La MTB, and the Downhill above all, it is a question of technique and courage as much as of imagination and creativity. And when the canvas is that of the Black Snake, the unmistakable path Downhill of Val di Sole, there are many different ways to paint a victory. What is certain is that it will be a victory that weighs as much as and more than any other in the top circuit, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.
Source: press release
After six years, Marine Cabirou she has returned to where she left her heart, to take back the throne with grit, lucidity, and a talent that remains intact in the face of the passing of the seasons. Among the women, the Alto Adige native Veronika Widman she stopped in eleventh place.
To win on the Black Snake you need smoothness, courage and above all feeling with the track. A special connection that Marine Cabirou has already shown that he has in 2019 by winning the Downhill of Val di Sole, and taking, again in Trentino, a world silver in 2021.
Six years after her first time, the 28-year-old French rider is once again queen of the Black Snake, thanks to an error-free performance in which she was able to perfectly read the dangers of the terrain, finishing in 4:10.310.
Behind the Canyon athlete CLLCTV finished the World Champion Valentina Hell (YT Mob), the fastest in the first half of the track, but less fluid and effective in the final section: the Austrian champion paid in the last section the 1271 thousandths that separated her from a new success in Val di Sole. The two-time European Champion completed the top-3 of the day Monica Hrastnik (AON Racing) 1.881 from the winner: for the Slovenian rider the satisfaction of a prestigious podium, after having set the best time in Friday's qualifying.
“I didn’t have a great start to the season but I worked really hard to get back to competing for the top positions. I’m really happy to have won today at the end of a very demanding weekend. Compared to yesterday’s qualifying I tried to find a better pace and make fewer mistakes. I did it, I’m just happy,” Marine Cabirou's comment.
Fourth and fifth place for two young protagonists of the Downhill world, the Canadian Gracey Hemstreet and New Zealand Jess Blewitt. The Italians are far from the top positions: eleventh Veronika Widman, thirteenth Scarce Glory, who started with a torn ankle ligament during free practice. The driver from Trento did not pass the Qualifying Round Eleonora Farina.
Höll leads the overall World Cup standings despite still being without any victories in 2025 with 874. Behind him are Hemstreet (825) and Tahnee Seagrave (672), only fifteenth today due to a line error.
FEMALE ELITE RANKING
| 1. |  | CABIROU Marine CANYON CLLCTV FACTORY TEAM | 4:10.310 |
| 2. |  | HÖLL Valentina yt MOB extension | 4:11.581 |
| 3. |  | HRASTNIK Monika AON RACING – CAMPERVANS TOUR | 4:12.191 |
| 4. |  | HEMSTREET Gracey * NORCO RACE DIVISION | 4:12.402 |
| 5. |  | BLEWITT Jess CUBE FACTORY RACING | 4:12.543 |
| 6. |  | BALANCHE Camille YETI / FOX FACTORY RACE TEAM | 4:16.732 |
| 7. |  | HOFFMANN Nina SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE | 4:20.163 |
| 8. |  | HARNDEN Harriet AON RACING – CAMPERVANS TOUR | 4:20.371 |
| 9. | | FERGUSON Louise-Anna AXESS INTENSE FACTORY RACING | 4:23.581 |
| 10. | | BOULADOU Lisa * GOODMAN SANTACRUZ | 4:23.611 |
| 11. |  | WIDMANN Veronika MONDRAKER FACTORY RACING DH | 4:25.290 |
| 12. | | GALE Phoebe * ORBEA / FMD RACING | 4:26.696 |
| 13. | | POOR Glory MS-RACING | 4:28.780 |
| 14. | | EARNEST Sacha * TREK FACTORY RACING IE | 4:29.560 |
| 15. | | SEAGRAVE Tahnee ORBEA / FMD RACING | 4:46.802 |
GENERAL WORLD CUP
