Racing the Ghosts of Greatness: Loïc Bruni’s Fight to Build His Downhill Dynasty

It’s safe to say that downhill racing has come a long way in the last 30 years. The bikes have gone from prehistoric death traps to full-on race-ready machines. We’ve gone from lycra to baggy and back again. And racing as a whole has gone from a fringe experiment to a professional athletic proving ground. But even with all that progress, one thing hasn’t changed: how difficult it is to etch your name into downhill history.

There’s only a handful of riders who have ever stood atop the podium as world champion—12 to be exact—and of those twelve, only two of them have ever won five World Cup overalls. Nico Vouilloz and Aaron Gwin stand amongst the all-time greats of downhill, and it wasn’t until 2025 that we saw Loïc Bruni with the chance to join their elite ranks. In Bruni’s latest video project, Must Be Nice, we got more than just a glimpse into the 2025 season — we got to look back at the lineage of downhill and what it takes to capture one of the most elusive and prestigious achievements in the sport: the highs and lows, and how a microscopic misstep can cost a rider a season and potentially their legacy as one of the all-time greats.

“The titles make you part of the greats,” Loïc said — or, as the old adage goes, nobody remembers second place. For Bruni, the film is more than just documenting his 2025 season; it’s a tribute to the history of some of the sport’s elite, and the undeniable influence riders like Nico Vouilloz have had on Bruni over the years. Vouilloz is one of the figures who helped shape not only the sport, but also carve a path for riders like Bruni. Bruni’s stardom today is thanks in large part to who Vouilloz was in the past. Both hailing from the south of France, the two are linked as much by mentality and spirit as they are by geographic location. For both riders, keeping the spirit of the sport alive has been just as important as their chase for the top spot.

While over the years the bikes have gotten better than anyone could’ve imagined in the days of Vouilloz, so has the competition. In 2025, we saw Bruni locked in a heated battle over the top spot and the world title with modern mountain biking’s golden boy, Jackson Goldstone. But beneath the rivalry and race-day drama is something deeper. The heart of Must Be Nice lies in its humanity. Bruni doesn’t treat the quest for another title as an obsession — but as a motivation. He speaks openly about the challenges of staying motivated, balancing the pressure of expectation with the pure joy of riding, and what it means to fight not just for wins, but for legacy.

Ultimately, Must Be Nice shines a light on the silent sacrifices athletes like Bruni make, the evolution of the sport as a whole, and the quiet heartbreaks that lurk behind podiums and titles. It’s a story not just for die-hard downhill fans — it’s one of quiet strength, resilience, and one rider’s mission to become one of the all-time greats.

Make sure to watch the full piece below: