The breathtaking heights of Pal Arinsal, Andorra, witnessed a thrilling shakeup in the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup as Loïc Bruni and Tahnée Seagrave stormed to emphatic victories in Round 6, snapping the winning streaks of overall leaders Jackson Goldstone and Valentina Höll.
Bruni Breaks Goldstone’s Streak in Style
After watching Canadian phenom Jackson Goldstone dominate with four straight World Cup wins, French downhill legend Loïc Bruni (Specialized Factory Racing) delivered a flawless performance to stop the streak in its tracks. Riding with unmatched speed and control, Bruni clocked a winning time of 2:34.367, finishing a commanding 1.279 seconds ahead of Goldstone.
Goldstone, who had qualified fifth, once again raised the bar with a blistering finals run that toppled Loris Vergier from the hot seat. But Bruni—fired up with motivation—charged out of the gate and never looked back, going faster at every split to clinch his second win of the season following his opening-round triumph in Poland.
“It means a lot. Battling with Jackson all season has pushed me harder than ever. I came here with so much motivation. The track was flat out, fast, and technical—and I’m happy I was able to be a bit looser and crazier than the rest,” .
said Bruni
Colombian rising star Juan Fernando Muñoz, the fastest qualifier, was the only rider who could challenge Bruni, but a crash early in his run ended his hopes.
With this win, Bruni tightens the overall title race, now sitting at 1,269 points, just 137 points behind Goldstone (1,406) heading into a six-week summer break before Round 7 in Les Gets, France.
Seagrave Shines Again in Women’s Elite
Britain’s Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing) claimed her second win of the 2025 season, silencing critics after a mixed run of results. Coming into finals as the second-fastest qualifier, Seagrave charged through the first two splits, maintaining her advantage to post a winning time of 2:56.835—1.816 seconds faster than Valentina Höll.
Austrian star and current series leader Valentina Höll looked strong despite battling illness, breaking the three-minute barrier first with a time of 2:58.651, which only Seagrave could surpass. Norway’s Millie Johnset followed with a razor-close 2:58.751 to claim third place.
Fastest qualifier Gracey Hemstreet was on pace to win her third race of the season but suffered a heartbreaking crash within sight of the finish, dropping to fifth behind New Zealand’s Jess Blewitt.
“This season has been a bit frustrating, but I’m happy with today’s performance. I wasn’t as committed in the rock garden, so I made up where I knew I was strong,”.
Seagrave shared
Updated Overall Standings – After Round 6
Men’s Elite:
- Jackson Goldstone (CAN) – 1,406 pts
- Loïc Bruni (FRA) – 1,269 pts
- Loris Vergier (FRA) – 1,090 pts
Women’s Elite:
- Valentina Höll (AUT) – 1,344 pts
- Gracey Hemstreet (CAN) – 1,225 pts
- Tahnée Seagrave (GBR) – 1,152 pts
With the World Cup now heading into its summer pause, the stage is set for a fierce finish as the riders prepare to resume battle in Les Gets, France, on 31 August. Will Goldstone and Höll extend their leads, or can Bruni and Seagrave mount a full-season comeback? Stay tuned!