Finn Hits Europe: Racing, Riding & a Golden Ticket

@theplyguys

July 2025

(A guest blog by @finnholling

On the 8th of June, we packed up the van and hit the road early, aiming to cover some serious ground and make it through the Channel Tunnel. The goal was to get as far into Europe as we could on day one—and after a pretty full-on 17 hours of driving, we made it to a spot just east of Brussels. Safe to say, we were knackered by the time we pulled in for the night.

Next morning, we were straight back on the road. This time the target was Semmering in the Austrian Alps, where the first race of the trip was happening. It was a solid drive across multiple countries, but the scenery as we rolled into Austria was stunning and made it all worthwhile. We arrived a few days before things kicked off, which meant time to decompress and soak in the mountains. Sometimes just being still in that kind of place is half the joy of these trips.

1 Dialling Into Semmering

Friday marked the first day of official practice and I couldn’t wait to get on track. The course was fast, flowing, and just loads of fun to ride—my kind of terrain. I managed to squeeze in eight solid runs throughout the day, which gave me a great feel for the lines and helped build some confidence heading into the weekend.

Saturday morning practice went smoothly, but by then the track was starting to wear in and change quite a bit. You had to stay alert and keep adapting your lines. After that, it was straight into seeding runs. I came in 9th, which I was genuinely happy with. It felt like a clean, cruisey run—not my absolute limit, but that gave me a bit of headroom for race day. Confidence was high, and I felt ready to push on Sunday.

2 Race Day Feels

Sunday morning was all about polishing up those final details—choosing lines, keeping things relaxed, and reminding myself to enjoy it. The track was running well and I was genuinely loving the process.

When it came to my race run, everything just clicked. I felt calm, smooth, and fully in control all the way down. No sketchy moments, no mistakes—just a proper run top to bottom. Crossing the line and finding out I’d taken 5th place was honestly an unreal feeling. To grab my first ever European podium at a venue like Semmering meant a lot.

To top it off, I was awarded a Golden Ticket to race in an upcoming World Cup event. That’s the kind of opportunity you dream about, and I was absolutely buzzing to have earned it.

3 Schladming Sessions

After the race, we took the scenic route west and headed to Schladming to meet up with a few mates. We posted up there for a few days and just focused on enjoying the riding. The trails are world-class, and the atmosphere was unreal—it’s one of those places where the riding and the après both deliver.

Having that downtime between races to ride purely for the fun of it, with no pressure, just helps reset the brain and body. Plus, it’s always a bonus linking up with good people along the way.

4 Val di Sole: Spectator Mode

From there, we rolled on to Val di Sole in northern Italy to catch round four of the World Cup series. It was great switching gears and just being a spectator for a change. Watching the world’s best tear up that course was inspiring, especially knowing I was meant to be racing in that level soon thanks to the golden ticket.

The energy at World Cup events is electric—huge crowds, intense atmosphere, and pure passion everywhere you look. It gave me an extra boost of motivation for the next event in Aprica.

5 Aprica & a Tough Break

After Val di Sole wrapped up, we made our way to Aprica early for round four of the IXS European Downhill Cup. The plan was to get a prime spot in the car park and ease into the weekend. We arrived on Sunday and I got straight out on track that afternoon to get some early laps in.

Unfortunately, that session didn’t go to plan. I had a crash during practice that left me with a fractured upper jaw bone and some pretty nasty damage to my teeth. After getting checked over, it became clear I had to fly home for surgery and treatment.

That also meant I’d have to miss out on the World Cup in La Thuile—the very one I’d earned a ticket to the weekend before. It was a brutal pill to swallow, especially after the high of Semmering. But that’s racing—it’s full of highs and lows, and you’ve just got to ride the wave.

6 Looking Ahead

While the trip didn’t end quite how I’d hoped, it was still one for the books. First European podium, racing some of the best tracks I’ve ever ridden, time spent with good mates, and even a taste of what’s to come at the World Cup level.

Massive thanks to everyone who’s supported me on the journey so far—especially The Ply Guys for backing my travels. I’m already looking ahead to recovery, training, and getting back on track stronger than ever.

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