The Future of Downhill World Cup Racing: Are Big Changes Coming in 2025?

On this week's episode, join James and Ben from Misspent Summers and me as we discuss the latest rumours and speculations surrounding the potential transformation of Downhill World Cup Racing in 2025.
Will there be more races? Will there no longer be privateer racers? Will we head back into the Southern Hemisphere to new venues? We may not have all the answers yet, but one thing is certain: the downhill World Cup Racing will look different next year.
Let me know your thoughts about the potential changes in the comments.
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[@One-foot-skank]

3-5 race hardline series

[@stirfrybry1]

I'm quickly losing interest in UCI races. thank goodness Red Bull will bring us better races

[@JAY61ish]

Perhaps the privateers should set up their own series.. These riders pay a lot of money to race . they travel in their vans . have to pay for accommodation (or live in their vans) pay for bike parts . tyres etc. They do it coz they love their sport.. unfortunately the UCI seems to dislike DH Racing.. probably as it's seen as an Xsport .. UCI are so boring and overladen with rules and regulations . that strangles the sport

[@ianfurqueron5850]

I would like to believe that prior to WBD committing the $$$ to taking over the sport, someone had developed a plan of what they wanted to achieve. Something that was likely done in order to justify the expense to the financial people in charge. It's the lack of communication between WBD and the rest of the mtn bike racing community (not just DH, but everything) that is so bloody frustrating.

[@CM9999999999]

The answer is finding a way to have continental series that are then affordable for privateers to compete at. If we had a properly global World Cup then privateers would disappear anyway because of the cost

[@CM9999999999]

Surely the real question is how do you incentivise organisers to put these continental level events. They are the ones who need encouragement

[@samuelhoskins7756]

It’s the privateers that makes these races, not the privileged riders who have a team behind them. IMO the privateers are in another league to most of the team riders. I really hope this won’t be the case and a sensible approach will be taken to be an inclusive series to all.

[@troymortimer3487]

There are lots of way they can handle this to accommodate privateer and large teams. And it really is that easy, it’s just every thing in the world is making stuff harder than it actually. Unfortunately you only need a couple of useless individuals in an organisation to hold things up

[@stephen_hughes]

Well done to all those involved in this shambles and we all know who it is. While lining there pockets and trying to make DH F1, the delusions are absolutely insane.

[@dreggbatz]

class struggle, thats what it is. period!

[@dhrracer]

The death of Downhill is in process. If Downhill is to survive the teams and especially the big teams have to go away. Big teams with big budgets do not equate to "more professional". Just because one wants to be successful does not mean you will be.

[@LWGrounds]

I disagree. Motocross is similar is a aspect in that the OEM need to participate and be a provider of factory teams. They pump a huge amount of money into the sport. My view is a regional/ continental series and a world series. Bigger teams could partake but obviously that's up to them. Using this as a "feeder series", capping out at 2 championships maximum, you could in theory, race your rookie year, win the championship, you are given a year to defend, if you win your second championship, you are forced to move to the world cup level, whether you have a ride or not

[@daviddwight5745]

Give it five years and it will be Specialised vs Trek 😡the UCI has a “red headed stepchild “ attitude to downhill which is killing the sport.