The Fastest Women in Downhill Deliver on the World Stage
It was another dominant weekend for the Troy Lee Designs women at the 2026 UCI Downhill World Championships, continuing what has been an incredible season for them on the World Cup circuit. When the dust settled in Val di Sole, TLD walked away with two rainbow jerseys and two unforgettable performances from some of the fastest women in downhill racing.
Tilly Boadle Claims Junior Women’s World Championship
First up was Australia’s Tilly Boadle, who capped off her first year in the junior ranks by becoming the 2026 Junior Women’s World Champion.
Dropping into the Black Snake course right in the middle of the start order, Tilly laid down a calculated and incredibly fast run. Once she crossed the finish line, all she could do was wait and watch as the rest of the field tried to chase down her time.
One by one, riders came through the finish, but nobody could match the Australian’s pace. American and fellow TLD rider Aletha Ostgaard came closest, finishing less than 10 seconds behind Tilly to secure the silver medal. Even Aletha’s final run wasn't enough to knock Tilly from the top step.
For Tilly, it was her first win of the season and there couldn't have been a bigger moment to do it. A World Championship in her first year as a junior is a massive accomplishment and a fitting reward for a hard fought season.
Vali Höll Makes History Once Again
In the Elite Women’s category, it was a case of déjà vu.
For the fifth consecutive year, Austria’s Vali Höll was crowned World Champion, further cementing her place among the all-time greats of downhill racing.
Vali was the final woman to drop into the Black Snake, knowing exactly what she had to do. Her Commencal Les Orres teammate Lisa Baumann had already posted the fastest time and was sitting just one run away from claiming a World Championship title of her own.
But Vali had other plans.
With the rainbow jersey on the line, Vali put together another world-class run and managed to edge out Lisa by just 1.7 seconds to claim her fifth straight World Championship title.
The result adds yet another incredible chapter to Vali’s already historic career. Five consecutive Elite Women’s World Championship titles is a feat few athletes in any sport can match, and Vali continues to rewrite the record books with every season.
Lisa would ultimately take home the silver medal, making it a one-two finish for the Troy Lee Designs women.
Two Rainbow Jerseys, One Incredible Weekend
All in all, it was an incredible weekend in Val di Sole for Troy Lee Designs. From Tilly’s first win of the season and first World Championship title to Vali’s historic fifth consecutive rainbow jersey, and a silver medal for Aletha and Lisa, the TLD women once again proved why they have been such a dominant force throughout the 2026 season.
Two rainbow jerseys, two silver medals, and a whole lot of reasons to be proud.
