Between the Ears is the fifth instalment of Red Bull Media House’s latest docuseries Race Tapes. The episode confronts the topic of mental health in World Cup mountain biking and takes an intimate look at the recovery of athlete Brook McDonald following a serious crash, and athlete Evie Richards balancing happiness with the pressure to be top of her game. Between the Ears reveals that a healthy mind makes for better mountain biking.
When we think about what it takes to win a World Cup mountain bike race we think top-end kit and peak performance. But beyond the bike and body there is much more going on in a World Cup racer’s mind that determines whether they podium or bail on the first hurdle. There’s fear of failure, of not being the best and there is fear itself.
If you’re not on your mental game you’re not going to ride well.
Jordi Cortes, Fox Suspension
The conversation around mental health is important to normalise. As people we all have our ups and downs and face challenges.
Kate Courtney
For athletes like Kate, at the sharp end of professional sports, these challenges if mental can be the difference between first and last and life and death.
Race Tapes Episode Overview
- Ep 1) Road less travelled – 2020 Tokyo cross-country gold medallist Pidcock and three-time UCI MTB World Cup XCO champion Jolanda Neff show it is possible to excel in both road cycling and cross-country.
- Ep 2) Doing it yourself – What it costs to be an entrepreneur. Five-time UCI MTB World Cup downhill champion Gwin, Neko Mulally and Seth Alvo reveal what it takes to be a team owner, bike builder and YouTube star.
- Ep 3) Alt-Rock – Cross-country and endurance racing requires total dedication. Ten-time UCI MTB World Cup XCO champion Schurter, Laura Stigger, Payson McElveen and Haley Batten show us how it is done.
- Ep 4) The freeracers – Freeriding meets racing as British stars Kade Edwards and Kaos Seagrave balance the joys of both.
- Ep 5) Between the ears – Injuries, accidents and mental battles. Kiwi Brook Macdonald, Richards, 2018 XCO world champion Courtney and two-time downhill world champion Gee Atherton bring to light the price of racing.
- Ep 6) Parental advisory – Downhill star Höll and 2021 junior downhill world champion Jackson Goldstone experience the highs of Junior success and making the transition to the Elite UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit.