'25 DHI.1 //
Bielsko-Biala
Bielsko-Biala, Poland
A rain-soaked and rowdy weekend in Poland saw Richie Rude, Camille Balanche, Tyler Waite, and Jonty Williamson all charging into top positions at the first World Cup Downhill of 2025.
Elite Men:
In his first World Cup DHI of the season, Richie Rude proved he’s not just an enduro powerhouse. Battling treacherous track conditions, Richie kept his race run composed and clean, posting a top-five finish in fourth place.
"It was a pretty unreal weekend. I started out just hoping to qualify—wasn’t feeling super confident. Made it in with 14th in quali’s, which was a huge relief. On race day, I just trusted the setup Shaun had me on, charged, put my wheels in the ruts, and let it go. I couldn't be more stoked to end up in fourth."- Richie Rude
Elite Women:
Despite challenges with tire selection due to tricky track conditions, Camille Balanche delivered a strong performance, securing a solid fourth-place finish. Her result reflects a productive off-season marked by extensive testing of her new setup and a renewed commitment to strength and fitness.
“I felt stronger and super fit this year, and I was ready for the first World Cup. It was a proper mudder, but I love those conditions. I hit all my lines and had a really good run. Super pumped to start the season like that!”– Camille Balanche
Junior Men:
Tyler Waite came into Poland fresh off a dominant New Zealand season and didn’t miss a beat. He put down a clean, aggressive run in finals that had him in the hot seat until late in the day — ultimately landing P2 in his season debut.
"Had an awesome weekend in Poland. It was raining on and off all week, so conditions were pretty tricky, but it was fun. I came in with really no expectations and went P7 in qualifying, then put down a solid run to go P2 in finals. So yeah, super stoked and keen for Loudenvielle—the next one.”– Tyler Waite
Teammate and fellow Kiwi, Jonty Williamson, also had a standout weekend — riding with confidence and consistency to take P4 in the finals. A strong start to the season for both junior riders.
