The six-week summer break did little to slow the world’s fastest downhill riders, who were immediately thrown in at the deep end during a wet and chilly UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying session on the iconic Mont Chéry track in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France).
After a week of ever-changing weather, the course bore little resemblance to the dry and dusty track riders had learned during practice. Rain-soaked sections, evolving grip levels and increasingly muddy conditions demanded rapid adaptation, rewarding those able to adjust their lines on the fly and thrive in the slippery conditions.
HÖLL, ONE STEP CLOSER
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find new ways to describe Valentina Höll’s dominance in 2026. The Austrian once again underlined her status as the overwhelming favourite for tomorrow’s Women Elite final, storming to the fastest qualifying time on the Mont Chéry track and becoming the only rider to break the 4:48 barrier with a blistering 4:47 run.
The four-time UCI Downhill World Cup overall winner was not at her best through the opening sectors, but a devastating final split saw her overturn the deficit and put more than two seconds into nearest challenger Marine Cabirou (Canyon DH Racing). The performance secured Höll’s fourth qualifying victory of the season and the perfect platform from which to chase a sixth race win of the year.
Just as importantly, the result edges her another 50 points closer to a fifth overall series title. With only two rounds remaining after Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, Höll can now secure the 2026 crown this weekend even without victory. Depending on her rivals’ results, a finish as low as fifth place could be enough, while championship contender and teammate Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) faces a tougher challenge after qualifying ninth.
Behind Höll, Cabirou once again demonstrated why Les Gets remains one of her strongest venues. The French rider, who boasts a win and two runner-up finishes at the venue, was the only competitor to finish within two seconds of the Austrian. Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) completed the top three, recording her strongest qualifying performance since topping the timesheets at the season opener in MONA YongPyong (South Korea).
Further down the order, two of the three riders who stood on the podium last time out in Pal Arinsal-Andorra found themselves in an early battle for survival. Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x adidas Race Division) and Sasha Earnest (Trek - Unbroken DH) both missed out on a direct route to the finals and were forced into Q2. Hemstreet successfully advanced at the second attempt, joined by Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate), Lisa Bouladou (Santa Cruz Burgtec by Goodman), Phoebe Gale (Orbea FMD Racing) and Matilda Melton (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team).
Earnest, however, was unable to progress, bringing an early end to her weekend and ending any hopes of extending her recent run of podium form to three consecutive rounds.
MAX ALRAN CLINCHES FIRST QUALIFYING VICTORY
Reigning Junior UCI Downhill World Champion Max Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) has spent much of his rookie Elite campaign playing catch-up with twin brother and teammate Till Alran (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), but on home soil the script was finally flipped. In front of a passionate French crowd, the 19-year-old delivered the ride of his young Elite career to claim his first-ever UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying victory on a damp and demanding day in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie.
Max Alran came out of the gates flying, posting the fastest times through the opening two splits before surrendering some of his advantage in the latter stages of the run. When it mattered most, however, he found another gear, producing a superb final sector to stop the clock in 3:51.891 and secure a memorable breakthrough performance.
Only Martin Maes (Orbea FMD Racing) came close to matching the Frenchman’s pace. Despite a cautious start, the Belgian steadily built momentum throughout the run and finished just 0.71 seconds adrift to take second place.
Third went to Till Alran, who looked on course to beat his brother after leading deep into the final section. A costly mistake in the closing stages, however, saw him lose almost three seconds and surrender the top spot to Max.
Overall leader Jordan Williams (Specialized Gravity) qualified fourth to keep his hopes of a third consecutive victory alive heading into tomorrow’s final. With Finn Iles and Loïc Bruni both sidelined through injury, Williams carries the hopes of extending Specialized Gravity’s remarkable streak to five straight Men Elite victories.
Standing in his way will be a sizeable French contingent eager to deliver a home victory. Seven French riders booked places in tomorrow’s 30-rider final, with former Les Gets winner Amaury Pierron (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) looking the most likely challenger outside of the Alran brothers.
Further down the order, another highly touted rookie, Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing / TRP), endured a nervy afternoon. The current third-place rider in the overall standings missed out on Q1 and was forced into Q2 before successfully securing his place in the final field.
Joining him through the second qualifying session were Oisin O’Callaghan (Trek - Unbroken DH); reigning Les Gets winner Ronan Dunne (Mondraker Factory Racing DH) in his first UCI Downhill World Cup appearance of the season, and Benoît Coulanges (Scott Downhill Factory), the 2023 Les Gets winner.
SMITH AND OSTGAARD FASTEST IN JUNIORS
Privateer Elliot Smith delivered a breakthrough performance in only his second Men Junior UCI Downhill World Cup qualifying appearance, topping the timesheets and underlining that his failure to reach the finals in La Thuile-Valle d’Aosta (Italy) was far from a true reflection of his potential.
The British national series champion was in a class of his own on the Mont Chéry track, posting a time 3.15 seconds faster than series leader Jonty Williamson, while Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) rounded out the top three more than five seconds adrift.
In the Women Junior category, overall series leader Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing) looks well placed to extend her winning streak to three races after storming to the fastest qualifying time in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie. The American set the pace through all but one sector and produced a stunning finish to overturn an almost three-second deficit at split four, ultimately crossing the line more than four seconds clear of the competition.
Cassandre Peizerat (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction), making a guest appearance for the team, impressed with a strong second-place run and was the only rider able to finish within five seconds of Ostgaard. Rosa Marie Jensen (Specialized Gravity) completed the top three, although the Dane ended the session more than 15 seconds off the benchmark pace.
UCI Downhill World Cup racing resumes in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie tomorrow (Saturday, August 22), with the Women Junior final opening the day’s action at 11:30 CEST. Find out how to watch here.
