Luca Shaw Takes First Place at Round 1 of Pro Downhill Series
Monster Energy’s Luca Shaw opens the 2026 Pro Downhill Series with a dominant Elite Men victory at Ride Rock Creek as Monster and Monster Army riders fill the results sheet.
Kicking off the season with a win! Monster Energy congratulates mountain bike team rider Luca Shaw on taking first place in the Elite Men division race at Round 1 of the 2026 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series Presented by Continental Tires in Ride Rock Creek, North Carolina. In the season-opening event, the 29-year-old from Hendersonville, North Carolina, clinched the win in an elite field.
Shaw was joined on the podium by 21-year-old Ryan Pinkerton from Aliso Viejo, California, in second place.
From March 25-29, the first round of the 2026 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series brought the world elite of downhill mountain bike racing to Ride Rock Creek Bike Park in Zirconia, North Carolina. Riders faced fast conditions, technical rock sections, and a course that demanded commitment from top to bottom. Track conditions remained dry and dusty throughout the event, with a sudden overnight temperature drop from mid-80s to mid-50 degrees adding to the challenge.
In Saturday’s Pro Men Division downhill race, Shaw competed against 135 riders and delivered a near-perfect run on a blisteringly fast sub-two-minute track. When all was said and done, Shaw finished ahead of the pack with a final time of 1:50.955 to bring home the win and important ranking points to start the season.
Shaw’s closest competition came from Pinkerton, who landed in second place just over one second behind with a time of 1:51.961. Dropping in as the reigning 2025 Elite Men’s Downhill National Champion, Pinkerton delivered a strong run through the technical course to secure the runner-up position.
Also putting down strong performances in the Pro Men Division were Monster Army’s 18-year-old Ryder Lawrenceof Murrieta, California, who finished in 4th place, and 23-year-old Dante Silva from Chula Vista, California, who rounded out the top five in 5th place, just three seconds off the top step in a tightly contested field.
In the Pro Women Division, Monster Army rider Taylor Ostgaard finished in 5th place, just eight seconds off the winning time in a competitive field.
On Sunday, Monster Army riders also delivered strong results in amateur competition. In the Cat 1 17–18 Women’s class, Jade Savage put together a solid race run to secure 3rd place, showing a strong pace on a demanding course. It was a competitive field, and every second counted on race day.
The Cat 1 17–18 Men’s class was stacked with talent, and the racing reflected it. Monster Army showed a dominant presence, led by Luke Mallen, who took the win. Connor Knipscheer battled hard to secure 3rd place, and Tyler Wagoner finished in 4th place.
The weekend delivered everything you would want from a season opener with speed, intensity, and standout performances. Rock Creek Bike Park proved to be the perfect venue to kick things off, challenging riders and setting a high bar for the rest of the series. As the dust settles on Round 1, momentum is already building for the next stop.
Stay tuned for the second round of the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series from May 6–10 at Mountain Creek Bike Park in New Jersey. Round 3 will take place from July 15–19 at Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah. Then, the fourth round, including the USAC National Championship, will take place from July 22–26 at Big Bear Lake, California. Stay tuned!
