Finn Iles and Anna Newkirk stole the spotlight at the 10th edition of the UCI Downhill World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, producing memorable performances that reshaped the championship landscape.
Iles, riding for Specialized Gravity, secured his third Men Elite UCI Downhill World Cup victory and his second consecutive win after triumphing just a week earlier. Meanwhile, American rider Anna Newkirk of Frameworks Racing/TRP achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first American woman in 23 years to win a Women Elite UCI Downhill World Cup race.
Iles Continues Hot Streak
After waiting 1,400 days between his first and second World Cup victories, Finn Iles has now found winning form in spectacular fashion. The Canadian delivered an aggressive and composed run, stopping the clock at 2:46.348 to edge out three-time Lenzerheide winner Amaury Pierron by just four hundredths of a second.
Pierron looked set for a fourth victory in Switzerland after storming through the course and taking the lead over Asa Vermette. However, Iles mastered every section of the demanding track to snatch victory and move to the top of the overall standings.
The win gives Iles a 41-point lead over Pierron heading into round five in La Thuile, Val d’Aosta, Italy.
“It feels incredible. These are the kind of things you dream of. I knew I felt good as soon as I came out of the gate and from there, it just had to focus on what I was doing and I can’t believe it.”
Speaking after the race, Iles said:
Newkirk Makes History
Anna Newkirk capped an outstanding weekend by following up her fastest qualifying run with a stunning race-winning performance in the Elite Women’s final.
The American posted a winning time of 3:12.917 after taking nearly two seconds off her qualifying effort. Despite sitting fourth at the first split, Newkirk rode brilliantly through the remaining sectors to overtake local favourite Lisa Baumann and secure her maiden World Cup victory.
The victory ended Valentina Höll‘s hopes of extending her winning streak to four races. The Austrian suffered costly mistakes in the wooded section of the course and finished 10th, although she retained the overall World Cup lead.
“I can’t believe it. I’m lost for words. I didn’t think I had it in me in that run. I really tried to focus on the process and not the result. The team has been doing super good and there’s no team I’d rather be with.”
An emotional Newkirk said:
The racing in Lenzerheide once again demonstrated why the Swiss venue remains one of downhill mountain biking’s most demanding and unpredictable tracks, with dramatic performances and championship implications unfolding across every category.
