Edited Date/Time
9/29/2026 11:07am
The final World Cup DH round lands in the USA following an all-time spectacle on the other side of the continent in Whistler, B.C. Lake Placid, New York, a first-time venue in 2025, is primed with autumn colors and a track that is prone to major changes as riding progresses throughout the weekend.
Weather looks generally pleasant, but cold, especially in the early mornings.
Asa Vermette is leading the Elite Men's class by 96 points and according to Lawlor the historian, if Asa wins the overall, he'll be the only rider besides Nicolas Vouilloz to claim that title in their rookie season.
Should be a killer final with leaf peepers and upstate NY energy to wrap things up. Racing action takes place on Sunday.
Lake Placid DH entry list (quali start list due later this week is confirmation of who's actually racing, but this is close)
I know there is still a lot on the line but this one feels anticlimactic.
merica, my whole fantasy team is gonna be the good ole red, white, and, blue.
Probably the first of your posts I’ve disagreed with: I cannot wait to see how the Asa/Jordan battle plays out.
next year should make up for it, right?
I think this one is quite exciting!
Fair enough and I can’t wait to see what happens as well although I have a feeling of the outcome. I think there was just so much hype around Whistler that this just doesn’t quite have that yet. Could also be that this is the last year for Lake Placid and it never really caught on for me as a venue.
Location location location.
From the everlasting heart of everything to a temporary track with no future.
I’ll watch these guys race around a running track but yeah: it is anticlimactic.
So do I.
Besides the men's overall drama, Vali Höll has a chance to become the 3rd woman to win 7 World Cup races in a season, joining Rachel Atherton (2016) and Anne-Caroline Chausson (1998). I don't know if there are any others who've done it, and of course Rachel's 2016 was historic for another reason: She won every race that year.
***BREAKING NEWS: Uncle Gordo confirms Whistler Mountain as final stop of the 2027 UCI Downhill World Cup!!***
Yeah, it doesn't help that whiteface doesn't have a bike park anymore, and that level hatred for mountain bikes in the "High Peaks" region of the Adirondacks is probably only second to Marin county. I'm stoked to be going to watch racing there, and bummed its no longer going to be there. But as far as way to end the season? A place with no bike park hosting the final DH race is not what this season deserves.
Can someone answer a few questions.
If Jordan wins where does Asa need to finish 4th?
When was the last time a first year junior won the overall? Nico V.?
Yes, it would be Nico V.
*Chart came from someone else on Racing 2026 Thread
nice
Yeah, there is definite excitement but it's never going to beat the climax of the 2019 season between Amaury and Loic
I think you have to also take a look at the Elite women as well. Vali Höll won the overall in 2021, her first year as an Elite rider.
I think one of the reason this feels anticlimatic, is that Jordan has basically no image that could be used for promotion, unlike Asa, Jacskon, Loic, Amaury
He is similar to Matt Walker(UK) - does he even gets mentioned as overall WC winner, even if that was in covid-era, he still is a winner
From https://www.lakeplacid.com/foliage-report
Peak colors are here!
This foliage report forecast reflects fall colors for the weekend of October 3-4, 2026.
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 75%
Brilliance: Very Brilliant
Predominating colors: Glowing reds and burgundies signals the absolute peak of Adirondack autumn. The contrast of the yellows, reds and golds against the rich greens from the pine trees is making for a deep contrast.
Rating: Peak
I made some other comparisons too, seen here, showing AP4's chances at the overall, and the overall winner for various race finishes that AV27 could have.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17BtOlT4lYjbgaYc-gpQUiFYZWUtZ10fAnDhqKdVsDAc
Keep a look out here this weekend because I'm marshaling and sector managing all day Friday and Saturday (Sunday is for spectating). If there's enough cell service I'll try to get some quick phone photos or line choice markups posted like last year.
Don’t snitch on Lachie if he goes outside a pole dude, we really want him to win!
I'd vote for that, for sure.
Here's a video that tells the story:
Bring back Snowshoe (or anywhere that actually wants bikes).
"Thanks for coming and spending money; now leave and don't you dare bring your dirty bikes back here ever again" - WF
Lawlor on the ground, still not much happening, but some pics of the progression.
Kevin's last WC for Finn. Kevin retiring after this season.
norco pits
Subtle @sspomer subtle!
pits growing slowly.
Incredible!! I cant believe its 7 years ago!!!!
A few brief notes on last year’s Lake Placid winners:
Men Elite - Luke Meier-Smith: After a P2 finish in Q1, Luke won his first World Cup. Believe it or not, that was also the first (and still only) time Luke has been on a World Cup Elite podium. (Side note: Luca Shaw qualified 1st and finished 2nd in the finals, and he would go on to get his first ever World Cup win in 2026.)
Women Elite - Vali Höll: First place in both qualis and finals. With her only win in 2025, she locked up the overall at Lake Placid.
Men Junior - Max Alran: After finishing 1st in qualifying, Max won by about 1.2 seconds ahead of Asa Vermette. [Edit: His time would have been good for 2nd place in the Elite race.] He clinched his second Juniors overall championship at the season-ending race at MSA, finishing 12 points ahead of Asa.
Women Junior - Aletha Ostgaard: She picked up her 3rd win of 2025 at Lake Placid. She’d win again in MSA, and her 4th win matched Rosa Zierl’s win total for the season. Rosa took the season overall by 35 points over Aletha. Aletha comes into Lake Placid this year on a 4-race World Cup win streak.
Does anyone know who was the first team to make it to Lake Placid after driving from Whistler? Bonus points if you know how long the drive was. Not that it was a race, but I gotta believe there was some friendly competition on that long drive over.
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