Today, we have the privilege of welcoming Benoit Coulanges to the show. Benoit embodies dedication and commitment, embarking on an 11-year odyssey with a clear goal: to take a World Cup victory. Throughout this time of ups and downs, challenges and successes, Benoit has remained laser focused on his target. We’ll journey back to his incredible silver medal finish at the 2021 World Championships in Val di Sole, where victory slipped through his fingers by the narrowest of margins. From there, we’ll unravel the tale of his extraordinary 2023 season, characterised by unwavering perseverance, unyielding dedication, and ultimately, triumph. Of course, we’ll celebrate Benoit’s first-ever DH World Cup win in Les Gets and all the emotions that came with it. Where does Benoit go from here? We’ll find out in this episode. So, it’s time to sit back, hit play and listen to this episode with Benoit Coulanges. You can also watch this episode here. You can follow Benoit on Instagram @benoitcoulanges and you can watch Commencal’s film about his Les Gets win here. Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Canyon Are you looking for a new ride? Well, the Canyon Trail Sale has started so that you can shred for less and save big on your next bike. With no better way to start your season than with a brand new, world-class mountain bike, you can save up to 30% on your dream Canyon. Head over to canyon.com now to find out more. Wahoo Fitness Wahoo’s products have been key to my fitness for a number of years now. Their KICKR indoor trainer and ELEMNTRoam and Bolt get a lot of use. Their gear also gets better with free software updates and Wahoo’s latest update will be bringing music control and GoPro control to your bike computer. Check out the entire range over at wahoofitness.com. Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here. Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter. Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Jey Crunch