Asa Vermette Wins the 2026 Downhill World Cup Overall

Asa Vermette Wins the 2026 Downhill World Cup Overall

First year Elite. World Cup Overall Champion.

Asa Vermette has officially claimed the 2026 UCI Elite Men's Downhill World Cup Overall, capping off an incredible rookie Elite season with the biggest title in World Cup downhill.

It All Came Down to Lake Placid

Asa entered the final World Cup of the season wearing the leader's jersey, but the championship was far from decided. After battling his way through Q2, Asa put down a fast run in Sunday's final and crossed the line ahead of his closest championship rival, Jordan Williams.

Then Jordan dropped.

Williams edged Asa's time, putting the pressure right back on. The math was simple, but the tension was high: five riders needed to finish between Williams and Asa for the overall title to change hands.

One by one, the remaining riders came down the mountain, but the times kept getting faster. After the final rider crossed the line, only Benoît Coulanges had managed to split Williams and Asa.

Asa finished 8th on the day, but it was enough to secure the 2026 Elite Men's Downhill World Cup Overall.

A Rookie Season to Remember

Winning a World Cup overall is hard enough. Doing it in your first season racing Elite is something else entirely.

At just 19 years old, Asa became only the second American man to win the Elite Downhill World Cup overall, following his Frameworks Racing / TRP teammate Aaron Gwin.

His championship capped off a season that included World Cup victories in South Korea and Whistler, multiple podiums, and a 4th-place finish at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.

From his first Elite World Cup start to wearing the overall leader's jersey and ultimately lifting the trophy in Lake Placid, Asa proved he belonged at the front from day one.

A Special First Year for Frameworks Racing / TRP

The championship also marks a major milestone for TRP.

2026 was our first season as title sponsor of Frameworks Racing / TRP, and year one ends with an Elite Downhill World Cup overall title.

Throughout the season, Asa raced aboard TRP components, including the limited-edition EVO PRO Anniversary brakes created to celebrate 20 years of TRP.

Twenty years of TRP. First year as title sponsor. First year Elite for Asa.

And a World Cup overall championship.

That's a pretty special way to celebrate.

2026 UCI Downhill World Cup Overall Champion

From his Elite debut in South Korea to the final runs of the season in Lake Placid, Asa delivered one of the most memorable rookie campaigns we've ever witnessed.

At 19 years old, he's already a World Cup winner.

Now he's a World Cup Overall Champion.

Congratulations, Asa. What a season.