The 2026 season of the iXS European Downhill Cup has kicked off – in summery conditions in Santiago de Besteiros, Portugal. This was the second time the series had visited this venue, and right from the start it delivered an intense race weekend featuring fast times, challenging conditions and plenty of action.

A warm welcome

The journey took the international field of riders to southern Europe – the riders were welcomed in Santiago de Besteiros in temperatures of around 25 degrees. The atmosphere? Relaxed, motivated and full of anticipation for the new season. Back in race mode at last after the off-season – you could tell everyone was raring to get back on the starting line.

Hot & Dusty

In Portugal, things quickly got serious – and hot. The track was dry, dusty and, above all, fast. With plenty of open stretches, loose corners and high-speed sections, it was immediately clear that nothing would be given away here. Due to the shuttle arrangements, practice runs were limited, which meant that every run had to be spot on. Focus, rather than repetition, was what was needed. 

Windy Seeding 

Temperatures dropped slightly, but the course remained dry and extremely fast. Shortly before the seeding round, a strong wind picked up – and that proved to be the decisive factor. Open sections, fast jumps and exposed sections made the runs unpredictable. The riders had to battle not only against the course, but also against the conditions.

The fastest Elite Men rider was Finnley Iles (CAN – Specialized Gravity). The fastest Elite Women rider on Saturday was Siel Van der Velden (BEL – Scott x1 Racing). However, the fastest time of the day was set by Kasper Hickman (FIN – Cube Factory Racing).

Full Focus Final

On the day of the finals, the wind remained strong – continuing to create challenging conditions. One jump had to be closed for safety reasons, which further altered the dynamics of the course. The racing was intense, technical and demanded maximum concentration. Unfortunately, the Elite Women’s and Pro U19 Men’s finals were interrupted by red flags in the top five, which disrupted the rhythm of the runs. Nevertheless: excitement right to the end and strong performances on the course. 

Jenna Hastings (NZL – Pivot Factory Racing) took the win in the Elite Women’s race. Jordan Williams (GBR – Specialized Gravity) dominated the Elite Men’s race, finishing ahead of Max Hartenstern (GER – Cube Factory Racing) and Finn Iles.

A strong start

The event was impressive off the track too: a superbly organised finish area, a large stage and a live stream watched by several thousand viewers created a real sense of the race.

A successful start to the iXS EDC 2026. Challenging conditions, a fast course and a strong field of riders immediately gave a taste of what this season has in store. The organisation was top-notch, the atmosphere was fantastic, and there is already huge anticipation for the upcoming rounds.