The 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup season has been nothing short of epic from start to finish. From brand new venues, debut wins and numerous record-breaking rides, the opening six rounds have rivalled last year for adrenaline-fuelled entertainment.
Fortunately for fans and riders, there are still three UCI Downhill World Cup rounds to go, including a new venue in Whistler, British Columbia (Canada). Before athletes cross the Atlantic though, there’s the small matter of a UCI World Cup round at the iconic Les Gets, Haute Savoie (France), and the UCI World Championships in Val di Sole,Trentino's (Italy) legendary Black Snake track.
Ahead of the resumption of racing, Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity), Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity), Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP), Valentina Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) and Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) sat down with WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series talent Josh Carlson to share their thoughts on the season so far and hopes for the remaining rounds.
ASA VERMETTE: “IT’S A DREAM DEBUT”
It didn’t take long for Asa Vermette to get his account up and running in the Men’s Elite class as the 19-year-old American won on his UCI Downhill World Cup debut in MONA YongPyong (South Korea).
“It's been insane. I mean, basically a dream debut and I couldn't ask for anything better,” he said. But while he described his first win as ‘crazy’, he points to Lenzerheide (Switzerland) as his standout moment from the season so far.
“When Anna [Newkirk] won her first race and I got on the podium, it was such a good day for the team. We both did what we needed to do – she got her first win, I was in the box. That was one of the best days for us for sure.”
He pointed to the team atmosphere and the guidance of five-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner Aaron Gwin (Frameworks Racing / TRP) as a big influence – “he's done it so many times and won so many races, and he's so knowledgeable about it in ways that I didn't really even think of, so it's cool to learn from him” – adding that “you can’t perform without being happy off the bike”.
With three rounds to go, he sits third in the overall, 126 points behind series leader Jordan Williams, but Vermette isn’t fazed.
“To win my first one and get on the podium twice was honestly not a shock, but I was surprised how it came so fast. Now that I'm in the fight for the overall, it's crazy, so I'm just going to try to keep it as consistent as possible and try my best.
“You have to be consistent every weekend and you can’t afford too many mistakes. I had two races where things went pretty badly, and that put me a long way back. It’s all part of the learning process, but it’s pretty cool to be in this position.”
LISA BAUMANN: “I’VE WORKED HARD TO REACH THIS LEVEL”
Lisa Baumann is another rider who has come to the fore in 2026 and finds herself second in the overall behind team-mate Valentina Höll. While the women’s field is a lot less close than the men’s and Baumann is unlikely to overhaul Höll’s advantage, the Swiss rider is still happy with her progress.
“My goal was to be on the podium this season, so I’m really happy to show that I'm a bit more consistent than last year,” she said. “I've worked hard to reach this level, and I still need to work harder to get that first win. But Vali [Höll] shares a lot with me, whether it's line choice or race experience, and she's a real role model.”
Looking ahead to Les Gets Baumann is targeting a fourth podium of the season and hopes to experience the “crazy” atmosphere: “Everyone wants to be on the podium there because the vibe is insane.”
FINN ILES: “THERE’S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD”
Finn Iles finally ended a 1,407-day wait for victory in Saalfelden Leogang Salzburgerland (Austria), before backing it up just a week later with a second win of the season in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). While his campaign has featured both highs and setbacks since then, the Canadian heads into the final three rounds refreshed, motivated and excited by what lies ahead.
“After a break, it's really easy to find that motivation again. Spending a week or two off the bike helps you rediscover that feeling. There's a lot to look forward to at the end of the season, with a World Cup in my hometown of Whistler and then two rounds in North America. That's going to be amazing. I'm just really excited for what's to come.”
Iles credits much of his resurgence to the work Specialized Gravity put in over the winter, as well as the influence of 10-time UCI World Champion Nico Vouilloz, whose arrival has brought a fresh perspective to the team.
“I've been part of the team for 12 years now, and one thing we've always done really well at Specialized Gravity is work hard together during the off-season. I spent a lot of time riding with Jordan [Williams] in Portugal and at some pre-season races in New Zealand, and I think that work created the foundation for the entire season.
“We came into the year ready to go. The success we had during that four-race stretch was the result of everything coming together at the right time. We had some bad luck early in the season with punctures for me and Jordan [Williams], and Loïc [Bruni] getting injured, but we found our form when it mattered most. We've worked incredibly hard to get here, and that's created a really strong culture within Specialized Gravity.”
Currently second in the overall standings, 63 points behind team-mate Jordan Williams, Iles remains firmly in the title hunt. Yet there is one event on the calendar that carries a significance beyond championship points: the UCI World Cup debut in Whistler, British Columbia (Canada).
“I've wanted a World Cup in Whistler since I was a kid, so to finally have one there, and to be able not just to race it but to be competitive, is going to be incredible. I'll do everything I can to put on a good show for the fans and, hopefully, take the win”.
VALENTINA HÖLL: “WINNING IS SUCH A GOOD FEELING”
Valentina Höll is enjoying one of the most dominant campaigns of her career. The four-time UCI Downhill World Champion and four-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner has claimed victory in five of the six rounds contested so far, underlining her status as the benchmark in the Women’s Elite field.
The 24-year-old attributes much of her success to her move to Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres ahead of the 2026 season, where a new environment and the support of teammate Lisa Baumann have helped her reach another level.
“The Commencal is really suiting me well, and the team, plus having Lisa as my teammate, definitely helps me a lot. It's super fun in the team, and when the atmosphere is that good, it's easier to perform at your best. It's been a huge few months of racing with a lot of emotions, both mentally and physically, that come with performing and winning.”
Yet despite producing arguably the strongest season of her career, Höll admits the demands of consistently competing for victory have taken their toll. After falling ill at the start of the summer break, she realised just how exhausting life at the top can be.
“All the pressure and emotions are quite fatiguing,” she explained.
For Höll, the challenge is no longer chasing victories, but managing the expectations that come with winning so often.
“I didn't expect to be so tired after every race weekend. Last year, I was always on the podium but never winning, and that gave me extra motivation to improve. Now, I wake up feeling exhausted, and sometimes I'm more nervous going into the next round because I don't want to lose that winning feeling.
“I guess it's part of the game. It's a different position to be in, but it's not one I'd want to change.”
JORDAN WILLIAMS: “EVERYBODY’S SO CLOSE”
While Valentina Höll has established a commanding lead in the Women’s Elite standings, the battle for the Men’s Elite overall title remains wide open. Jordan Williams heads the rankings, but with the top 10 riders still mathematically in contention, the championship fight is far from settled.
“Everybody’s so close. I don’t think anyone has had a really consistent season,” said Williams. “Last year we saw Jackson [Goldstone] on the podium almost every race, and apart from Loïc [Bruni], there was a clear gap to the rest.
“This year has been different. I had a puncture in Korea, and in Leogang I pretty much lost my weekend after crashing before qualifying. I was really sore, so on race day I could only cruise down and pick up whatever points I could. It’s funny how close we all are despite nobody having a smooth season, but that’s what makes it exciting. It’s shaping up to be a great finish to the year.”
Williams believes a key factor in his progress this season has been the influence of 10-time UCI World Champion Nico Vouilloz, whose experience and guidance have helped him navigate the highs and lows of a tightly contested championship battle.
“When you’re in the start gate, whether you’re feeling good or bad, Nico knows exactly what’s going through your head,” Williams explained. “He really believed in me and encouraged me to push in qualifying at Leogang, where I ended up sixth. Finals day was much more difficult and I just had to manage the situation.
“After that weekend I was fifth overall and only picked up around 70 points, but after the summer break Nico told me: ‘Look at the gap you have in the standings. If you hadn’t raced in Leogang, you probably wouldn’t be leading the overall right now.’”
That advice reinforced the importance of salvaging points on difficult weekends, a lesson that could prove decisive as Williams heads into the final three rounds holding a slender 63-point advantage over Specialized Gravity team-mate Finn Iles.
