Screenshot from Newkirk’s Instagram

On September 13, 2003, American racer Marla Streb crossed the line in first place in Kaprun, Austria, at the final stop of the UCI World Cup DH race series of the year. The first-place finish would mark the beginning of a two-decade drought of American women standing in the top spot.

That drought ended this past weekend. Anna Newkirk of Frameworks Racing/TRP, ended the 23-year drought, crossing the line just half a second faster than Swiss racer Lisa Baumann. 

With Newkirk and other North Americans making multiple podium appearances in recent years, it might be safe to say that European downhill dominance is coming to an end.

For years, Europeans dominated DH mountain bike racing

In the past decade, World Cup DH racing has been dominated by riders from Europe. On the men’s side, Frenchmen Loic Bruni and Amaury Pierron battled for the overall title, with one or the other winning for six years. 

Among elite women, aside from Australian Tracy Hannah, who won the overall title in 2019, European women have been the fastest in the world. In the last decade, Rachel Atherton, Myriam Nicole, and, most recently, Vali Holl have won the overall titles. 

Before the Frenchmen took over, American Aaron Gwin was in the top spot. After Gwin’s overall titles in 2016 and 2017, North American racers standing at the top spot became fewer and fewer. From 2021 to 2025, American Dakotah Norton had some podium finishes, but never won a World Cup race. 

But then Canadian men started winning. Finn Iles performed very well in 2022, taking the top spot at Mont Sainte-Anne. And then Jackson Goldstone entered the picture. The Canadian young-gun began winning in 2023, eventually taking the overall title in 2025.

And, in 2026, Americans and Canadians seem to be making a push for the top spots in DH racing.

There have been four rounds thus far in 2026, and, on the men’s side, a North American racer has taken the top spot at each round. Rookie racer Asa Vermette was the top qualifier and took first place at the first stop of the World Cup in South Korea. He followed that with a third-place finish at round four in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, last weekend.

American Luca Shaw took a well-deserved win at the second round in Loudenvielle. Round three and four were taken by Iles, who hadn’t had a first-place finish since his 2022 victory. 

Screenshot from Newkirk’s Instagram

Along with her first-place finish in round four, Newkirk placed third in round three. Canadian Gracey Hemstreet took second at Loudenvielle, where she was first last year. In fact, Hemstreet won three World Cup races in 2025 and stood on a podium three times in 2024. She was the runner-up for the overall title last year, behind Austria’s Holl.

Talented riders growing up at mountain bike destinations

The current crop of talented riders coming out of North America has likely benefited from growing up in some pretty spectacular places. 

Vermette cut his teeth in Durango, Colorado. Along with the rough and rowdy trails that surround the city, Vermette also took advantage of lift-access riding at nearby Purgatory Mountain.

Goldstone grew up in Squamish, BC, another mountain bike mecca. He not only took advantage of some of the world’s most well-known trails but also the world’s most well-known bike park. Goldstone was a regular at Whistler Bike Park as a kid. Hemstreet grew up not far from Squamish in Sechelt, BC. Along with regular trips to Whistler, Hemstreet took advantage of her backyard bike park, Coast Gravity Park.

Although she was born in Utah, Newkirk spent a significant portion of her life in Switzerland. When Singletracks spoke with her in 2023, she mentioned having the rough and rowdy World Cup tracks so close as a tremendous advantage. 

More rounds in North America

Newkirk’s winning run last weekend was another tremendous step in the North American continent’s push to be on the downhill map again, both figuratively and literally. The lack of World Cup rounds in North America, and more specifically in the USA, puts American and Canadian racers at a disadvantage.

Without taking away from the phenomenal talent of these European racers, the World Cup schedule has traditionally favored races on the continent. In the last decade, more than 80% of World Cup DH rounds have been held in Europe. This means less travel, more rest, and fewer expenses for European-based riders.

In the last decade, two American Venues have hosted a World Cup race: Snowshoe and Lake Placid. Lake Placid will host it again this year, along with another North American stop at Whistler. 

While it isn’t DH racing, World Cup XC racing will once again be held at Lake Placid in 2026. However, a new American venue in Midway, Utah, will host XC racing in September, bringing more World Cup attention to the States.

Even having races outside of Europe likely establishes a more level playing field. For years, European racers have benefited from venues close to home. This year, South Korea hosted the first round of World Cup DH racing, which required all teams and racers to travel.

World Cup DH racing doesn’t reconvene until July 3, this time in Italy. Despite the European venue, perhaps we can celebrate Independence Day with another American Victory.