INTENSE Factory Racing Kicks Off the 2025 World Cup Season in Bielsko-Biała, Poland
Round 1 Race Report – UCI MTB World Series
What a way to kick off the 2025 season. INTENSE Factory Racing has officially launched its World Series campaign, and Round 1 in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, was one to remember.
Set in the foothills of the Silesian Beskids, Bielsko-Biała made its debut on the UCI World Cup calendar—and it didn’t hold back. The course delivered a fast, technical, and brutally physical challenge, all under cold and unpredictable spring skies.
Despite the harsh conditions, the IFR crew showed up unified and ready to put the all-new M1 to the test. With fresh snow at the start of the week and a demanding new semi-final format, it was a chaotic but exciting return to elite downhill racing.
A Weekend of Grit, Growth & Determination
Between illness, mechanicals, and a few crashes, the team faced its fair share of adversity—but the energy in the pits never wavered. Joe Breeden emerged as the weekend standout, placing 8th in qualifying and backing it up with a solid 16th place in the finals—slotting him 14th overall in the standings heading into Round 2.
Joe Breeden:
“Illness, injuries, last-minute race bikes, and tough weather made for a challenging opener, but I’m proud of how we all pulled together. I’m stoked with P8 in Quali and P16 in Finals. I had great pace up top but struggled in the flat sections. Plenty to work on, but I’m fired up for Loudenvielle!”
The rest of the team showed tenacity and heart:
Lou Ferguson battled through illness to qualify 16th in Q2 but just missed the finals cut.
“Poland was a rollercoaster. Huge thanks to the team for helping me through the week. I wish I had more to give, but I’m looking forward to racing healthy soon.”
Mille Johnset didn’t make it into finals but is taking the experience in stride.
“A rough start, but the support from the team made it easier to handle. I’m feeling more motivated than ever to bring the heat in Loudenvielle.”
Oscar Griffiths, racing his first Elite World Cup, crashed in Q2 after a conservative Q1 but gained invaluable experience.
“It was a hectic return—huge learning curve for me. I’m taking a lot away from this and can’t wait to line up in France.”
Juanfer Vélez (Muñoz) had a mechanical in Q2 but kept the stoke high.
“I just felt so good with the team and on the new bike. Thanks for making this week unforgettable—let’s do it again in Loudenvielle!”
The Team Behind the Tape
Massive props to our support squad—mechanics Jon Stout, KC Till, and Ivan Jimenez—for keeping the bikes running in brutal conditions. Shoutout to Olly Morris, Tom Owens, and Luke Madley for the behind-the-scenes support, and to @chaptstudios (James Leech) and @nathhughesphoto for capturing the magic and madness of race week.
Next Stop: Loudenvielle, France
With Bielsko-Biała in the books, the team is already making adjustments and dialing in setups for Round 2. There’s no shortage of fire in this crew, and you can bet they’ll be back stronger, faster, and hungrier.
The 2025 World Cup season is officially underway—and the M1 is just getting started.
#INTENSEFactoryRacing #INTENSEforLife #M1isBack #UCIMTBWorldSeries
