Dragon teeth
The Americans can pack it in with their Yosemite or the Canadians with the Rocky Mountains, because we have the Dolomites! The - please look at the photo - most beautiful mountains in the world! Here, celebrity biker Korbi Engstler rolls down the trail in the manual. "I know: The Knuppel in front of the Cadini group of the Sesto Dolomites is an Insta-spot that has been photographed a thousand times, but when I was there, oh wonder, no one else was there! And I had the crazy ridgeline all to myself," says Korbi. Photo: Janik Steiner
Gold rush
Evil team rider Jake Taylor pulls the new trail bike "Offering" onto the rear wheel and surfs through the sunny slopes of Kamloops, British Columbia. The young shredder moves his bike the way we all want: loose, playful, seemingly effortless and yet damn radical. Take a look at his YouTube clips for inspiration for the coming season. We say: "Go shred like Jake Taylor - that's a great New Year's resolution!" Photo: Dylan Sherrard
Awaken the Jake Taylor in you and surf the trails like the Madman from Canada.
- BIKE editor Dimitri Lehner
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Think Pink
Grey sky. Grey water. Mood? Pink! Bad weather can't put off prodigy biker Danny MacAskill - the Scot is always happy when he's on his bike. Stopie on the Steinmohle, dopamine is already bubbling. "Guys, I'm from the Isle of Skye," says Danny, "I grew up with storms, rain and cold. No problem at all! Put on your rain gear and let's go!" Photo: Marcus Cole/Red Bull
Sandpit
Take a look at this aerial view - our earth is a work of art. Here you can see the Bardenas Reales, a semi-desert in the north of Spain. Tectonic forces have arched the primeval sea floor upwards and folded it open. Then came the meltwater from the Pyrenees and washed, rushed and grated these bizarre rock formations out of the earth's crust over thousands of years. Today, Bardenas Reales is a nature park with specially created bike trails. Let's get there! Photo: Artur Debat
Dance steps
Hardly anyone swings their leg as elegantly as Talus Turk - here at No Foot Can Can with the new freeride bike "Bottlerocket" from his sponsor Transition. The 23-year-old from Bellingham, Washington, close to the border with British Columbia, is one of the best freeriders in the world. His credo: "Whatever you do on or off the bike, do it because you love it." Photo: Transition
Interview with City DH's Tomas Slavik: "The time is ripe!"
BIKE: Tomas, you were in India for an urban downhill. Did the race have anything to do with the Red Bull Cerro Abajo Series 2026?
TOMAS SLAVIK: The Indians have been trying to get into the series for three years - so far without success. Red Bull demands an active racing scene, but there are currently only a few drivers at the top level. That has been the problem so far, but the time is ripe!
Did you do the race?
No. Pedro Burns and I were on site as coaches. Our job was to teach the riders the dos and don'ts of urban downhill: Bike setup, line choice, surviving the stair madness.
Have you discovered any talents?
Yes, the race was a qualifier. The winner of the race in India received a wildcard for Valparaíso on 15 February. The winner was Nirav Shrestha (photo) from Nepal - he was damn fast and only one or two seconds behind Pedro and me in the training sessions.
How was the course in India?
Spectacular. It fits the series perfectly with its exoticism.
Indian exoticism or not - the most important race takes place in Stuttgart.
Absolutely. The grand finale of the 2026 series takes place in Stuttgart. With him: Johannes "Fischi" Fischbach.
What do you expect from the course in Stuttgart?
Stuttgart will be technical & exciting - but no Valparaíso. And not Genoa either. Less vertical metres, less length, less top speed. Roughly half of Genoa - but definitely spectacular.
The Cerro Abajo series has developed from a freak event into a media spectacle.
Absolutely. Genoa was the breakthrough. The scene suddenly became very interested. I can't give too much away, but: the series will be much bigger - with new, exciting venues.
You are the all-time favourite. Are you fit enough for overall victory in 2026?
I ask myself that every year. Sure, I have to train harder because I'm getting older - but I'm happy to do it. The real question is: am I prepared to risk everything?
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
