Racing on the edge: Fox’s RAD 40 step into the Mont-Sainte-Anne spotlight
The Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup downhill course delivered the season’s most talked-about tech glimpse on Friday as two Canadian riders rolled into the finals aboard what appears to be Fox’s latest RAD 40 fork. Vancouver native Jackson Goldstone and Gracey Hemstreet, both fighting for World Cup overall glory, were seen aboard forks bearing the RAD label—Fox’s ongoing Research and Development program—yet with details shielded from curious eyes.
With Goldstone’s Santa Cruz v10 sporting a fresh, world champion white livery, the rider’s RAD 40 fork stood out. The construction hints at a fork that diverges from Fox’s current 40 model, notably in the arch area where the lowers show more open space, a design cue reminiscent of the newer 34 and 36SL forks. The implication: Fox is testing a fork that could redefine balance and stability on one of the world’s toughest downhill stages.
What does RAD mean for the rider and the race?
RAD, Fox’s private R&D project, is traditionally shrouded in mystery. In practice, it signals a fork that company engineers are validating through elite competition long before a formal release. For Goldstone and Hemstreet, the RAD 40 promises potential speed gains under downhill conditions that demand predictability over gnarly sections and long, fatigue-heavy runs. The Friday pits scene offered the first in-situ preview of the ongoing experimentation, with Fox mechanics visibly guarding the project details as the riders prepared for the finals.
Industry watchers also noted subtle complementary innovations on Goldstone’s bike, including a CounterSycle tuned mass damper mounted near the front end. Tuned mass dampers have emerged as a practical way to smooth rough terrain, improving line accuracy and reducing hand fatigue on long, punishing courses. While the damper plate was typically covered by a race plate, this look showcased a high-tech tweak that could hint at Fox’s broader approach to stability in the future.
Beyond the fork: a glimpse at the wider tech ecosystem
Rumors spilled over that other components were equally under review. Behind the fork leg, a potential new Shimano brake caliper—appearing to ride atop the current XTR levers—suggests Shimano might be testing a more aggressive gravity-specific brake. The raw alloy caliper bore Saint-like mass and heft, keeping speculation high about whether this marks a new generation of Shimano gravity braking components or a development path aligned with SRAM’s Maven-inspired designs. Whether or not a formal prototype, the visible signs underscored the extent to which elite downhill is a laboratory on wheels.
On the track, Goldstone finished third in the men’s field, 3.4 seconds off the fastest qualifier Loïc Bruni, while Hemstreet placed a tight sixth in the women’s elite class, just over a second-and-a-half off the pace set by Myriam Nicole. Those results kept both riders squarely in the title hunt as the weekend moved toward the final downhill run.
Can Goldstone seize the World Cup crown?
With Mont-Sainte-Anne acting as the series finale, no points are awarded for qualifying, but the battle for the overall title is as intense as ever. Goldstone trails Bruni by a mere 72 points, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in Saturday’s final. If Goldstone can post a win (and Bruni fails to reach similar heights), the Canadian could reclaim the lead in what would be a landmark moment for Canadian downhill racing.
As riders test prototypes and teams weigh risk against reward, the Mont-Sainte-Anne weekend could become a turning point for both Fox’s evolving RAD platform and Shimano’s potential new gravity brakes. The results, and the tech that helped achieve them, will likely ripple through the World Cup circuit as teams chase speed with ever more sophisticated equipment.
What’s next for Fox’s RAD program?
While Fox continues to guard precise specifications, the Friday showcase at Mont-Sainte-Anne confirms that the RAD program remains an active tool for pushing the envelope in downhill performance. For fans and competitors, the sight of a RAD 40 on a top rider’s setup is a tantalizing hint of what the next generation of downhill hardware might bring—more control, more stability, and a potential shift in how riders survive and thrive on the sport’s most punishing courses.
