The UCI Downhill World Cup returned with a bang in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), where heavy rain, sticky mud, and roaring crowds set the stage for a weekend of unforgettable racing. Against the odds, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) and Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) mastered the chaos to claim famous wins.
In the womenâs elite race, Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team) set the early pace with a determined run, but the contest once again came down to the fierce rivalry between Hemstreet and reigning World Champion Valentina Höll (YT MOB). Despite struggling at the top of the course, Hemstreet surged in the final sector to edge Cabirou by fractions of a second, sealing her fourth victory of the season. Höll, who looked poised to finally break her winless streak in 2025, slipped to third after losing time on the lower slopes. Hemstreetâs triumph now cuts Höllâs overall lead to just 59 points, keeping the title race wide open.
The menâs final was equally dramatic, with crashes reshaping the leaderboard throughout. Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate), chasing the series crown, suffered another costly fall, while LoĂŻc Bruni (Specialized Gravity) closed the gap but couldnât seize the leaderâs jersey. Irelandâs Ronan Dunne, however, delivered the ride of his career, dominating every split to storm into the hot seat. His blistering run secured a second career World Cup win and marked a powerful comeback after a turbulent season.
âThis means everything. Itâs been a rough year, but I always ride with the mindset of âhelicopter or win.â Today, it finally paid off.â
said Dunne
With Goldstone clinging onto the leaderâs jersey by a slim margin and Hemstreet closing fast on Höll, the World Cup title battles are reaching boiling point. Next up, riders shift their focus to the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais, before the series resumes in Switzerlandâs Bike Kingdom, Lenzerheide.