When Steve Jones (my colleague here at Dirt) mentioned that Aaron Gwin, the man who had just been crowned 2015 World Cup series champion, has won almost half of the World Cup races in the last five years, the 27-year-old American’s almost supernatural abilities once again became starkly apparent.

When you have a series title to wrap up there is no time to be making mistakes and a careful, considered race is really the only option. However, when you are Aaron Gwin your ‘reeled in’ speed down Val di Sole’s vertical slopes could easily equate to a demolition of the field.

But with his only rival – Greg Minnaar – having crashed out giving it his absolute everything, Specialized’s Gwin was left as second-to-last man down the hill and in the enviable position of more-or-less having a flying lap of honour. Gwin put the hammer down. He was taking no prisoners in this final race of the World Cup season that has had his name all over it.

Photos by Seb Schieck and Rick Schubert.

FULL RESULTS HERE