UCI DH World Cup La Thuile: Double victory for Santa Cruz - Goldstone and Hoffmann unbeatable!
Peter Nilges
· 07.07.2025
Canadian high-flyer Jackson Goldstone and German rider Nina Hoffmann have won the elite races at the UCI Downhill World Cup in La Thuile - Valle d'Aosta, Italy. On the steepest World Cup course of all time with an average gradient of 28 per cent, the two Santa Cruz Syndicate team-mates came out on top against strong competition.
Goldstone with historic winning streak
The 21-year-old Jackson Goldstone celebrated his fourth World Cup victory in a row in La Thuile, equalling the record set by Aaron Gwin in 2012. With a time of 3:27.1 minutes, the Canadian relegated Frenchman Loris Vergier to second place by 0.6 seconds. Loïc Bruni completed the podium in third place. Goldstone was overwhelmed after his success: "I can't believe that just happened. It felt right throughout the race and I'm very happy with everything." The young Canadian now has the chance to set a new record with five wins in a row at the next World Cup in Pal Arinsal - Andorra.
The 2.3 kilometre course in La Thuile, with a difference in altitude of 641 metres and the extreme gradient, presented even the world's best downhillers with major challenges. Changing weather conditions with the onset of rain during the men's race did not make the task any easier for the later starters. However, Goldstone, who was the last rider to take to the course, once again proved his exceptional skills and came out on top despite the difficult conditions.
Hoffmann celebrates comeback victory
Nina Hoffmann made an impressive comeback in the women's race. The 28-year-old German, who was injured at the World Cup in Leogang in June, was the only skier to break the four-minute barrier with a time of 3:57.9 minutes, securing her first World Cup victory since 2023. Reigning world champion Valentina Höll from Austria came in second, 2.9 seconds behind, followed by Canada's Gracey Hemstreet in third place.
Hoffmann was visibly moved after her triumph: "I'm such an emotional person, I can't believe it. I had it in my head that the winning time would be under four minutes. I didn't expect to come first in the end." The German emphasised how important this success was for her after her injury: "This means so much to me, considering where I came from in Leogang. I flew over the wall ride there. Then in Val di Sole I held back and tried to build up my confidence. This weekend I felt it clicked again."
Convincing young talent
Promising talents also prevailed in the junior categories. In the men's race, Frenchman Till Alran celebrated his second World Cup victory in a row, taking the overall lead from his twin brother Max, who crashed in the race.
American Aletha Ostgaard took her first World Cup victory in the women's junior race. After two second places in the previous races, the Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team rider utilised her strengths on the demanding course and beat off the competition. Ostgaard commented on her victory: "It was intense. I was saying to myself the whole time: 'Clean run, don't go too fast'. It was so physically demanding, and when you add in the length of the course, you were really done by the end."
The key data of the route in La Thuile - Valle d'Aosta
- Length: 2.3 kilometres
- Difference in altitude: 641 metres
- Average gradient: 28%
Elite Men Top 3
- Jackson Goldstone (CAN): 3:27.1 minutes
- Loris Vergier (FRA): +0.6 seconds
- Loïc Bruni (FRA): +1.0 seconds
Elite Women Top 3
- Nina Hoffmann (GER): 3:57.9 minutes
- Valentina Höll (AUT): +2.9 seconds
- Gracey Hemstreet (CAN): +3.19 seconds
Juniors Men Top 3
- Till Alran (FRA): 3:28.2 minutes
- Asa Vermette (USA): +1.56 seconds
- Tyler Waite (NZL): +4.85 seconds
Juniors Top 3
- Aletha Ostgaard (USA): 4:08.15 minutes
- Rosa Zierl (AUT): +2.445 seconds
- Matilda Melton (USA): +2.83 seconds
