Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Breaking: The Mountain States Cup will return this summer with downhill racing at four venues in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming. View the schedule and details here. ryanmtb.substack.com/p/mountain-s... #mtb #mountainbiking #downhill

Mountain States Cup returns this summer

The long standing race series is being revived by Shawn Neer

ryanmtb.substack.com

January 8, 2026 at 1:53 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

The powerhouse Specialized Factory Racing team is stacked with talent, but how will they fare in 2026?

ryanmtb.substack.com/p/christophe... #mountainbiking #mtb #procycling

Christopher Blevins is king. Specialized Factory Racing XC team analysis

The powerhouse team is stacked with talent. How will they fare in 2026?

ryanmtb.substack.com

January 7, 2026 at 7:42 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

How Lake Placid preserved its Olympic legacy for both visitors and elite athletes naturebreak.substack.com/p/lake-placi... #olympics #travel #winterolympics #lakeplacid #newyork

Lake Placid is an Olympic sports paradise

How Lake Placid preserved its Olympic legacy for both visitors and elite athletes

naturebreak.substack.com

January 6, 2026 at 7:38 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Mount Van Hoevenberg had an ideal mix of Olympic legacy, terrain, and broadcast capabilities to host World Cups since 2024 ryanmtb.substack.com/p/q-and-a-ho... #mtb #mountainbiking #newyork #lakeplacid #travel #olympics #wintersports

Q&A: How Lake Placid landed the MTB World Cup

Mount Van Hoevenberg had an ideal mix of Olympic legacy, terrain, and broadcast capabilities to host World Cups since 2024

ryanmtb.substack.com

January 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Trek-Unbroken brings a mix of youth and experience to the World Cup table
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/evie-richa... #mtb #mountainbiking #cycling #procycling

Evie Richards to Riley Amos: Trek-Unbroken XC team analysis

Trek-Unbroken brings a mix of youth and experience to the World Cup table

ryanmtb.substack.com

January 4, 2026 at 8:21 PM

Reposted by Ryan Simonovich

Corey Hutchins

@coreyhutchins.bsky.social

News organizations held off on reporting about the Venezuela raid, Semafor reports, “keeping with longstanding American journalistic traditions — even at a moment of unprecedented mutual hostility between the American president and a legacy media”: www.semafor.com/article/01/0...

News organizations held off on reporting Venezuela raid

The American news organizations held their stories over concerns about endangering US troops.

www.semafor.com

January 4, 2026 at 5:06 AM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

World Cup racing doesn’t begin until May, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t high-level international racing to watch before the season fully gets underway. This is where top MTB talent will tune up their legs in 2026. #Mountainbiking #cycling ryanmtb.substack.com/p/early-seas...

Early season XC races to watch this year

These are the races where World Cup talent will tune up their legs in 2026

ryanmtb.substack.com

January 3, 2026 at 7:53 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

2026 will be a year full of bikes. Here are my goals
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/my-cycling... #mountainbiking #cycling

My cycling New Year's resolutions

2026 will be a year full of bikes. Here are my goals

ryanmtb.substack.com

January 2, 2026 at 9:07 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Santa Cruz, California may be by the beach, but the town offers much more than just water sports. As the home of brands like Santa Cruz Bicycles, the hills are dotted with singeltrack flowing through redwood forests. #mountainbiking #travel #santacruz #california

open.substack.com/pub/naturebr...

Where to mountain bike in Santa Cruz, California

This beach town features year round riding

open.substack.com

January 2, 2026 at 12:36 AM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Trek Factory Racing is now Trek-Unbroken, and they’ve added successful elite racer Nina Graf to the roster. open.substack.com/pub/ryanmtb/... #mountainbiking #MTBWorldCup #TrekBicycles #TrekUnbroken

Trek signs Nina Graf amid factory team rebrand

Trek Factory Racing is now Trek-Unbroken

open.substack.com

January 1, 2026 at 6:20 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Any #cycling chat on Bluesky these days? Read my analysis about how Specialized likely sees race wins, product development, and marketing value in its new star rider
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/why-did-sp...

Why did Specialized sign Keegan Swenson?

The brand likely sees race wins, product development, and marketing value in its new star rider

ryanmtb.substack.com

December 31, 2025 at 7:08 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

This weekend's XCO is Pidcock's first MTB race since the World Championships last August
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/tom-pidcoc...

Tom Pidcock confirmed for Andorra World Cup

This weekend's XCO is Pidcock's first MTB race since the World Championships last August

ryanmtb.substack.com

July 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Will the Olympic Champion return to MTB this July?
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/why-tom-pi... #cycling #procycling #mountainbike #tourdefrance

Why Tom Pidcock isn't racing at the Tour de France

Will the Olympic Champion return to MTB this July?

ryanmtb.substack.com

July 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

SBT GRVL winner takes another win at altitude on her way to Leadville 100 defense
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/melisa-rol...

Melisa Rollins wins Firecracker 50

SBT GRVL winner takes another win at altitude on her way to Leadville 100 defense

ryanmtb.substack.com

July 6, 2025 at 2:04 AM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Italian round to provide exciting racing on a new track
open.substack.com/pub/ryanmtb/...

New DH track in La Thuile could shake up racing

Italian round to provide exciting racing on a new track

open.substack.com

July 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Montana race decides 'Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel' overall series winners
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/russell-fi...

Russell Finsterwald and Flavia Oliveira Parks win BWR overall

Montana race decides 'Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel' overall series winners

ryanmtb.substack.com

July 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

@coreyhutchins.bsky.social
Found this curiosity of an article.
Why is The Coloradoan reporting on Durango when their audience is Northern Colorado, and why does a short article need 3 bylines?
www.coloradoan.com/story/money/...

REI’s next Colorado store is opening soon. Here's what we know

REI, one of the nation’s largest outdoor specialty retailers, is close to opening its 11th Colorado store. Here's everything we know.

www.coloradoan.com

July 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

What did the pros think of the new course at SBT GRVL? The verdict is in, and it’s mostly positive. open.substack.com/pub/ryanmtb/...

Riders react to new SBT GRVL course

Feedback mostly positive; feed zones are an area for improvement

open.substack.com

June 30, 2025 at 11:27 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Fourth place ranked EDR rider injures ankle. Become a paid subscriber to read the full article and receive MTB news directly to your inbox.
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/jack-moir-...

Jack Moir to miss next two World Cup rounds

Fourth place ranked EDR rider injures ankle

ryanmtb.substack.com

June 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Unbound Gravel winners open small gaps on rivals during stage 1
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/cam-jones-...

Cam Jones and Sofia Gomez Villafane take early leads at Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder

Unbound Gravel winners open small gaps on rivals during stage 1

ryanmtb.substack.com

June 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

SBT will look a little different this year. Here’s why.
ryanmtb.substack.com/p/why-sbt-gr...

Why SBT GRVL will look different this year

Here’s a look at the changes SBT has made and who’s racing

ryanmtb.substack.com

June 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

Five day stage race begins Wednesday in Bend, Oregon.
open.substack.com/pub/ryanmtb/...

Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder - What is it and who’s racing?

Five day stage race begins Wednesday in Bend, Oregon

open.substack.com

June 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM

Ryan Simonovich

@ryanmtb.bsky.social

With one round down, the leaderboard has been set for the Life Time Grand Prix. Here are my takeaways and analysis of where we’re at in the season. ryanmtb.substack.com/p/life-time-...