Jordan Williams and Valentina Höll continued their incredible 2026 campaigns with commanding victories at the UCI Downhill World Cup in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, extending their winning streaks and heading into the summer break as the overall series leaders.
Set against the breathtaking Pyrenees, the 2.1-kilometre Pal Arinsal Bike Park course challenged riders with loose, dusty terrain and demanding technical sections that rewarded precision, confidence and speed.
Williams Claims Back-to-Back Wins
Specialized Gravity’s Jordan Williams delivered another world-class performance to secure his second consecutive UCI World Cup victory after triumphing in La Thuile just one week earlier.
The 21-year-old Brit produced a flawless run, stopping the clock at 2:41.666, more than two seconds ahead of the competition to claim the third Elite World Cup victory of his career.
Several favourites suffered setbacks during the race. Ethan Craik crashed early, Asa Vermette dropped his chain, while reigning world champion Jackson Goldstone finished sixth. Amaury Pierron also crashed while challenging for victory, and both Bode Burke and Lachlan Stevens-McNab saw their podium hopes disappear after crashes.
Reece Wilson enjoyed a welcome return to the podium with second place—his first World Cup podium since 2021—while Ryan Pinkerton celebrated his maiden Men Elite World Cup podium by finishing third.
Williams now leads the overall standings by 63 points over teammate Finn Iles heading into the six-week summer break.
Following his victory, Williams said he was living a dream after winning back-to-back races and praised Specialized Gravity for its continued support. He also credited teammates Loïc Bruni and Finn Iles for helping him develop into a championship contender and vowed to continue fighting for the overall title.
Höll Continues Her Dominance
In the Women’s Elite race, Valentina Höll once again proved why she is the rider to beat.
The Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres star secured her fifth victory in six rounds, overcoming strong challenges from Gracey Hemstreet and Sacha Earnest to win with a time of 3:06.717, just 0.485 seconds ahead of Hemstreet.
The weekend began with disappointment for two-time world champion Myriam Nicole, who was ruled out after suffering a dislocated and fractured finger during practice.
Anna Newkirk bounced back from a difficult weekend in La Thuile to finish fourth, while Jenna Hastings placed fifth after an impressive lower section of the course. Lisa Baumann also looked capable of challenging for the podium before crashing.
Despite facing a difficult practice session, Höll produced another composed championship-winning run when it mattered most, extending her overall lead to 553 points.
Speaking after the race, Höll admitted the event had been mentally demanding but praised her Commencal bike.
Canyon Tops Team Standings in Andorra
Canyon DH Racing secured victory in the Teams competition in Pal Arinsal, while COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction retained the overall lead after six rounds as the championship heads into its summer break.
The UCI Downhill World Cup returns from 20–23 August in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, where the battle for the 2026 titles will resume.