Red Bull Hardline has become the most extreme race in mountain biking, but the story of how it came to be? That’s something you’ve never heard like this before. Today, Dan and Gee Atherton sit down to share the real history behind Hardline. The secret test sessions, the build failures, the crashes no one saw, and the moments that almost shut the whole thing down. From a cheeky illegal trail in the Welsh mountains to the gnarliest track on the planet, this is the untold story of Red Bull Hardline...
Jul 22, 2025•1 hr 8 min
This week we’re catching up after a massive double-header in the Enduro World Cup. Val di Fassa and La Thuile delivered everything we love about the sport: big mountains, tight racing, and a few surprises along the way. Joining me to break it all down are two riders who know exactly what it takes to perform at the top, Morgane Charre and Greg Callaghan. We get into what those Italian rounds were really like from the inside, from pushing through injuries and dialing in recovery strategies, to the...
Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 11 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Andorra post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we’ll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a resul...
Jul 14, 2025•1 hr 21 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Andorra pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we’ll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a result, this series...
Jul 08, 2025•43 min
From the spark of an idea in an engineer’s mind to becoming one of the most talked about innovations in mountain biking, this is the story of OChain. Today, we go behind the scenes with Fabrizio Dragoni, the creator of the OChain system, and James Alberts, MTB Category Director from SRAM, to find out how this radical concept became a reality and why SRAM saw enough potential to bring it under their wing. This is about passion, persistence, and pushing the boundaries of what a bike can feel like....
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 6 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our La Thuile post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we’ll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a res...
Jul 06, 2025•1 hr 11 min
From racing between the tape to calling the action from the booth, Josh Carlson has experienced mountain biking from every angle. In this episode, we dive into his unique journey from pro Enduro racer to one of the key voices in the sport’s global broadcast. Josh shares what it’s like working behind the mic for Warner Brothers, how he connects with athletes and audiences, and why storytelling is at the heart of great coverage. We also get into the evolution of Enduro, the grind of balancing fami...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 23 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our La Thuile pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we’ll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a result, this seri...
Jun 30, 2025•49 min
Our Enduro World Cup debrief with Morgane Charre and Greg Callaghan after the first two rounds of the season proved to be really popular, so the team is back to discuss what went on in Loudenvielle and Leogang. Hear which top rider nearly didn’t make it to the first stage in Leogang, which rider has reverted to singing songs to calm the mood and who should we be watching out from from the upcoming crop of young, talented enduro racers. We’ll also discuss our thoughts on the sneak peak of Warner ...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 5 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Val di Sole post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we’ll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a r...
Jun 22, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This week’s episode is a little different as it was recorded in front of a live audience. BOA invited me out to the Leogang World Cup and after the race we went to their office in Mondsee to record an episode with their supported athlete, Nina Hoffmann, in front of the BOA team. I want to say a huge thanks to BOA for inviting me over, it was great to meet the whole team and inspiring to see the focus and attention to detail that goes into the design of every product that features a BOA dial. Aft...
Jun 17, 2025•58 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Val di Sole pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we'll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a result, this se...
Jun 16, 2025•49 min
Hattie Harnden is one of the most versatile riders on the planet, and this year she’s taken a bold leap into downhill racing. In this episode, we dive into what drove that move and how it’s played out so far. Hear how Hattie’s adapted to a bike that’s wildly different from anything she’s ridden before, and how she’s found even more speed by refining her technique. Hattie shares the highs and lows of racing, the pressure of media attention, and what it feels like to finally belong. This is a raw,...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 14 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Leogang post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we'll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a resul...
Jun 08, 2025•1 hr 19 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Loudenvielle post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we'll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a ...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Today I'm joined by Cy Turner, the founder of Cotic, to find out more about one of the most commented on bikes of the year, their brand new Cotic eBike. It’s a bold move from a small, steel-focused brand known for doing things differently, and it’s certainly ruffled a few feathers. We dig into the design process, the engineering challenges, what made Cy take the leap into e-bikes and the thinking behind some of the key design decisions. We also chat about Cotic’s fresh new branding, what it mean...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 6 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Leogang pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we'll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a result, this series...
Jun 02, 2025•35 min
Enduro is back and it feels like it might be turning a corner. After a couple of tough seasons, there’s a real sense of momentum building in the sport, and we’re here for it. In this episode, I’m joined by Greg Callaghan and Morgane Charre, two riders who’ve been at the sharp end of Enduro racing for years, to dig into the first two rounds of the 2025 EDR season. We’re talking big changes: the return of two-day racing, a fresh energy in the pits, and a crop of new talent shaking things up. Greg ...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 17 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Loudenvielle pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we'll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a result, this s...
May 26, 2025•48 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into our Poland post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, we'll be bringing you analysis and insights that you won’t hear elsewhere. However, as you probably know, the mountain bike industry isn’t in a great place right now and as a result...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 27 min
Mark Fitzsimmons has been shaping how mountain bikes ride for decades. From his early days in customer support to developing cutting-edge suspension at RockShox and FOX, he’s worked with the world’s fastest riders and the best teams in the business. In this episode, Mark shares hard-earned wisdom on suspension tuning, what really makes suspension work, why building trust with athletes matters, and the habits that lead to long-term success both on and off the bike. Whether you're chasing podiums ...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 23 min
This week I’m talking MTB coaching with Paul Howard from ZEP Coaching and the GSMBC. Paul’s been shaping mountain bike coaching for years, and his work has helped define the global standards we see today. We dig into how modern coaching has evolved, how elite-level riders are pushing the limits, and what we can learn from the way the best in the world ride. From coaching kids to helping World Cup athletes rider faster more consistently, Paul shares powerful insights on technique, bike setup, and...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 23 min
I’m Chris, this is the Downtime Podcast and you’re tuned into the original pre-race show with me and coach to the stars, Chris Kilmurray. If you’re listening, that means that like me, you probably LOVE the sport and want to know as much as possible about what’s going on. That’s exactly what we are here to do. Throughout the season, I’ll be joined by Chris for the pre-race and ex-racers and team managers Neko Mulally and Olly Morris for the post-race debrief. We’ll be doing our best to bring you ...
May 12, 2025•59 min
This week I’m joined by Jan Ehrhard, senior design engineer and one of the key minds behind the new Canyon Sender, to find out what it takes to design a World Cup winning bike. From sketchbook to the start gate, Jan takes us inside the high-stakes world of bike development. We talk about the evolution of Canyon’s downhill platform, the wild insights from their Mule test bike, and the delicate dance between anti-rise, pedal kickback, and speed generation. You’ll hear how rider feedback, innovativ...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 5 min
This week I’m joined by one of the most consistent and respected riders on the downhill circuit, Troy Brosnan. We dive deep into the emotional and physical demands of racing at the highest level, and Troy shares what it really takes to stay at the top, from endless bike testing and tuning, to adapting to wild race conditions. We talk about pushing comfort zones at events like Hardline Tasmania, the challenges and rewards of switching to a new bike, and how technology is shaping the future of the...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 1 min
This is a brand new mini-series, Downtime Debrief. For fans of our ‘Downtime Goes Downhill’ series you’ll know my good friends Ben and Jonny who I’ve been racing downhill alongside for the last two seasons. For 2025, things are shifting a bit. Our race plans are heading in different directions, and we wanted to create space to talk about more than just our own racing. So four times throughout the year, we’ll be getting together to chat about bikes. Whether that’s our own racing, world cup drama,...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 13 min
This week, I’m joined once again by elite mountain bike performance coach Chris Kilmurray, as we dive deep into the build-up for the 2025 MTB World Cup season. We’re talking preseason prep, the role of health and performance testing, and why team camps matter more than ever. Chris shares his take on the new World Cup format, the rise of AI in training, and the logistical battles that teams face behind the scenes. We also cover the real risks of injury, how riders adapt to new bikes, and what it ...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Mani Lettenbichler is as humble as he is hardcore. Coming from Hard Enduro where he dominated the 2023 season, going undefeated and proving he’s an absolute machine on a dirt bike. But that’s not the whole story. Mani’s also a huge fan of mountain biking and absolutely shreds. He’s raced eEDR, and is no slouch on a downhill bike. In this episode, we chat about how his moto skills transfer to MTB, what it would take for him to line up at a World Cup downhill, and why e-bikes are putting a massive...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Today, we’ve got a special one for you. Asa Vermette is the most exciting young talent in downhill racing right now, and in this episode, we sit down with him and Neko Mulally to unpack it all. From Red Bull deals and World Championships to injuries, rivalries, and the rise of US downhill, we've got it all. Asa opens up about what it takes to compete at the top, what it means to be part of the Frameworks program, and how he plans to step it up again in 2025. Neko sheds some light on what it's li...
Apr 08, 2025•56 min
This week, we’re diving deep into mountain bike innovation with Matt Shearn from Rimpact, a brand that started with tire inserts and is now making waves with cutting-edge technology. The Tuned Mass Damper, inspired by Formula One, promises to transform your ride, reducing vibrations and both mental and physical load. We’ll get into the science behind it, the testing process, what riders are saying and how I got on with the device. Plus, we’ll explore Rimpact’s chain damper and how it’s tackling ...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 18 min
