Lake Placid delivered exactly the kind of finale the season deserved.
Coming into the weekend with the points lead, Asa Vermette had one job left: finish strong. Asa crossed the line into the hotseat halfway through the Elite men's runs, maintaining steam well into the final 10, ultimately securing 8th place, and enough points to claim the 2026 UCI Downhill World Cup Overall title in his first Elite season. At just 19 years old, he became only the second rider in history to win the Elite overall as a rookie.
And Asa wasn't the only FOX athlete leaving Lake Placid with something to celebrate.
After an incredible season that included seven World Cup victories, Jonty Williamson officially secured the Junior Men's World Cup Overall title. Despite missing the North American rounds with a fractured wrist, the Yeti / FOX Factory Race Team rider had built enough of a points advantage earlier in the season to finish the job.
In the Elite Women's field, Gracey Hemstreet capped another standout season with seventh in Lake Placid, securing third in the World Cup Overall.
But one of the biggest performances of the weekend belonged to Luke Meier-Smith. The Australian once again found another gear in Lake Placid, charging to the Elite Men's victory and making it back-to-back wins at the venue.
Tahnée Seagrave added another podium to the weekend, finishing third in Elite Women and closing out her season on a high after battling back from injury earlier in the year.
Two World Cup Overall titles. An Elite race win. Two more Elite podium achievements.
From Asa completing a remarkable rookie campaign to Jonty putting the finishing touch on a dominant Junior season, Lake Placid was more than the final race of 2026.
It was the payoff to a season spent chasing speed.
That's a wrap on 2026. We'll see you next season on The Setup.
