The 2025 DH World Champs took place in the very steeps of Champery, Switzerland. Here are the results, reports and highlights vids.
RACE HIGHLIGHTS, Elite Women:
RACE HIGHLIGHTS, Elite Men:
2025 DH World Champs: Women’s Elite results
| Rank | Nation | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AUT | HÖLL Valentina | 3:27.136 |
| 2 | FRA | NICOLE Myriam | +0.667 |
| 3 | FRA | CABIROU Marine | +1.091 |
| 4 | CAN | HEMSTREET Gracey | +2.589 |
| 5 | SUI | BAUMANN Lisa | +2.888 |
| 6 | SUI | BALANCHE Camille | +4.063 |
| 7 | GBR | SEAGRAVE Tahnee | +7.097 |
| 8 | USA | NEWKIRK Anna | +7.263 |
| 9 | ITA | SCARSI Gloria | +7.888 |
| 10 | FRA | CLAVEL Vicky | +8.067 |
2025 DH World Champs: Men’s Elite results
| Rank | Nation | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAN | GOLDSTONE Jackson | 2:54.153 |
| 2 | GER | KIEFER Henri | +1.946 |
| 3 | IRL | DUNNE Ronan | +1.993 |
| 4 | GBR | WILLIAMS Jordan | +4.140 |
| 5 | FRA | VERGIER Loris | +4.777 |
| 6 | USA | MAPLES Dylan | +5.066 |
| 7 | FRA | CHAPELET Simon | +5.861 |
| 8 | USA | SHAW Luca | +5.955 |
| 9 | USA | NORTON Dakotah | +6.145 |
| 10 | AUS | BROSNAN Troy | +6.206 |
Race report and photos courtesy of Valais.ch/UCI:
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Downhill: New Kings and Queens Crowned in Champéry
The legendary Champéry downhill track once again lived up to its fearsome reputation at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Following the Juniors on Saturday, it was the turn of the Elite men and women to take on one of the world’s most spectacular and technical courses on Sunday. Energized by record-breaking crowds, Austria’s Rosa Zierl and France’s Max Alran claimed gold in the Junior category, while Austria’s Valentina Höll and Canada’s Jackson Goldstone triumphed in the Elite races. The World Championships continue through to September 14, with the cross-country events moving on to Zermatt and Crans-Montana.
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Champéry: Downhill Kingdom
Set in the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area, Champéry–Morgins–Les Crosets Bike Park is a true mecca for mountain bikers. Featuring 10 dedicated downhill trails—including the iconic World Cup track—plus a pump track, four ski lifts, and six rental and repair points, it caters to riders of all levels, from late May through to late October. The park is also linked to the wider Portes du Soleil network, offering access to 600 km of marked trails, 24 lifts, and five interconnected bike parks spanning Switzerland and France.
But it’s the legendary World Cup track that has truly cemented Champéry’s status. First unveiled in 2006, it etched its name into MTB history with Danny Hart’s unforgettable 2011 World Championship run. After a decade-long hiatus, the course was revamped in 2024—thanks to support from the Swiss army and Ben Walker’s trail-shaping crew—making a high-profile return at the European Championships. Now back on the world stage, the course is once again proving its worth. With an average gradient of 33% and sections peaking at 60%, it’s a relentless gauntlet of roots, rocks, and blind corners—still one of the ultimate tests in downhill racing.
Record-Breaking Crowds in Champéry
Crowds turned out in force this weekend, underlining the enduring popularity of world-class downhill racing. Thousands gathered on Saturday for the Junior finals, creating a charged and festive atmosphere. On Sunday, that energy exploded into a full-blown spectacle, as the Elite finals drew the largest crowd ever recorded at the venue. The iconic course transformed into a natural amphitheater, with fans lining every jump, berm, and switchback, cheering the riders on with unrelenting enthusiasm. In total, over 15,500 people—spectators, athletes, staff, and volunteers—packed the site across the weekend, and more than 18,000 attended the event overall.
Höll Makes It Four in a Row, Goldstone Dominates
Austrian sensation Valentina Höll solidified her status as the queen of downhill, securing her fourth consecutive UCI World Championship title. The 24-year-old, already a three-time Elite World Champion, added yet another rainbow jersey to her growing list of achievements—alongside three overall World Cup wins in the last four years. France also had reason to celebrate, with Myriam Nicole (35) and Marine Cabirou (28) taking second and third, confirming the undeniable depth of talent in French downhill racing.
On the men’s side, 21-year-old Jackson Goldstone made a major statement, clinching victory on one of the sport’s most demanding tracks. With four World Cup wins already this season, the Canadian is quickly becoming the dominant force in men’s downhill—achieving a level of consistency not seen since Aaron Gwin’s 2012 run. Germany’s Henri Kiefer, just 20, surprised everyone with a brilliant silver-medal performance, while Ireland’s Ronan Dunne (23)—who made waves at Les Gets earlier this season—rounded out the podium in third.
Reaffirmation of Junior Stars Rosa Zierl and Max Alran
On Saturday, September 6, the Junior races kicked off the World Championships under changeable skies and occasionally slippery conditions. Despite the weather, the young riders wowed the crowd with their brilliant performances.
In the Junior Women’s category, 17-year-old Austrian Rosa Zierl lived up to her billing as the clear favorite. After claiming three World Cup wins this season, she delivered a smooth, commanding run in the finals to take the rainbow jersey with authority.
In the Junior Men’s race, 18-year-old French rider Max Alran continued his meteoric rise. Also a three-time World Cup winner this year, he showed impressive consistency and composure to edge out his rivals—including his own brother, who took bronze—and claim the world title.
Top 3 Junior Women
- Rosa ZIERL (Austria)
- Eliana HULSEBOSCH (New Zealand)
- Aletha OSTGAARD (United States)
Top 3 Junior Men
- Max ALRAN (France)
- Tyler WAITE (New Zealand)
- Till ALRAN (France)
Next Stop – Zermatt and Crans-Montana
The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships roll on in Valais, shifting focus to the Cross-Country events—set to deliver just as much excitement. Starting Monday, the action moves to Zermatt and Crans-Montana, where the world’s best riders will battle it out for the next set of rainbow jerseys in Cross-Country Short Track and Cross-Country Olympic disciplines.
Tuesday, September 9th
2:30pm UK: Women Under 23 Cross-country Short Track – Final
3:15pm UK: Men Under 23 Cross-country Short Track – Final
4:15pm UK: Women Elite Cross-country Short Track – Final
5:00pm UK: Men Elite Cross-country Short Track – Final
Thursday, September 11th
4:00pm UK: Cross-country Mixed Team Relay
Friday, September 12th
2:00pm UK: Women Junior Cross-country Olympic
4:00pm UK: Men Junior Cross-country Olympic
Saturday, September 13th
10:00am UK: Men Under 23 Cross-country Olympic
1:00pm UK: Women Elite Cross-country Olympic
Sunday, September 14th
9:30am UK: Women Under 23 Cross-country Olympic
12:30pm UK: Men Elite Cross-country Olympic
Goldstone – what a talent on a bike, but Bruni wasn’t far off the overall pace even with a big off. That was great viewing.
It’s early days but watching Goldstone I feel like he’s the fastest person to ever race a DH bike.
I’ve been watching since the 90’s and no one has ever ridden a bike like that before. His cruising speed is levels above everyone else’s best efforts.
Word. He is absolutely the GOAT already.
I know anything could happen in the next few seasons but I can see him becoming the Ricky Carmichael of Downhill. He’s playing a different game to everyone else.
That gap he pulled on the open section was next level nuts and yet pinpoint precise.
Would have been interesting to see Pierrons time if he didn’t have his off
Williams was with him all the way time wise when Juniors, so as much as I like Goldstone and think he is currently different level, I think he is catchable from the others, if not this season. Pierron is still easing back and there is a lot of untapped potential in the likes of O’Callaghan, Dunne, Williams and even Hatton etc. They could all go on a run if it “clicks" for them.
Best recap of the racing as usual from sleeper
Andreas Kolb deserves a mention – he was also flying. I’m surprised he was the only one to come a cropper on that section as it was waiting to happen to someone.
yes… but if the thought is Jackson is beatable (which he is) on any given Sunday by any one of the current top ten, that surely makes him a cut above, just from having that conversation.
@somafunk thanks for sharing that, great 5mins. Capturing (or adding) that deep breath out from Jackson at the start gate was genius, gave me goosebumps.
I am really enjoying the mens elite racing now. For a few seasons I have favored the womens races for viewing due to the lower predictability of results, obvious progression in the sport, and what appeared to be more camaraderie between riders. But with the introduction of Goldstone, Dunne, Callaghan, Norton and a few others, I am loving the mens elite again. I think teams like Frameworks have also added a dimension that wasn’t there before.
Adding to the comments on Goldstone, I think he will become the Vali of the mens for a couple of seasons if he manages to knock the stuffing out of Bruni (no guarantee he will) and then others, like Asa Vermett, will come through and push things further.
I am so thankful for the riders and the teams like Frameworks keeping it interesting because from my perspective I am not enjoying the commentary or the coverage. I might be a dinosaur, and I can handle that, but the Redbull days and Freecaster were lifted by the commentary not hampered. I managed to watch the champs on youtube live stream using a VPN from Nigeria, the racing saved it, the commentary tried to kill it. XCC was the same. And as I don’t have a TNT subscription I can only assume that the World Cup commentary is similar.
All their edits of the world cups are ace,, if you haven’t watched them (already) then they are well worth 5 mins of your time v