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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:

•  ⚡️ Hot streets: Red Bull Cerro Abajo Valparaiso was a Highlight!

•  🏁  Not a BMX: Haro Bikes attacks with new Trail Bikes

• 🚵‍♀️ Better than ever: Dark Fest is back and partners with Polygon Bikes

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👇 Quick Picks

🚨 Crankworx is starting - New Zealand is waiting!

The clock is almost up for Crankworx, which hits Christchurch Adventure Park from Feb 19 to 22. Riders and fans can expect four packed days with top level contests and RACES, loud crowds, and full festival vibes on the South Island of New Zealand. This year even brings a fresh Slopestyle format that should keep everyone guessing until the final runs. Off the track, the event also brings a busy expo area, lots of local food, music, and chances to meet pro riders in real life. Watch the top events live on Youtube (Crankworx)!

🦈 Aventon supports Freeride Legend Brett Tippie in 2026

Freeride legend Brett Tippie just teamed up with US bike brand Aventon — but not in the way many fans expected. Instead of dropping straight into a fresh e-MTB edit, Tippie is stepping in as Global Cargo Bike Ambassador and “Director of Good Times.” The Hall-of-Fame rider has been one of the loudest and most influential personalities in mountain biking for decades, so seeing him sign a new deal is no shock. What is surprising is that he will mainly front Aventon’s cargo-bike push as the company expands its presence in the North American commuter scene.

🫡 Norco goes LIGHT - new e-MTB with TQ motor and 160 mm

The Canadian bike brand Norco Bikes just dropped a fresh all-mountain e-MTB called the Sight VLT TQ. The company, founded back in 1965 in Burnaby is known for tough trail machines, and this new ride keeps that vibe going. The bike comes with 160 mm travel up front and 150 mm at the rear, plus a newly designed carbon frame and a high pivot rear suspension setup for smoother control on rough trails. Inside, it runs the compact TQ HPR60 motor with a 580 Wh battery, giving riders light electric support without losing the playful feel. Norco wants to push the lightweight e-MTB scene forward. 🏔️⚡

RACING

🔄 Holguín destroys the clock in Valparaíso and grabs first Cerro Abajo win

Round two of the Red Bull Cerro Abajo season brought the action back to the legendary streets of Valparaíso, and the race delivered everything fans love about urban downhill: speed, chaos, huge risks, and a record breaking finish.

At the center of it all was Colombia’s young talent Sebastián Holguín, who produced a fearless final run to take his first ever victory at this iconic event and set a new course record in the process.

From Qualifier to Race Winner

Holguín already showed serious pace by topping qualifying, but the final was where he really made his statement. Starting last on the hill, he knew exactly what time he had to beat. Instead of playing safe, the 21 year old attacked every section of the course with full commitment.

He carved through dusty asphalt turns, launched the massive stair gaps cleanly, and kept perfect control on the steep urban drops. When he crossed the finish line, the clock stopped at 2:15.432, the fastest run ever seen on the Valparaíso track.

The time instantly locked in his first Cerro Abajo victory and confirmed him as one of the most exciting young riders in the sport.

Loron strong, Agurto fires up the home crowd

France’s Adrien Loron delivered one of the smoothest and most technical runs of the day. The fast Dad pushed hard from top to bottom and briefly looked like the winner, but ended up second, just 0.789 seconds behind Holguín.

Local Chilean rider Felipe Agurto nearly caused a hometown upset. His aggressive attack sent the crowd into full celebration mode as he grabbed the lead during the finals, and he eventually secured third place to complete the podium.

Brutal track punishes mistakes

Valparaíso remains one of the toughest urban downhill venues on the planet. The 2026 version of the course measured around 1.65 km, featured a 230 meter vertical drop, and included nearly 280 stairs scattered across the run. Riders had to navigate narrow alleyways, steep city hills, blind corners, and high speed jumps, all surrounded by walls covered in colorful graffiti and packed with thousands of fans.

The demanding layout caused serious problems for several top contenders. Brazil’s Roger Vieira, Britain’s Bernard Kerr, and France’s Alex Rudeau all crashed or made costly errors in their final runs, ending their chances of fighting for the win. A few other riders slipped on easy but fast turns!

Elite showdown all afternoon

Only 15 riders made it from the original 34 starters into the final, and the battle for the top spot kept changing constantly. Czech legend Tomáš Slavík, still recovering after a heavy crash in training, shocked fans by jumping into the lead. Then Brazil’s Gabriel Giovannini beat his time. Moments later Agurto went faster and the crowd exploded. Loron then raised the level again with a near perfect run that looked almost unbeatable.

But one rider was still waiting at the start gate: Holguín. Dropping in as the final starter, the Colombian kept his nerves, rode with incredible precision through the maze like city streets, and pushed maximum speed in the final sprint to smash the record and steal the victory.

Historic Colombian victory

With this success, Holguín becomes the first Colombian to win here since Marcelo Gutiérrez back in 2013. After the race, the young winner explained that he focused on enjoying the run and already felt halfway down the track that this could be his day. Winning the biggest urban downhill race in the world, he said, felt unreal.

Slavík finished fifth and later commented that the level of urban downhill keeps rising every year, adding that he was especially happy with his result considering his recent injury.

Championship fight still wide open

The overall season battle is now perfectly set up. Holguín’s triumph follows the opening round victory by Vieira in Genoa in August 2025, meaning multiple riders remain in strong contention for the title. More races are expected later this summer, including another stop in Genoa and likely an event in Stuttgart. If the Valparaíso showdown proved anything, it is that this season is far from decided.

Top 10 Results

1. Sebastian Holguín — 2:15.432

2. Adrien Loron — +0.789

3. Felipe Agurto — +2.290

4. Gabriel Giovannini — +2.849

5. Tomas Slavik — +2.876

6. Bernard Kerr — +3.939

7. Lucas Borba — +4.953

8. Daniel Castellanos — +5.357

9. Pedro Burns — +5.587

10. Alex Marin — +6.697

📏 Haro Drops New Carbon Trail and Enduro Bikes – Greer vs Daley Explained

Mountain bike brand Haro is stepping deeper into modern full suspension riding with two new carbon models, the Greer and the Daley. Both bikes already existed in aluminum, but now they come with full carbon frames that reduce weight and feel more high end. The idea is simple: keep the proven design, make it lighter, and give riders more performance on real trails.

Full carbon frames and modern suspension

Both bikes use a Horst-link four-bar suspension system. This setup is popular because it feels predictable, stable, and easy to control on rough ground. It also works well for bikes with mid to long suspension travel.

The frames are fully carbon instead of mixing aluminum parts into the rear triangle. That means better stiffness and less weight. Haro also added storage space inside the downtube so riders can carry tools or snacks without a backpack.

Haro Daley Carbon – the balanced trail bike

The Daley is built for riders who want one bike for almost everything. It offers

• about 140 mm rear travel

• 150 mm front fork

• big 29-inch wheels

• trail focused design for climbing and descending

Geometry (what the numbers mean)

The Daley has modern trail geometry:

• head angle about 64.5° for stable downhill riding

• seat angle about 78° for strong climbing position

• chainstays around 445 mm, helping with control and grip

This combination means the bike should feel safe on fast descents but still efficient uphill.

Price

• carbon frameset roughly $2,800 USD

Complete bike prices depend on components, but builds are expected to stay competitive compared to other carbon trail bikes.

Haro Greer Carbon – the aggressive enduro machine

The Greer is the tougher bike designed for steep terrain, jumps, and bike park riding.

It comes with

• about 160 mm rear suspension

• 170 mm fork

• mullet wheel setup (29 front, 27.5 rear)

The smaller rear wheel helps make the bike more playful and easier to move in tight corners.

Geometry for rough trails

The Greer is clearly built for gravity riding:

• very slack 63.8° head angle for downhill stability

• 78° seat angle so climbing still works

• short 435 mm chainstays for agility

This geometry shows the bike focuses more on fun descending than pure race efficiency.

Price

• carbon frameset about $3,100 USD

Complete bikes can reach much higher prices depending on electronic shifting, Fox suspension, and premium parts. For example, a Greer Carbon 1 build in Europe sells around €6999.

Sizes and fit

Both models are available in

• Small

• Medium

• Large

• XL

and the reach grows from about 430 mm up to 510 mm, meaning tall riders also get modern long-frame sizing.

Why these bikes are important for Haro

Haro is famous for BMX history, but these carbon bikes show the company wants to compete seriously in the modern MTB market. By offering full carbon suspension frames at relatively reasonable prices, they target riders who want performance without paying ultra-premium brand costs.

Simple conclusion

• Daley Carbon = the smart all-round trail bike

• Greer Carbon = the wild long-travel gravity bike

Both bring modern geometry, strong suspension, and lighter carbon construction. So if Haro keeps improving, the brand could become much more visible in the mountain bike scene again.

SCENE

Darkfest 2026 Is Coming Back Bigger Than Ever & Polygon Sponsorship To Win

If you love huge jumps, wild tricks, and pure freeride energy, get ready. The legendary Darkfest returns in 2026 and this time it celebrates ten years of pushing mountain biking to the extreme.

What began as a small rider project to build the biggest dirt jumps possible has grown into one of the most respected freeride MTB events on the planet. Now the anniversary edition promises the craziest riding week yet.

Event founder Sam Reynolds says he never expected the project to explode like this. Over the years the event created unforgettable moments, insane tricks, and a global crew of riders and fans. For 2026 the builders want to make the course even more insane than before. And Sam teamed up with his old and new Sponsor Polygon Bikes to make a special web contest - more below!

Back to the Famous South African Spot

The action returns to the Hellsend Dirt Compound at Vuurberg Wine Farm near Stellenbosch. Riders will face massive gaps, gigantic step ups, and the type of features that helped define modern freeride mountain biking. Top pros, rising talents, and surprise wildcard riders will all session the line together. The goal is simple: go huge, land clean, and celebrate how far the sport has come.

Fans who want to watch live can visit the public open day on March 21, 2026, when spectators get the chance to see the madness in person.

Big Air Academy Gives One Rider The Chance Of A Lifetime

Alongside the event, Sam Reynolds launched the Big Air Academy together with Polygon Bikes and iXS. The idea is to discover one hungry rider and boost their career instantly.

The winner receives:

• a two year pro sponsorship with Polygon

• two top level bikes used in the promo video

• full riding gear and protection from iXS

• flight tickets plus a guaranteed invite to ride at Darkfest with the world elite

To enter, riders must upload a 30 to 60 second Instagram edit, tag the brands, and include the BigAirAcademy hashtag. Shortly before the event starts, Sam will personally call the winner and deliver the news.

Expect Pure Freeride Chaos

During the build weeks fans can follow behind the scenes videos and updates as the team shapes what could become the wildest Darkfest course ever built. One thing is certain. When the green light appears and the riders drop in, history might be made once again.

🏁 Video Of The Week

SLEEPER X Phil Atwill - enjoy this fantastic edit with the stylecat from the UK:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Why the GWINNER will be a thread in 2026 - great talk with Aaron Gwin:

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