The Mirror

The student-run newspaper of Northwood School in Lake Placid.

Whiteface Hosts UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup

Valentina Holl Jumping the LL Bean Drop. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

Whiteface Mountain hosted the UCI Downhill World Cup from Oct. 2-4 as part of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series finale at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites.

Downhill mountain biking is a high-speed discipline in which riders navigate steep terrain, technical sections and large obstacles while racing against the clock. The World Cup represents the highest level of international competition in the discipline.

A large berm on the race course. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

The downhill competition returned to Whiteface for the second consecutive year, bringing many of the world’s leading riders to the Adirondacks. The approximately two-kilometer course included technical wooded sections and fast, open terrain.

The LL Bean Drop. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

Spectator Experience

Spectators watched world-class athletes compete against an Adirondack backdrop of mountains and changing leaves. The event also included food, designated viewing areas and vendors displaying bicycles and high-end components.

The gondola athletes rode to the top of the race course. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

Results

Elite Men’s Downhill

  1. Luke Meier-Smith — 3:08.389
  2. Andreas Kolb — 3:09.783
  3. Lachlan Stevens-McNab — 3:10.213

Elite Women’s Downhill

  1. Lisa Bouladou — 3:36.037
  2. Valentina Höll — 3:36.500
  3. Tahnée Seagrave — 3:36.658

Meier-Smith won at Whiteface for the second consecutive year, while Bouladou earned the first Elite Women’s World Cup victory of her career.

An athlete racing through the woods. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

The Northwood Mirror

The student-run newspaper of Northwood School in Lake Placid

Real World

Whiteface Hosts UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup

The world’s leading downhill riders returned to Whiteface Mountain for the second consecutive year

Listen Read this article aloud

Valentina Holl Jumping the LL Bean Drop. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

Whiteface Mountain hosted the UCI Downhill World Cup from Oct. 2-4 as part of the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series finale at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites.

Downhill mountain biking is a high-speed discipline in which riders navigate steep terrain, technical sections and large obstacles while racing against the clock. The World Cup represents the highest level of international competition in the discipline.

A large berm on the race course. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

The downhill competition returned to Whiteface for the second consecutive year, bringing many of the world’s leading riders to the Adirondacks. The approximately two-kilometer course included technical wooded sections and fast, open terrain.

The LL Bean Drop. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

Spectator Experience

Spectators watched world-class athletes compete against an Adirondack backdrop of mountains and changing leaves. The event also included food, designated viewing areas and vendors displaying bicycles and high-end components.

The gondola athletes rode to the top of the race course. Photo by Benjamin White ’27

Results

Elite Men’s Downhill

  1. Luke Meier-Smith — 3:08.389
  2. Andreas Kolb — 3:09.783
  3. Lachlan Stevens-McNab — 3:10.213

Elite Women’s Downhill

  1. Lisa Bouladou — 3:36.037
  2. Valentina Höll — 3:36.500
  3. Tahnée Seagrave — 3:36.658

Meier-Smith won at Whiteface for the second consecutive year, while Bouladou earned the first Elite Women’s World Cup victory of her career.

An athlete racing through the woods. Photo by Benjamin White ’27