The second World Cup race was definitely no walk in the park. After catastrophically wet conditions at the last event in Loudenvielle, this year's conditions were dry as dust. This made the course fast, but also very treacherous and forced some prominent riders to make rough descents or leave the course.

Fearless run to first World Cup victory

British rider Harriet Harnden (Aon Racing - Tourne Campervans) was one of the most prominent names to miss out on a place in the final. Many riders left the French course disappointed after crashing. Switzerland's Camille Balanche (Yeti/Fox Factory Racing Team) opted for mud tires in difficult conditions and set the bar high with an early best time of 3:48.7 minutes.

The dry, rutted terrain claimed numerous victims. Eleonora Farina (ITA/MS-Racing) crashed heavily. UCI Downhill World Champion Valentina Höll (AUT/YT Mob) was in top form, taking 1.8 seconds off the competition in the first sector and continuously extending her lead. She set an impressive best time of 3:42.3 minutes - over six seconds faster than her closest rival.

Marine Cabirou (FRA/Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) and Nina Hoffmann (GER/Santa Cruz Syndicate) had to bury their hopes after making mistakes on the technically demanding course. European champion Lisa Baumann (SUI/Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) was also on course for a podium finish before she crashed in a rut after a puncture.

Then came Gracey Hemstreet's big performance. The Canadian was three seconds behind Höll in the upper section, but made up a lot of ground in the technical forest section and set a new best time of 3:39.1 minutes - three seconds faster than Höll.

Tahnee Seagrave (GBR/Orbea/FMD Racing), winner of the first lap, rode the fastest first split of the day, but Hemstreet's ride in the middle and lower sections was too strong for Seagrave to catch up with the Canadian. The Brit continues to lead the overall standings, already with a big lead of 116 points.

"I can't believe it," said Hemstreet after her first World Cup victory at the elite level. "This has always been a dream - now it's come true. I just tried the death grip (no finger in braking mode) and rode as fast as I could. The loose surface scared me a bit, but otherwise I had everything under control. I was cautious in the difficult sections, then I let it go," said a delighted Gracey Hemstreet.

Results

Goldstone celebrates comeback with World Cup victory

Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) has made an impressive comeback: The 21-year-old Canadian secured his first victory in the UCI Downhill World Cup since 2023. After a wild upper section of the course, the former junior world champion demonstrated his technical skills in the forest segment and rode the best time there.

Jordan Williams (GBR/Specialized Gravity) set an early best time of 3:16.1 minutes, increasing the pressure on the rest of the riders. The technically demanding course proved to be the undoing of numerous riders. Among others, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (NZL/MS-Racing), Davide Palazzari (ITA/Rogue Racing - SR Suntour) and Luke Meier-Smith (AUS/Giant Factory Off-Road Team - DH) had to bury their hopes after riding errors.

Goldstone, who missed last season due to injury, mastered the upper section with a lot of risk, chose a new line in the forest and rode absolute top times in the last two sectors. With a time of 3:13.1 minutes, he beat Williams by almost three seconds.

At the end, four French riders among the last five starters created great expectations among the home fans - in vain. Goldstone remained untouchable on the day. Amaury Pierron came closest to the Canadian, 1.5 seconds behind.

Results

Frener and Burke win junior race

Austrian Lina Frener (Norco Race Division) and Bode Burke (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) impressed with strong performances at the UCI Downhill World Cups for juniors.

Burke secured victory in the junior race in 3:16.6 minutes - with the fastest time in the final sector. The American qualified in the midfield and had to watch as his rivals closed in on his best time.

New Zealander Tyler Waite (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) shone on the open sections, but lost valuable time in the lower section and finished second, five hundredths of a second behind.

Till Alran (FRA/Commencal-Muc-off by Riding Addiction), the fastest qualifier, struggled in the final forest sections and finished fourth, one place behind his brother and teammate Max Alran. In the overall standings, Max Alran leads Waite by five points.

"I'm so happy, I didn't expect this," said Burke. "I had a bad crash this morning. It's amazing that I made it through. I took it easy in qualifying. So making up eleven seconds was tough, but somehow it worked out."

Results

Frener dominated the junior women's race, riding the fastest time in three of the four sections. Her time of 3:50.2 minutes was seven seconds faster than in qualifying.

Eliana Hulsebosch (NZL/Santa Cruz Syndicate), the fastest in qualifying, felt the pressure too much and was unable to improve on her time from the previous day.

Results