After Camille Balache's surprising 2020 World Championship title in Leogang, not many would have bet on her becoming a serious contender for overall victory in the Downhill World Cup in 2021. But the Romande delivered one brilliant performance after another in the rainbow jersey, on a wide variety of routes and in all weathers. And even when she had to hand it in again, she continued to ride at the front.

To round things off, there was a double World Cup in Snowshoe, two races back-to-back, a tough test for everyone on the rough course. Nineteen-year-old super talent Vali Höll (AUT) achieved her first Elite World Cup victory in the first race. Camille Balanche came second once again. Myriam Nicole (FRA) allowed her rivals for the overall standings to get a little closer in fourth place. In race no. 2 in Snowshoe, the seventh of the Downhill World Cup, Nicole showed that she can do things differently, setting the superior best time in qualifying. In the final, Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) set the first fastest time. Vali Höll pulverized this. Camille Balanche had too many small mistakes in her run to overtake Höll. At the finish she was second, which would put her safely behind the young Austrian in the overall World Cup. Marine Cabirou (FRA) was in the lead shortly before the finish, but came onto the finish jump at too low a speed and thus lost 25 hundredths to Höll.

Rough track throws some favorites off track

Then it was up to Myriam Nicole to make everything clear. Third place would have been enough to win the World Cup. But the season dominator rode to victory, was in second place for a long time and slipped away on an inconspicuous meadow curve in the bottom third of the track. It took a few more minutes for Vali Höll to realize that she had not only won her second World Cup victory, but had also become the overall winner. "It was so unexpected. My first elite season was a bit more difficult than I had expected. That it turned out like this in the end is incredible," she gasped into the microphone. Myriam Nicole finished seventh after her crash, which was enough for second place overall. Camille Balanche also finished the 2021 Downhill World Cup in third place.

In the men's race, one of the favorites for overall victory had to watch on: Thibaut Daprela (FRA) suffered an ankle injury in the first race in Snowshoe. However, he had such a big lead in the overall standings that only a few riders could catch him with a win. Angel Suarez (ESP) set a highlight, sitting in the hot seat for a long time and finally taking his first (triple) podium in third place. It took a Troy Brosnan (AUS) in top form to beat his time. Some riders got stuck on one of the many cliffs of the selective course, for example Loris Vergier after setting the best intermediate time and on his way to overall victory. Finn Iles, who started second last, was also doing very well, but touched a tree directly after a drop, which meant he had to postpone his first World Cup victory until later.

And then came the rider who rides best when he only has one chance left: four-time World Champion Loïc Bruni (FRA). He had yet to win a World Cup race in the entire 2021 season. Now he delivered a run that he had not yet managed in 2021. His first win of the season meant that he overtook his compatriot Daprela and won the Downhill World Cup again after 2019. "I had nothing to lose, so I just went full throttle. I'm so happy," he said, summing up his mood.

Women's ranking
World Cup final ranking women
Men's ranking
World Cup final ranking men