagrave, on a brand new Orbea, charged through with no tear-offs and insane composure, taking her first win in years with a 3:34.340. Anna Newkirk nearly stole it with an early heater, but Seagrave shut the door. Nina Hoffmann kept it together for 3rd, while Vali Höll looked slightly off and finished 5th.

🌱 Junior Uprising

Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity) won her World Cup debut by 4.6s—absolute domination. Max Alran did the same on the men’s side, going fastest at every split and even beating Bruni’s Q1 time. Asa Vermette, the reigning junior world champ, slid out but still clawed back to 10th—riding glove-less, caked in mud.

🏁 Elite Women’s Top 5

1. Tahnée Seagrave – 3:34.340

2. Anna Newkirk – +1.711

3. Nina Hoffmann – +4.735

4. Camille Balanche – +5.495

5. Vali Höll – +7.477

🏁 Elite Men’s Top 5

1. Loïc Bruni – 3:04.867

2. Oisin O’Callaghan – +0.156

3. Amaury Pierron – +0.808

4. Richie Rude – +1.596

5. Thibaut Daprela – +2.019

Next up: Loudenvielle. See you in the chaos

TECH

⚔️ Orbea Reveals Their Winning Machine

Big news from Poland: Tahnée Seagrave just took the World Cup win on Orbea’s all-new Rallon DH, marking a massive comeback for her—and a perfect first outing for the bike.

Safe to say, the Rallon didn’t just show up, it rolled over the field. And it’s not just Tahnée making noise—Martin Maes cracked the Top 10 in his full-time DH return, proving the Rallon DH is ready to run with the heavy hitters. Orbea’s new rig just sent a clear message: it’s here to win.

The Rallon name is back—and this time, it’s rewriting the rulebook. The 2025 Rallon DH isn’t just a new bike, it’s a versatile platform built to handle everything from rowdy enduro laps to full-blown World Cup downhill.

Born from years of behind-the-scenes testing with Martin Maes, the Rallon’s evolution saw everything from hacked eMTBs to dual-crown setups in Fort William. The result? A single carbon frame that can be built up for DH racing, enduro missions, or bike park days, all depending on how you set it up.

It’s not just a bike. It’s a foundation for whatever kind of riding you want to throw at it.

One Frame, Two Personalities

Rallon DH Mode:
This setup is pure downhill—200mm rear travel, 203mm fork, mixed wheels (29” front, 27.5” rear only), and a low-slung, gravity-hugging design. Everything’s about speed and stability. It’s got a 63-degree-ish head angle and the kind of suspension kinematics that thrive on chaos. Want to go World Cup fast? This is your rig.

Rallon EN Mode:
Need something that climbs just as well as it bombs? Swap in the Enduro Gravity Link, a different shock, and voilà—you’ve got 170mm rear and 180mm front travel. You can even run full 29” wheels or stick with mixed. The angles tighten up slightly for trail responsiveness, and there’s a bit more freedom with the geometry too.

🧩 The Gravity Link: Modularity Meets Mayhem

At the heart of the Rallon’s versatility is the Gravity Link—a modular suspension bracket that lets you switch between enduro and downhill setups with ease. Flip-chips allow you to fine-tune leverage rate, progression, BB height, and head angle. It’s like having an F1 pit crew in your garage.

🪨 Yes, You Can Add Weight (Seriously)

Inspired by the planted feel of eMTBs, Orbea actually encourages riders to bolt on up to 583g of weight to the Gravity Link. Why? Lower center of gravity = more stability = faster, smoother rides. It’s a move only a rider-driven brand would make—and we’re here for it.

📐 Geometry & Adjustability Galore

From 4'11" to 6'7", the Rallon fits nearly everyone (sizes S–XL). In DH mode, the geo leans aggressive—474mm reach / 650mm stack in size L—while enduro mode steepens the seat angle and stretches reach for better climbing.

You get 0.75° of head angle adjustment and two chainstay options (442 or 450mm)—just note, chainstay length is fixed at the time of order. No swapping without a new triangle.

🔧 Little Details, Big Impact

• Fits a 240mm dropper, even in size S

• Downtube storage + bottle space

• Silent internal cable routing with foam guides

• UDH-compatible for easy mech changes

• Full carbon frame with lifetime warranty

💸 Models, Pricing & Customization

One DH build, three Enduro builds—all with Fox Factory suspension. Pricing starts at $5,699 / €5,399 for Enduro, topping out at $8,299 / €7,999 for the DH race rig.

Want it your way? Hit up Orbea’s MyO configurator to dial in your dream build—paint included.

Frame-only and rear triangle kits are on the way. Extra Gravity Links?

• €89 with weights

• €49 without

🔥 RECON’s Take

The 2025 Orbea Rallon isn’t just long travel—it’s race-bred adaptability. One carbon frame. Two personalities. Whether you're bombing DH tracks or grinding climbs to drop into freeride lines, this bike doesn’t make you choose.

Enduro or DH? Now the answer is yes.

GIVEAWAY

🎁 Scott Ransom RC 900 Winner Announced

Every month, RECON gives away a $10,000 dream bike to one lucky shopper—and this time, it’s Ricardo R. from Escondido, CA who’s riding away with the prize.

His winning purchase? Just $137 on a Muc-Off Toolbox and Chain Lube. That’s all it took to win a Scott Ransom 900 RC worth 10 grand.

Wild, right? Buy what you need on ReconMTB.com and get the chance to win your next bike.

Our next giveaway bike

🎥 Video Of The Week

The title is very self explanatory.

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Listen to some experts about the race in Poland.

🚵‍♀️ New Giveaway Bike

Our newest giveaway bike is a Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX. Entries are now open on ReconMTB.com! Read more about the bike.

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