More than 100 of the world’s top mountain bike athletes have signed a public letter urging Warner Bros. Discovery to reverse its decision to reduce the World Cup podium from five riders to three, calling the move a step toward conformity that threatens the unique spirit of the sport.
The statement, released early Wednesday on social media, argues that the five-rider podium – long a hallmark of UCI XCO (cross-country Olympic) mountain bike racing – offers greater exposure for athletes, teams, and sponsors, especially those outside the top-tier programs. It has historically served as a platform for emerging talent and smaller teams to gain recognition.
Among the signatories are some of the sport’s biggest names, including current World Cup series winners and world champions Alan Hatherly and Victor Koretzky, 2016 Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds, along with Olympic and world champions Nino Schurter, Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The list also includes stars like Puck Pieterse, Loana Lecomte, and Haley Batten. Riders from all corners of the elite field have voiced unified concern over the lack of athlete consultation in the decision-making process.
“This is our sport and we won’t let conformity strip away its character,” the statement reads. “We demand the 5 rider podium in 2025!”
Warner Bros. Discovery, which took over media rights and event production for the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in 2023 from previous partner Red Bull, has framed the change as a move toward alignment with other sports. But athletes argue that mountain biking’s culture has always been distinct—valuing inclusivity and depth over strict hierarchy.
Speaking with Pinkbike, rider representative Rebecca Henderson expressed concern that slimmer podiums could harm smaller teams. "For many riders and smaller teams, the visuals of being on the podium is enough to keep the teams alive," she said. "In the end, we are going to lose money, we are going to lose teams and we are going to make the sport less accessible.”
Henderson also indicated to Pinkbike that a rider strike is not currently being discussed as an option.
The original source of the five-rider podium is subject to some lore but has unquestionably been part of the sport since its mid-'90s boom. The story we've heard most often relates to precisely the issue the letter's signatories are focused on: increasing exposure for more athletes. At the center of the move was a mountain bike racer even our staunchest road fans will know: Cadel Evans.
The story, as retold by Bart Brentjens in a Q&A at the Cape Epic a few years ago, takes place at the 1994 Cairns World Cup in Australia. On the day, Evans narrowly missed a top-three finish. Keen to showcase the rising Aussie talent, UCI officials—allegedly at the suggestion of the local organizer Martin Whitely—expanded the podium from three to five riders just so Evans could appear in the official photo. Evans was still a junior at the time, racing in the elite race. Brentjens was on that podium as well. From there the five-rider podium stuck.
The current protest is not limited to individual riders. Teams including Orbea Fox Factory, Ghost Factory Racing, Canyon CLLCTV, Lapierre Racing Unity, and the KTM Factory MTB Team also signed in support. Prominent figures such as Bart Brentjens (KMC Ridley), Maxime Marotte (Origine Racing), and Henrique Avancini have lent their names to the effort.
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