Just Getting Started – Season 2 – Episode 3 – Fast, Wild, First

The steep, fast, and ever-unpredictable slopes of Loudenvielle set the stage for a historic weekend in World Cup downhill racing. Norco Race Division’s Gracey Hemstreet and Lina Frener delivered two career-defining runs and put the world on notice. Gracey Hemstreet stunned the elite women’s field with a run that redefined the phrase “leaving it all on the track.” Battling intense headwind through the upper sections, which proved brutal for many riders, she came into the lower section sitting well outside podium contention. She turned up the heat in the bottom half, surging from 13th place at the second split to first at the finish line, finishing three seconds faster than second place Austrian favourite, Vali Höll. In a sport where hundredths of a second often define a season, three seconds is an eternity. It was a run that not only earned her the win but made history: Gracey became the first Canadian woman to ever win a World Cup in the Elite category, and the first win in Elite World Cup racing that Norco has ever had. Gracey’s victory is the first North American Elite Women’s World Cup win since 2017, and paired with Jackson Goldstone’s dominant performance in the men’s race, it was the first double North American Elite victory since Big Bear Lake in 1999. For Gracey and Jackson, both from BC and both on the top step, it was a beautiful echo of their shared podium at Red Bull Hardline earlier this season. The next generation is here, and they’re Canadian. Meanwhile, Lina Frener continued her momentum in the Junior Women’s category, securing a massive win right after her second-place finish in Poland, and reinforcing her dominance in the class. Lina’s pace is undeniable. Her race time in Loudenvielle would have been fast enough for 6th place in the Elite Women’s field. It’s clear that she’s not just the future, but that she’s already riding at the highest level. From Juniors to Elites, Norco Race Division riders are pushing boundaries and making statements – with a world class performance from a rising Canadian legend, a historic sweep of the top steps, and a clear view of the future of World Cup racing. LEARN MORE: https://www.norco.com/now/race-reports/norco-doubles-down-on-world-cup-wins-in-loudenvielle/ Check out our latest Norco Race Division videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0BZYkGW4N_rchTAiT1Fgh0wpXTxwOon https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0BZYkGW4N9Zpe-tpOxUAPzaaprsVSLR Check out our latest Norco videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0BZYkGW4N-BFTwJ8iaSgww4bR5YWQqS https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0BZYkGW4N85nIS_VonlZVr8tHa1ivnj https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0BZYkGW4N-gqyva-l1djWS0wCUrpRHl CREDITS: Cinematography: Thomas Sandell ( @thomassandell_ ) Editing: Thomas Sandell Additional Cinematography: Thomas Sandell, Sam Purdie, Jack Clarke, Joe Simkins, Sure Shot, James Leech, Hugh Brockhouse. Photos: Andy Vathis ( @andyvathis ), Nathan Hughes #NorcoRaceDivision #Norco #NorcoBikes #NoOtherWay #mtb #bicycles #MountainBike #MTBLife #MTBRiding #DownhillMTB #TrailRiding #BikeLife #EnduroMTB #CyclingLife #RideYourWay