2022 Pinkbike Awards: Performance of the Year Winner

Dec 21, 2022 at 14:22
by Henry Quinney  

Performance of the Year Winner

The finalists for the 2022 Mountain Performance of the Year were Finn Iles, Thomas Lemoine, Jackson Goldstone, Bec McConnell, Loic Bruni, Matthew Fairbrother and Myriam Nicole.

Getting the list down to six athletes was hard enough, and picking a winner was even more difficult still. However, we're happy to say the winner is...


Hydrate or die. You can only imagine Finn s hydration level by midnight.


Finn Iles


It felt that it was always a case of when and not if for Finn Iles to win his first World Cup. After coming up through the junior ranks in the way that he did, asserting himself as one of the most promising North American racers in years, his first win felt very well deserved.

Of course, the result only tells half the story. For anyone at the event or watching from home, the atmosphere was electric and you could tell how much it meant to Iles to win his first World Cup on home soil, 9 years after Stevie Smith won at the same venue.

Iles had already achieved two second place finishes in the 2022 season but was still searching for that first win. And now, after qualifying fastest on his new prototype bike, the pressure was ramped up even further by the large and expectant Canadian crowd. What makes it even more remarkable, as if beating a world-class field on one of the toughest tracks of the year wasn't enough, was the fact that he suffered a drivetrain mechanical during his run meaning he couldn't sprint to the line. With his eventual winning margin just under a quarter of a second on a four-minute track, it could have proved disastrous.

Eyes on the money. History is about to be made - no pedalling required.
Could Finn Iles take that first World Cup win on home soil





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63 Comments

  • 163 5
 Performance of the year goes to my RS Shock for managing my fat ass around the trails
  • 24 3
 You should not expect anything less from a super mega supreme epic deluxe majestic stellar ultimate royale with cheese
  • 83 0
 Well deserved!!! It was a GREAT performance done by a GREAT performer, considering the pressure he had on his shoulders, the context, his starting position... This guy made my cry of happiness. Well done Finn Wink
  • 10 0
 Well said ! That alongside the availability of Stevie's documentary created goosebumps lasting for days.
  • 75 3
 I was rooting for Matthew Fairbrother.
  • 2 1
 So was I!
  • 2 0
 This!
  • 9 0
 Needs to be another category; Fairbrother should definitely have won something!
  • 15 0
 @Joebohobo: 'adventurer of the year'. Bro had never been outside NZ if I remember correctly and just sent it. Wild.
  • 24 0
 His wasn’t “performance of the year”, more like “a year of performance”
  • 6 2
 Absolutely. Iles just won a world cup. How can that be performance of the year if others won multiple. What Fairbrother did was truly unique.
  • 10 0
 They should create a Fairbrother award, 1st year goes to Matthew, & we’ll see who can live up to that effort in the years to come…
  • 58 6
 I didn't read any of the article or who the name was, I just have to say I disagree.
  • 39 0
 Agreed, whatever the article is about, I have absolutely nothing useful to contribute and no reason to even be here in the first place.
  • 20 0
 Looks like a session
  • 21 1
 Dentist
  • 14 0
 Internal cable routing
  • 12 0
 E-MTB DH bikes
  • 16 0
 Someone got robbed
  • 14 0
 Autoplay
  • 2 2
 @robcartwheel: the dream
  • 18 0
 I didn't read your comment and couldn't disagree more.
  • 13 0
 Wandering and inconsistent bite point
  • 12 0
 No bmx background
  • 6 0
 No bottle mount
  • 7 0
 Expensive
  • 1 0
 @YRneroh: then you have come to the right spot!
  • 11 0
 Outside sucks
  • 7 1
 First
  • 1 0
 And it’s way too expensive!
  • 3 0
 You could get an MX bike / tyres for my AMG, for less than that
  • 42 0
 Performance of the year goes to my Fiance when she said, "go ahead, buy another bike I wont be mad!"
  • 45 0
 it's a trap!!!!
  • 2 0
 @panchocampbell: this! I found out the hard way
  • 1 0
 She said it...but does she mean it?

definitely could be a trap...
  • 2 0
 The razor sharp focused attention on you every facial feature followed by “how much did that cost?”
  • 9 0
 @panchocampbell: I knew it was a trap, no regrets
  • 5 0
 @skiwenric: All I said was less than your engagement ring lol
  • 17 0
 What really got to me about the finn iles first win thing is the interview he did before the race, where he said he was finally feeling he was ready and he had now the maturity to deserve the win and he was at the poknt where it was finally going to happen. Then he raced. Then he won. It just spoke so stronhly about the headspace you have to be in for those events. It was great!!
  • 3 0
 you could just feel it in the air
  • 14 0
 Good job Finn. Good to see your young self getting up there. Here's to a long and great future in the sport for you!
  • 11 0
 Henry your copy and paste job from the MTB of the year award is just how I like it: sloppy and with haste.
  • 4 0
 *Henry takes time machine to 7th grade, drops devastating mom joke.
  • 6 0
 I wonder how ChatGPT would do at writing an award article around Finn winning Performace of the Year?
  • 10 0
 @j-t-g: here you go:

Finn Iles is a talented young mountain biker who has made a name for himself in the world of competitive cycling. In 2021, he was awarded the coveted "Performance of the Year" award by PinkBike, a leading mountain biking website and media outlet.

At just 21 years old, Finn has already achieved impressive feats in the sport. In 2021, he won the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in both the downhill and cross-country disciplines, making him the first rider in history to do so. He also claimed the overall title in the Enduro World Series, solidifying his place as one of the top riders in the world.

Finn's success on the bike is no accident. He has worked hard to develop his skills and is known for his dedication to training and preparation. He is also a highly skilled technical rider, able to navigate even the most challenging terrain with ease.

In addition to his on-bike skills, Finn is also well-respected for his sportsmanship and graciousness. He is known for being a humble and gracious winner, and is always quick to congratulate his fellow competitors.

Finn's performance in 2021 was truly impressive, and it is no surprise that he was recognized by PinkBike as the "Performance of the Year." With his skill and dedication, there is no doubt that Finn will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of mountain biking for years to come
  • 1 0
 @Kayco: bravo for fin for winning dh xc and enduro
  • 10 0
 Winn Iles
  • 6 0
 2022 was an exceedingly great WC Season, and watching Finn win the way he did at MSA was as spectacular as it was emotional. Definitely an unforgettable moment in sports (hey sports fans!!!!)
  • 8 0
 If you want to win, employ a Finn!
  • 5 0
 Captain Slow approves of this message
  • 9 2
 Except for Pinkbike Academy. That didn't really work out...
  • 3 0
 I am estatict for all Canadians and our man Finn he has been on a steady uphill for years and seems like nothing can stop him or mash his Irie. Forward to destroying the field in 2023
  • 4 0
 Loic got robbed.
But at least he can sit on his sofa looking at his five (elite) rainbow jerseys as consolation.
  • 3 0
 Whenever I am down I watch the video of Finn winning followed by Stevie's win. It always puts a smile on my face.
  • 3 1
 Can someone please come up with a category for Bernard Kerr to win please? He's had the season of his life and could be runner up in at least 3 of the "Best of" categories.
  • 1 0
 Don't worry Im sure after negotiations with his team manager he has secured a nice (well deserved) bonus as a rider. And as a team manager he deserves a pay bump due to his riders success. Double bump
  • 5 2
 Bruni deserves it much more, his run in les Gets was unreal and impossible to do, for world champs
  • 5 1
 Gutted for Fairbrother
  • 3 0
 Finn rules and you’re all wrong
  • 3 0
 My buddy was at that race & said it was completely nuts when Finn won.
  • 1 0
 Performance of the Year article with no video/link to the performance of the year. Poor performance.
  • 2 2
 finally matured enough to live up to expectations. not holding my breath for next year
  • 3 2
 Fairbs was robbed.





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