Slovenian pinner Monika Hrastnik has announced that this weekend’s World Cup final round will be her last after a decade of racing at the sharp end.
With 17 top 15 finishes at the World Cups, a World Champs bronze and an iron grip on the Slovenian national champs title, Monika Hrastnik’s decade of top flight racing has had plenty of silverware.
Read the full press release below.
The most successful Slovenian downhill mountain biker by far will end her professional career at the upcoming World Cup race in Canada. Monika Hrastnik, a member of the AON Racing – Tourne Campervans team this season, and previously a long-time competitor for the team Dorval AM as well a regular member of the Slovenian national team, has set milestones that are hard to reach. As one of the most consistent top competitors, she has also left a significant mark on the World Cup scene.
Mont-Sainte-Anne UCI MTB World Series race will undoubtedly be a special and emotional one for the Slovenian. Monika will launch herself out of the start gate for the last time in a World Cup race and make one final push for a top result in this prestigious series. She has already achieved many of them—her collection of European and national titles and numerous top finishes is extensive, lacking only a World Cup win. Saturday’s race will be her 65th World Cup appearance.
As a staple of the Slovenian national team, she has also competed in ten European and ten World Championships. She has returned from these championships with three European titles (and three silver medals) and a bronze medal from the World Championships. Her stats become even more impressive when you take into the account 4-Cross events that she raced in the early years of her MTB career.
Monika spent most of her professional career with the French team Dorval AM, but in the 2025 season, she joined team AON Racing – Tourne Campervans, and with that also Cycling Club Rajd from Ljubljana, Slovenia, where she proved herself in a new environment. The highlight of the season (so far) is undoubtedly third place at the World Cup race in Val di Sole, which, given the increasingly fierce competition each year, is also one of the best results of her career. She also rode excellently at the European Championships, finishing just behind medal positions.
More important than statistics, however, is Monika Hrastnik as a person. On the world racing scene, she is respected among competitors, journalists, and fans. At home, words fall short when describing her achievements. At the home World Cup races in Maribor “the whole hill” would loudly cheer her on. Across the World Cup venues worldwide, she is regarded as one of the most technically skilled and complete riders.
She will showcase her cycling skills one more time at the final race of this year’s World Series in Canada. Considering she is still recovering from a recent crash in Switzerland, getting into finals would be a great success and the perfect ending to an extraordinary competitive career. She will pass on her knowledge to younger generations, ensuring her legacy only grows.
When announcing her racing retirement, Monika wrote:
“MSA it will be my last World Cup race! In 2015 at age 20, l was just a girl who dreamt to race DH. I didn’t plan to become a professional athlete, but race after race I showed abilities to do something on a higher level. Just after 3 years of racing as a privateer and finishing 5th in WC overall 2018, I earned a spot on Dorval AM team. With the support l had I grew into a professional athlete.
In 10 years of racing, I’ve won 9 national and 3 European titles. In the World Cup l had 17 Top-5 finishes, was 3x Top-5 in overall standings and got a bronze at World Champs. I’m leaving with a smile on my face and couldn’t be prouder of myself.
In sport it’s sometimes nice, successful, but sometimes brutal and painful. Sport gave me discipline, taught me how to believe in myself and never give up! Still love riding my bike, but I don’t like to push myself to the limits anymore.
THANK YOU. To everyone I’ve met, to everyone who has helped and supported me. To all friendships which have been made. I will always be grateful.
Excited to begin a new chapter! Big love ❤️”
