Monster Energy's Max Alran Takes First Place in Downhill Mountain Bike Race at the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Les Gets

• Elite Men Downhill: 19-Year-Old Max Alran from Southern France Claims 1 ^st Place
• Elite Women Downhill: 29-Year-Old Marine Cabirou from France Earns 2 ^nd Place
• 24-Year-Old Luca Martin from France Claims 2 ^nd Place in Short Track (XCC) Race Event

LES GETS, France, Aug. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Massive weekend for our mountain bike team! Monster Energy congratulates mountain bike team rider Max Alran on taking first place in the Elite Men’s Downhill race at the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Les Gets, France, this weekend. Cheered on by the French fans, the 19-year-old from Southern France took the win on the challenging course. In the Elite Women’s division Downhill final, 29-year-old Marine Cabirou from Millau, France, took second place.

In the Elite Men’s Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) race, 24-year-old Luca Martin from Tourrette-Levens, France, also rose to the podium by claiming second place.

From August 20-23, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series roared back to the legendary Les Gets venue in France’s Haute-Savoie region. Known as a favorite among riders and fans alike, the iconic alpine location delivered pure mountain-bike drama on its steep, technical downhill track inside the Portes du Soleil bike park. The world’s best athletes competed for points and glory in front of one of the biggest, most passionate home crowds of the season across four action-packed days of Downhill (DHI), Cross-country Olympic (XCO), and Cross-country Short Track (XCC) racing.

The team earned a key victory in Saturday’s Elite Men Downhill final, which featured 30 athletes from across the globe. Dropping in as the last rider of the day, Alran claimed first place in a walk-off victory with a finish time of 3:27.924, and the French crowd went crazy!

“I’m speechless; I don’t know how to feel right now,” said Alran about his victory in Les Gets, adding: “The crowd here, the fans, are insane. My family and friends were all yelling, and having my brother there meant a lot, too! I was pretty relaxed in the start hut, so I guess the pressure of being the last man down worked well for me. I’m so stoked, I can’t believe it. This is crazy!”

Alran battled the worst race conditions of the weekend to claim his landmark first Elite World Cup win on home soil in France. On the strength of his performance, Alran rose to seventh place in the overall 2026 season rankings with 677 points.

Also on Saturday, the Elite Women division Downhill race saw Cabirou take second place. Finishing the course in 4:13.198, Cabirou earned important World Cup ranking points and now holds sixth place in the overall season standings with 748 points.

“It’s always special to get on the podium in France, and to do it in Les Gets in front of this insane crowd feels amazing,” said Cabirou. “It hasn’t been an easy season with many ups and downs, so this was a very good result. Racing in France, I have so much support, and the track was so loud all the way down. The atmosphere here is incredible! Super stoked to be back!”

In the overall Elite Men Downhill 2026 World Cup standings, Monster Energy’s 21-year-old Jordan Williams from Bristol, United Kingdom, continues to hold first place with 989 points.

Martin rose to the podium in the Elite Men Short Track (XCC) discipline. Amid heavy competition, Martin finished the 10-lap race in a total time of 22:33, one second behind the winner, to claim second place. After Les Gets, Martin now holds third place in overall XCC season rankings with 840 points, and leads the overall season rankings in the Men’s Elite Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) with 1619 points.

“That was a good battle between Adrien Boichis and me in the end! We made a couple of changes to the bike as the conditions started to dry and I gave it my best to stay with the lead group during the race,” said Martin. It’s so good to race in France and see the young fans lined up on the side of the track. The atmosphere here is amazing.”

Stay tuned when the 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season continues with Cross-Country and Short Track races at Soldier Hollow, Utah, from September 18-20. Also, don’t miss the UCI World Cup Downhill at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada, from September 25-27, and the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series season finale from October 2-4, featuring Downhill, Cross-Country, and Short Track.

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For more on Max Alran, Luca Martin, Marine Cabirou, Jordan Williams, and our team of mountain bike athletes, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for updates from the 2026 mountain bike race season.

For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser.

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock-and-roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy, including all of its drinks, at www.monsterenergy.com.

CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: [email protected]

SOURCE Monster Energy