At the World Cup opener in South Korea, the U19 juniors are ready to attack the elite class. The youngsters are now setting times that give the established field a run for their money. Among them are two German talents.
This year's downhill season starts for the first time in Pyeongchang, South Korea (1 - 3 May). According to observers, the tough, fast course at the Yongpyong Ski Resort is likely to reveal what experts have been observing for months: The line between the U19 class and the world elite is becoming increasingly blurred. Driven by more professional junior programmes, fearlessness and progressive riding skills, the juniors are closing in on the elite. Top riders such as the American youngster Asa Vermette or the Alran brothers from France would have finished in the top ranks of the elite several times last year with their times. This year they have to prove themselves in the upper echelons of the pros.
But there is no time to wait for the next generation. The newcomers are also racing at a level that allows a direct comparison with the fastest of the elite field. However, a 1:1 comparison of the track times is only possible to a limited extent. As the U19 riders go onto the racetrack earlier, they usually find a fresher track, at least as long as the weather conditions are constant. Whilst the elite riders struggle with deep braking bumps and rutted grooves, the young guns can often still use the racing line. Nevertheless, the speed of the youngsters is not purely a product of the track conditions. Asa Vermette recently demonstrated this at the Red Bull Hardline races in Wales and Tasmania, where he was fastest in a top-class professional field.
The fastest riders from last season have therefore outgrown the U19 class - Vermette and the Alran brothers, New Zealander Tyler Waite and Luke Wayman from Australia are now allowed to mix it up with the elite. But the second tier is moving up, including two promising youngsters from Germany.
The German downhill talents
Lois Eller (GER) - The German hopeful
Lois Eller is the man of the hour from a German perspective. After his brilliant overall victory in the iXS European Downhill Cup 2025, he is now tackling his first World Cup season. Eller has cycling in his blood: his father Holger Meyer and his mother Karen Eller can both look back on successful racing careers. These genes and the intensive family support make him a candidate for podium places. Lois Eller is considered to be extremely fast, especially on technical tracks, even in wet, slippery conditions. And he is not only characterised by his talent, but also by his mental strength - a quality that he demonstrated in the tight final in Kranjska Gora. Although he first has to prove himself as a rookie in the World Cup hierarchy, experts believe he is capable of top results thanks to his EDC times, which were often only wafer-thin behind the elite.
Levin Klausmann (GER) - The legacy of the record champion
Levin Klausmann is the name that also raises hopes in Germany. As the son of downhill legend Marcus Klausmann - the 15-time German champion - he grew up in Mahlberg on the edge of the Black Forest, surrounded by suspension forks and World Cup stories. He proved that he had inherited the "Klausmann speed" in 2025 at the latest, when he raced straight to 16th place in his very first U19 World Cup in Poland. His strength lies in his extremely clean, almost clinical bike control. The friendly and passionate competition between him and Lois Eller is also exciting. While Eller stepped onto the international stage a little louder last year with his overall victory in the European Cup (EDC), the two fought thrilling duels at national level. In the U17 class and at the German championships, it was often just tenths of a second that swung the pendulum in favour of Eller's aggressive "all-or-nothing" style and Klausmann's technical precision. This internal German duel has raised both of them to a level that now makes them competitive in the U19 world elite.
Conclusion
In 2026, the U19 class will no longer be a "junior class" in the traditional sense, but a parallel elite. With Lois Eller, Germany has another hot iron in the fire after Levin Klausmann. Eller has the potential to break the dominance of the French and Americans. The World Cup in South Korea will show whether the "young guns" are already up to the pressure of the big stage.
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
