What a debut! The fifth round of the iXS European Downhill Cup 2025 took the scene to Les Orres in France for the first time - and it was a weekend to remember. A picture-perfect course, capricious weather and world-class racing: there's no better way to start a new chapter.

Friday - Hard training and rolling thunderstorms

It was clear from the very first track check: Les Orres sets new standards in the EDC calendar. Big, raw, relentless - the course leads over massive stone fields, technically demanding drops and fast, open sections. The Maxxis Course Preview with Jackson Connelly (AUS) and James Macdermid (NZL) left no doubt: this is where it gets serious.

Unpredictable

Training started in perfect conditions, but the mountain had other plans. In the afternoon, a thunderstorm with heavy rain hit the bike park, forcing the organisers to end the training session early. A real reality check for all riders.

Saturday - Sunshine after a storm

On Saturday morning, the track was still covered in deep mud. But as the sun rose, the grip returned - and with it the racing feeling. The seeding run turned out to be the first real indicator. Lisa Baumann (SUI - Commencal Schwalbe Les Orres) put down a big marker in the Elite Women's race and took pole position by a whopping eight seconds. Her team-mate Antoine Pierron (FRA) also made it clear that he feels at home on home soil - almost four seconds ahead of the Elite Men. A double victory for the home team and a foretaste of what was to follow.

Sunday - French showdown

The final day offered racing conditions at their best: sunshine, a dry track and fully focussed drivers. The morning training session was spent fine-tuning and optimising before things got serious. In the final, the finish area was filled with countless spectators, creating a goosebump-inducing atmosphere!

Conclusion - A strong debut

Les Orres has delivered. The premiere was challenging, spectacular and perfectly organised - a real win for the iXS European Downhill Cup. The course has character, the event format was perfect and the racing was absolutely superb. The bar for new locations is now much higher. The cup continues from 26-28 September with the sixth and final stop in Kranjska Gora - the grand finale of a strong season so far.