The Downhill World Cup heads to Lenzerheide, Switzerland this weekend, and this is one of those venues for me that feels like proper World Cup racing. Swiss Alps, steep track, awesome views.
Some tracks are fun because they are chaotic. Some are fun because they are brutal. Lenzerheide is fun because it looks like a track you would absolutely want to ride, right up until you remember that the fastest riders in the world are hitting it and I’d be lucky to make it down alive.
It has speed, jumps, steep woods, a good amount of line choices, dust, roots, and plenty of chances to throw away a perfect run. All the good stuff.
It is definitely one of my favorite tracks to watch, and I would kill to ride it one day. It just looks like a fun time. A very fast, very sketchy, very easy-to-overcook kind of fun time.
2026 Lenzerheide Course Preview
Why Lenzerheide is always worth watching
Lenzerheide has that classic bike park feel in some places and high-speed sections where riders can really let the bike run. The tight wooded sections are where things get steep, dusty, and loose.
That is where the race usually gets interesting.
The woods have plenty of line choices, and that’s what makes downhill so good to watch. If the weather holds, this could be a very fast race. Dry Lenzerheide usually means dust, speed, and riders pushing harder every run as the track gets blown out. If moisture shows up, the whole thing changes, but right now it looks like we might get the dry, dusty version.
I am very okay with that.
Finn Iles is coming in hot
One of the biggest stories coming out of Leogang was Finn Iles finally getting back on top.
Photo Cred: cyclingmagazine.ca
That win felt very deserved. Finn has been around the front for so long, and he is one of those riders who always looks like he has the speed to win. But downhill is cruel, and “having the speed” is not the same thing as actually getting the win.
Now the question is how he carries it into Lenzerheide. Sometimes a big win takes pressure off. Sometimes it adds a whole new kind of pressure. Either way, Finn is coming into this weekend with momentum, confidence, and probably a little extra belief that he can close the deal again.
I’m excited to see how he holds up here. Lenzerheide feels like the kind of track where he can be really dangerous if he keeps it clean.
Luca Shaw needs a rebound
Luca Shaw is another rider I’ll be paying close attention to this weekend.
After getting his first Elite World Cup win in Loudenvielle, it felt like maybe the door had finally opened. That win was awesome to see, especially after how long he had been chasing it. But then Leogang did not go his way, and he missed out on finals.
Lenzerheide is a big rebound opportunity. Luca does not need to prove he can win anymore. He has already done that. Now it is about showing that Loudenvielle was not a one-off and getting himself back into the finals conversation.
If he qualifies well and rides like he did in France, he could be right back in the mix.
Asa Vermette is still cooler than me
Asa Vermette continues to be one of the most fun riders to follow this season.
After winning in South Korea, crashing while on a heater in Loudenvielle, and continuing to show ridiculous speed for a first-year Elite rider, he already feels like a major part of the season storyline. And now, because apparently just going fast is not enough, he threw a backflip in practice at Lenzerheide.
Chill.
Vali Höll is still the rider to beat
On the women’s side, it is still the Vali Höll show.
She has been dominant to start the season, and at this point, every preview kind of starts in the same place: can anyone stop Vali?
That is not meant as a knock on the rest of the field. There are plenty of riders with the speed to challenge her. Gracey Hemstreet, Tahnée Seagrave, Marine Cabirou, Myriam Nicole, Lisa Baumann, there is no shortage of talent. But Vali just keeps showing up and making the hard stuff look controlled.
Women to watch
Vali Höll is the obvious favorite. Until someone consistently beats her, she has to be. She is carrying all the momentum and still looks like the benchmark.
Gracey Hemstreet is one of the riders I’d love to see push for the win here. She has the speed and commitment for a track like Lenzerheide, especially if the woods get loose and physical.
Tahnée Seagrave is always dangerous when she finds rhythm. Lenzerheide has enough speed and flow that she could absolutely be in the fight if she gets comfortable early.
Marine Cabirou has the raw pace to make things interesting. If the track gets fast and dusty, she is one of the riders who can throw down a serious run.
Myriam Nicole is never someone to count out, especially on a track with steep, technical sections where experience and precision matter.
Lisa Baumann has been right there this season, and Lenzerheide could be another good chance for her to stay in the podium conversation.
Men to watch
Finn Iles is the momentum pick after Leogang. That win was huge, and if he carries that confidence into Lenzerheide, he could be right at the sharp end again.
Luca Shaw is the rebound pick. After winning Loudenvielle and missing finals in Leogang, this is a big weekend to reset and get back on pace.
Asa Vermette is the chaos pick, in the best way. He has the speed, he has the confidence, and apparently he has enough extra comfort on track to be flipping jumps in practice. A clean race run from Asa would be very interesting.
Amaury Pierron is always one of the most dangerous riders on a fast, physical track. If Lenzerheide gets blown out and rough, that could suit him well.
Jackson Goldstone is still one of the best bets anytime the track rewards speed and precision. He has the bike handling and race craft to make a track like this look smoother than it actually is.
Loris Vergier is another rider who can never be ignored at a classic World Cup venue. When he is on, he is one of the cleanest and fastest riders in the field.
Dakotah Norton and Rónán Dunne are also worth watching. Both have the pace to make things exciting, especially if the track starts getting loose and riders have to improvise.
What makes this weekend interesting
Leogang had rain, changing conditions, and plenty of drama. Lenzerheide looks like it could be faster, drier, and dustier. That changes the type of pressure. Instead of just surviving mud and roots, riders might have to carry ridiculous speed through loose turns and trust the bike when traction starts disappearing.
It also feels like a weekend where the season storylines can either settle down or get even messier. Finn could back up his Leogang win. Luca could rebound. Asa could put together another massive result. Amaury could take control. Jackson could remind everyone why he is always a threat.
Final thoughts
Lenzerheide is exactly the kind of race I get excited for.
It is a classic World Cup venue, the track looks amazing, and if the weather stays dry, we should get fast, dusty racing with a lot of commitment. The woods should be loose, the speeds should be high, and the line choices should make things interesting all weekend.
I’m especially excited to see what Finn Iles does after Leogang, whether Luca Shaw can bounce back, and whether Asa Vermette can turn all that practice confidence into another big elite result.
Lenzerheide usually delivers. This weekend should be no different.
