UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Lenzerheide | 19–21 June 2026World Cup Downhill 2026: Lenzerheide Showcases Rising Stars
The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series continued its thrilling momentum at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, where the downhill events delivered performances that will be remembered for years to come.
Women’s Elite: Anna Newkirk’s Maiden Victory
American rider Anna Newkirk clinched her first Elite World Cup win in Lenzerheide, following a dominant performance in the qualification rounds. Starting last, Newkirk showcased remarkable composure, edging out local favorite Lisa Baumann by a mere 0.59 seconds. Italian racer Gloria Scarsi secured third place, while French champion Marine Cabirou narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth just over two seconds behind. Versatile rider Hattie Harnden rounded out the top five.
Notably, reigning World Champion Valentina Höll faced challenges, finishing tenth, and Myriam Nicole, who was second in qualifications, placed fourteenth. Both Tahnee Seagrave and young French talent Lisa Bouladou were eliminated in the qualification rounds, missing the finals.
Men’s Elite: Finn Iles’ Consistent Dominance
Canadian Finn Iles demonstrated his versatility by securing his second World Cup victory of the season in Lenzerheide, just a week after his win in Leogang. Iles set a blistering pace from the first sector, completing the course in 2:46.348. This victory propelled him to the top of the provisional World Cup standings.
French rider Amaury Pierron delivered an impressive performance, holding the hot seat for over an hour before being narrowly surpassed by Iles, finishing just 0.176 seconds behind. American Asa Vermette, who had a strong start to the season, secured third place, while Jackson Goldstone and British rider Ethan Craik completed the top five.
French riders Loris Vergier and Troy Brosnan finished seventh and eighth, respectively, with Luca Shaw rounding out the top ten. Additional French competitors Nathan Ponvianne, Antoine Pierron, and Antoine Rogge placed fifteenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth, respectively. Benoît Coulanges faced difficulties in the finals, finishing twenty-ninth.
The Lenzerheide event not only highlighted the rising talents of Newkirk and Iles but also set the stage for an exciting remainder of the 2026 World Cup season.