Cycling in Les Gets with our ambassadors – Blog – Les GetsIn a thrilling culmination to the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series, the Les Gets downhill event delivered exceptional performances, with French riders Max Alran and Marine Cabirou clinching top honors in their respective categories.
Elite Men’s Race: Max Alran’s Triumph
Max Alran, representing Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction, secured his first World Cup victory in the elite men’s category. Starting last, Alran faced the formidable challenge of surpassing Austria’s Andreas Kolb, who had set a strong benchmark with a time of 3:29.74. Despite trailing in the upper sections of the course, Alran’s aggressive strategy in the lower segments paid off, allowing him to finish with a time of 3:27.924, edging out Kolb by 1.65 seconds. This victory was particularly significant for Alran, as it marked his first elite World Cup win and was achieved on home soil, energizing the French crowd. (lequipe.fr)
Elite Women’s Race: Harriet Harnden’s Maiden Victory
In the women’s elite race, Britain’s Harriet Harnden claimed her inaugural World Cup win. Transitioning from enduro to downhill in 2026, Harnden’s decision proved timely and effective. She completed the course in 4:11.966, narrowly surpassing France’s Marine Cabirou, who finished second, and reigning world champion Valentina Höll, who took third. Notably, Harnden’s bike was equipped with a Gates belt drive system, which had previously offered a $100,000 prize for a World Cup victory, adding an extra layer of excitement to her achievement. (lequipe.fr)
Additional Highlights
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Men’s Elite Standings: Jordan Williams of Great Britain leads the overall standings with 874 points, followed by Finn Iles of Canada with 811 points, and Asa Vermette of the USA with 748 points. (mtbdata.com)
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Women’s Elite Standings: Valentina Höll of Austria tops the women’s standings with 216 points, closely followed by Gloria Scarsi with 190 points, and Harriet Harnden with 175 points. (en.wikipedia.org)
The Les Gets event not only showcased the prowess of emerging talents like Alran and Harnden but also underscored the competitive depth of the World Cup series, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 2026 season.