The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais delivered thrilling action this past weekend, with Austrian star Vali Höll cementing her dominance by winning a fourth consecutive women’s downhill world title, and Canada’s Jackson Goldstone announcing himself on the global stage by claiming his first elite men’s crown.
Women’s Elite Final: Höll Makes It Four in a Row
The women’s final kicked off with France’s Myriam Nicole making a statement after a tough qualifying run. Nicole stormed down the track and set a blistering time, seven seconds faster than the previous leader, immediately raising the stakes for the remaining competitors.
Britain’s Tahnee Seagrave showed promise early in her run but lost crucial seconds after a mistake, eventually settling for fifth place. Rising Canadian talent Gracey Hemstreet, who has already collected three World Cup wins this season, pushed hard but could only secure third.
With Nicole still in the hot seat, the only rider capable of dethroning her was reigning champion Höll. Living up to the pressure, Höll delivered a flawless, lightning-fast run that left no doubt—clinching her fourth straight world title and further solidifying her legacy as one of downhill mountain biking’s greats.
Men’s Elite Final: Goldstone Rises to the Occasion
The men’s competition proved equally dramatic. Germany’s Henri Kiefer laid down an early marker with a 2:56.099, which withstood multiple challenges. Ireland’s Rónán Dunne, fresh from a World Cup win in Les Gets, came agonizingly close—just 0.047 seconds shy of Kiefer’s time.
Then came Jackson Goldstone, competing in his first elite World Championships. Showing maturity beyond his years, the 21-year-old Canadian attacked the technical Valais course with confidence and precision, beating Kiefer’s time by nearly two seconds.
Reigning world champion Loris Vergier failed to make an impact, finishing fifth, while French favorite Loïc Bruni crashed during his run. That left Goldstone to savor a perfect weekend, backing up his fastest qualifying run with a dominant victory in the finals. Kiefer settled for silver, while Dunne celebrated a career-best bronze medal.
A New Chapter in Downhill History
The weekend in Valais highlighted the consistency of champions like Höll, who continues to dominate women’s downhill, while also marking the arrival of new stars in the men’s field, with Goldstone proving he has what it takes to be the sport’s next big name.
