{"id":63148,"date":"2025-08-12T04:53:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T04:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/63148\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T04:53:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T04:53:10","slug":"behind-the-tape-andy-vathis-on-life-inside-the-world-cup-circus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/63148\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the tape: Andy Vathis on life inside the World Cup circus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andy Vathis<\/a> has spent nearly a decade chasing world cup races around the globe, capturing the sweat, speed and suffering of mountain biking\u2019s best. But as the 2025 season barrels into its second half, the veteran photographer says the atmosphere on the ground is shifting. And not necessarily in a good way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe finish corrals are empty,\u201d says Vathis. \u201cThere\u2019s no one there anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

With new broadcast restrictions, crowd control and a subscription paywall now in place, the sport\u2019s energy is shifting from the sidelines to the screen. Some venues are even charging spectators to watch the races. While broadcast quality has improved, with slick athlete intros and drone shots, on-the-ground coverage is more difficult than ever.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re fighting to get a single shot,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s all about TV angles now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growing pains for the world cup<\/p>\n

Now under Warner Bros. Discovery, the world cup schedule has expanded and changed \u2014 but not always for the better, says Vathis.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the schedule makes no sense,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re flying from Eastern Europe to the Pyrenees, back to the Alps, then back to the Pyrenees. It\u2019s chaos and it\u2019s expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vathis says the condensed XCO schedule, with back-to-back events crammed one after another, leaves no room for storytelling or photography.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t shoot the podium and still catch the next race,\u201d he says. \u201cEven the WBD production crews are complaining. It\u2019s too rushed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Andy Vathis photo.
\nCanadian talent on the rise<\/p>\n

Despite the logistical headaches, Vathis is still excited about the racing. Especially the performances of Canadian riders.<\/p>\n

\u201cJackson Goldstone looks like he\u2019s on a different level this year,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s insane. He took a year off, came back, and just found another gear.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also quick to shout out Gracey Hemstreet, who Vathis has known since the start of her career.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe doesn\u2019t like losing. At all. But she\u2019s coming into her own. She\u2019s racing smart now. She\u2019s found that anger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Belt drives in Andorra. Andy Vathis photo.
\nBelt drives, fresh tracks and new stops<\/p>\n

Vathis is also keeping a close eye on gear innovation\u2014like belt-driven bikes\u2014and fresh, raw tracks like La Thuile, which broke the mould by skipping the usual bike park grooming.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we need more of. Real tracks, proper tech, steep stuff,\u201d he says. \u201cNot just meandering loops in a grass field.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also looking forward to new venues like South Korea and Lake Placid. While he\u2019s over Leogang, he says new locations bring diversity and fresher images. A welcome break from routine.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>La Thuile. Andy Vathis photo.
\nA front row seat to change<\/p>\n

While Vathis<\/a> is no stranger to jet lag, he admits this season feels heavier. Thanks to travel costs, tighter media zones and a feeling that the sport\u2019s priorities are changing.<\/p>\n

Still, he\u2019s sticking with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t do this for the money,\u201d he says. \u201cI do it because I love it. And as long as the racing\u2019s good \u2014 and right now it is \u2014 I\u2019ll keep showing up.\u201d<\/p>\n