Loudenvielle Recap: Breakthroughs, Heartbreaks, and Building Momentum
The Whoop UCI MTB World Series stop in Loudenvielle gave us everything we’ve come to expect from elite downhill racing: raw intensity, emotional highs and lows, and fierce competition on one of the season’s toughest courses.
Qualifying Drama: The Full Spectrum of Racing
Qualifying day brought all the drama and adrenaline that make this sport so special—and at times, brutal.
Monika Hrastnik looked smooth and composed in Q2, locking in her spot for the finals. She’s clearly hitting her stride and pushing with purpose.
Stan Nisbet gave us a massive reason to celebrate by qualifying for his first-ever World Cup downhill finals in the junior category—on the eve of his 17th birthday! A huge milestone for the young gun.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing:
Reece Wilson missed out on finals qualification by a razor-thin 0.2 seconds—a heartbreaking margin in such a competitive field.
Harriet Harnden was showing great speed, but unfortunately suffered crashes in both Q1 and Q2. She’s tough as nails, and we know she’ll bounce back stronger.
Henry Kerr has some battle stories from this weekend. After missing the finals by just 0.025 seconds in Q1, he came out swinging in Q2 and was two seconds up—until a big crash after split 2. Thankfully, he’s okay aside from some bruises.
Despite the setbacks, the takeaway is clear: the whole squad is gaining confidence, race after race. The commitment is there, and the fire is growing.
Finals Day Highlights
On race day, Monika Hrastnik delivered a stellar performance with a clean, consistent finals run that earned her 8th place—a fantastic result on one of the season’s most technical and physically demanding tracks.
Stan Nisbet was unfortunately unable to start in the finals due to a last-minute mechanical issue. It’s a frustrating outcome, but the silver lining: the problem was minor and quickly fixed. He’s already refocused and fired up for Leogang next week.
Enduro Update: Vid Is Back in Rhythm
Vid had a solid showing in Enduro, finally feeling like himself again after a tough start to the season. He rode strong and without mechanical issues for the first time this year. A crash in Stage 2 cost him about 20 seconds, which pushed him down to 47th place, but the pace and confidence are back.
Track Talk: Loudenvielle Challenges All
The Loudenvielle course demanded everything: speed, technical precision, and mental toughness. Deep sand, fast sections, and sweltering heat created brutal race conditions—but also offered incredible racing. This was a track that tested limits, and our riders rose to the occasion.
Looking Ahead: Leogang Next
With confidence building and valuable experience gained, we head to Leogang with clear momentum. The team’s spirit is high, and we’re more motivated than ever to deliver big results.
As always, a heartfelt thank you to our partners—your support powers every run, every recovery, and every breakthrough moment.
Stay tuned—we’re just getting started.