Who can win the 2022 Downhill Mountain Bike World Championships?

The 2022 Mountain Bike World Championships have started in Les Gets, France this week, and riders, support staff, families, friends and super fans from around the globe are arriving in the French ski town. It's big news for the Australian riders as it is the first time a full junior squad has been sent to the World Championships since 2019.

2022 has a 9 stop World Cup series, and with just one round to go in Val di Sole (Italy) we can look at a whole lot of races to see who may impress, who can be on the podium, and who may go away with the rainbow bands.

The track at Les Gets is fast and steep, and based on how the track walk went, it looks like it will throw up a little bit of everything for riders at this year's World Championships.

We asked a bunch of our regular contributors for their input on who they think can take the title this Sunday. Here's what they have come up with.

Who can win Downhill according to Matt Rousu

'In the Men's Elite Downhill, Amaury Pierron is my all out favourite for World Champs,' says Matt Rousu. 'Even though the World Cup overall is still on the line, I heard him say that he is going to go all out at World Champs and that he really wants the rainbow stripes. I watched him practice one line at MSA and it didn't work for him, he hiked back up had about a 2 second look and then absolutely nail the other line choice. His focus and execution are second to none at the moment. It's been a great season and there are many other contenders.'

Matt Rousu was track side for Mont Sainte Anne, and saw the speed riders are moving at just a couple of weeks ago. 'Greg Minnaar has built through the season well, Bernard Kerr has finally cracked the code and has the most confidence out of anyone. Finn Illes finally got the monkey off the back and took a World Cup win and in the highest stress race of the season for him, it shows how good under pressure he is. Troy can also definitely win at Les Gets. Laurie Greenland, Loris Vergier and Loic Bruni have been hit and miss this year but have shown before how good they are under pressure.'

'In the women's Elite DH it's going to be a battle between Myriam Nicole and Vali Holl, the pressure is on both of them to win and with Camile Balanche out injured its going to be a showdown between them. Ellie Smith is capable of a top 10 at this track as well.'

Junior Downhill doesn't always come up, but there are some clear leaders this year – and a distinct Australian podium contender.

'Jackson Goldstone is surely the outright favourite for Junior Men's DH, with the overall World Cup already sown up, He's got nothing to lose. There have been a few who have threatened him this season (mainly Jordan Williams) but he has shown his class time and time again. Remy Meier-Smith will definitely be in the hunt for a medal this year too.'

'Phoebe Gale is my pic for the Junior Women's DH, she's been super consistent all season and when she's on for a win, she wins big! I don't know if Gracey Hemstreet has the killer instinct to take the title away, although she's been even more consistent this year. Elise Empey will fly the flag for Aus, she's a top 5 contender.'

Chris Panozzo's World Champs picks 

According to Chris, it's location, location, location.

'Imagine how many people the French federation will have on hand to support the riders… They take boat loads to venues around the world. They will surely have enough to have one person standing on each corner of the track all throughout practice with a stopwatch and video camera. Each evening they will most likely sit down with all their riders in front of a projector and go through what lines the top riders are taking, showing video, and then showing what measures fastest against the clock, what other nation will do that?'

It's this full system approach that makes Panozzo believe that every French rider is a potential championship winner.

'Every single French man or woman who has made the selection to be there is odds on favourite to win. Some will crash going for it, but their rider selection is so deep that the ones who don't will be on the box for sure. It will take a superhuman effort to stop them, so if a non French rider wins, it will be one of the biggest wins of the decade.'

And one last thing from Chris – the weather.

'Pray for dry weather. It won't really affect the result, but the hype machine of the crowd 5 deep off the bunting will push every rider to take mega risks on what will no doubt be one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. It is shaping up to be one for the history books!'

Gerard Lagana's inside line on the Downhill World Champs

Photo guy Gerard Lagana notes that Troy Brosnan is back up to speed – is this his year?

'Troy Brosnan is back up to pace after injury from Australian National Champs claiming a 3rd at MSA. Still yet to win some rainbow stripes, he will be swinging. Also, Finn Iles has been finding form for the last few years but this year has won his first World Cup on home soil in one of the biggest WC wins to date. There's no question he will want to keep his winning form come World Champs.'

Well his bike looks fast.

But like everyone else, Gerard can't rule out a French win. 'Loic Bruni has won mulitple World Championships back to back. He's down with injury currently but never out. With a home soil World Champs there is every reason to lay it all on the line to show everyone, yet again he can lay one down when it counts! Pressure makes diamonds Rainbows!'

'With Amaury Pierron winning 4/7 World Cup races this year he is quickly climbing up the all time World Cup win ladder. There is no question that on home soil he will be full throttle.' But like Chris Panozzo noted, the French talent runs deep. 'Benoit Coulanges was 2nd last year at World Champs in Val Di Sole with solid results, a home soil champs could make something special happen.

Of course, young guns will be firing, as Gerard adds.

'Wild card Luke Meier-Smith has been showing some incredible speed this season as well as his younger brother Remy in Juniors. Who knows if he can lay down a hail mary run – we might see something special.' 

'Camille Balanche newer to the game than her fellow racers but the Swiss ice hockey player is showing she isn't here to f*** spiders. She has 3 World Cup wins this year, and was World Champ in 2020. Definitely one to watch our for if she is back from injury obtained during MSA Practice. 

'Vali Holl the Austrian golden girl is finding her form amongst the Elite women after a clean sweep in Juniors. Winning 2 World Cups this year she is always a threat if she can keep it rubber side down.'

'Myriam Nicole has three 2nds and 1 World Cup win this year and she is the current World Champ. One of the most experienced racers amongst the women is on pace. Home soil World Champs, there's no question backing up those rainbow stripes will be top priority.'

'Nina Hoffman has 2 World Cup wins this year, so it's clear she is very comfortable on the new bike and team surrounding her. Could be a changing of the guard for the Syndicate rider.'

Hayden Wright's tips on Downhill World Championships winners

According to Hayden Wright, American Aaron Gwin is a man to watch.

'The only feather missing from Aaron Gwin's cap is a World Championship. Since 2009 a win on the biggest day in downhill has eluded him. Aaron has been outspoken about the time and effort he and his team have been putting into the development of the new Intense downhill platform over the past year at the sacrifice of results in the short term. Following multiple iterations of frame designs the changes seem to have slowed and we are now seeing a positive trend in Aaron's results over past few races. Can Les Gets be the one?'

But like everyone else, Hayden has his eyes to the French for outright dominance.

'Thibaut Daprela took his first world cup win at Les Gets last year, you would be amiss to exclude the exciting young Frenchman from any list of riders who could claim the top spot. In 2021 Daprela showed us he had what it takes to win on home soil, even when he has a face full of stitches and a black eye. Known for his extreme speed and crash or win mentality you can expect Thibault to throw down something exciting between the tape.' 

Ben Morrison's take on Downhill World Champs

While Pierron has oft come up, Ben AKA Moshman is quick to point out that it's how he has developed this year that makes him as a favourite.

'This year Amaury physically looks bigger and it shows on the bike, gone are the days of his wild rides that he just somehow pulls off, now you can see him actively seeking out these wild lines but hitting them with precision and not just holding on for the ride. Both he and Loic are starting to get the same style, like the Alien Nico Vouilloz of old who was so fast and smooth that he didn’t look like he was going quick. Amaury’s splits will tell the story if he is on pace or not as his speed will be hard to tell just watching.'

'Loris Vergier from Trek Factory Racing another rider who can just turn it on when he has to, Loris has had some bad luck recently but he has proved that he is on form and can win. He looks to be very happy with his bike and team setup. You know that Trek will do everything they can to secure the rainbow stripes again and there will be staff all over the course taking videos and scoping lines.'

Recent results count, and Finn Iles is on Ben's short list – but he can't count out Bruni.

'Finn Iles will be one to watch – or Loic Bruni Gravity if he is racing! I think if Loic starts he can win but shoulder injuries can be so hard to predict that’s why I am slipping him into 3rd. Assuming he does start I think that may play into Finn’s head, despite being on fire and taking his first win on home soil. The proven ability to come back from injury and win at World Champs that Loic has would be hard to deal with as a team mate. Having said that if Loic doesn’t start the team will be totally behind Finn and like in Mount Sainte Anne the pressure of Super Bruni will be off his shoulders.'

Ben has picked some outliers for a top 5 podium, based on the season they've been having and how that relates to previous years.

'Troy Brosnan and Aaron Gwin are back finding form and podiums, both can win a race on any given day but as they get older their strengths tend to be building momentum through out a season and finishing well in the overall. Their fitness could mean that if a season was longer they might win more races as other riders ware out and get injured. Its because of this that I see them as a podium threat but not to take the top spot, they are both making a successful return from injury and to injure them self’s taking big risk at World Champs might hurt them more going into next year.'

Ben also points to Lauri Greenland for a potential podium.

'Lauri is so talented and so fast but also makes me nervous to watch. I always want him to win and he has been the new Mr Consistent this year. It’s not often a rider gels so well with a new bike or team so fast and I think this is all part of Lauri’s consistency. Not to say that the support was not there for Lauri at MS Mondraker because he was very fast and always a podium threat with this team, but for Lauri the move to Santa Cruz with its more casual team structure and proven track record for results could be the mental key he has been needing. Having Steve Peat as a team manager is probably also one of the best mental coaches for race day along with his team mate the GOAT (Greg Minaar).'

In the women, Moshy see's Vali Hoell as a stand out favourite.

'What can I say, the woman of the moment is just going from strength to strength. Her dominance is starting to follow the path of Rachael Atherton and at this rate she could eclipse her achievements.'

Nina Hoffman is also on Ben's radar, with a strong season in 2022.

'New team, same Nina, consistent and well liked by her competitors. The Syndicate picking up Nina as their first female rider has been great for both of them, Nina can concentrate on her riding and while her results and consistency hasn’t changed much the time gaps she has on the riders behind her has and is firmly planting her in that elite group we often see develop in the women’s field.'

And lastly, Ben calls Monika Hrastnik Dorval.

A bit of an unknown rider, Monika has actually been around for a while and you can be sure that once she enters the start hut she will be wanting to replace her white European Champion’s jersey with a white World Championship jersey and no doubt be the icing on the cake for what has been a bit of a break out year for her!'

World Champs podium potential – according to Darren Mallard

Darren Mallard is the rider behind the Beyond the Tape podcast, someone who follows every race start and finish. Here are his picks.

'You can never count Amaury Pierron out for any race, especially when the course is flat out, rewards riders who are allergic to brakes and is located in France.'

'Benoit Coulange came out swinging at the start of 2022 and had multiple podium results. After a couple of accidents and missing 2 rounds, we expect him to re-gain his momentum as a solid contender for world champs.'

But after the French, Darren sees Australian Troy Brosnan up there.

'Troy Brosnan suffered a broken ankle at the start of the year and we think that this would have immediately shifted his focus to world champs, I can confirm he will be going hammer and tong for the win in Lets Gets.'

And of course, no one will count out Greg Minaar.

'While the GOAT might be pushing 100 years old, you can never count him out. His mental strength and wisdom is why he can still show the young guns a thing or two after so many years.'

After the last two World Cups, people see that Bernard Kerr is hungry for a big win.

'Kerr has been racing for 15 years, almost half his life, and after changing his coach for 2022, he is at the top of his game. He is on a confidence boost and will be one to watch.'

'Finn Isles, the child prodigy, is finally realising his destiny and after taking his first win on home soil, he will be riding the confidence train hard.'

Another one to come up again is Laurie Greenland.

'Laurie has been on the podium at world champs before and we know he won't crush under the pressure. He is going to charge hard and not leave anything out on the track.'

And Darren has put it out there – calling a top result for Luke Meier-Smith.

'Luke is a bit of an out there call but, he has podiumed at a couple of DH races and in all of the EWS Races he has raced, he has only lost 1 stage. He is on fire this year and I think if the planets align he could be on for a win.

For the women, like others Darren sees Austrian Vali Hoell up there.

'A young phenom who was posting elite podium times while in the junior class but, has failed to deliver, until now. Her head game is now strong enough to match her ambitions. We will see her go hard in Les Gets.'

But it's not a sure thing, with German Nina Hoffman also a chance.

'Nina is strong and loves to go fast. She has grown quickly since starting with the Syndicate and she hasn’t peaked yet. We expect her to be at the pointy end, if not on top.'

'Myriam Nicole is always going to go as fast as she possibly can. She could be on top if she has a clean run. But if it rains and the track gets wild then it will be hard to go past Camille Balanche.'

Darren's final call is from across the ditch in New Zealand.

'They have put something special in the water over at GT and riders seem to be gelling with the new proto bike. Jess Blewitt is pinned this year and we will be surprised if she isnt pushing her limits at worlds.'