Finn Iles Is Back: Canadian wins Leogang World Cup in emotional return to the top

The Canadian rider put together one of the best runs of his career Saturday in Leogang, Austria, holding onto the hot seat all the way to the end and claiming his second career UCI Downhill World Cup victory.

And when it was finally over, Iles broke down in tears.

The win marks his first World Cup victory since Mont-Sainte-Anne in 2022 and comes after a frustrating 2025 season filled with injuries and setbacks.

“That feels really good,” Iles said afterward. “Last year was such a struggle with injuries, and I just didn’t feel like myself.”

Wet conditions shake up the race

After days of rain, Leogang’s famous Speedster track was a muddy mess for the men’s final. Because the men raced before the women, the earliest starters had to deal with the slickest conditions. As the race progressed, the track slowly dried and perhaps the woods sections were actually slower.

But Saturday worked out perfectly for Iles. The Specialized Gravity rider qualified first in Q2 on Friday and started early and had an incredible run to sit in the hot seat for the rest of the race.

Before him, Amaury Pierron had thrown down an impressive run to take over the lead. Then Iles dropped in.

He looked great from the opening split and carried speed throughout the course. Near the bottom he briefly slipped a pedal, but otherwise it was about as close to a perfect run as anyone managed all day.

When he crossed the line, he pushed Pierron out of the hot seat. Then the waiting began.

The challengers come up short

A handful of riders looked capable of knocking Iles off the top spot. American phenom Asa Vermette appeared to be on pace before going deep off a massive table and crashing heavily. Thankfully, he got back on his bike and finished the run.

Later, Ethan Craik looked like the biggest threat. The Brit was ahead at the first split. Still ahead at the second. Ahead again at the third split as he entered the woods. Then the course bit back.

The lower forest section appeared noticeably slower than it had earlier in the day and Craik suddenly lost time. By the finish he had slipped all the way to sixth.

Dylan Maples was the final realistic challenger but arrived at the first split nearly two seconds behind.

At that point it became clear. Finn Iles was going to win.

Back to being himself

Iles spent the last year trying to regain the confidence and form that made him one of the fastest downhill racers in the world.

“This offseason I put in so much work to find my groove back and to get a win in the third race this season is incredible,” he said.

The result is a massive boost for Canadian downhill racing and a reminder of just how dangerous Iles can be when everything comes together. For one wet afternoon in Austria, everything did.

And judging by the tears at the finish line, nobody appreciated that more than Finn Iles.

Results

Elite Men — Leogang World Cup Results