The Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series 2024 rolled into Fort William, Scotland, for the first Downhill World Cup of the season, and the fan-favorite course delivered adrenaline-filled action.

Aaron Gwin, Whoop UCI Mountain Bike World Series Downhill Ambassador, said: "The Downhill World Cup in Fort William did not disappoint! The men's and women's elite finals have shown that there is definitely still plenty of excitement to come this season and the legendary course has once again delivered some great racing."

Höll with a gap to win

The Austrian is in fine form on the Fort William course, having won the rainbow jersey for the second year running on the Nevis Range, and after her victory in the women's elite semi-final on Saturday, she was the woman to beat all weekend.

Gloria Scarsi (Canyon CLLCTV Pirelli) set the pace from the start and put in a consistent run that put the Italian on the podium. It is the third of her Downhill World Cup career.

Monika Hrastnik (Dorval AM Commencal), Mille Johnset (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) and Marine Cabirou (Scott Downhill Factory) were all unable to find an answer, and it was a blistering run from Nina Hoffman (Santa Cruz Syndicate) that ultimately knocked Scarsi out of the race.

Tahnée Seagrave (Canyon CLLCTV FMD) came closest to the German's time, but was unable to maintain her high early pace in the second half of the course - the Brit continued her promising form in front of the vociferous fans and secured a place on the podium. 

And then there was Höll. As the last rider on the mountain, she was one second behind at the second intermediate time on the mountain, but managed to make up the deficit in the fast, flowing lower half of the course and won by 0.5 seconds.

After the race, Valentina Höll said: "We have a brand new bike and brand new people in the team. It was the track where I became world champion last year, but there wasn't even time to rest. It's a difficult track to start the season. I've never been at the front in the first race, so I'm really happy."

"Apart from one mistake, I did everything right, but when Vali didn't gain any time in that sector, I thought it was going to be tight and that she would catch me on the highway. But that's racing and it was very close. The competition is insane," summed up Nina Hoffmann.

Third-placed Tahnée Seagrave said: "I'm so happy. I worked really hard in the off-season and built up confidence. It's probably been four or five years since I felt like I was on the podium, so it's pretty good to be up there."

Results

Bruni breaks the spell at the Fort

Loïc Bruni has six Downhill World Championships and three Downhill World Cup overall wins to his name, but in his nine previous races in Scotland, the Frenchman has never been able to win at Fort William.

"Superbruni" was on a different planet at the 2024 season opener, however, and was one second ahead of Dakotah Norton (Mondraker Factory Racing) after the first intermediate time, before extending his lead on the downhill.

Saturday's fastest qualifier, Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team), came closest to Bruni, but the Australian and 2014 World Cup winner in Fort William came within 1.8 seconds of him to take second place. Bruni's teammate Finn Iles (Specialized Factory Gravity) ensured a successful overall weekend for Specialized Factory Gravity with his third place, while Dakotah Norton and Luca Shaw (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) completed the podium in fourth and fifth respectively.

Greg Williamson (Madison Saracen Factory Team) was the best-placed British rider in seventh, while fan favorite Reece Wilson (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) finished 16th - an impressive return after two injury layoffs earlier in the season.

After his win, Bruni said, "I've never been particularly strong here. I've struggled a lot in recent years, but I knew I could do it sooner or later. This weekend I struggled a bit with the wet, but today the clouds held off so it didn't rain and I thought this was the opportunity. I feel strong, the bike is good, everything was perfect. I pushed everywhere; I wasn't fresh at the bottom but I gave it my all. This is a great success for me and I'm over the moon."

"I won here ten years ago. After a very mixed season last year, I wanted to be strong again. Second place today feels like a victory for me. I feel more comfortable in my head and the bike is working really well," said a delighted Troy Brosnan on his return to the podium.

Third-placed Finn Iles: "I wanted a bit too much at the start but I think I rode pretty smart after that because I knew I was attacking too much and that would probably lead to a crash, so I backed it off a bit, calmed down and rode the bottom part really fast and steady. That's a good sign because if I go into the next race with the right attitude, I know I can ride faster and hopefully I can get on the top step of the podium soon."

Results

Wilson shows the future is Scottish

There was something for Scottish fans to cheer about in the junior final: local rider Heather Wilson (Muc-Off Young Guns) took victory in her first ever UCI Junior World Cup race. The 17-year-old used her experience on the track in Fort William to ride the only time under five minutes. Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) and Eliana Hulsebosch (Union - Forged by Steel City Media) took second and third place, more than 3.5 seconds behind. The 2023 UCI World Champion, Erice Van Leuven (Commencal Les Orres), came down the mountain last and looked like she could knock Wilson off the top spot until she suffered a flat rear wheel in the final sector and had to settle for fifth place.

Heather Wilson said: "It feels surreal. I don't feel like I've won, but I'm so happy to have done it and crossed the finish line in one piece. I have no words to describe how I feel now. The weather was actually perfect because the track still had some grip, it wasn't too slippery."

Results

Vermette returns from injury with victory

In the juniors, Asa Vermette (Framework Racing) left the rest of the field behind with a storming time of 4:10.55 minutes. The American, who broke his pelvis at the end of March, was undeterred in Scotland and set the fastest times in three out of four sectors. Luke Wayman (The Gravity Cartel - Rogue Racing) was enough for second place, while local up-and-comer and fastest qualifier Daniel Parfitt (BNC Racing) gave the Scottish fans another reason to cheer with third place.

"I envisioned my run and it was exactly how I thought it would be. I couldn't have done any better - I'm literally shaking. Two weeks ago I was sitting on the couch watching as many GoPro videos as I could of the course I was going to ride. I didn't even know if I would make it to this race," said a delighted Asa Vermette about his victory.

Results