2025 Season Recap
ITS A
WRAP
A Year of Consistency, Challenges, and Finding Myself Again
The 2025 season was without a doubt the most consistent season of my career so far. Coming into the year, I didn’t set many concrete goals. I simply wanted to ride more consistently, crash less, and show dominance without obsessing over specific results. But as the season progressed, I realized that approach only works to a certain point. At some stage, you have to be honest with yourself about what you truly want—and once I did, everything slowly started to fall into place.
Read 5 min
Round 1 – Poland
The first race of the season is always special. Seeing all my friends again, the buzz in the paddock, the media appointments—it really feels like Christmas. With the new race format, where nobody was protected anymore, the pressure was higher than ever. Knowing there was a chance of not even making it into the finals was nerve-wracking.
Luckily, I managed to win Q1 and secure my spot straight into finals. Race day brought completely unexpected conditions: snow. I had never ridden from the start hut down a snow-covered track before. In my race run, I just couldn’t put everything together and finished P5. After such a strong qualifying, it was a bit disappointing—but it was only the beginning of what would become a big learning year.
Round 2 – Loudenvielle
This race was mentally one of the toughest. I didn’t feel safe on the bike, yet I was pushing hard, and my times were still far off the top riders. On race day, I decided to grit my teeth and fully step out of my comfort zone. I hit a gap I had only done once in practice, and from that moment on, something clicked. I knew I was heading in the right direction. Finishing P2 gave me a massive boost of confidence and energy, especially with my home race coming up next.
Round 3 – Leogang
Home races are always tricky—especially after having two really strong results there in the past. The expectations were high, and I struggled to feel that inner fire, even though I had won qualifying the day before. I crossed the finish line in P3. A solid result, but not the kind of riding I knew I was capable of. The results were there, but something was still missing.
Round 4 – Val di Sole
Val di Sole is one of my favorite tracks—raw, demanding, and unforgiving. Conditions changed constantly, and by race day the track was completely destroyed. I had a strong qualifying and a good race overall, but once again, I lost time in the last split—just like in the previous races. Another P2. Consistent, yes, but frustrating at the same time.
Round 5 – La Thuile & Round 6 – Andorra
La Thuile was a brand-new track and an absolute blast. Fresh loam, creative lines, and some great jumps. But once again, the result was P2—same story.
With back-to-back races, we went straight to Andorra. During practice, I could already feel that I was getting sick. I barely slept over those days, yet somehow managed to qualify with a decent result. On race day, I had no energy left at all. The race medic supported me massively and even brought medicine to the start gate. I rode clean, without caring too much about the result, and somehow still finished P2.
After that race, my body completely shut down. The Epstein-Barr virus flared up again, forcing me into a proper break.
The first race of the season is always special. Seeing all my friends again, the buzz in the paddock, the media appointments—it really feels like Christmas. With the new race format, where nobody was protected anymore, the pressure was higher than ever. Knowing there was a chance of not even making it into the finals was nerve-wracking.
Luckily, I managed to win Q1 and secure my spot straight into finals. Race day brought completely unexpected conditions: snow. I had never ridden from the start hut down a snow-covered track before. In my race run, I just couldn’t put everything together and finished P5. After such a strong qualifying, it was a bit disappointing—but it was only the beginning of what would become a big learning year.
Round 2 – Loudenvielle
This race was mentally one of the toughest. I didn’t feel safe on the bike, yet I was pushing hard, and my times were still far off the top riders. On race day, I decided to grit my teeth and fully step out of my comfort zone. I hit a gap I had only done once in practice, and from that moment on, something clicked. I knew I was heading in the right direction. Finishing P2 gave me a massive boost of confidence and energy, especially with my home race coming up next.
Round 3 – Leogang
Home races are always tricky—especially after having two really strong results there in the past. The expectations were high, and I struggled to feel that inner fire, even though I had won qualifying the day before. I crossed the finish line in P3. A solid result, but not the kind of riding I knew I was capable of. The results were there, but something was still missing.
Round 4 – Val di Sole
Val di Sole is one of my favorite tracks—raw, demanding, and unforgiving. Conditions changed constantly, and by race day the track was completely destroyed. I had a strong qualifying and a good race overall, but once again, I lost time in the last split—just like in the previous races. Another P2. Consistent, yes, but frustrating at the same time.
Round 5 – La Thuile & Round 6 – Andorra
La Thuile was a brand-new track and an absolute blast. Fresh loam, creative lines, and some great jumps. But once again, the result was P2—same story.
With back-to-back races, we went straight to Andorra. During practice, I could already feel that I was getting sick. I barely slept over those days, yet somehow managed to qualify with a decent result. On race day, I had no energy left at all. The race medic supported me massively and even brought medicine to the start gate. I rode clean, without caring too much about the result, and somehow still finished P2.
After that race, my body completely shut down. The Epstein-Barr virus flared up again, forcing me into a proper break.
Summer Break – Resetting Mind and Body
During the summer break, we received the news that YT was struggling. That, combined with my health issues, felt like a clear sign to step away from downhill racing for a moment and reset mentally. We went bikepacking in Norway—sleeping in tents, cooking pasta by lakes, and eating countless cinnamon buns along the way. After 420 km on a gravel bike, I was more than happy to get back on my DH bike.
Even though the team situation was far from ideal, I knew exactly what I wanted: to ride like myself again, chase the rainbow stripes, and defend my overall jersey.
Round 6 – Les Gets
Les Gets welcomed us with terrible weather—and I loved every second of it. For the first time in a long while, I truly enjoyed riding in the mud again. I felt like my old self: sliding, smiling, and having fun on the bike. I wasn’t racing for a brand anymore—I was racing for myself.
I qualified P1 and felt confident. My race run was strong and mistake-free, but once again I lost time in the final split and missed the top spot. I was disappointed, but P3 was still enough to keep the overall lead.
World Championships – Switzerland
World Champs felt like a dream setup. I spent more time hanging out, talking, and laughing with friends and future teammates than stressing about results. That atmosphere alone made it special.
Round 7 – Lenzerheide
Racing for the third year in my rainbow stripes felt like a massive relief. I won qualifying again, but the race ended in P3—consistent, but still not fully satisfying. It was the last European race with YT, and while it was bittersweet, I was happy knowing that we had already secured a new team for the years to come.
Round 8 – Lake Placid
The trip to the US was mostly self-funded, except for accommodation already covered by YT. The night before practice, we received the news that there would be no MOB program for 2026. Fortunately, SRAM stepped in to support me for the final two races, and my former mechanic Mat Gallean joined me, as all YT employees were already on holiday.
I had some all-black kit with me and instantly fell in love with the new track. I won qualifying by six seconds and finally felt like myself again—riding for me, reunited with my old team, supported by my manager and best friend Devid. It felt more like a holiday than a race.
In my race run, I enjoyed every single second and finally took my first World Cup win. A moment I’ll never forget.
Round 9 – Mont-Sainte-Anne
With the overall already secured after Lake Placid, this race was pure bonus. I had a stupid crash before qualifying and took it easy in Q1. In the race run, I was wearing shorts and honestly riding faster than ever. I was up on all splits until I got a front flat. It happens.
I soaked in the atmosphere, celebrated with the fans, and ended the season exactly how it should end—surrounded by friends and good vibes.
Les Gets welcomed us with terrible weather—and I loved every second of it. For the first time in a long while, I truly enjoyed riding in the mud again. I felt like my old self: sliding, smiling, and having fun on the bike. I wasn’t racing for a brand anymore—I was racing for myself.
I qualified P1 and felt confident. My race run was strong and mistake-free, but once again I lost time in the final split and missed the top spot. I was disappointed, but P3 was still enough to keep the overall lead.
World Championships – Switzerland
World Champs felt like a dream setup. I spent more time hanging out, talking, and laughing with friends and future teammates than stressing about results. That atmosphere alone made it special.
Round 7 – Lenzerheide
Racing for the third year in my rainbow stripes felt like a massive relief. I won qualifying again, but the race ended in P3—consistent, but still not fully satisfying. It was the last European race with YT, and while it was bittersweet, I was happy knowing that we had already secured a new team for the years to come.
Round 8 – Lake Placid
The trip to the US was mostly self-funded, except for accommodation already covered by YT. The night before practice, we received the news that there would be no MOB program for 2026. Fortunately, SRAM stepped in to support me for the final two races, and my former mechanic Mat Gallean joined me, as all YT employees were already on holiday.
I had some all-black kit with me and instantly fell in love with the new track. I won qualifying by six seconds and finally felt like myself again—riding for me, reunited with my old team, supported by my manager and best friend Devid. It felt more like a holiday than a race.
In my race run, I enjoyed every single second and finally took my first World Cup win. A moment I’ll never forget.
Round 9 – Mont-Sainte-Anne
With the overall already secured after Lake Placid, this race was pure bonus. I had a stupid crash before qualifying and took it easy in Q1. In the race run, I was wearing shorts and honestly riding faster than ever. I was up on all splits until I got a front flat. It happens.
I soaked in the atmosphere, celebrated with the fans, and ended the season exactly how it should end—surrounded by friends and good vibes.
Looking Back & Ahead
All in all, 2025 was a massive year. Full of doubts, uncertainty, and things completely out of my control. But the one thing that always gave me energy was the people behind me—the crew who supported me when things got rough. That meant everything to me.
I’m incredibly grateful for all my partners who stayed by my side and for everyone involved in this journey.
Looking ahead to next year, I feel more motivated than ever. I know what I want. I have a new team, a new bike to figure out, and new opportunities to grow. I can’t wait for what’s coming next.
I’m incredibly grateful for all my partners who stayed by my side and for everyone involved in this journey.
Looking ahead to next year, I feel more motivated than ever. I know what I want. I have a new team, a new bike to figure out, and new opportunities to grow. I can’t wait for what’s coming next.
