Jackson Goldstone and Valentina Höll conquer the 2026 Downhill World Championships in Val di Sole

Jackson Goldstone and Valentina Höll have fulfilled their status as favorites and have been crowned World Champions of Downhill 2026 in Val di Sole. The Canadian has secured his second consecutive rainbow jersey after winning by less than a second against Lachlan Stevens-McNab, while the Austrian continues to extend her dominance with a historic fifth consecutive world title.

Jackson Goldstone is World Champion again in the Black Snake

The Black Snake of Val di Sole once again decided who is the best downhill specialist in the world, and Jackson Goldstone demonstrated once again his special connection with one of the most technical and demanding tracks on the calendar.

The Canadian completed his run in 3:28.785, a time that turned out to be enough to renew the world title he had already won in 2025.

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But Goldstone had to wait until the end to celebrate. Lachlan Stevens-McNab delivered an outstanding performance after already showing great speed in the qualifiers and finished second with 3:29.480. Only 0.695 seconds separated the New Zealander from the rainbow jersey.

Even tighter was the battle for second place. Jordan Williams stopped the clock at 3:29.487, just seven thousandths slower than Stevens-McNab, and had to settle for bronze.

Goldstone thus confirms that Val di Sole is one of his favorite circuits. This new victory marks his fourth major success at this venue, including his World Cup wins and the Junior World Championship he already won here in 2021.

"I am speechless. Winning two consecutive World Championships is a dream come true," explained Goldstone after crossing the finish line. The Canadian assured that he had tried to focus on choosing his own lines and avoiding mistakes on a track that he considers especially favorable to his characteristics.

Behind the podium, Asa Vermette finished fourth, followed by Andreas Kolb and Luca Shaw. France, one of the traditional powerhouses of DH, missed out on medals and had Antoine Pierron, seventh, as their best-placed rider.

Top 10 World DH Elite Men 2026

1. Jackson Goldstone (CAN) – 3:28.785
2. Lachlan Stevens-McNab (NZL) – +0.69
3. Jordan Williams (GBR) – +0.70
4. Asa Vermette (USA) – +1.51
5. Andreas Kolb (AUT) – +2.62
6. Luca Shaw (USA) – +3.14
7. Antoine Pierron (FRA) – +3.56
8. Henri Kiefer (GER) – +3.98
9. Amaury Pierron (FRA) – +4.95
10. Oliver Davis (AUS) – +4.95

Valentina Höll makes history with her fifth consecutive World Championship

If Goldstone confirmed the predictions in the men's category, Valentina Höll did the same among the women. The Austrian won with a run of 4:01.558 and achieved her fifth consecutive Downhill World Championship.

Höll built much of her victory in the middle section of the Black Snake and managed to open a sufficient gap to surpass Lisa Baumann, who took silver with 4:03.286.

The bronze went to Harriet Harnden, with 4:03.604, while Nina Hoffmann finished just off the podium in fourth with 4:04.905.

The victory allows Höll to extend a streak that began in 2022 and already places her among the great historical figures of Downhill. According to data provided by the organization, only the Frenchwoman Anne-Caroline Chausson remains ahead of her in the historical rankings of the discipline.

"I never even thought it was possible to win five consecutive World Championships. It's just incredible," Höll acknowledged after the final. The Austrian also explained the physical and mental strain of maintaining this level season after season.

Among the notable absences was Myriam Nicole, who ultimately did not start due to the flu. The Frenchwoman had been the last cyclist capable of defeating Höll in a World Championship, when she won the title at this same venue in Val di Sole in 2021.

It was also not the expected day for Tahnee Seagrave and Marine Cabirou, two riders who know what it is to win on the Black Snake in the World Cup. They finished seventh and ninth, respectively.