The Science of Speed

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Qualifying sheets, winter work, and the numbers behind faster racing.

A downhill racer in a Red Bull helmet and a blue-and-white patterned jersey sits on his bike with race plate number 2 and gives two thumbs up, with a grassy hillside behind him.

The Science of Speed · 18 October 2026

How close did anyone get to a perfect World Cup run in 2026?

We built a perfect run for every 2026 World Cup final out of the fastest split in each sector, then measured how far each winner finished from it.

Read the analysis →
A downhill rider in a red jersey and full-face helmet riding toward the camera on a rocky forest trail.

The Science of Speed · 11 October 2026

Is Finnish downhill really growing again?

We counted every Suomi Cup and SM result since 1990 to see if the longer start lists are real.

Read the analysis →
A downhill racer on a dusty World Cup track, Canyon bike, WHOOP number plate 53.

The Science of Speed · 8 September 2026

Which Junior Improved the Most, 2025–2026?

We measured every junior's gap to the World Cup winner across both seasons — and asked what the biggest improvers actually had in common.

Read the analysis →