2024 UCI Downhill World Cup: how the new rainbow jerseys fared

Höll secures Women Elite UCI World Cup overall

A week after spectacular downhill (DHI) racing at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, the penultimate DHI round of the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series brought the riders together in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes, France.

The similarity with Pal Arinsal was the fast top section where riders had to commit to pace. Here’s how the new rainbow jerseys fared…

Erice Van Leuven: “I just smile and think of how proud I am”

In Women Junior racing, Erice van Leuven, after dominantly retaining her UCI World Champion title in Andorra, came out top in the first UCI World Cup race back. After her fellow Kiwi Sacha Earnest (3rd in the UCI World Championships) slipped and came in third, Van Leuven, wearing the rainbow stripes and riding with the number 2 plate, went back to the top of the UCI World Cup overall standings, with one round remaining.

“It’s always good to back it up after getting the stripes again,” said Van Leuven. “Obviously I don’t take [the rainbow jersey] for granted, but whenever I put it on, I just smile and think of how proud of myself I am.”

Van Leuven has 290 points, Heather Wilson (GBR) 275 and Eliana Hulsebosch (NZL) 270.

Men Junior: Vermette and Alran head-to-head

In the Men Junior competition, the pressure to hit high speeds early meant more risk taking.

Asa Vermette’s action-packed season continues. He began the day leading the UCI World Cup overall, after winning the UCI World title by a margin of 1.5 sec in Andorra. The young American was more than 3 sec up halfway down the Loudenvielle course when he crashed.

New Zealand’s Luke Wayman also fell – on the last turn – but jumped up to wheel his bike over the line and take the hot seat until his fellow Kiwi Tyler Waite unseated him.

Last to run was fastest qualifier Max Alran. After finishing 2nd in the UCI World Championships last week he started the day 2nd overall in the UCI World Cup standings. In the European Champion’s jersey the Frenchman won by 1.6 seconds.

“I really enjoyed the track, so fast to ride, I gave it all I had,” said Alran.

Alran heads the table with 272 points from Vermette (239) and Wayman (218).

UCI World Champion Höll secures Women Elite UCI World Cup overall

In Pal Arinsal, Valentina Höll took her third consecutive UCI Elite World title with Myriam Nicole (FRA) 2nd and Tahnée Seagrave (GBR) 3rd.

The Austrian would be assured the UCI World Cup overall if she won in Loudenvielle and Seagrave came third or lower. It was no forgone conclusions however, as Seagrave qualified fastest on a dry track with Höll 7th.

In decreasing visibility, Höll took to the hot seat before Nicole went faster, leaving the Briton to run last as the rain returned. Seagrave’s crash meant two-time UCI World Champion Nicole got her first UCI World Cup race win in two years, and Höll secured the 2024 overall title.

“I’m really sorry for Tahnée… the battle was insane. And congrats to Myriam for winning!” said Höll. “On my side I’m really happy!”

“It feels so good!” said Myriam Nicole. “I’m proud of myself. I never gave up and it’s been a whole good season.”

Höll confirms the overall title with 1669 points and one race remaining. Seagrave sits on 1321 and Marine Cabirou (FRA) 1181.

Vergier wearing the rainbow in all-French battle

Loris Vergier won last week’s UCI World title with his fellow Frenchman Benoît Coulanges 2nd. However, it was their compatriots Loïc Bruni and Amaury Pierron contesting the top spots of the UCI Downhill World Cup.

Conditions rolled the dice again and the wet-weather specialists shone… Great Britain’s Charlie Hatton (2023 UCI World Champion in heavy rain at Fort William, Scotland) set the benchmark then Ireland’s Oisin O’Callaghan went fastest before Coulanges went 4.7 sec better!

With ten riders to follow, Vergier’s first race in the rainbow bands found him in a rut and on the deck: ultimately 14th position.

As the mud got stickier Finn Iles (CAN), Ronan Dunne (IRL) and Pierron all crashed, while Bruni finished fourth to take his fourth overall title, with Coulanges celebrating the day’s win.

“I know in the mud I have to attack,” said Coulanges. “I feel a bit lucky today… but I’m glad to win my second UCI World Cup in France.”

“Moments like last week are a little bit tough to swallow, I was feeling amazing but didn’t deliver,” said Loïc Bruni. “I knew if I could put aside the negativity of failing, I could keep the riding pretty solid and I could show that the pace… is good… even in wet conditions”.

Bruni confirms the overall with 1613 points so far, followed by Pierron on 1302 and Dunne 1127.