transcript
Speaker 1:
[00:01] The downhill will begin in Korea. It's gonna end in USA in late Placid in October. But between that, we've got lots of rounds that you're familiar with. And yes, we go back to the spiritual home of downhill, The Whistler in Canada as well. It's gonna be a really exciting season. We've got some of the key athletes alongside us who are gonna talk us through. What are hopes and aspirations are for? This is gonna go a little bit like this. I'm gonna ask a few questions just to get everybody into it. And then I'll throw it over to your questions, all of you watching journalists around the world. If you can write them in the chat or in the Q&A, I will then read out the best of those questions and we'll get them to the athlete. So without further ado, with us today, we've got Jackson Goldstone from Sainte-Cœur Syndicate, Loic Bruni from Specialized Bravity, from Canyon Downhill Racing, it's Luca Shaw, and then Vali Holl from Cormacal, Schwalbe by Lesor, as well as Gracey Hemstreet and Tahnee Seagrave. Great to have you all with us. I think we'll start with, Tahnee, you're the last name on my sheet there, but let's go in reverse order, shall we? Nice to have you with us. Obviously for you, it's always been a family affair. You've always been involved in this. It's great you all travel around together. Here now, new season, what are your hopes and aspirations?
Speaker 2:
[01:26] I mean, I'm not in the position I hope to be in, like coming in to the season this close to the first World Cup. I was injured for the majority of the off-season, and I've only just recently got back on my downhill bike and managed to squeeze in a few days. Just keeping in mind the bigger picture of a long season, and try not to get too excited at the first one like I did last year.
Speaker 1:
[01:52] So it's a case of easing yourself in when you get to Korea next week.
Speaker 2:
[01:57] Yeah. I mean, I've got a lot of things to take off still, and there's a lot going on with the bike and a lot more to test. I just didn't manage to fit in the time, the window that I was given once I was able to ride again. So I tried as hard as I could. But yeah, there's just a lot going on. So more of a stepping stone for me.
Speaker 1:
[02:17] Good stuff. I look forward to seeing you in Korea. And of course, if you have any questions for Tahnee or the rest of the athletes I'm about to talk to, make sure you get them in the Q&A or in the chat. Next, we'll go to Luca, if that's okay, from Canyon Downhill Racing. Luca, for you, after your winter, what's the final step from consistency to becoming a weekly favorite to win every week and be the top rider in the world?
Speaker 3:
[02:44] Yeah, I'm not sure. I had a good season last year. Like he said, I was very consistent, and I had a lot of fun, and I feel like I definitely have improved in a lot of ways. So, hoping to just keep improving. That's kind of the goal, just try and get better every year. Yeah, last season was great, but definitely I feel like there's more on the table for myself and there's a lot of goals I still have to achieve. So, yeah, we'll see. I'm feeling good and I'm having fun and enjoying racing more than ever. So, I think that's a big part of it too.
Speaker 1:
[03:22] Great stuff. How are you equipment wise? Happy with everything and how it's coming together ahead of the first round?
Speaker 3:
[03:29] Yeah, for sure. Pretty much all the same for me as far as equipment and team stuff. I have a new mechanic this year, so that's been really good. We've had a good winter, spent some time together. So, yeah, feeling really good. I think it's always funny coming into the first race. You always aren't really sure where you're going to stack up, but I've done some local races and stuff and feeling good on the bike. So, just excited to get it underway.
Speaker 1:
[03:55] Fantastic, Luca. Any questions for Luca as well? Make sure you place them in the chat if you will. Can we go to Gracey next if that's all right? Because I'm excited about seeing on the television how the Whistler looks this year, how good Canada looks. I know you'll be excited to race there as well. It must be a huge thing to go there.
Speaker 4:
[04:15] No, I'm so excited to have everyone, all the locals and friends and family watching. It will be pretty unreal. Then Cyprus as well, just after that. So yeah, super excited.
Speaker 1:
[04:29] Fantastic. Last season was a good one for you. What did it show you as to how close you are to the very top of the sport now?
Speaker 4:
[04:37] Getting closer. Still not there, but yeah, I have lots of goals this year to check off hopefully. So yeah, still proud.
Speaker 1:
[04:46] And do you know anything about those final couple of steps you need to take?
Speaker 4:
[04:53] I just got to believe in myself a little more, I think. And let's have fun and go fast and hopefully it will work out.
Speaker 1:
[05:01] Great stuff, great stuff. Well, another athlete who is used to going fast is Loic, Loic Bruni from Specialized Gravity. You will be plunging down those downhills again this year. What is the biggest thing for you this year to sharpen after pushing last year's title fight so deep into the season?
Speaker 5:
[05:21] Yeah, last year was super good. We had a really cool battle going on with Jackson all the way to the last race. It wasn't the ending I was hoping for, so I have a little bit of redemption on that side. There's a lot of new comers from the junior category. There's a lot of new things, so it will be hard to fight at the top again, but we prepared really well. We have everything ready for Korea now in one week, so I'm pretty happy. We just launched the bike, the new bike today, the new specialised. So things are going good, the whole team is healthy, so a lot of good stuff ahead, and I'm just really excited to get back racing. Off-season is cool, but now it's time for business.
Speaker 1:
[06:08] That sounds good. That sounds like the headlines have already been written by everybody watching there with that quote you've just given them. But last year, you said it was so close, you went really deep into the season, you had that fight, not the result that you wanted. When it's decided by such small margins, what do you look at first? Speed, consistency, technique, or just avoiding that one big mistake?
Speaker 5:
[06:33] I guess it's a mix of all of the above. You've got to be committed, you've got to have the preparation to be fit enough to go through the whole season and stay consistent. But if you don't have any speed to fight for the big points, you know, on like first, second, or third spot, then there is no deal, let's say. So I'm just going to try to have the whole package again, stay consistent, and maybe a little bit more smart at the end of the season. I was a little bit struggling and I was like, I was enjoying a lot the mental side of like sending some spikes to Jackson and just talking a lot of bullshit. But at the end of the day, I was just like also confidence wise and mentally, I was also struggling a little bit to keep it straight. And on the last race, I did a rookie mistake. So I need to clean a little bit my brain when it comes to this. And then hopefully I'll be able to fight also this season for the title.
Speaker 1:
[07:33] A sorrow, a sorrow. Anson, we're going to let Jackson reply to that in a minute. But first, I think we're going to go to Vali if that's okay. Vali, you're here again. Another overall title, another rainbow jersey. What motivates you to keep going and carry on?
Speaker 6:
[07:52] I would say the new team is a big motivation. I'm finally on a common style, which was always my dream. So getting all the good things together and working with a good group of people, I can bring my best friend as a line coach this year. So there's a lot of add ons this season that make it for sure more fun than the last two years. And I'm really looking forward to this.
Speaker 1:
[08:11] Well, last year you sort of built your season on consistency before going for those big wins that came after that. Is that your biggest weapon as a rider, that consistency, even when you're not at your very best, you're always there?
Speaker 6:
[08:24] Well, I'm super excited that I could finally be consistent enough to be there even without winning. So it wasn't really my plan last year to win only one World Cup. So I hope I can do a bit more day wins. That will be really nice. But yeah, for sure, it's not going to get any easier. But I feel like I have the right people around me this year to be hopefully a bit more stronger on race days.
Speaker 1:
[08:51] Not getting any easier. Is that referring to maybe the level increasing and the competition getting more fierce?
Speaker 6:
[08:57] 100%. Like all the women are pushing so hard and everyone is getting so professional on bike setup, on training obviously. And all the youngsters are stepping up and even the ones that are only in the second year in juniors, they're hunting us already. So yeah, it's for sure not gonna get any easier the next couple of years, but I'm excited for it and I hope I'm still fresh enough to keep going for the next five years when they all come home.
Speaker 1:
[09:26] Brilliant stuff. Thanks, Vali. Well, just before I go to Jackson, just a reminder that if you do have any questions, please put them in the chat or in the Q&A. And then when I finished asking a couple of things now to Jackson, then you can get those questions to me. I see a couple of you started to do that, so I'll go to Jackson Goldstone first. You heard about that challenge there. What's your reply to? I see the trash talk has already started between you and Lloyd.
Speaker 7:
[09:54] Oh, boy. Yeah, I mean, I don't have much to reply. I mean, I think we definitely had our own mental battles throughout the season. I could see myself going through it as well. And it's something that you can't escape in the sport for sure. So yeah, I think going into Korea, I feel like I've got a lot more experience from last year. And thanks, Loic, for letting me get there and putting me through those tough positions. Because I think it's going to hopefully help me in the long run. But yeah, really excited for this first race. I think I definitely had a bit of a tougher off season. I had some family stuff and some personal struggles along the lines that kind of slowed my whole process down a little bit. But yeah, I was able to get back on and get some good training in this last few years. A few months, so yeah, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1:
[10:54] And for you this year, what does progress look like? Because you've already done it. You've already won it all.
Speaker 7:
[11:02] Yeah, I mean, obviously, last year was such an amazing season. I can't believe I was able to do that. And that just motivates me more to go and try and do the same and to go and push for even better results, knowing that I can now do that and perform at that level. So, you know, it is going to get hard with the youngsters coming up. And I'm calling them a youngster, which was funny. But yeah, yeah, you know, everyone's getting quicker. Everyone's getting, yeah, at that sharp end of the sport. So it's really cool to see, you know, the level of riding these days.
Speaker 1:
[11:39] Excellent. Well, we've had one question already. And now that you're unmuted, we'll start with you, Jackson. The question is from Mesum Verna, asking about the biggest unknown for you all. And I'm going to come to you all on this, but starting with Jackson, a brand new track in Korea. What do you do when you approach a new track like that?
Speaker 7:
[11:58] Yeah, so obviously we're really excited to, you know, go to a new venue and obviously go across to a whole new place in the world. You know, for a full new race like this, it's really hard for the teams to, you know, make sure everything's all accounted for. So it's all unknown, you know, like the we haven't seen what the food's like, the hotels, the accommodation, the travel, you know, it's all going to be a first experience. So yeah, I mean, we all it's all going to have to figure out as we kind of go and as we're along the way. But, you know, the track looks pretty good from the photos we've seen. And I think at the end of the day, we're just out there to have fun and ride bikes. So can't be that can't be that bad.
Speaker 1:
[12:42] Oh, it's a fun place to be. The Winter Olympics were just around the corner in Pyeongtaek a few years ago. Wonderful place. Thanks for that, Jackson. Gracey, your approach to this new track in in Korea. How are you approaching?
Speaker 4:
[12:58] I'm just trying to take it easy on myself and have fun and not stress out. But yeah, no, lots of sessioning and just enjoying being on the bike and having fun. And yeah, good way to go.
Speaker 1:
[13:13] Excellent. Tahnee, you've been around Plankton-to-Torga before. Korea is a new one for you as well, I imagine.
Speaker 2:
[13:20] Yeah, finally. I mean, we've had a few new venues the past couple of years, and it's kind of nice because it puts everyone on a level playing field, I guess, for people that have been around a while, like myself. It's quite, it's nice to have something that's exciting. And yeah, not going back to the same venue for the past 12 years. But yeah, like Jackson said, it is tough for the teams. We've never been there before. We don't have our proper set up that we usually have. So I think it'll be nice to fill things out and go back for next year.
Speaker 1:
[14:00] Luca, what's your approach to Korea?
Speaker 3:
[14:04] Yeah, I'm excited. It's always nice to go to a new place, like a new track obviously, but a new country, a new culture, all that. We travel a lot, but I feel like we always go to the same places. So it's exciting to hop off the plane and be in a new country, a new place. I think it's also nice for the first race of the season to have no expectations on the track or how you did there in previous years or anything like that. So it's kind of fun. I always like racing new tracks. I feel like it's kind of everyone's sort of in the same boat on a level playing field. And yeah, it's just fun. So really, really looking forward to it.
Speaker 1:
[14:47] Vali, what about you? The biggest unknown heading to a completely new track in South Korea?
Speaker 6:
[14:55] No, I think it's as Tahnee said, I think it's cool that there's a brand new track that nobody could pre-practice on. I think that's very rare nowadays. People don't write the track in advance. So especially for the first round of the season, it's going to be super exciting. I think that's more fun for everyone. And mostly just looking forward to the food, to be honest. It's going to be sick.
Speaker 1:
[15:16] Plenty of Korean barbecues, I'm sure, are waiting you all. Loic, finally, you're going to Korea, I assume, for the first time as well.
Speaker 5:
[15:25] Actually, I got rerouted once from, actually, England to go to New Zealand. I went to Seoul, but just 24 hours, so it wasn't anything bike related. So it'll be the second time, but really excited just to go there, see new things. Like kind of said, you know, we've been around for a long time, so it's cool to discover new places, totally new environments. And like Vali said too, it's actually the sport right now is in the funny spot where everybody, me included, I'm not going to lie, everybody go pre-practice and practice on the racetracks all winter. And you come to the race and you actually have nothing to do except just go fast. You know, like, you know, the track, it's a little bit boring and it's a bit of a shame that it's come this way. So it's going to be everybody will have to learn the track before even trying to go fast. So it'll be interesting to see who can do it the old way, I would say, even though the young people, the young riders, I'm not worried for them. But yeah, a lot of opportunities too. I think a lot of new market horizons, like with Asia being not only Korea, there's a lot of other things. So it's cool and it took a long time to go back to Asia since 2000, I think in Japan. Finally, we go back. It's expensive for the team, it's expensive for everybody, but it'll be fine.
Speaker 1:
[16:50] Yeah, first time in over a quarter of a century, there's a downhill World Cup back on the Asian continent again. Loic, we've had a question for you from Natural Solar says, first of all, congratulations on your baby. Since the last World Cup, we haven't had any updates about the condition of your leg, however, and that's the question. How are you and how's your leg looking for 2026?
Speaker 5:
[17:14] Well, thanks for the baby. It's a really cool new life chapter and I'm enjoying every day. As I'm going to leave for two weeks now, I'm super sad. But yeah, the leg was more troubled than I expected. I've had this injury before and this time, with the context, going back home, rushing to the hospital and having to have work in the airport and rush everything, my leg was super, I pushed it too much, so it took way longer and my muscles were damaged and it got complicated and now I would say that I'm 100 percent. My leg isn't the same size as the other one, so it looks weird, I look asymmetrical. But when I ride, I have no issues and stuff, so I'm fit for racing and I should be fine. So I'm excited to see what I can do with it. Thanks for asking.
Speaker 1:
[18:10] Is there a plan to get that symmetry back in terms of the power and what have you, or is it sort of race first and then see what needs to be done?
Speaker 5:
[18:19] Man, we've been trying a lot of things all winter to get back. The volume isn't coming back, the contraction isn't super strong. I think the neural signal is not super clear. And because it was so big, my muscles just shut down for a long time. And it takes so long to reconnect with them and reactivate them the way I used to. So we've tried many, many things. If you, anyone has options and ideas, I'm listening. But it's okay. I'm not handicapped or anything. So I should be fine for the season.
Speaker 1:
[18:54] Yeah. Excellent. Well, if anyone had any quick ideas for Loic, as well as questions, it's your chance to put them into the chat. Now I'm looking in the Q&A, I can't see anything. If you do have any question, please put them into the chat now. Whilst I'm waiting, I'll remind you that it begins in Korea. 1st of May is the start of the Whoop MTB World Series this year, which Korea is the new venue there for both the downhill and of course, we've got the cross country as well. The season is going to end in the USA, like past it again. And in between that, certainly where downhill is concerned, going back to Whistler is also new. You had new venues, new things to do. And I think Loic has got his hand.
Speaker 5:
[19:34] Yeah, I just have a question for the other riders in the chat or on the call. I wanted to ask because I think I saw something go and say the Neko Mulady won the first downhill race in Sea Otter Classic with a 2.32 inch wheel. And I wanted to ask what everybody's opinion is on it, just out of curiosity because it's quite crazy how big it is. And yeah, just if they have any idea or any opinion.
Speaker 1:
[20:05] Jackson's laughing away over to you, Jackson, for a second.
Speaker 7:
[20:09] I think I'm too small for the old 32 inch wheels. I don't know if I'm old enough to ride or high enough to ride the height limit for those. But I know I was sick to see Neko in that. I think Sea Otter and a 32 inch wheel goes perfect, super high speed and you need that rolling speed. So it worked well for him. But I think it would be interesting to see if it can make its way into downhill. I think it doesn't quite make enough sense in my opinion. But I don't know. What do you guys think?
Speaker 1:
[20:47] Who's next? Nobody want to jump at Luca's thinking about it.
Speaker 3:
[20:54] I'm not so much of a fan to be honest. It looks so weird. I think but I mean, if it's better, it's better. I guess someone's going to test it and try it. It seems like it's not against the rules. So we'll see. But I think 29 is big enough. I'd like to see it stay where it's at. But I guess that's evolution and progression. It's yeah, you got to try stuff. So who knows?
Speaker 1:
[21:27] Anybody else thinking on the progression side? Tahnee, you've seen a lot of changes in the last few years. Vali as well winning on the top there.
Speaker 2:
[21:38] I feel like just because it's a thing, it doesn't necessarily need to make its way into downhill. I don't know, I struggled so much when the full 29er came in, and I didn't hop on it because I just knew it wasn't going to work for me. We just waited for the mullet to happen. So I guess I'll wait for other people to try it first and then I'll make my decision. But like Luca says, you have to try these things. We're always pushing the limits of the sport and the limits of our bikes and bodies. So it only makes sense to just try stuff.
Speaker 1:
[22:20] Vali, Gracey, are you going to be early adopters or are you going to be waiting like Tahnee?
Speaker 4:
[22:27] I'm definitely way too short for that. Yeah, me too. I don't think I'll be trying that one. Yeah, me too.
Speaker 7:
[22:39] Looks like we're all on the same page, I guess.
Speaker 1:
[22:43] Look what you did there, Loic. Big discussion provoked. You provoked more discussion than a lot of journalists watching it.
Speaker 5:
[22:50] No, but it's good because back in the day, I don't remember what year it was. 2018, 2017, when 29 years came out, I was so against it. It's not so cool. It's coming from cross-country since when do we get influence from cross-country, but now I'm trying to stay open-minded because I'm old and wise, but I just wanted to see what other people thought. I think it's not so cool and I think it shouldn't come downhill. Just saying.
Speaker 1:
[23:18] Ryder, you talk about being old and wise. What about the new lot? Because I've just had a question and feel free to respond as you will. Which of the juniors really stands out as one to watch this season?
Speaker 5:
[23:34] Is it for me the question?
Speaker 1:
[23:36] For all of you. Anybody of you had your eye on coming through the rides?
Speaker 5:
[23:41] Okay, so for me, I'm going to start. I've had many favorite riders, let's say, through the years, and Luca actually is one of them. I'm still really admiring his style and everything. I like this type of riding. But one new guy that I think is killing the game and is going to be so hard to beat and really good on the bike is Max Aloran. So I'm already a big fan of him. He's a super cool dude and rides a bike like it's actually nothing. So I really, really like this and he's super steamy, like he has the whole package. So I'm looking forward to race against him and see what he can do.
Speaker 1:
[24:22] And Tahnee, what about you?
Speaker 2:
[24:26] I think we're pretty clear for another year. Like luckily the first year tutors are going into second. So I try, I just, yeah, I don't really think about it. They're super inspiring and it just gets better every year. So but yeah, lucky for me, I still have another year and then I don't know, by the time it gets a bit difficult, I'll probably be retiring. So all good.
Speaker 1:
[24:52] No, no worries for the experience of you all then. Oh no, not anybody else wish to comment. Who's been talent spotting? Everybody's had their eyes on their own performance. And on that front, one more question from Mers and Verma. Again, it goes back to a little bit what we were talking about with career, of course that was turning up in career. But when you come for a new course, any new course that you've never raced before, how do you prefer? Is it track walk, data, instinct? What do you first take your hook off on your main bit of preparation?
Speaker 3:
[25:36] I guess I'll go. For me, I think with a new track, it's all about feel. I think you can be too analytical, and when you walk the track and try and look too much in detail, and it can mess you up. For me, and it actually is like that with any track for me, but especially new tracks, I think it's important to really get the flow of the track and not try and ride perfectly right away, just have fun and get the general feel of the track. And ride loose, and then from there go into more detail. But it's always, like I said earlier, I really like that style of that riding and figuring out a new track and not having any expectation or thoughts on what you did last year, or what worked in the past. It's all kind of fresh. So I think it's a lot of feel and instinct.
Speaker 1:
[26:31] Anybody else kind of comment on that?
Speaker 7:
[26:34] Yeah, I definitely, I mean, I agree with you there, Luca. I think trackwalk is definitely more important for me. Like, I don't look as much as, excuse me, look at as much data as Loic. And, you know, so that's going to be very important, the trackwalk, especially trying to get creative and trying to find, you know, the new lines and stuff for the new tracks. So, yeah, excuse me. But yeah, it'll be interesting to see.
Speaker 1:
[27:03] We've had a question for Luca as well, actually, and it's from Nacho, Luca, this one. Nacho says on his YouTube channel, they've always applauded your consistency throughout your entire career as a World Cup rider. They know how capable you are, and considering the results you achieved in 2025, Nacho asks, do you see yourself winning the overall this year, especially knowing how strong the elite field is and with the juniors coming up?
Speaker 3:
[27:32] I mean, that would be great. I'd love to say that. Yeah. I also know how hard it is. I had a great season last year and I was really happy to end up top three. That was super cool for me. But yeah, there's a lot of fast guys and a lot of races and I think a lot of things need to fall into place for that to happen. It's definitely a lofty goal, but I know I have the ability and I'm obviously trying my hardest. But yeah, we'll see how it goes. It's just a long season and so many riders who can win races. So yeah, I'm definitely proud of my career and how consistent I've been through the years. That's something that I am proud of. It's cool that people realize that as well. But yeah, I'm just trying to build on last year and keep improving as an athlete and just be as well-rounded as possible. So we'll see what the season brings. It's definitely not going to be easy, but I'm going to give it my best shot.
Speaker 1:
[28:41] None of us wanted to be easy. We want to be entertained and watched. We've been entertained here listening to all of you. So thank you very much to Loic, Jackson, Luca, Gracey, Tahnee and Vali. Thanks to all of you for your questions as well. We wish everybody the best of luck from career all the way to Lake Placid at the end of the season. We look forward to you joining all the coverage from start to finish. You can see Loic has already got the sunglasses on, he's ready to go. We will see you all at the start on the 1st of May. Thanks for joining us and enjoy the season. Goodbye.