A spectacular hat-trick in the Trentino venue for the Canadian, flawless lines and precision for the Frenchwoman’s encore after 2019. Junior victories go to Till Alran and Rosa Zierl. Val di Sole now braces for the grand finale: Cross Country day, with Blevins among those standing between Schurter and this tenth win’s bid
Downhill is as much about control and courage as it is about imagination and instinct. And when the canvas is the Black Snake – Val di Sole’s unmistakable, unforgiving downhill track – there are countless ways to paint a winning run. Whatever the fashion to nail it, a win in the Val di Sole WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round always tastes special.
Jackson Goldstone danced over the rocks and roots of the world’s most feared course, turning pitfalls into flow and risk into speed. Six years later, Marine Cabirou returned to the place where she left her heart to reclaim her crown – with determination, clarity, and the kind of enduring talent that transcends seasons.
Beauty on course, and all around it too: since early morning on Saturday 21 June, thousands of fans poured into Daolasa for what has become a true collective rite in Val di Sole. Under the summer sun, they packed the finish arena before disappearing into the woods to feel, up close, the brilliance and wildness of the sport’s greatest specialists. Hour by hour, run after run, the noise of cheers and roaring chainsaws grew louder – until the ovation for the champions of the day.
Similarly high expectations are now focused on Sunday, when the spotlight turns to Olympic Cross Country. The stacked international field will be led by legend Nino Schurter and the on-form Chris Blevins. In the women’s race, eyes will be on Dutchwoman Puck Pieterse.
A PERFECT RUN FOR JACKSON GOLDSTONE
Jackson Goldstone is a name well known to Val di Sole’s Downhill fans ever since 2021, when he claimed the Junior World title – before conquering the Black Snake again as an elite rider in 2023. The Canadian clearly has a natural affinity for the Trentino track, and today he delivered another great run.
On a day when the slippery terrain, combined with the sheer difficulty of the course, made clean runs a rarity, the Santa Cruz Syndicate rider created speed in every section of the track and crossed the line in 3:38.682. Behind him, second place went to Australia’s Troy Brosnan (Canyon CLLCTV), who trailed by 2.422 seconds, while France’s Thibaut Daprela (Rogue Racing) placed third at 3.361 back – the only rider to come close to matching Goldstone’s brilliance, though a mistake in the final section of the Black Snake cost him dearly.
“I had a really good race, stuck to my lines perfectly, even though I had to unclip at least three times,” said Goldstone, celebrating his third consecutive victory in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. “I felt confident, I had great sensations, and it worked out. It was a really beautiful win at the end of a weekend where I was always on top – both in qualifying and in the final.”
A surprising fourth place went to American Dylan Maples, ahead of two giants of the sport, Loris Vergier and Loïc Bruni – for whom a Val di Sole win remains elusive.
In the overall World Cup standings, Goldstone leads with 874 points, followed by Loïc Bruni (774) and Loris Vergier (525).
SIX YEARS LATER, MARINE CABIROU IS QUEEN OF THE BLACK SNAKE ONCE AGAIN
To win on the Black Snake requires not only speed and bravery, but a special connection with the course. Marine Cabirou had already shown she had it in 2019, when she won in Val di Sole, and again in 2021 with a silver medal at the World Championships, also in Trentino.
Now, six years after her first victory here, the 28-year-old Frenchwoman has reclaimed the crown thanks to a flawless run in which she read the terrain perfectly and crossed the line in 4:10.310.
Behind the Canyon CLLCTV athlete came World Champion Valentina Höll (YT Mob), who was the fastest in the upper sections of the track but couldn’t match Cabirou’s fluidity through the final woods. The Austrian lost exactly 1.271 seconds in the final stretch – and with them, her shot at another Val di Sole victory.
Completing the day’s top three was two-time European Champion Monika Hrastnik (AON Racing), 1.881 seconds behind the winner. The Slovenian rider found satisfaction in both a prestigious podium and the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying session.
“I didn’t have a great start to the season but I worked really hard to get back to fighting for the top spots,” said Cabirou. “I’m really happy to have won today after such a tough weekend. Compared to yesterday’s qualifying, I focused on finding a better rhythm and making fewer mistakes. I managed to do that – I’m just really happy.”
Fourth and fifth went to two rising stars of global Downhill: Canadian Gracey Hemstreet and New Zealander Jess Blewitt.
In the overall World Cup standings, Höll remains in the lead with 874 points, ahead of Hemstreet (825) and Tahnee Seagrave (672), who had to settle for 15th place after a line error.
JUNIOR MEN: ALRAN TWINS DOMINATE, TILL BEATS MAX
The Junior Men’s Downhill race in Val di Sole unfolded, as expected, into a family duel. This time, Till Alran (Commencal-Muc-Off) came out on top with a time of 3:42.095, narrowly beating twin brother Max by just half a second.
Max had the edge in the upper part of the course, but a slip in the middle section opened the door for Till. A 1-2 for France, confirming its position as the powerhouse of global Downhill – and perhaps already home to the next Pierron and Bruni.
Third place went to American Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing), 1.669 seconds behind.
Max Alran leads the Junior World Cup standings with 205 points, ahead of Tyler Waite (175) and Till Alran (168).
JUNIOR WOMEN: ZIERL DOUBLES UP IN VAL DI SOLE AFTER LEOGANG BREAKTHROUGH
Just over two weeks after claiming her first World Cup win on home soil in Leogang, Austrian rider Rosa Zierl did it again in Val di Sole – mastering the fearsome Black Snake with style and confidence.
In the Junior Women’s race, which opened Saturday’s Downhill program, the 16-year-old Cube Factory rider crossed the line in 4:15.628, beating American Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV) by 0.612 seconds, and New Zealand’s Kate Hastings by 2.780.
Zierl now also leads the overall World Cup standings with 205 points, ahead of Germany’s Eliana Hulsebosch, who placed seventh today and sits second overall with 150 points.
MINI WORLD CUP: YOUNG RIDERS TAKE CENTER STAGE
It wasn’t just about the pros in Val di Sole on Saturday – the youngest riders also had their moment in the spotlight.
SUNDAY WRAPS UP WITH CROSS COUNTRY – ALL EYES ON SCHURTER, BLEVINS AND PIETERSE
As tradition dictates, Olympic Cross Country will bring the curtain down on a memorable weekend in Val di Sole–Trentino. The crowd is expected to fill Daolasa once again for the discipline that defines the sport’s endurance heroes, with the Elite races broadcast live on TV on Eurosport/Discovery+.
The day begins at 9:00 with the U23 Women’s race, followed by the Elite Women at 11:00, Elite Men at 13:30, and the U23 Men’s race closing the program at 15:30 (all CET times). Athletes will face a 3.5 km circuit with 150 meters of climbing per lap, now featuring newly designed sections that promise to test both skill and stamina.
The men’s race will once again feature mountain bike legend Nino Schurter, hunting for his tenth career win in Val di Sole. He’ll face stiff competition from this season’s dominator Christopher Blevins, World Champion Alan Hatherly, and the ever-dangerous Victor Koretzky.
In the women’s race, Puck Pieterse comes in as the top favorite after her commanding Short Track victory on Friday and her Cross Country win here in 2023. Standing in her way are World Cup leader Samara Maxwell, strong Swede Jenny Rissveds, powerhouse Alessandra Keller, and Austria’s Mona Mitterwallner, already a winner this year in Nove Mesto.
Daolasa di Commezzadura (Italy), June 21st, 2025
