Race Report – World Cup #3: Leogang, Austria
The Pressure of Familiar Terrain
Leogang. It’s a name that rings familiar across the UCI Downhill World Cup circuit. Nestled in the Austrian Alps, this track has been a staple on the calendar for years. Riders know it well—maybe too well. And while familiarity can bring confidence, it also brings pressure. Everyone knows the lines, the sectors, and the secrets of the course… which means there’s nowhere to hide. Margins are tight, and even the smallest mistake can be the difference between qualifying and spectating.
This year’s Leogang track brought a blend of high-speed bike park sections up top, tight rooty woods in the middle, and an ever-decisive bottom sector that’s claimed more than its fair share of runs over the years. The 2025 edition stayed dry and fast, turning Leogang into a race of precision and daring. With little room for error, line choice and setup had to be dialed from the first gate drop.
Team Progress
Despite the pressure-cooker conditions, the team showed serious signs of momentum this weekend. Oscar Griffiths took a major step forward in Q2, laying down his best World Cup performance to date. His riding was composed, confident, and inching ever closer to that elusive race-day qualification.
Juanfer Munoz looked blisteringly fast through most of the track, showing that when he keeps it clean, he’s right there with the best. Unfortunately, a crash in Q1 and a conservative Q2 run kept him from the finals—but the pace is there, and he knows it.
Mille Johnset continues to build her form, narrowly missing out in both qualifying rounds. Just 0.3 seconds off in Q1 and riding strong all weekend, her consistency is growing, and the pieces are coming together.
Top Performers
Joe Breeden was once again one of the team’s standout performers. With a 13th-place finish—just 2.7 seconds off the win—Joe proved he’s got the speed to run near the front, no matter the style of track. From rough and raw to smooth and fast, he’s delivering across all terrain.
Louise Ferguson cracked into the top 10 with a P10 finish, calling Leogang in the dry “a treat.” Her confidence was clear, and she looked right at home on the Austrian slopes. Another strong result under her belt as she heads into her next race with momentum.
Rider Quotes
Joe Breeden
“Three races in, and three completely different styles of track—each demanding unique setups and approaches. I’m stoked to have delivered consistent speed at all of them. To be 13th and only 2.7 seconds off the win is wild! I’ll take a little reset at home, then I’m buzzing to come out swinging for Val Di Sole next week—it’s one of my favorites!”
Louise Ferguson
“Really happy with P10. Leogang in the dry is a treat, and I thought everyone was riding really well. Personally, I was keen to push a bit more in the finals, but I’m happy to be healthy and feeling confident by the end of the week.”
Mille Johnset
“I feel like I found my speed a bit more this week. I was able to push and be competitive. I still need to work on putting together a full race run, but it’s nice to see that things are heading in the right direction.”
Oscar Griffiths
“I loved the track and the puzzle that is Leogang. Even though I didn’t make the qualifying cut, this was my most successful weekend yet. I’m getting closer, and this was a huge step toward becoming a better racer. Big thanks to the team and to Leogang for a fun week!”
Juanfer Munoz
“I was having so much fun and riding fast. I was on a heater in Q1 but had a silly crash in the last sector. In Q2 I backed off a bit to play it safe but was just off the pace. The result is coming—I can feel it!”
Next stop: Val di Sole – the rough, rowdy beast of the series. If Leogang was a game of finesse, Val di Sole is pure survival of the fittest. The team’s trending in the right direction, and we’ll be ready.
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