MOVING THE NEEDLE : The Andrew Neethling Podcast

The La Thuile World Cup delivered one of the most demanding downhill races of the season. Jordan Williams finally claimed his first Elite World Cup victory, Vali Höll returned to the top step, and the depth of the field continues to redefine what it takes just to qualify for a final. This week I'm joined once again by Alan Milway, fresh from the mountain, to break down everything that happened in...

British downhill racer Ethan Craik joins the podcast to share his journey from Junior World Cup Champion to one of the sport's most exciting rising talents. We dive into the injuries that threatened to derail his career, the mindset behind his comeback, life with the SCOTT Downhill Factory Team, and why he believes his best racing is still ahead. A fascinating conversation with a rider who's quick...

The 2026 World Cup Downhill season rolled into Lenzerheide, and once again the Swiss classic delivered some of the tightest racing of the year. Wyn Masters joins me for another edition of Bench Racing as we break down Finn Iles' second consecutive World Cup victory, Anna Newkirk's incredible journey from privateer racer to World Cup winner, and a race where the smallest mistakes carried massive co...

Leogang delivered exactly what Leogang always seems to deliver: mud, mayhem and unforgettable racing. Ed Masters joins me on Bench Racing to unpack Finn Iles' emotional return to World Cup victory, the wild conditions that caught out some of the sport's biggest names, and the performances that could shape the rest of the 2026 season. From championship implications to race-winning mindset, we break...

The 2026 World Cup Downhill season rolled into France for Round 2, and Loudenvielle delivered one of the most unpredictable races we've seen in years. Photographer and World Cup insider Sven Martin joins me for another edition of Bench Racing as we break down a weekend defined by blown-out conditions, huge crashes, surprise results, and a long-awaited first World Cup victory for Lucas Shaw. We div...

South African freerider, racer and all-round character Theo Erlangsen joins the podcast for one of the most honest MTB conversations yet. We dive into how Darkfest changed the direction of his career, the reality of World Cup racing, the rise of the new generation led by Jackson Goldstone, and Theo’s insights into the 2026 downhill season. From South Korea track previews to racing politics, freeri...

XC racing has evolved fast. Technical tracks, aggressive riding styles, modern bikes and a new generation bringing personality back into the sport. Cannondale Factory riders Luca Martin and Charlie Aldridge join the podcast to talk racing, training, gravity riding and life behind the scenes of World Cup XC. Their fun, aggressive approach to racing has even caught the attention of Monster Energy, w...

The 2026 World Cup Downhill season has arrived, and we are kicking things off with a massive review of the historic first round in South Korea. Alan Milway joins me for the first 'Bench Racing' episode of the year to deconstruct a weekend that defied the script. We dive deep into Asa Vermette’s incredible elite debut, the 'Aaron Gwin factor' as his team mate, and how a brand-new, hand-cut track ch...

The 2026 Downhill World Cup season is ON! Join legendary photographer Sven Martin as we dive deep into the upcoming year of thrilling races on this episode of Bench Racing. Get the inside line on the riders to watch in 2026, New Tracks, New Teams, New Era: 2026 MTB World Cup Preview show is here with some juicy behind-the-scenes info and gossip! We'll be your go-to source for Downhill World Cup ac...

After more than two decades at the top of cross-country mountain biking, Nino Schurter reflects on life after stepping away from full-time racing. In one of his first in-depth conversations since retiring, Nino shares what it’s really like to stay #1 for so long — from the mindset required on race day to adapting through every evolution of the sport. We talk about longevity, pressure, training, an...

Luke Meier-Smith went from growing up on a small avocado farm in Australia to standing on top of a World Cup podium — but the path there was anything but smooth. In this episode, Luke opens up about injuries that nearly ended his career, the mental battles of racing at the highest level, and the breakthrough moment where everything finally clicked. He dives deep into his first World Cup win, the u...

From backyard jumps to one of the biggest freeride events on the planet. Sam Reynolds dives into Darkfest’s 10-year legacy, the progression of big air, and what the future holds. He opens up on how it all started, what it really took to build it into a cornerstone of the freeride calendar, and just how tough it is to curate the invite list.

Tom Van Steenbergen has built a career pushing the limits of Freeride mountain biking. From landing world-record front flips at Red Bull Rampage to surviving some of the most devastating crashes the sport has seen, Tom’s journey is one of risk, resilience and relentless progression. Tom talks about the mindset behind Rampage, the brutal injuries that nearly ended his career, and what it really tak...

Randy Lawrence has lived multiple lifetimes in two-wheel sport. From wrenching in the golden era of 90’s motocross — working alongside icons like Jeremy McGrath — to racing downhill during its wild west rockstar phase… to training elite motocross champions like Ryan Villopoto… Randy has seen it all. This is a raw conversation about talent, work ethic, burnout, fatherhood, and what it actually take...

Randy Lawrence has lived multiple lifetimes in two-wheel sport. From wrenching in the golden era of 90’s motocross — working alongside icons like Jeremy McGrath — to racing downhill during its wild west rockstar phase… to training elite motocross champions like Ryan Villopoto… Randy has seen it all. This is a raw conversation about talent, work ethic, burnout, fatherhood, and what it actually take...

In this episode of Moving the Needle, Andreas Kolb opens up about the hardest season of his career — racing under pressure, dealing with uncertainty behind the scenes, and staying mentally strong when his future felt unclear. We unpack how riding for himself, trusting the process, and delivering when it mattered ultimately led to a dream opportunity with the Santa Cruz Syndicate for 2026. A raw co...

Dakotah Norton opens up about a career-threatening hip injury, the tough recovery no one saw, and how he found his way back to form during the 2025 season. He also breaks down his 2026 team move, what changed behind the scenes, and why this next chapter feels different — not just on the bike, but mentally and professionally. An honest conversation about setbacks, resilience, and choosing the right...

Dakotah Norton opens up about his major 2026 team move, what led to the decision, and why this next chapter feels different. In this short clip, Dak talks mindset, long-term goals, and how timing, support, and direction played a huge role after stepping away from his previous setup. We also touch on what he’s looking for heading into 2026 — on and off the bike — and why this move feels like the ri...

Former World Cup downhiller Dean Lucas opens up about the crash that left him temporarily paralysed, the terrifying minutes where he thought he'd never walk again, and the identity crisis that began long before he retired. Dean speaks candidly about losing his competitive fire after COVID, the emotional spiral of recovery, rebuilding his life from rock bottom, and discovering purpose beyond racing...

How much training do you actually need… and how much is just noise? Fit4Racing’s Jonny Thompson jumps back on the show to break down the myths and mistakes riders make in the gym, on the trail, and everywhere in between. Whether you’re a weekend warrior juggling a job, a parent battling daylight hours, or a racer trying to squeeze more speed out of your limited time — this episode gives you a road...

Dirk Friel, co-founder of TrainingPeaks, joins Needles to dive into the evolution of data-driven coaching — from the early fax-machine days of training logs to the cutting-edge AI and tech shaping the future of sport. Dirk shares lessons from decades in cycling and coaching, the importance of balancing data with intuition, and why recovery, nutrition, and mindset are the real performance unlocks....

After a decade on the World Cup circuit, Luca Shaw pieced together his best season yet — finishing third overall and riding with more confidence than ever. In this season review, Luca opens up about learning to “trust the feel,” staying composed under the new qualifying pressure, and why experience and instinct beat overthinking. A raw, insightful chat on performance, growth, and finding flow at t...

In this episode of Moving the Needle, Andrew chats with Connor Fearon, the Australian downhill legend who traded podiums for power tools. They dive into his racing journey, the highs and lows of professional life, and his smooth transition into a new career as an electrician. Connor opens up about finding happiness beyond results, the evolution of downhill racing, and why staying grounded—and havi...

The 2025 World Cup Downhill racing is here and Sven Martin is my co-host for this episode of Bench Racing. We will cover the season and bring you Review episodes after each race throughout the year. We break down the final round in Mont Ste Anne, Canada.   We'll be your go-to source for Downhill World Cup action all season long, bringing you review episodes after every race.   This series is power...

The 2025 World Cup Downhill racing is here and Wyn Masters is my co-hosts for this episode of Bench Racing. We will cover the season and bring you Review episodes after each race throughout the year. We break down the 9th round in Lake Placid,USA.   We'll be your go-to source for Downhill World Cup action all season long, bringing you review episodes after every race.   This series is powered by C...