nicotikk

Specialized boys are looking strong even without Loïc ! Nico Vouilloz being part of the team this year to help Finn and Jordan seems to pay off…

Loris the cat

more than 10 word cup winners out of Q1... I don't know man but maybe they should go for 30 qualified riders in Q1 + 10 in Q2 or something like that.

Motocross found its standard wheel size about 30/40 years ago, but for some reason the bicycle industry still can’t seem to find the sweet spot when it comes to wheel sizes… Or maybe it’s just that the industry never gets enough and keeps pushing new standards to sell more products. I wasn’t one of those raging about the rise of 29ers. I was able to see the benefits once frames were properly designed for larger wheels. But 32-inch wheels? That’s getting ridiculous. The benefits are really low.

Max Alran looks like is just cruising down the hill, throwing a whip in the mud out of nowhere in the woods. Best style on the circuit

It feels like the mountain bike industry is stuck in a never-ending cycle of wheel size experimentation, trying to find the "perfect" setup. After the rise of 29ers and the increasingly popular mullet setup it seems like the next big thing is already emerging: 32-inch wheels. Sure, this new trend might offer extra stability and roll-over capability, but is it just another example of an industry that's scrambling to innovate in a market that's already starting to feel saturated? When you look at the state of MTB right now, it's clear that the industry is still trying to push boundaries, but it's also looking for the next big selling point to justify more marketing hype. After all, the 29er or mullet configuration has been the sweet spot for quite a few years. The 32-inch wheel might have its place for those craving even more stability, but it seems like the real push behind this new size is less about actual performance gains and more about staying relevant in a saturated market. Contrast this with motocross, where the wheel sizes have remained pretty much unchanged for decades. In motocross, the focus is on tuning suspension, engine power, and rider skill rather than constantly chasing the next wheel size. Maybe that's where the VTT industry needs to focus, on refining and improving what's already working, rather than chasing after every new "innovation" that might not offer any real performance benefit. At the end of the day, it’s hard not to feel like some of these wheel size changes are more about creating a buzz and selling new gear than actually solving problems on the trail. I get that innovation is important, but sometimes I wonder if it's just a way to keep pushing new products in a market that's already in a bit of a crisis.

Max is probably the most talented rider of the decade. You have to see it in person. And style for miles …

Mid-power e-bikes like this might offer the best of both worlds. The Propain Sresh SL uses the same motor and it’s a really solid bike. The only concern is that TQ and some brands using their motor, like Propain, apparently require a reconfiguration when changing wheel size. That’s pretty surprising, especially when wheel size options are a key selling point, as it really limits flexibility. But they might just be covering themselves.

Aside from being French and trying to stay super objective here, I really don’t get the hate Loïc’s been getting. The guy was injured, knew he was probably going to lose the overall, and had the added weight of his child on the way. That’s a serious emotional rollercoaster. That said, if there’s one person who’s humble, down-to-earth, and just a genuinely nice guy, it’s Loïc. Just watch the latest WynTV interview with him, Loïc is the last pro still at the bottom of the hill, taking time for every fan. I grew up in the same area as Loïc, and I saw him as a kid in the regional races. He’s always been super friendly, funny, and never took himself too seriously even when he was absolutely crushing everyone. If there’s one guy who doesn’t deserve the hate, it’s him.

There will come a point when people realize that...