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Sam Hill Says He's Not Done With Racing

Apr 26, 2024
by Sarah Moore  


Sam Hill has shared on Instagram that while he was blindsided by Nukeproof being liquidated and has been close to retiring, he wants to end on his terms. He said he's not done with racing and he "will be back and going as fast as I can soon."

He announced last summer that he'd be taking on a full season of downhill before breaking his foot and said he was in talks of re-negotiating his contract with Nukeproof to go racing again in 2024 as he was feeling motivated to make another comeback.


bigquotesHey guys,

Where do I even start?

Obviously 2023 didn’t go to plan. I wanted to return to DH, challenge myself and relearn the speeds of the current top elite men. The sport has changed since I last fully committed to the World Cup circuit and I knew it was going to be a big adjustment for myself. I felt like I was building momentum & getting comfortable on the DH bike again but then unfortunately as you all know broke my foot. I flew home and had surgery straight away.

Fast forward a couple months post surgery, I was in the talks of re-negotiating my contract with Nukeproof to go racing again in 2024 as I was feeling super motivated to make my comeback AGAIN. Things were looking positive until I got the news from my manager that Nukeproof and the parent companies who own them had gone into liquidation and I was basically made redundant effective immediately. It was definitely not something I had seen coming and was a huge shock to wrap my head around as an athlete. I’ve never not had a bike deal or a direction my career was going in and to be honest I just wanted to give up all together. In 2013 when I first signed with Nukeproof, I took a huge risk and left a big brand to go for a smaller, more family run company which thankfully took me down the path of winning 3 more world titles, created a line of my own products and being the face of their race team.

Signing with brands has never been about money for me. I mean it’s nice to be lucky enough to be paid to race but I’ve always just wanted brands to support me and give me the space to ride, provide results for them and just be me, Sam. Nukeproof was all of that and they always supported me no matter what my goal was for racing. Everyone who created Nukeproof were family to me, my wife and kids. The team was all apart of my success and for it to all be over, without a proper goodbye, one last whirl or any warning has been really, really hard. I thought I would ride and be apart of the Nukeproof family forever and possibly have a manager roll myself when I retired racing.

I loved being with my team and have made friendships for a life time. Everyone has been asking what’s been going on, so I guess this is my goodbye to Nukeproof. I would like to thank everyone involved in the brand whom I have worked with over the last 11 years: Nigel, Michael, Rob, Dale, Steve, Lyn, Katie, Bdog. My team mates over the years: Matt, Joe, Majestic, Elliott, Kelan, Dan, Corey. My absolute lord of a mechanic Jacy. You took the leap with me in 2013 and have been by my side through every high and every low mate. I appreciate everything you have all done for me and the opportunities I have had. I hate that it’s ended the way that it has. I don’t like the R word and I’ve been close to it with all this going down… But it’s not the end for me. I will be back and going as fast as I can soon. I’ll stop racing when I’m ready to stop racing and not be forced to stop racing. See ya between the tape somewhere soon everyone.—Sam Hill


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125 Comments
  • 434 1
 Sam fucking Hill.
  • 144 6
 Strange middle name but I guess they do things differently in Australia
  • 7 1
 @Grady-Harris: the * represents the letters l and o. Sam has a lot of sheep.
  • 2 1
 
  • 7 1
 @bigtim: What * are you talking about?
  • 1 0
 I know how hard you pressed those keys when you typed that
  • 58 1
 Sam is about as legendary as you can get. Arguably the most well known name in enduro/downhill mountain bike racing and inspired thousands of people along the way. I wish the guy luck this year and in the future!
  • 52 1
 It's times like these you find out who your friends are, and who your Foes are.
  • 1 0
 I see what you did there...
  • 16 0
 You Curnutt be serious?
  • 10 0
 @wake-n-rake: well played sir. Would expect nothing less from someone who does yard work 1st thing in the morning.
  • 39 0
 The last time Sam Hill was on a UCI DH podium, was a win, Meribel France-but it was 2014, 10 years ago. He never saw a podium in DH after that. Would it take a miracle to return to a podium? do we even care? I don't care-I just love watching him ride.
  • 22 2
 Mark Cavendish had a longer dry streak in the TDF.
  • 7 17
flag yakimonti (Apr 26, 2024 at 9:20) (Below Threshold)
 @CustardCountry: Hmm, fair analogy...but, a great sprinter will always have a sprint. Balls to the wall on DH tracks has a life span I reckon...and, did Cav completely step away from racing like Sam did (stepped away from UCI DH for 5yrs?).
  • 29 0
 Didn’t he go pretty much straight from that to winning in Enduro though?
  • 31 1
 @yakimonti: Racing and winning multiple EWS races and overall titles is "completely stepping away from racing" in your book?
  • 4 1
 @yakimonti: Changing the subject but I honestly think I would rather throw myself down a DH track than compete in World Tour sprints. Lycra, 60kph, asphalt, mangled metal, etc.

Watching the footage makes me feel sick www.youtube.com/watch?v=FybT3_utl08
  • 6 1
 It has not been long since Sam was winning on a world stage. Sure, EWS was not DH, bit at that level, there is still no room for being old and washed up.
  • 2 4
 @superkeen: Yeah my bad and overstated on my side-but-EWS aint no World Cup DH especially in the era where Amaury stepped up speed and danger and others. If Cav went TRACK racing for those years then did his TDF comeback, that would be a fair comparison. And don't start with Greg age comparisons-Greg has been there every step during the evolution of the last 10 years. Watching Sam go from not even top 20's in DH to crushing EWS was pretty rad though.
  • 4 2
 @yakimonti: did it really step up the tracks are straight roadways now so it looks fast and cool on camera.
  • 3 2
 @yakimonti: that or maybe Cavs *secret* supplements/doctors upped their game...
  • 2 1
 @BuntyHoven1: I've ridden and raced just about every discipline and road racing is by far the most terryfing. These days I race xco it's a happy medium Big Grin
  • 2 3
 @Shatner: To each their own, but, follow cam with Amaury on Les Gets track and theres no argument its the most dangerous sport ever on earth.
  • 3 0
 @englertracing: Guess you've not been to Andorra, or VDS, or Leysin, tree section in leogang, etc etc. "straight roadways"-f-ing laughable.
  • 1 1
 @takeiteasyridehard: Not gonna argue with that.
  • 1 0
 @Shatner: Likewise!
  • 2 2
 @yakimonti: Pro Tour averages about 20 injuries per month that take out riders for two weeks or more and averages about 70 busted collarbones per year. That’s across 1300 athletes, so chance of injury during any season is pretty high. However risk is even higher for sprinters, for example Cavendish has been injured in 7 out of the past 10 years.
  • 1 0
 @yakimonti: Uhm, ever heard of the Isle of Mann
  • 40 0
 He should try the Gates drive bounty bikes. Not sure if he is riding any sponsor frames currently but would be cool to see him just give it a go!
  • 4 0
 Sensational! It owuld be worth going balls to the wall for the 100k
  • 35 4
 Put him on Norco
  • 15 0
 He's younger than Greg eh?
  • 4 0
 All Stars team
  • 22 2
 It honestly felt like he had hung it up and was just riding out his contract this last few years. I'm actually kind of excited to see what he can do and where he goes. Hope you smash it.
  • 7 2
 I agree but I’m a bit of a pessimist. Guys get older and a year away from racing won’t help.
  • 4 1
 @shredddr: He was the best ever but I tend to agree with you.
  • 3 0
 @shredddr: Oh yeah, I fully expect him to be midfield fodder like Peatys last years, but, maybe he has just one Hollywood comeback race? I think I'm hoping for it more because I'm old AF than anything else since he's never been someone I followed.
  • 2 0
 He's been injured repeatedly, just like between 2011-2014
  • 1 0
 @Murder-One: Kinda how like everyone comes out to watch Tiger Woods play golf even though he's way past it and on the way out, holding their breath and celebrating the small moments where he displays some of magic that made him the GOAT.
  • 2 0
 Alonso begs to differ, Sam’s still got it
  • 15 0
 Still one of my all-time favorite riders to watch rip a track, no matter what kind. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Sam and hoping a new team steps up soon and gives him all the support he obviously deserves.
  • 26 0
 nothing beats sam hill ripping flat dusty turns.
  • 8 0
 @adrennan: that Chile EWS was the most epic in that sense... f*ck CB and UCI.
  • 14 0
 What I want to see is Sam on the FW frame with SRAM kitting him out and picking up the bills. One last season of WCDH pushing for a podium top step.
  • 10 0
 The man has nothing to prove to anyone, but I definitely want to see him mix it up in WCDH again. I'm sure I'm not alone in my willingness to support brands that support him. I still want a Sunday and Iron Horse is trash by all accounts...
  • 16 2
 Sam Hill looking for a ride. Gates looking for that first World Cup win…
  • 10 0
 Time to bring back the Iron horse Sunday!
  • 1 0
 Hahaha imagine the scenes of he just rocked up on the old stead
  • 11 0
 The real G.O.A.T
  • 10 0
 Sam Hill x Frameworks Racing collab?
  • 1 0
 If they could get some production bikes out, Plaster neko and Sam's name in the promo's - people would buy. imo of course.
(yes i know there was a limited dh run and possible limited trail bike run coming)
  • 10 0
 Hear me out here... Frameworks Sunday
  • 6 0
 Asa has a broken hip......they're short a rider.
  • 9 0
 Sam Hill on Pinkbike Racing...........come on, you know you want to!
  • 1 0
 I was just going to type this haha
  • 7 0
 I imagined that read in the 2007 Sam Hill straight brimmed baseball cap voice.
  • 2 0
 YES. same here. Time to watch some old NWD and Collective videos
  • 4 0
 He should make a YouTube series, finding the best frame for him. Or riding the old bikes for a youtube series. Would have more views then the WC. Anyway every video of his should have a iron horse for reference . That should be his job One ride on the newest v10 then the 2010 Sunday Newest intense, 2010 sunday and so on. Even if he did the WC on the sunday it would be main thing every race.
  • 3 1
 the problem is, Bike Youtuber's are doing it tough at the moment as isnt alot of Industry support.
IMO id like to see the guy team manage - can canyon fit anther team in?
  • 9 0
 That’ll never happen as he’d have to speak on camera!
  • 1 0
 That's a neat idea, but he would need sponsorship support to fund the video creation - camera operators, editors, etc... For a channel to generate enough money to fund itself, it takes millions of subscribers and millions more video views. Even then, many creators still rely on external sponsors to make ends meet.
  • 4 0
 @Bperd:
Actually make a good series .
Lots of stares, pointing and no words.
Let the riding do the talking
  • 5 0
 Sam Hill knows what it takes to win and has proved it in multiple disciplines. Would be great to see him back to racing and mentoring young racers.
  • 6 0
 Fuck yeah Sam, bring it on!
  • 6 0
 Best attitude in the business.
  • 3 0
 Shit, and I was hoping that a contract will be signed and Nukeproof will have a new owner before the start of the season. crap. I'm hoping that a nice team can be found now and then maybe there will be a return to Nuke
  • 4 0
 Ha! No! Chance would be a fine thing. M.Ashley and co don't see the value of paying athletes and sports teams. Just look into his turbulent ownership of Newcastle United FC
  • 3 0
 Winning races/titles is great, but this guy has chalked up more “Do you remember when he…” moments than anyone I can think of. He could be paid to gear up, sit on a bike and just be Sam Hill.
  • 5 0
 That’s class right there
  • 5 0
 Racing or not racing again, he is a legend.
  • 5 0
 Foot out flat out baby! Braaaaaaaaaaap!
  • 2 0
 I would like to see him race Enduro on an intense, not many people remember that he rode for them.
ca.intensecycles.com/blogs/news/moment-in-time-sam-hill-intense-team-rider-2002
  • 6 0
 Sam Hill on ZERODE
  • 4 0
 ANZAC tie up right there.
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know what is going on with Nukeproof and Vitus now? The Wiggle and CRC websites are just a front for Evans Cycles now. But the Vitus and Nukeproof websites are still up and running as if nothing has happened, you just can't buy their bikes anywhere. Seems a strange way to leave things.
  • 2 0
 Ashley bought the IP for them so he owns the websites too I believe; I imagine his trying to flog the brands behind the scenes hence websites look legit & unsportsdirect like
  • 2 0
 I worked for the WiggleCRC group and was 1 of the people who answered Nukeproof emails and Vitus emails etc. Everyone involved with the team is gone. No one survived in any way in the business. Which is turn means the brands are also gone. Even if Cashley slaps a NP logo on something and starts selling it on Sports Direct… Its not gonna be one of our in-house brands anymore which was developed in Belfast. Going to be some catalog scrap with our logos on it.
  • 5 0
 Get him on a Zerode. Collect 100,000 coins.
  • 5 0
 What a legend
  • 2 0
 Stoked he's still gonna kick ass...BUT...was hoping he'd rallied up some $pon$or$ and had bought up the Nukeproof IP etc. to relaunch. ("You may say I'm a dreamer...")
  • 2 0
 Will someone! Sign the flat pedal king! Such a sick rider! And such a down to earth person in real life! Flat pedal king! we love you sam hill!
  • 1 0
 Class Act all the way Sam - any bike company out there would be lucky to have you and better for it. So to all the manufacturers and teams out there - get crackin' and give the man a call.
  • 3 0
 Never retire, Sam Hill forever!
  • 3 0
 Give him a bike sponsor, god damn.
  • 2 0
 Absolute legend. Let's get him on a green frame with a white/red Boxxer like the good old days.
  • 4 0
 Legend
  • 1 0
 Banshee?
  • 3 2
 Disgruntled Sam... Is a dangerous mix.... The rest of the pack knows not to count out the old dog when he's feeling like this.
  • 3 0
 Iron Horse, where you at? Get this man a bike
  • 6 0
 Iron Horse did the "take a great iconic company, steal the money and leave it for dead" management trick well before it became popular.
  • 3 0
 @vinay: I don't want to say it, but is Sam the 4th horseman for legendary brands getting gutted by capitalists?
  • 3 0
 Sam Hill is the Brad Pitt of Downhill
  • 2 0
 I like Sam, there’s some real special things on him. The way he race, attitude about life and family
  • 1 0
 i would love nothing more than to see same racing downhill again. Don't even care about results....just watching the way he rides....legend
  • 1 0
 He could be the Tinker Juarez of downhill.
Never retire, never surrender.
You don't have to keep winning when your status is already set at "Legend".
  • 2 0
 legend. I still want an Iron Horse Sunday because of him.
  • 3 0
 Get on it. You’ve had plenty of time.
  • 1 0
 Sam in his early junior days was kicking arse on an Intense M1. Great timing for Intense to get Sam on the latest M1???
  • 2 0
 SAM ... just write history again
  • 1 0
 Absolute legend, but at 39 he’s got his work cut out for him.
  • 4 1
 A Mr. Minaar disagrees.
  • 2 0
 a part
  • 1 0
 The legends never retire, they are the bar to reach from others behind!
  • 1 1
 So sick !


Sam Hill for world president !

“ it ain’t over until it’s over “
  • 1 0
 wow, that's a lot of words
  • 1 0
 Foot out flat out inside line lets goooooo
  • 1 0
 He’s full moto now
  • 1 0
 Last run…go fer it.
  • 1 1
 YES! Sam. This is great news
  • 1 1
 Somebody just give this legend a bike to ride FFS.
  • 1 1
 And racing is not done with Sam Hill
  • 1 0
 Sam is the man.
  • 1 1
 Sam Hill on the hunt! Go Sam!!!
  • 1 0
 G'day Intense.
  • 1 0
 Speed and Power
  • 1 0
 Yea Sam!
  • 1 1
 YES (Daniel Ricciardo)
  • 2 0
 Fernando Alonso
  • 1 0
 @DizzyNinja: VAMOS!
  • 1 1
 You rule Sam
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