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:

•  🏁 Bruni’s comeback: Loic Bruni on top in Andorra

•  🍟 Challenging times: YT is fighting for it’s rescue

•  🍎 Next level: Vinny Ts mega drop & more XXL cliffs

👇 Quick Picks

 🤖 He came, he saw, he won: Tom Pidcock is a beast!

Samara Maxwell and Tom Pidcock claimed epic wins at the UCI XCO World Cup stop in Andorra. Pidcock made a strong season debut, charging from row four to take the Men’s Elite victory. A late puncture held off rival Luca Martin, who had to settle for second. In the Women’s Elite race, Kiwi rider Sammy Maxwell fought back from a flat tire and two crashes, launching a gutsy last-lap move to beat Alessandra Keller and Jenny Rissveds for a first-ever World Cup win.

🦸 Cannondale drops 2025 Moterra eMTB lineup 

The legendary US bike brand Cannondale just unveiled its 2025 Moterra e-mountain bikes — and they're looking 🔥. Teaming up once again with Bosch (their OG e-drive partner since the 2010s), the new Moterra and Moterra LT rock Bosch’s beefy Performance Line CX motor, all tucked into a slick new carbon frame. With 150mm/160mm of travel, these beasts are built to crush trails and keep going no matter what.

🏁 Brand Drop: Brett Rheeder Launches "Signature" Apparel

Brett Rheeder just dropped his fresh new rider owned brand called Signature with a clean, technical riding kit for both men and women, plus a unisex line made with trail builders in mind. The vibe? Understated but sharp. And the crew behind it? Stacked. Co-owners and co-designers include big names like Casey Brown, Emil Johansson, Caroline Buchanan, Tom Van Steenbergen, and more.

RACING

Andorra: Dust, Drama, and Downhill Redemption

The 2025 Downhill World Cup hit Andorra this past weekend, and it was pure bedlam in the best way. Dry, sketchy, and brutally fast, the Pyrenean track tested every rider’s nerve — and it delivered one of the most emotionally charged rounds of the season. Here’s what went down at 2,000 meters up.

⚡ Elite Men: Bruni Unleashes the Beast

After a rollercoaster start to the season, Loic Bruni aka Super Bruni came to Andorra with purpose. He looked fired up in practice, sharp in qualifying — and in finals, he hit the reset button on the series narrative.

Bruni’s run was electric: wild lines, full gas, and barely a pedal stroke wasted. He crossed the line with a time that was 1.279 seconds faster than series leader Jackson Goldstone, and that margin speaks volumes. The golden boy Jacko was consistent but his first splits showed that the heavy Bruni did beat him in the upper part of the fast track.

The World Champ was referencing last year’s Worlds crash, and you could feel the weight lift when he crossed the line. He called the track “fully flat-out — not much to do but open the gas,” but it was one bold decision in a key section that made the difference. The Frenchman didn’t just win — he announced himself as still the one to beat when it counts. There were other “winners” too - Dakotah Norton wit 10th place months after not being able too walk with an horrific injury celebrated his comeback and Davide Palazzari from the small but successful Team Rogue Racing was on his way to the podium, when he crashed out - but everyone was impressed by the fast Italian!

Loris Vergier looked ready to steal the show with a searing 2:36 — the best time of the day until Bruni rolled out. Juan Fernando Munoz from Columbia was the last man on the hill, but he unfortunately crashed early in his run. The urban downhill expert wasn’t ready for his first win, but so happy with winning Qualifying and shwoing where he belongs.

Elite Men – Top 3 (Andorra):
🥇 Loic Bruni (FRA) – 2:34.206
🥈 Jackson Goldstone (CAN) – 2:35.485
🥉 Loris Vergier (FRA) – 2:36.152

👑 Elite Women: Seagrave Gets It Done

Tahnee Seagrave wasn’t the fastest on every split — but she played it perfectly. Building time up top, staying clean through the chaos, and holding her nerve where others went down. She admitted post-race that she didn’t push in the infamous rock garden — and that’s exactly what saved her. Other ladys did crash like Nina Hoffman, but she still managed to do a selfie with a course marshall mid-run - what a class act! Bad luck: Marine Cabirou had a small crash in Andorra, but her injuries will force her to rehab: Broken vertebrae and painful shoulder.

Her margin? Enough. Just.

Vali Höll caught an illness before the race week, but continues to be the most consistent elite woman this season, with another second-place finish. That makes it five podiums in six rounds. But still no win since round two. Mille Johnset matched her first final qualifier with a strong third place — smooth, dialed, and composed, but at some places on the limit! Happy smiles: Valentina Roa Sanchez and Sacha Earnest finally managed to do well at Qualifying AND finals, great to see more young female racers pushing their level!

But the biggest heartbreak? Gracey Hemstreet.

Fastest qualifier. On a heater in finals leading by over 2 seconds to Seagrave, up at split 3.
Then: a crash just meters from the finish tape. From potential winner to 5th in an instant.

Elite Women – Top 3 (Andorra):
🥇 Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) – 3:01.812
🥈 Vali Höll (AUT) – 3:02.956
🥉 Mille Johnset (NOR) – 3:04.303

⚡ Juniors: Finals Cancelled, Results Stand

With storm warnings rolling in, junior finals were called off — and qualifying times were used as final results.

That didn’t stop the drama, though.

Aletha Ostgaard kept her form red-hot with another win, extending her streak and sending a message to the rest of the women’s field. She beat Rosa Marie Jensen by nearly two seconds and now heads into the break with serious momentum.

On the men’s side, Max Alran edged out Asa Vermette by just 0.56 seconds. Notably, both laid down times faster than all elite racers on this day. These kids are not playing.

Junior Women – Top 3 (Andorra):
🥇 Aletha Ostgaard (USA)
🥈 Rosa Marie Jensen (DEN)
🥉 Rosa Zierl (AUT)

Junior Men – Top 3 (Andorra):
🥇 Max Alran (FRA)
🥈 Asa Vermette (USA)
🥉 Tyler Waite (NZL)

🧮 Standings Update & Mid-Season Reset

After Andorra, the DH World Cup hits summer break mode — and the standings are tight:

Elite Men – Overall:
🥇 Jackson Goldstone – still leading with 4 wins
🥈 Loic Bruni – closing the gap fast
🥉 Loris Vergier – right in the hunt

Elite Women – Overall:
🥇 Vali Höll – podium machine
🥈 Tahnee Seagrave – back in form
🥉 Gracey Hemstreet – heartbreak, but still top-tier

📅 What’s Next: Les Gets in Late August

After National Champs, Hardline Wales and some weeks resting the series picks up again in Les Gets, where things will only get spicier:

• Will Bruni carry the fire into France?
• Can Vali finally take back the top step?
• Will Jackson rebound and go for 5 out of 7?

And let’s not forget: World Champs are coming, and riders are already starting to dial things in.

INDUSTRY

YT Industries Starts Restructuring – But They're Still in Control

The internationally successful bike brand YT Industries from Germany just dropped some big news: they’re going into self-managed restructuring. Yep, that sounds serious – but don’t panic. They’re not shutting down, and they’re definitely not giving up. Even with the cycling industry going through a rough patch, YT is choosing to rebuild rather than fold. The current leadership is staying on board, and operations are running like usual. Also worth noting: YT USA is totally unaffected.

So, what’s this “self-administered restructuring” thing? Basically, it’s a legal way to fix things without handing the company over to outsiders. YT still calls the shots while getting back on track. They say everything’s been carefully planned out, and they’ve lined up enough funding to pay all new bills (starting July 15, 2025 at 9:45 AM) on time. Older debts will go through a court-appointed overseer.

What caused the shake-up? It’s a mix of post-Covid sales drops and EU/US tariff drama that’s been dragging the whole industry down. YT has already let its suppliers and partners know what’s up. The Bamberg District Court officially approved the restructuring on July 15 and appointed lawyer Jens Lieser as temporary supervisor. Legal support is coming from act AC Tischendorf.

One thing still unclear: what’s the deal for customers who ordered and paid for bikes before July 15? We’re waiting on an update from YT about that.

Our Take: YT’s not crashing – they’re making moves to come back stronger. Business is still rolling, even if the ride’s a bit rough right now.

SCENE

💣 Vinny T’s 25-Meter Cliff Drop Redefines What’s Possible

📍 One Jump. No Brakes. No Second Take.

Vincent Tupin, better known as Vinny T, just pulled off what might be the gnarliest freeride moment of the decade: a 25-meter (82 ft) vertical drop paired with a 31.3-meter (102 ft) flight — on a mountainbike. No roll-in. No warm-up. No backup plan.

Just one shot. When Fear Fades, and Instinct Takes Over
In Liddes, Switzerland, under the lens of director Damien Vergez, the result became more than a stunt — it became a film. A philosophy. A window into that razor-thin moment when the rational mind shuts off and instinct takes over.

🎥 “Pushing Into the Unknown” captures it all — the buildup, the breakdown, and the absolute purity of full-send freeride. Watch it down below in our section Video Of The Week!

💬 “No Feel. No Jump.”

Vinny didn’t just show up and drop in. This was a year-long process of sculpting a landing, standing at the edge, walking away, and returning again and again — waiting for that one internal green light.

That moment came. And so did the drop. Not for the cameras. Not for clout. But because something deep inside said now.

⚠️ The Landing Was Savage

Despite a clean takeoff, the impact was nuclear. Vinny tried to land both wheels at once to absorb the force, but:

💥 Front tire exploded
💥 Helmet slammed forward
💥 Tucked into a roll

And somehow — no injuries. No concussion. No broken bones. Just a detonated wheel, a dusted bike, and a rider who walked away with a story that will echo in MTB circles for years.

🧱 Following Freeride Footsteps

Vinny’s line adds a new layer to a legendary freeride legacy:

• Josh Bender in Kamloops (2001) — the JAH Drop opened many doors!

• Brage Vestavik stomping the JAH drop while filming for the documentary “Nothing’s for free!” (2023).

• Wade Simmons and the Moreno Valley gap (2002) blowing minds!

• Dylan Stark floating a Tuck Nohander off the Moreno Gap (2023).

• Gee Atherton trying an 18m Rampage drop in 2023 — again pushing the limits!

Vinny’s move doesn’t just sit next to these moments. It stands apart. It’s not just about size — it’s about commitment. No event. No cheering crowd. No soft landing. Just vision and trust.

🎥 Video Of The Week

The biggest drop ever to be tried - watch the new Vinny T video:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Bernard Kerr opens up about something happened in Taz, which will change Hardline:

🚵‍♀️ Current Giveaway Bike

Our newest giveaway bike is a Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX. Entries are now open on ReconMTB.com! Read more about the bike. USA customers only are eligible to win.

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