'Just chill' - Anna Newkirk overcomes nerves to claim maiden UCI Downhill World Cup win in Lenzerheide as Finn Iles moves top of men's standings
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Published 20/06/2026 at 21:05 GMT+1
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Anna Newkirk held her nerve to secure a maiden UCI Downhill World Cup victory in Lenzerheide, with the Frameworks Racing/TRP rider revealing that an internal pep talk helped transform a “chaotic” start to the day into a career-defining performance.
Highlights: Newkirk claims first UCI Downhill World Cup win in Lenzerheide
Video credit: TNT Sports
The result made her the first American woman to win at this level in 23 years, capping a weekend in which she had already topped qualifying.
Last weekend in Saalfelden-Leogang Salzburgerland, the 24-year-old converted a second place in qualifying with her first podium of the year, and Newkirk continued her upward trajectory by going one better in Switzerland - having been fastest in all but one sector to finish in a time of 3:14.64 during qualifying on Friday.
The path to the top step was anything but serene, however, with Newkirk admitting she arrived at the start gate overwhelmed by nerves, with her erratic practice runs having hit her confidence.
Only as she settled into her routine did the noise fade, replaced by the discipline that would ultimately carry her through the Swiss mountains.
Newkirk was untouched by the title pressure once she found her flow. In the finish area, disbelief gave way to relief as she processed what she had achieved.
Speaking after her debut win, the American said: "I can’t believe it. I’m lost for words. I didn’t think I had it in me in that run. I thought I was going too slow, but I’m so stoked.
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Anna Newkirk claimed a maiden UCI Downhill World Cup win
Image credit: Getty Images
"I was so nervous today. I have never been this nervous before a race. This morning I was riding so chaotic. I was flying, I was crashing. I was like ‘what am I doing? Just chill’.
"Once I started warming up and got into my routine, I calmed down and focused. I really tried to focus on the process and not the result, and not predict anything.
"The team has been doing super good. I’m so stoked to be a part of it, and there’s no team I’d rather be with."
Sitting fourth after the opening split, Newkirk gradually found rhythm through the technical middle sections of the course, tightening her lines and building speed where others had faltered.
As rivals came and went, her run gained momentum, culminating in a winning time of 3:12.917 - just enough to edge clear in a fiercely-contested field.
Home favourite Lisa Baumann (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) had earlier set the benchmark with a composed and aggressive run that held the hot seat for much of the afternoon, establishing a lead of 0.813 seconds over MS-Racing's Gloria Scarsi.
Overall leader Valentina Holl (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres) was bidding to follow in the footsteps of Anne-Caroline Chausson and Rachel Atherton with a fourth straight win.
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The Austrian, who qualified seventh, showed early promise by going fastest in the opening sector, but lost 0.522 seconds by the second split.
Although she recovered time in the third sector, her challenge unravelled in the wooded section where a mistake halted her momentum completely, ending her winning streak in 10th place.
There was further disappointment for Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate), who was unable to replicate her strong 2025 run, while Myriam Nicole (COMMENCAL/MUC-OFF by Riding Addiction) also struggled, sliding out before the first split as she targeted a fourth Lenzerheide win to close the gap in the standings.
Elsewhere, Harriet Harnden (AON Racing) delivered a solid run to secure fifth place after progressing through Q2.
Iles takes control as Pierron challenge fades
Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity) made it back-to-back World Cup wins to move top of the Men's Elite UCI Downhill World Cup standings.
The Canadian produced a decisive performance when it mattered most, stopping the clock at 2:46.348 to edge out Amaury Pierron by just four hundredths of a second in a dramatic finish that underlined how fine the margins were at the front.
Pierron had set the early benchmark after a powerful opening split, and remained a constant threat throughout the run order, while Jackson Goldstone recovered to fourth, and Asa Vermette impressed again with a podium-level pace before eventually slipping back as the leaders responded.
But Iles timed his effort to perfection, finding speed across all sectors to overhaul Pierron's mark and secure a statement win that also propelled him 41 points clear at the top of the standings heading into round five in La Thuile.
After back-to-back victories, Iles said: "It feels incredible. These are the kind of things you dream of. I was really hoping to take momentum from last weekend, and I felt good for day one.
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Highlights: Iles secures second World Cup win in Leogang
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The boys have been working really hard all week, and we knew we had a really fast bike. Today, leading up to finals, I think I slept for three hours. I was like sleeping, sleeping, sleeping until I got to the warm-up, and it was game time.
"I knew I felt good as soon as I came out of the gate, and from there, I just had to focus on what I was doing."
In the men's junior category, Jonty Williamson (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) continued his dominant campaign with another flawless display to extend his unbeaten run, strengthening his grip on the series lead.
Behind him, Felix Griffiths (Santa Cruz Syndicate) kept the pressure on in the overall standings with a career-best finish of second place, with Azbe Kalinsek completing the podium in third, 4.385 seconds behind.
The women's junior race saw Lina Frener (Norco x adidas Race Division) strike back-to-back victories to close the gap on series leader Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon DH Racing), tightening the title race as the season approaches its midpoint to just five points.
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