Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Champs post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris.

Before we get into it, a quick ask… if you enjoy these shows and want to help us continue them until the end of the season, we’d really appreciate your support.

This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big comm...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Champs pre-race show with Chris Kilmurray.

Before we get into it, a quick ask… if you enjoy these shows and want to help us continue them until the end of the season, we’d really appreciate your support.

This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment...

Less than 48 hours before we were due to record our final Enduro World Cup roundup of the season, Warner Brothers dropped the bombshell that they would not be running a series in 2027. So in this episode with Morgane and Greg, we dig into that, as well as catching up on the last two rounds. Hear their take on what the future of enduro will look like. There’s a lot of positive energy and it feels like this could be the re-birth of enduro that we’ve all been waiting for.  So sit back, hit play and listen to this...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris.

Before we get into it, a quick ask… if you enjoy these shows and want to help us continue them until the end of the season, we’d really appreciate your support.

This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big comm...

Every rider’s path to the top looks different. For Will Brodie, it meant balancing work as a window cleaner while chasing the dream of racing at the highest level. That journey took him all the way to the Downhill World Cup, but along the way he realised his future might lie somewhere else.

In this episode, Will takes us through his story so far, from discovering bikes and progressing through downhill, to making the switch to enduro and committing to life as a full-time Enduro World Cup athlete. We talk about the challenges, the sacrifices and wh...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup pre-race warm-up show with the one and only Chris Kilmurray.

Before we get into it, a quick ask… if you enjoy these shows and want to help us continue them until the end of the season, we’d really appreciate your support.

This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s...

Every racer’s journey is built on failures as much as victories. The crashes, the setbacks, the missed opportunities and the hard lessons all shape who you become.

Shawn Neer’s career has taken him through all of those moments, from chasing results as a racer, to failed businesses and learning what it takes to create lasting change in the sport he loves.

Now he’s going all in on a new challenge: building the future of American downhill racing through the Mountain States Cup.

In this episode, Shawn shares the story behind his ra...

Rosa Zierl is a name you’re going to be hearing a lot more of in the world of downhill mountain biking. After an incredible first World Cup season, Rosa became junior World Champion and took the overall title, showing that she has the speed and mindset to challenge at the highest level.

This is Rosa’s first ever podcast, and we dive into her journey so far, from getting into riding, to her breakthrough season, winning the World Champs and overall, and how she’s dealing with the challenge of recovering from a shoulder injury. So sit bac...

This week we’re diving into the second round of the Pearce DH Series, where Jonny and Ben were both back between the tapes. We break down how their weekends went, what worked, what didn’t, and the changes they’ve been making to their bike setup, training and approach to racing.

We also get into one of the more interesting ideas we’ve talked about on the show for a while: why, if you really want to get faster, you probably need to be willing to push yourself to the point where crashing becomes a real possibil...

Markus Stöckl has spent decades at the sharp end of downhill racing. As the founder of MS Racing he’s worked with some of the sport’s biggest names, helped develop World Cup-winning riders and watched the sport evolve through multiple generations. Alongside that, he’s become one of mountain biking’s biggest advocates for pure speed, pushing the limits of what’s possible with record-breaking runs and a relentless fascination with going faster.

In this episode we dive into everything he’s learned about performance, team management and developing riders, before exploring his passion for speed, what i...

Over the last few years, Enduro has had a lot of questions to answer. But after Val Di Fassa and La Thuile it feels like on some levels, it's in a better place than ever before.  With a stand alone two day event in Val Di Fassa, amazing stages all round, the return of La Thuile's night stage and new media channels and presenters bringing the stoke, things are definitely on the up. Now we just need the fans, the industry and the established media to catch up. As ever, I'm joined by Morgane and Greg to find hear all a...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last season, a few hu...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup pre-race warm-up show with the one and only Chris Kilmurray. Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last sea...

A few years ago Lisa Baumann was racing XC. Now she’s one of downhill’s fastest rising stars and closing in on her first World Cup win. We talk about her unusual path into DH, the leap to racing at the highest level with Commencal Schwalbe Les Orres, learning alongside Vali Höll, and the mindset behind a meteoric rise through the sport. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Lisa Baumann. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Lisa on Instagram @_lisa.baumann._. Podcast Bits Patreon I would love it if...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup post-race show with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last season, a few hu...

Ryan Pinkerton is one of the fastest riders in downhill right now. A World Cup winner in waiting, a rider who has already been through the highs, the pressure, and the chaos of racing at the highest level. From his journey to the top, to THAT start gate moment in Lenzerheide, and the mindset that keeps pushing him towards his first elite win. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Ryan Pinkerton. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow Ryan on Instagram @pinkerton.ryan. Podcast Bits Patreon I would love it i...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup pre-race warm-up show with the one and only Chris Kilmurray. Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last sea...

Enduro World Cup is back and there are new names at the sharp end of the results sheets. We’ve had breakout performances, surprise winners, and riders stepping into the spotlight who maybe weren’t on everyone’s radar a few weeks ago. But it’s not just what’s happening on track. The coverage itself feels like it’s taken a step forward too. More access, more insight, and a better window into what’s actually going on inside an EDR weekend. So in this episode, we’re breaking it all down. The standout rides, the new characters emerging in the series, w...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup post-race show this time with Neko Mulally and Chris Kilmurray. Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last sea...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup pre-race warm-up show with the one and only Chris Kilmurray. Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last sea...

Luca Shaw is back on the podcast, and this time we've got a World Cup winner on our hands. After more than a decade at the sharp end of downhill racing, countless podiums, near misses, injuries, team changes and seasons where it looked like the win might never come, Luca finally stood on the top step of a UCI Downhill World Cup in Loudenvielle. For anyone that's followed the sport over the last ten years, it was one of those moments that felt like it meant just as much to the fans and the paddock as it did to the...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup post-race show from our BOA dialed in studio in Leogang. Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last sea...

One of the things I enjoy most about this podcast is getting the chance to speak with athletes right at the point where everything is starting to come together. The results are appearing, the confidence is growing, and you get a glimpse of where they might be headed next. That's exactly where Elliot Jamieson finds himself. After coming through the downhill ranks, stepping onto World Championship podiums as a junior and then making the move to Enduro, Elliot has steadily been building towards becoming one of the most exciting riders in the discipline. But what stood out to me in...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup pre-race warm-up show with the one and only Chris Kilmurray. Before we get into it, a quick ask... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we really need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last sea...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup post-race show for Loudenvielle with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. Before we get into it, a quick one... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last season...

Downtime Goes Downhill is back and we recently got between the tapes at the first round of the Pearce Cycles downhill series. Join me, Ben and Jonny as we share our pre-season prep (or lack of in some cases), discuss our race week experiences and look at how we might improve on those as the season progresses. We’re also joined by Quinn from One Up who’s got his own downhill race coming up and some news on how One Up can help support your local grassroots racing. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with me...

Will 2026 be the year that enduro is reborn? Big names have moved on, but there’s a new generation coming through. We’ve got Elliott Heap stepping into race coverage, new ways to follow the action, familiar venues with fresh tracks, and a season that feels different. Morgane Charre and Greg Callaghan join me to preview the 2026 Enduro World Cup season and pick out the riders and stories that could define it. I’m hopeful that we’ve got a great season of racing in store. So sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Morgane Charre and Greg Call...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup pre-race warm-up show with the one and only Chris Kilmurray. Before we get into it, a quick one... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last season...

This week we’re catching up with Ben Hildred. You probably know Ben from what, on the surface, look like climbing challenges. Like his recent mission to climb 1 million feet in 100 days. But Ben’s story isn’t really about climbing. For one thing, he’s doing these challenges on flat pedals, aboard a bike built for enjoying the descents. The joy doesn’t come from the climb itself, it comes from the ride, the experience, and the places it takes him, physically and mentally. Every time I chat with Ben, I come away wanting to ride bikes more, and this conve...

This week we're catching up with the one and only Katy Winton. We talk about Katy's worst ever crash that she’s been dealing with recently, how recovery has been going, and what that experience has been like, both mentally as well as physically. From there, we get into some of the adventure racing she’s been doing, her trip to Red Bull Rampage, and the work she’s been doing with Crankworx. We also talk about the progression of the women’s scene, the current state of enduro coverage, and the challenge of trying to figure out what comes next. Ka...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup post-race show from South Korea with Neko Mulally and Olly Morris. Before we get into it, a quick one... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last sea...

Charlie Murray is not racing the Enduro World Cup this year, and he’s joining us to explain why. This isn’t a retirement story, think of it more as a sabbatical. One of enduro racing’s most successful riders is stepping away from the World Cup circuit, at least for now, with burnout, injury, and the pressures of racing at the top level all playing a part in that decision. In this conversation, we go inside that decision, the thinking behind it, and find out what comes next. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Charli...

I’m Chris Hall, this is the Downtime Podcast, and you’re tuned into your World Cup pre-race warm-up show with the one and only Chris Kilmurray. Before we get into it, a quick one... if you enjoy these shows and want them to keep happening, we need your support. This series is fully independent, we don’t have brand backing. Putting it together means paying Chris, Neko and Olly for their time, and getting to races where possible to bring you the best coverage we can. It’s a big commitment, and it only works because of you. Last season...

The mountain bike industry is in a weird place right now. Sales have been slow, brands are making tough calls, and things like tariffs and e-bikes are changing the landscape fast. So what does it actually look like from inside one of the most innovative component brands in the game? This week, I’m joined by Dustin Adams, CEO of Industry Nine. We dive into the real state of the industry, why certain disciplines like enduro are losing support, and what’s coming next… including things like 32-inch wheels. We also catch up on Industry Nine and hear about the big wi...

2025 was a season that looked incredible on paper for Ella Conolly… but underneath, it was anything but straightforward. Ella was dealing with fatigue through much of the year, including at World Champs, where despite that, she still managed to finish second in the world. We sat down to talk through her 2025 season in full, including racing on an unreleased Cannondale bike, and adapting mid-season to new RockShox suspension ahead of its official launch. We also get into the changing face of World Enduro, the rise of new talent, and where the sport feels like it’s heading. This isn’t just a...

With the latest RockShox suspension launch, they’ve rethought everything and that goes further than just the technology that you get to ride. RockShox have even changed the development process itself, in order to bring us the biggest leap forward in suspension technology that they possibly can. This week we’re joined by RockShox Chief Engineer, Tim Lynch, to find out what really went into developing the latest raft of gravity suspension. From ZEB to Lyrik, and Vivid Air to Super Deluxe, we’ve got you covered. This is an insight that goes beyond what you’ll have heard in the pres...

The Santa Cruz Syndicate has a new manager and it’s not necessarily who you’d expect. Rob Copeland’s background isn’t racing or the MTB industry, it’s psychology and academia, yet now he leads one of the most exciting teams in the sport. With years spent at Sheffield Hallam University studying performance and human behaviour, could Rob be the man to shake up how MTB teams are run? In this episode we dive into what drew him to the Syndicate, how he made the transition from academia to elite sport, what he’s already started implementing, and how he plans...

Queenstown is one of the world’s most iconic mountain biking destinations, but few people know the story behind its evolution. Today, we’re joined by Pang and Tim from Vertigo Bikes, the shop that’s at the very centre of Queenstown’s MTB scene. From shaping local trails, to influencing the evolution of the area and supporting local racing and racers, there's a lot to thank them for. In this episode, we dive deep into the history, the culture, and the legacy of Vertigo Bikes, and what it means for mountain biking in Queenstown over the coming years. So sit back...

2026 is shaping up to be an exciting season. Long-standing rivalries are heating up, and a wave of young talent is stepping into the elite ranks, who knows how it will all play out? Joining us to break it down is Alan Milway, performance coach and team manager for the Norco Race Division. We’ll cover all the big team moves and explore what could make this season the best yet. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Alan Milway. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here. You can follow the Norco team @norcoadidasracedivision and Al...

Hardline has always been one of the most intimidating races in mountain biking, but at Hardline Wales in 2025, Lou Ferguson delivered a full top-to-bottom race run that showed just how far the women’s scene has progressed. But that run was only part of the story. Because Lou is also heading into a new chapter of her career, returning to Nukeproof bikes and RockShox for 2026, racing alongside teammate Millie Johnset and building towards what could be her biggest season yet. So today we’re catching up with Lou to talk about that Hardline run, what it meant to her and to w...