As the repurcussions of the UCI/WB rule changes continue, another team is calling it quits. The Union announced they won’t be in the pits in 2025. As Tahnee Seagrave commented on their announcement, The Union was, “every team’s favourite team.”
Launched in 2021 by Steel City Media, the team was more than just a race program. It was a ragtag, non-profit squad built to give young and privateer riders a fighting chance to reach the top. The team created a space where talent could shine, riders could grow and underdogs could challenge the biggest names in downhill racing.
A stepping stone for future stars
From day one, The Union was about opportunity. Joe Bowman, the team’s founder, saw a glaring problem: too many talented riders with the skill to compete but without the resources to make it happen. So, Bowman did something about it. What began with Walmart tents and pasta pesto quickly grew into one of the most respected grassroots programs in downhill racing. Riders were given world-class support—without the pressure to perform for profits—and the results spoke for themselves.
•10 riders, 7 staff members, 7 nationalities.
•2 junior world cup wins, 7 podiums and 3rd overall.
•2 elite world cup podiums, 7 top 10 finishes.
•Countless national, Crankworx, and IXS victories.
•10 national championship titles.
•Top 3 team ranking in Loudenvielle 2023.
•P10 UCI world team ranking 2024.
And most importantly–seven riders and four staff members graduated to factory teams—proof that The Union was doing exactly what it set out to do: help overlooked talent find their way to the top.
The stories that made The Union
The Union wasn’t just about numbers and results—it was about the riders.
Lachlan Stevens-McNab came agonizingly close to his first elite world cup win at Mont-Sainte-Anne this year, missing victory by just 0.062 seconds. Eliana Hulsebosch stunned the field by setting the fastest women’s finals time at Val di Sole, a race that confirmed she’s a name to watch.
These moments—along with countless others—defined what The Union was all about: giving young riders the platform to show the world what they could do.
Against the odds
Over four years, the non-profit downhill team scraped and innovated its way to success. There were no frills, just hard work, good vibes and a commitment to helping riders thrive. Bowman and his crew believed that if you gave talented athletes the tools to succeed—solid bikes, smart support…
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