28-Year-Old From North Carolina Takes Number Two Spot in Elite Men Division in Round 9 of 2025 Season

LAKE PLACID, N.Y., Oct. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Storming podiums on the final run! Monster Energy congratulates team rider Luca Shaw on taking second place in the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup in Lake Placid, New York, this weekend. In the ninth race of the 2025 season, the 28-year-old from Hendersonville, North Carolina, dropped in as the final rider of the day and stormed onto the podium in a tight race.

From October 3-5, the 2025 UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup hit the United States in upstate New York's scenic Lake Placid region. With only two more races on the calendar, the world's top racers were eager to battle for points at a brand-new venue on iconic Whiteface Mountain, surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains. This weekend marked the first of two North American tour stops after eight rounds of racing across Europe.

Amid dry weather and colorful fall foliage, the new Whiteface Mountain racetrack provided the perfect backdrop for world-class race action. Specifically built for the event, the track challenged riders with massive gaps and jumps, open speed runs down steep inclines, and technical sections in the woods.

The Elite Men division final stoked the crowd on Whiteface Mountain with one of the closest and most exhilarating races of the season. Several top contenders faced difficulties finding the perfect line on the new track, but team Monster Energy claimed a podium spot in the tightly contested event.

Dropping in as the top qualifier and final rider of the day, Shaw barged into second place with a run that had spectators on their feet. Closing the fourth split of the race in fourth place, the American rallied to the finish line on the final stretch of the course to claim the number two spot with a total time of 3:06.659; merely 0.713 seconds behind the winner.

"Wow, I almost threw it all away at the top with a couple of mistakes," said Luca Shaw. "I was riding well all weekend, and after my P1 in [qualifying], I tried to carry that into the finals as much as I could. I put my head down and went for it and managed to pull some time back with all the adrenaline pumping on the lower part of the course, and it was good enough for second. My goal was to win, but I'm damn stoked to get second here, and the fans definitely lifted me up this weekend! I'm proud of this one and now onto the last round!"

Saturday's podium finish lifts Shaw from fifth place all the way into third place in the overall 2025 UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup rankings with 1156 points.

In the Elite Women division, Saturday's final race wrapped with 35-year-old Camille Balanche from Le Locle, Switzerland, in fourth place. Balanche earned her spot with a total time of 3:34.140. On the strength of her result at Lake Placid, Balanche moves up from fifth place into fourth place in overall season rankings with a score of 1136 points.

Also rising to the top five in Lake Placid, 28-year-old Marine Cabirou from Millau, France, took fifth place with a final time of 3:34.489. Saturday's result puts Cabirou in sixth place overall with a total score of 1030 points after nine races. One more race to go! 

The 2025 UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup season is close to the finish line: Tune in for the final showdown at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, from October 9-12. It's all decided next weekend – don't miss it!

For more on Luca Shaw, Camille Balanche, Marine Cabirou, 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 2025 mountain bike 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 sports, 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: kim.dresser@indiepragency.com

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