DH Korea 2026: Vali debuts on Commencal as a new era kicks off in Asia

Less than a week from the Downhill World Cup opener at Mona YongPyong, the 2026 season starts with one of the most reshuffled puzzles in years: Vali Höll debuts on Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres after YT Industries' collapse, Jackson Goldstone arrives as reigning overall and world champion, Loïc Bruni seeks revenge after the painful Mont-Sainte-Anne final, and Asa Vermette and the Alran brothers make their Elite debut as the headline "disruptors". All of it, in the first DH World Cup in Asia in 25 years.

The Korea factor: a historic return to Asia

From May 1 to 3, the Downhill World Cup returns to Asia for the first time since 2001. The venue: Mona YongPyong, in the PyeongChang region — the same one that hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics. A brand-new track that opens a historic triple weekend alongside XCO and XCC, also Asian premieres for those disciplines.

The course, built by James "Jimi" Ramsey and Frank Pardal, has been gradually unveiled in recent days. Initial footage points to a fast top section, with open passages over former ski slopes reminiscent of Lake Placid 2025, plenty of line choices in the wooded sections, big jumps and bermed corners, and a final rock garden that promises to chew up tires as it erodes through the weekend. From what's known so far, a mixed-character course that rewards technique up top and aggression down low.

All of this with a seven-hour difference from Europe, turning the weekend's logistics into an added test for every team.

Flashback 2025: the close of a historic season

Last year delivered two unforgettable stories. In women's Elite, Vali Höll secured her fourth consecutive overall title and wore the rainbow jersey for the fourth straight year at Champéry. Although the Austrian only won two of the nine rounds, her consistency was enough to fend off Gracey Hemstreet (Norco), Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV) and Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD).

In men's Elite, the Mont-Sainte-Anne finale was one of the most dramatic on record. Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) arrived at the final round 72 points behind Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity). After a training crash that left him with a thigh injury, Bruni decided not to start the final after seeing the Canadian's blistering time. Goldstone took the win, matched Aaron Gwin's 2012 record of five wins in a single season and clinched his first overall title — a perfect cap to his first Elite world championship. The season closed with the clear feeling that a new era starts with Goldstone as the man to beat.

The big winter earthquake: YT Industries' collapse

The biggest pre-season DH headline wasn't sporting, it was corporate. YT Industries entered self-administration insolvency mid-season 2025, and the shockwave swept away one of the most recognizable structures in the paddock. The YT Mob disbanded and two of its riders led the juiciest signings of the winter:

• Vali Höll signs with Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres. She described it as a "dream signing". The Austrian moves to a smaller but rising structure — granted a two-year licence in 2025 — sharing the box with Lisa Baumann and Antoine Pierron.
• Andreas Kolb moves to Santa Cruz Syndicate. Joins Goldstone after a brief one-year stint at YT Mob. His Mont-Sainte-Anne 2025 podium turned out to be his application letter for the 2026 team.

The rest of the transfer dance has been remarkable too:

• Aaron Gwin joins Frameworks Racing/TRP (alongside Asa Vermette and Anna Newkirk). The five-time overall champion keeps racing at 38 in a 100% American structure.
• Trek-Unbroken DH signs 2024 junior world champion Oisin O'Callaghan and adds Unbroken (salmon-based recovery supplement brand) as title sponsor.
• Dakotah Norton and Jess Blewitt move to Scott DH Factory alongside Ethan Craik, Benoît Coulanges and Vicky Clavel.
• Nukeproof returns to the World Cup as new title sponsor of Joe Breeden's Axess Racing.

DH pre-season: what's happened between October and April

Unlike XCO, DH doesn't have a dense calendar of HC and C1 races as a thermometer. But the off-season has left two important reference points:

Red Bull Hardline Tasmania (Feb 6-8): Vermette in charge

The first big test of the year took place at Maydena Bike Park and crowned American Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP, 19) as the winner. Sunday's final was cancelled due to rain, with the result decided by Saturday's seeding runs: Vermette posted 3:15.805, with Ronan Dunne (IRL) just over two seconds back and Troy Brosnan (AUS) third at home. Goldstone crashed in training and finished ninth.

Vermette, who debuts in Elite this season after a fierce junior CV (2024 world champion at Pal Arinsal, two World Cup wins in 2025, second in the junior overall by just 12 points behind Max Alran), confirms himself as the rookie with the most real hype in years. In 2025 he had already posted a Lenzerheide time that would have placed him 2nd in Elite, 0.008 seconds behind Amaury Pierron.

In women's, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco) won her third consecutive Hardline Tasmania. She arrives in Korea with last year's confidence: she came within touching distance of taking the overall from Vali at the very last round.

Track work, no racing

Beyond Hardline, the winter has been about work on private tracks, FOX sessions and equipment testing. Goldstone trained intensively with FOX before the opener; Bruni gave little away but confirmed full recovery from the Mont-Sainte-Anne thigh injury; Vali has focused on adapting to her new Commencal bike.

Snapshot: how each rider arrives at Mona YongPyong

Men's Elite

The 2026 grid is considered one of the most competitive in elite men's downhill history. The field:

• Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate, CAN, 22) — 2025 overall and world champion. Five wins last year. Arrives as the man to beat.
• Loïc Bruni (Specialized Gravity, FRA, 31) — Five-time world champion, four-time overall winner (2023 and 2024 the most recent). Came within 72 points of the title in 2025 with two wins and the feeling he was at his very best. Mental revenge against Goldstone is the season's sub-plot.
• Andreas Kolb (Santa Cruz Syndicate, AUT) — Third at MSA. Changes structure after YT's collapse and joins one of the strongest projects in the paddock.
• Amaury Pierron (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction, FRA) — The Frenchman comes off an inconsistent season. Still one of the few capable of winning on a given day when everything clicks.
• Loris Vergier (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction, FRA) — 2024 world champion. One win in 2025 (Les Gets in the mud). A veteran who knows how to handle new circuits.
• Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity, CAN) — Proven talent, no wins in 2025 but podiums. Bruni's and Jordan Williams's teammate.
• Troy Brosnan (Canyon DH Racing, AUS) — At 32, still firm. Third at Hardline Tasmania 2026.
• Luca Shaw (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team, USA) — 2nd at MSA and 3rd in the overall. One of the great consistencies.
• Ronan Dunne (Continental Atherton, IRL) — Two wins in 2025 (Bielsko-Biała and Les Gets). Mud specialist. 2nd at Hardline Tasmania 2026.
• Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP, USA, 19) — Elite debutant. Hardline Tasmania 2026 winner. 2024 Junior World Champion. In 2025 already posting top-2 elite times. The most explosive addition of the year.
• Max Alran (Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction, FRA) — 2025 junior overall champion (12 points ahead of Vermette). The other big rookie to watch.
• Till Alran (FRA) — Max's brother, also debuting in Elite.
• Charlie Hatton (GBR) — 2023 world champion. Inconsistent 2025, but capable of winning.
• Aaron Gwin (Frameworks Racing/TRP, USA, 38) — Five-time overall winner. The American legend keeps racing in Elite. A return to Asia loaded with symbolic weight.
• Henri Kiefer (Canyon DH Racing, GER) — Made his first podium at Leogang 2025. Young rider on the rise.

Women's Elite

• Vali Höll (Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres, AUT) — Four-time world champion and four-time consecutive overall winner. One season away from matching Anne-Caroline Chausson's five overall titles. In 2026 she debuts a new team and bike, which adds significant risk/opportunity. If she recovers her dominant 2022-2023 pace, she repeats the title without discussion.
• Gracey Hemstreet (Norco x Adidas Race Division, CAN, 21) — Four wins in 2025, leader heading into the final round. Came to MSA as a real threat to Vali. Three-time Hardline Tasmania winner, including the 2026 edition. The strongest candidate to dethrone Höll.
• Marine Cabirou (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Team, FRA) — Eleven World Cup wins in her career. Won at MSA 2025 and Val di Sole 2025. Her consistency on new tracks is huge.
• Tahnée Seagrave (Orbea FMD Racing, GBR) — Won Bielsko-Biała 2025 and Pal Arinsal 2025. Veteran experience and pure attack.
• Anna Newkirk (Frameworks Racing/TRP, USA) — 2nd at Leogang 2025. Young, clearly progressing.
• Nina Hoffmann (Santa Cruz Syndicate, GER) — Capable of winning at any round.
• Jess Blewitt (Scott DH Factory, NZL) — Changes structure for 2026.
• Mille Johnset (Nukeproof Axess Racing, NOR) — Growing consistency.
• Aletha Ostgaard (Canyon CLLCTV, NOR) — Young promise within Cabirou's team.

The big questions for May 1

• How does Vali start with Commencal? Changing bikes mid-stride after four consecutive overall titles is bold. The Commencal Supreme V5 is a proven bike, but adaptation time is the factor that could break her run.
• Does the Hardline Tasmania podium (Vermette - Dunne - Brosnan) preview Korea's podium? Conditions are different, but Vermette's competitive momentum is the hottest in the paddock.
• Does Bruni recover the version that had him 100 points clear of Goldstone until Lake Placid? If yes, the duel of the year is on from race one.
• How many freshly graduated juniors will land in the Elite top-15? Vermette, Max Alran, Till Alran. The French-American pipeline is fierce.
• Will we see any 32" DH bike? Neko Mulally already won with a mega-mullet at Sea Otter. Rumors point to teams testing, no public confirmation yet.

The first round of the 2026 DH World Cup gathers more structural changes — YT's collapse, transfer wave, emerging junior generation — than any recent opener. Goldstone defends his crown as reigning overall and world champion. Bruni seeks revenge. Vali debuts a new team and bike chasing Chausson's record. And Asa Vermette arrives as the rookie with the most real hype in the paddock.

All of it, in a venue no rider knows, in DH's return to Asia after 25 years. Mona YongPyong will be new ground for everyone: maximum equalizer, reward for whoever reads the terrain best from the very first run. May 3 sets in motion what could be the most open and storyline-rich DH season of the past decade.