SCOTT DH Factory Battles Through a Demanding Week in Andorra
The sixth round of the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup took the team to Pal Arinsal, Andorra, “the Pyrenees country”. Following the previous round in La Thuile and another long journey across Europe, the team faced one of its most challenging weeks of the season—not only on the track, but also behind the scenes.
Due to unexpected logistical constraints, teams had to split paddocks between two locations: one near the Cross-country venue at the top, and another smaller one at the Downhill finish area. Combined with daily shuttle transfers from the accommodation, it certainly wasn’t the easiest race week, but the whole team adapted and remained fully focused on the job.
The Andorran course mixed high-speed bike park sections with technical rock gardens and tight woodland passages. Dry and sunny conditions throughout the week created increasingly dusty and unpredictable racing conditions, making every run a real challenge.
Despite the difficult circumstances, SCOTT DH Factory once again showed its strength with several impressive performances throughout practice and qualifying.
Tough Luck for Benoît and Hugo
Recovering from illness, Benoît Coulanges was unfortunately unable to perform at his usual level and missed out on the final by only a few tenths of a second.
Young French rider Hugo Marini also produced a promising qualifying run but narrowly missed qualification for the final, continuing to gain valuable World Cup experience.
Jess Blewitt Keeps Building Momentum
Jess Blewitt delivered another excellent qualifying performance, securing sixth place and comfortably booking her place in the final.
Determined to fight for the podium, Jess attacked from the start and once again demonstrated the speed to compete with the world’s best. A couple of small mistakes during her run ultimately kept her from the top positions, but she still claimed a strong 7th place finish.
It marks her third consecutive top tier finish, allowing her to continue climbing the overall World Cup standings with confidence heading into the last part of the season.
Dakotah Norton Achieves His Best Result of the Year
The fast, dusty Andorran track suited Dakotah Norton perfectly.
After qualifying in Q1 (19th), Dakotah and mechanic Raphaël made a few final setup adjustments before the race, giving him the confidence to push even harder in the final.
His run started brilliantly, with impressive split times through the upper sections of the course, before hard contact with a tree midway down the track. The impact slowed him significantly for the remainder of the run, yet he still secured an excellent 11th place—his best result of the season so far—and gained valuable positions in the overall standings.
Ethan Craik Shows Incredible Speed Again
Once again, Ethan Craik proved he is among the fastest riders in the field by setting the fastest time in Q2.
Full of confidence after qualifying, Ethan set off aiming for nothing less than the podium. Unfortunately, his race ended almost immediately when a rock, displaced by the rider before him, caught him out in the opening corner. After hitting the protective pads, he crashed before he could build any momentum.
The result doesn’t reflect his pace, but his speed is undeniable. It’s only a matter of time before everything comes together.
Looking Ahead
After an intense block of four World Cups in five weeks, SCOTT DH Factory heads into a well-earned break while maintaining 8th place in the Team World Cup standings.
The riders will now focus on their National Championships before returning refreshed for the second half of the season, which begins at Les Gets at the end of August.
We’re ready for what’s next.
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