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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:

•  🏁 Can it happen in 2026? The Gates 100 k Challenge remains open!

•  ⚡️ Great concept? The new Trail Law in Liguria (Italy) is controversial

• 🚵‍♀️ More Team News for the 2026 season!

👇 Quick Picks

🚨 How We Roll by Orbea FMD Racing Is a Must-Watch

How We Roll is pure MTB gold. This behind-the-scenes series follows Orbea FMD Racing as they dial in every detail—from bike setups to rider mentality—in their relentless pursuit of performance. Whether it’s the mental game or the tech grind, the episodes are packed with insights any MTB fan will appreciate. If you're into the behind-the-curtain prep of pro racing, this series is a must-watch. Trust us—you don’t want to miss it.

🚲 Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Breaks Records in MTB World Cup 2025

WBD Sports just wrapped up its third season as the global broadcaster and organizer of the Mountain Bike World Cup—and it absolutely blew up.
In 2025, the series racked up 87 million views across 16 race weekends, setting new records across broadcast, digital, and social. On social, WBD grew its following to 1.25 million across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Meanwhile, their revamped website hit 5 million page views—a 233% jump from last year.

🫡 Mind-Blowing MTB Riding by an Ex-BMX Pro

Kriss Kyle is an absolute weapon on two wheels. In his latest edit, Damn Big Dams, the former BMX pro takes on a massive dam and reservoir—riding its face like a total savage. Steep, sketchy lines? Check. Tech features most riders wouldn’t touch? Double check. On a Stumpjumper 15, no less. With wild creativity and total bike control, Kriss reminds us how far you can really push what’s possible on an MTB.

RACING

💰 The 100,000€ Belted Bounty Is Still Unclaimed

The Gates Belted Purse-Challenge returns for a third year—and the stakes have never been higher

Innovation meets adrenaline once again as Gates brings back the Belted Purse-Challenge for the 2026 Downhill World Cup season. The goal? Be the first elite rider to win a World Cup DH race on a belt-driven bike—and walk away with a 100,000€ prize.

Yep, you read that right. A six-figure payday awaits the first chain-free champ.

How It Works…

The challenge is simple:
🏁 Win a Downhill World Cup race
🔁 Use a Gates Carbon Drive belt instead of a traditional chain
💸 Get paid 100,000€

Gates, the U.S.-based belt tech company, launched this bold challenge to prove that their belt-drive system isn’t just clean and durable—it can compete and win at the sport’s highest level.

2025 Recap: Close But No Champagne

Despite fierce attempts last season, no one claimed the bag. Still, things got real close.

Top Performances on Belted Bikes:

• Monika Hrastnik nearly stole the show in Val di Sole, finishing just shy of the win.

• Mille Johnset was knocking on the podium door in Andorra.

• On the men’s side, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene finished 8th in Andorra—the best men’s result yet on a belt-driven bike.

Across 2024–2025, there were:

• 24 Top-10 finishes

• 3 Top-5s

• 2 podiums (3rd place)
  ... all on Gates-belted machines.

Why This Challenge Matters

Chains have ruled DH forever—but they come with downsides:
🛠️ Higher maintenance
⚠️ Risk of failure under pressure
💨 More drag in muddy conditions

Gates wants to shake that up with Carbon Drive belts—clean, durable, and (they claim) just as fast. This challenge isn’t just a marketing gimmick—it’s about pushing tech forward and proving belt systems belong in elite DH racing.

Who's Eligible?

✅ Elite Downhill World Cup Riders
❌ Junior riders are excluded

In fact, if juniors were allowed, Oli Clark might’ve already cashed the check after nearly clinching Leogang. But for now, only elites can break the chain... and the bank.

Eyes on 2026

As we head into the 2026 season, the tension is high. Will it be one of the nearly-made-it riders like Hrastnik or Johnset? Or will a dark horse step up and finally claim the 100,000€ bounty?

One thing’s for sure: the Gates Belted Purse-Challenge isn’t slowing down, and neither are the riders chasing it.

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TRAILS

🔥 Ligurian Trails Get a New Biker Ticket Law

Liguria, a stunning region in northwest Italy known for MTB hotspots like Finale, Pietra, and San Remo—has just passed a new law that changes how mountain bike trails are managed. If you ride in this area, you may soon need to adapt to some fresh rules, including the introduction of a mandatory Biker Ticket for certain trails.

What’s the Deal With the New Law?

The law is aimed at improving trail management and environmental protection. It gives local municipalities and sports clubs the ability to work together to maintain, promote, and safeguard trail networks—especially those in ecologically sensitive zones.

The headline change? Certain trails will now require a Biker Ticket. Riders will need to purchase this pass before accessing designated routes. Similar to the system used for mushroom picking in Italy, this ticket helps fund conservation efforts and ensures long-term trail sustainability.

Where Does the Ticket Money Go?

The revenue from ticket sales will be split evenly:

• 50% will go toward trail maintenance, safety improvements, and keeping the environment clean.

• The other 50% could support tourism initiatives, event planning, and the development of digital tools (like apps or GPS systems) to help riders navigate the trails safely.

Who’s In Charge?

Local towns and sports organizations can now form trail consortia—essentially partnerships—to oversee trail care. These groups will be responsible for:

• Trail mapping

• Updating signage

• Implementing safety measures

The idea is to empower the people who know the trails best to manage them more effectively.

Pilot Program in Savona and Imperia

To kick things off, the law will be tested in two MTB-heavy provinces: Savona and Imperia. These regions are loaded with iconic trails, making them ideal testbeds for this new model. If the system works well, it could be rolled out across the entire Liguria region.

Does This Apply to Everyone?

Not quite. The Biker Ticket is only for mountain bikers riding on specific trails. It won’t affect hikers or those walking general paths. Also, local residents are currently exempt.

Interestingly, the funds might also support shuttle services and other trail-related infrastructure, further improving the riding experience.

What’s the Community Saying?

As expected, the new law has sparked plenty of debate across social media and forums. Some riders are skeptical, while others are optimistic—especially in areas where underfunded towns have struggled to maintain trails.

At the end of the day, this could be a smart move: if it results in better-maintained trails, safer riding, and more sustainable tourism, it might just be a win-win for riders and the environment.

RACING

🚲 Team Changes in MTB: Laurie Greenland Leaves Santa Cruz, New Partnerships for 2026

As the year wraps up, the world of Mountain Biking is getting more exciting with lots of team news rolling in! Here's a look at some of the biggest updates:

Laurie Greenland Parts Ways with Santa Cruz Syndicate

After four solid years together, Laurie Greenland and the Santa Cruz Syndicate are going separate ways. The British downhill rider, known for his impressive podium finishes and a bronze medal at the World Championships in Fort William, will not be racing for the team in the 2026 season.

Since joining the Syndicate in 2022, Laurie has been a standout rider whenever he was healthy. Unfortunately, injury setbacks kept him out of action at times, but when he was on the bike, he was always a serious contender. Off the track, Laurie was well-loved for his laid-back, humorous personality, which helped create a positive atmosphere in the team.

Where Laurie will go next is still unknown, but we’ll be watching closely as the new season approaches!

Nukeproof Joins the KMC MTB Racing Team for 2026

In more news about the 2026 season, the KMC Mountainbike Racing Team has made a big move. Nukeproof, a well-known brand in the gravity MTB scene, is teaming up with KMC as a bike partner. This partnership will bring Nukeproof into the Cross-Country World Cup (XCO) for the first time and will continue until the 2028 Olympics in LA.

KMC will still be the main sponsor of the team, but Nukeproof will now play a big role in supplying the bikes. This partnership is part of a bigger plan to get the team ready for the 2028 Olympics. Although Nukeproof hasn’t released specific details about which bike they’ll be using in XCO, it’s clear that they’re moving forward with big plans for the future of XC racing.

Brage Vestavik Leaves GT Bicycles After 5 Years

In another major team shake-up, Brage Vestavik has announced that he’s leaving GT Bicycles after five years. Brage, who joined GT in 2020, is known for his insane stunts, including the famous “Jah Drop” in the movie Nothing’s For Free. This marks the end of a partnership that saw some epic video projects, including Planet Alaska and Trolldom. GT Bicycles, who paused production earlier this year, will have to move forward without one of their biggest stars.

Samara Maxwell Extends Her Contract with Decathlon Ford Racing

After a massive 2025 season, Samara Maxwell has extended her contract with Decathlon Ford Racing, signing on until 2028. The extension comes after Samara dominated the women’s XCO World Cup, securing nine top-three finishes out of ten races and winning her first elite XCO title. With her strong performance, she’s made it clear that she’s one of the top contenders heading into the 2026 season and beyond.

What’s Next?

As the teams get ready for the 2026 season, these changes are just the beginning. With new partnerships, riders switching teams, and more exciting updates, it’s shaping up to be an awesome season for MTB fans. Stay tuned for more news as the teams finalize their lineups and prepare for the upcoming World Cup and the road to the 2028 Olympics!

🏁 Video Of The Week

We waited for this - full power edit by the craziest Viking on a bike:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

An underdog of the Downhill Worldcuptell his story in a Podcast Interview:

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