OTTAWA, ON (August 29, 2026) – Downhill mountain bike star Jackson Goldstone of Squamish, British Columbia, does it again, capturing his second consecutive UCI Elite Men’s Downhill World Championship and successfully defending the rainbow jersey at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy. The 22-year old’s victory comes one year after Goldstone earned his first Elite world title in Champéry, Switzerland, solidifying his status as one of the most talented Downhill riders on the globe.
Goldstone delivered a flawless championship ride against the world’s fastest athletes, with a run described by commentators as looking “easier than putting the kettle on the stove,” rising to the occasion for the most important race of his season. The win adds another remarkable chapter to his career after rising through the junior ranks with a Junior World Championship title and multiple World Cup victories, to his historic 2025 season featuring both the UCI Downhill World Cup overall title and the Elite World Championship crown.
“Oh my God, what an absolutely insane week. I had a feeling I could do it. I just tried to trust myself, hit all my lines, and I’m absolutely speechless,” said Goldstone. “Thank you to the crowd, my team, and Santa Cruz Syndicate. This is an absolute dream. I can’t believe I get to say that again. That was the most fun I’ve ever had on a mountain bike. I love you, Val di Sole! Back-to-back, baby!”
The Santa Cruz Syndicate athlete was the last rider to leave the start gate and posted a time of 3:28:785, surpassing Lachlan Stevens-McNab by 0.695 seconds. With these back-to-back titles, Goldstone surpasses Stevie Smith for the most Elite Men’s World Championship Downhill titles by a Canadian. This is a historic moment for Canadian cycling with the country’s first back-to-back titles in a mountain bike discipline since Alison Sydor in 1998 & 1999. For full results please visit the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships page.
