While Al Bond's Fox kit is inspired by John Deere, Al himself was inspired by Steve Peat's lawnmower purchase, and decided to contribute 3/4 of a cube of mulch. -Sven Martin
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Yes we had her yesterday, but Sven spelled her name wrong, so by way of apology we present for your consideration Myriam Nicole of Commencal SuperRiders. If only we could all turn and turn heads like this! Photo by Gary Perkin and Sven Martin
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When doing any kind of lubrication - be it greasing stem bolts or docking - you should always have eye protection handy. Greg Minnaar tweaked a few things to his setup today. Photo by Gary Perkin
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The clock never lies. We reckon this is one of the closest races in years. If you exclude Gwin's two-second advantage only 10 seconds separate 2nd through 80th place. A new record? -Sven Martin
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How efficient is Aaron Gwin of Trek World Racing? Well while others spray up roost all over the place he simply displaces that one pebble that messes with his idea of perfection in turns. Photo by Gary Perkin
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Talk about lining it all up today. Tim Bentley of Morewood / United bobbed and weaved his way to 80th place today and last qualifier by just 0.038 of a second. Photo by Gary Perkin
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Jill Kintner this morning. In quali's she had fastest 1st split, third at the second and with a few errors in last sector, finished 6th. She is due a podium any day now...maybe tomorrow. -Sven Martin
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It was a knowledgeable, tense and yet fair crowd that lined the scene of the cuttie World Champs today. Results are out tomorrow. I've heard from a confidential source that pedal and bar drags get extra points! Yeeoooow! Photo by Gary Perkin
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If this guy can keep these shapes going till Sunday night at the big dance off in La Bresse, he'll be hands down World Cup winner, complete with victory salute (frame 5). Caption Steve Peat & Photo by Gary Perkin
"<i>Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.</i>" -Matthew 7:13-14 / Sven Martin
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Sam Blenkinsop of Lapierre makes sure we can see clearly see he his wearing gloves. Jokes aside, spare a thought for the Kiwi who tweaked a tendon pretty badly today! Photo by Gary Perkin
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T-Rav has heard that a spinning wheel can amplify WiFi signals by up to 18,34% over distances under 200ft from the source. Meanwhile, Rick looks on aghast to catch T-Rav at work. Photo by Gary Perkin
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With the download cables detached from the race machines, Sander Gijs checks out all the latest data acquisition analysis details in the Trek World Racing pits. Or maybe he is updating his Facebook on T-Rav's extended spinning WiFi network. Photo by Gary Perkin
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Sacre Bleu, les photographes ont une grande soif pendant la pause dejeuner...Two mid-course beer gardens on a two minute course, this is the future of downhill racing. -Sven Martin (hey Luc, don't email me if Sven's french is wrong -spomer)
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Back to business as usual for #1, Tracy Moseley of Trek World Racing. A calm, calculated run was all that's needed in the ever-tightening points race leading up to World Cup Finals! Photo by Gary Perkin
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I tried to get the fern in the foreground for Kiwi Cameron Cole of Lapierre International but the light levels forced me to up the f-stops by quite a bit. Photo by Gary Perkin
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Steve likes his grass short and smooth, just like Wimbledon or the 17th fairway at St. Andrews. It helps the headmaster and king of the hill here give Turning 101 clinics to the young upstarts. -Sven Martin
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In another case of deja vu again (trying to help the re-Peat), the crowds lined the course during quali's! Some organizers would give their linken hoden to have crowds like this on their final day! Photo by Gary Perkin
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Brook Macdonald flatted today in his quali. It ain't always black and white when it comes to Brook Macdonald's racing. -Sven Martin
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Normally at the end of the day we have beers with Doug Hatfield. So considering his absence this is the next best thing. You're sorely missed Dougie Fresh! Photo by Gary Perkin
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You might recognize Tommy and his Luxemborg mates from such page turners as Chronology and Vital MTB from 2009! In fact they wore the same shirts then too! Classic fans! Cheers boys! Photo by Gary Perkin
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We present Tim Bentley your 80th place qualifier only eight seconds off the podium. Nuts. -Sven Martin
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Crowds for qualifying were big!
The tall man from Massi - Bernat Guardia Pascal is back on form again with a great 9th place - venga manyana Bernat! Venga, venga, venga! Photo by Gary Perkin
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Lewis "Loose Dog" Buchanan ended 2010 on pace. He has finally found that speed again toward the end of this season. Fastest junior and fastest CRC rider today, 17th. -Sven Martin
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It should come as no surprise to anyone that the days of "Sender Steve" are officially over. The man is ready for a World Cup win, eh! -Sven Martin
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Not to take away from Ben Reid, top 20 today, but all of us on the circuit, riders and media alike, can't wait for the day when he turns one of his practice runs into a race run. -Sven Martin
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Not to be mistaken for the American Dream (Curtis Keene), Ralph Jones on the Giant with the Fox fork, speeds into the woods on his way to tomorrow's final. -Sven Martin
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Trek on a mission
Nothing but the best for your intrepid Vital MTB photogs. Well Sven called shotgun and I was left with dog box or pavement! Easy call really. Photo by Gary Perkin
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The GT pit party is in full effect while the syndicate's hotel burns down in the background from Ratboy's hi-jinx. -Sven Martin
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Description
The roost was flying as elite downhill riders were practicing and qualifying for the 2011 UCI World Cup in La Bresse, France. Check out the action, including a crazy crash sequence.
View replies to: La Bresse World Cup - Downhill Qualifiers
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