2016 Leogang World Cup Thread

iceman2058


As we saw yesterday, not everybody was stoked on the changes made to the track in Leogang this year:




However, Sam Hill and Josh Bryceland seemed happy enough and ready to get on with the job at hand. Be that as it may, following some of the team managers' feedback the UCI has just announced it will make a few modifications:

“After the feedback from team managers from yesterday, some small modifications will be done on the course :

Marshall point 16 – Rock Garden : Filling up some holes and making it a little bit easier
Marshall point 19 : Open up the berm
Marshall point 23: Filling up some holes and making it a little bit easier”

We're not entirely sure if these are the contentious points, but we'll have more for you as we get into practice sessions today - let's see if the riders are in fact happy with having it "a bit easier", or not.

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iceman2058 6/10/2016 4:16am
6/10/2016 4:16am Edited Date/Time 6/10/2016 4:18am
If you were wondering about what the conditions are like out there currently, Troy Brosnan has your answer:



Say what???? pic.twitter.com/PqtqvrYOsp

— Troy Brosnan (@TroyBrosnan) June 10, 2016



#flatpedalswinmedals

Dlongb13
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Dlongb13 6/10/2016 6:02am
6/10/2016 6:02am
Well, doesn't look like he's covered in mud, so that's a plus I guess. I don't understand the complaining, wish most riders took the Ratboy and Sam Hill approach. Seems like Leogang will just always be bitched about, people have their preconceived opinions and don;t want to change them whatever the course builders and UCI do.
Cougar797
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Cougar797 6/10/2016 6:26am
6/10/2016 6:26am
Dlongb13 wrote:
Well, doesn't look like he's covered in mud, so that's a plus I guess. I don't understand the complaining, wish most riders took the Ratboy and...
Well, doesn't look like he's covered in mud, so that's a plus I guess. I don't understand the complaining, wish most riders took the Ratboy and Sam Hill approach. Seems like Leogang will just always be bitched about, people have their preconceived opinions and don;t want to change them whatever the course builders and UCI do.
Yah I don't get it, first they complain about it being to mellow now they are talking about making stuff easier? I wonder if the course just it poorly laid out as in its just all janky not just gnarly terrain difficult.
sspomer
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sspomer 6/10/2016 6:49am
6/10/2016 6:49am
super interesting. it seemed like the only part gwin and claudio had trouble with was that nasty off-camber. maybe that is one of the points referred to in the changes. hard to tell not being there i guess, but i'm w/ those of you above. if ratty and sam were down, let 'er rip!
Luky_Kuky 6/10/2016 7:05am
6/10/2016 7:05am
BTW:
"Marshall point 19 : Open up the berm"

Where is that on the course? [easiest way is to say the exact time in Claudio's preview]

THX
sspomer
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sspomer 6/10/2016 7:52am
6/10/2016 7:52am
Luky_Kuky wrote:
BTW: "Marshall point 19 : Open up the berm" Where is that on the course? [easiest way is to say the exact time in Claudio's preview]...
BTW:
"Marshall point 19 : Open up the berm"

Where is that on the course? [easiest way is to say the exact time in Claudio's preview]

THX
since there were no marshals in claudio's video to count, we're not sure. just reporting what the UCI said. claudio does mention a berm they go around in the vid though.
iceman2058 6/10/2016 8:00am
6/10/2016 8:00am
Trackside action dropping in hot! Hot, and slippery...





onenerdykid* 6/10/2016 10:08am
6/10/2016 10:08am Edited Date/Time 6/10/2016 10:13am
Dlongb13 wrote:
Well, doesn't look like he's covered in mud, so that's a plus I guess. I don't understand the complaining, wish most riders took the Ratboy and...
Well, doesn't look like he's covered in mud, so that's a plus I guess. I don't understand the complaining, wish most riders took the Ratboy and Sam Hill approach. Seems like Leogang will just always be bitched about, people have their preconceived opinions and don;t want to change them whatever the course builders and UCI do.
Honestly the track is weird. It's a bunch of awkward "tech" sections (mix of both natural and man-made) that are linked together by flat traverses. It has crappy flow and feels totally disjointed. The mountain itself is super steep with lots of rad terrain, but race track is a cobbled together, patchwork of trying too hard.

The racers are pissed because of this and that Schladming is basically around the corner with a perfect track that has steeps, tech, and non-stop flow. If they are gonna race in Austria, they want to be at Schladming and that is for sure fueling the frustration. If only Schladming would host a WC...
Bigburd
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Bigburd 6/10/2016 11:01am
6/10/2016 11:01am
Dlongb13 wrote:
Well, doesn't look like he's covered in mud, so that's a plus I guess. I don't understand the complaining, wish most riders took the Ratboy and...
Well, doesn't look like he's covered in mud, so that's a plus I guess. I don't understand the complaining, wish most riders took the Ratboy and Sam Hill approach. Seems like Leogang will just always be bitched about, people have their preconceived opinions and don;t want to change them whatever the course builders and UCI do.
onenerdykid* wrote:
Honestly the track is weird. It's a bunch of awkward "tech" sections (mix of both natural and man-made) that are linked together by flat traverses. It...
Honestly the track is weird. It's a bunch of awkward "tech" sections (mix of both natural and man-made) that are linked together by flat traverses. It has crappy flow and feels totally disjointed. The mountain itself is super steep with lots of rad terrain, but race track is a cobbled together, patchwork of trying too hard.

The racers are pissed because of this and that Schladming is basically around the corner with a perfect track that has steeps, tech, and non-stop flow. If they are gonna race in Austria, they want to be at Schladming and that is for sure fueling the frustration. If only Schladming would host a WC...
Perfect description of the track.
only1mikey
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only1mikey 6/10/2016 11:49am
6/10/2016 11:49am
Sorry but out of all the lame excuses I've read so far as to why riders don't like this track, you are going to sit at your keyboard and complain about flow, When just last year, the faster person down the track was a guy who's chain broke a few pedal strokes out of the starting hut? Maybe the riders need to take a different approach to the way they ride the track?
Kusa
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Kusa 6/10/2016 12:54pm
6/10/2016 12:54pm
Actually I don't think that Leogang hill is that steep. However the biggest problem is probably that they are not allowed to build any new tracks in the forests or in the techy parts you can see from gondola. In Austria, especially in these places, a lot of land is owned by farmers + protected. Look at where the bikepark itself is situated. Does not go steep down, it follows the hill and all the fire roads. I think that shows the situation - they simply cant build the track in a new place.

Unfortunatelly they try to update the track to make it more "techy" but they fail on picking the right places - for example putting stones in that high speed highway. They should work with someone who can do a lil bit better decisions.

Leogang is one of those places for ALL family. Rideable and safe in most of places by anyone. Was same 10 years ago and probably will be in another 10 years. Btw the tracks are mostly same and in same places as before. Which shows the situation...

On other hand, they probably have a lot of money to have this venue under their belt. And UCI is happy to have a venue that is organized and pay the licenses...

My 2c.
onenerdykid* 6/10/2016 3:57pm
6/10/2016 3:57pm
only1mikey wrote:
Sorry but out of all the lame excuses I've read so far as to why riders don't like this track, you are going to sit at...
Sorry but out of all the lame excuses I've read so far as to why riders don't like this track, you are going to sit at your keyboard and complain about flow, When just last year, the faster person down the track was a guy who's chain broke a few pedal strokes out of the starting hut? Maybe the riders need to take a different approach to the way they ride the track?
I don't say what I said as a keyboard warrior, but rather as a local who rides both tracks. The track at Leogang awkwardly right angles down the mountain, which most likely has to do with land usage permissions, as mentioned above. But that doesn't change the reality that the course is awkward, it merely explains why it is that way. The fact that Gwin beat the world here last year without a chain is a simply testament to his super human bike skills, not to Leogang's race track possessing a wow-degree of flow.

I liken it to any downhill ski race. If the course setter puts awkward flat traverses across steep sections of the course, yes it will kill the flow. Give them challenges, but don't make them cut across the mountain in order to do it. Ultimately, all of the great DH tracks follow the recipe of steep, fast, flowy, and technical: Schladming, Val di Sole, Maribor, Champery, etc. Sadly, for whatever the reason, Leogang does not follow this recipe and this is why the racers, rightly, bitch about it.
russthedog 6/10/2016 4:51pm
6/10/2016 4:51pm
Elite level racers are some of the biggest whingers Ive ever come across in my experience. Being a great racer means being great across lots of different types of tracks. Ive been to Leogang and it is well and truly steep enough. So it isnt a flow trail all the way down? Boo hoo!

Be professional, race the course thats presented, and dont come across as an ungrateful spoilt child.

The top class racers get on with the job - Gee, Minnaar, Gwin, Smith, Hart. And we all pay attention to a few Tier 2 whiners - Chapman included.
sspomer
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sspomer 6/11/2016 7:03am
6/11/2016 7:03am
conditions for qualifying seem like they were slightly slick! pretty crazy the amount of DNF/DQ and super bummed that sam didn't race : (

Reformed Roadie 6/12/2016 11:57am
6/12/2016 11:57am
Hell yeah it was!
Despite whatever anyone had to say about the course, the action did not disappoint. Mind blowing that Brosnan not.only didn't win with that run, but was beaten by that margin. When it happened I thought that was it...
utopiaarch 6/13/2016 2:42am
6/13/2016 2:42am
anyone know how on earth brendog hub can make that bee noise? i want one ...
Petar Jelev 6/13/2016 11:30am
6/13/2016 11:30am
utopiaarch wrote:
anyone know how on earth brendog hub can make that bee noise? i want one ...
it's a secret I guess ...
trailwolf
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trailwolf 6/13/2016 9:12pm
6/13/2016 9:12pm
Well no wonder they can't move or build a new track, the builders made the hillside at Leogang look like a an apocalyptic wasteland. Absolutely no reason to cut down hundreds of trees and make the place look like total shit. There were no camera angles requiring bulldozing the fucking mountain. It's the very thing we are all trying to fight against...the idea that land and park owners say that mountain biking harms the terrain and trails. If I owned land and UCI wanted to rape it like that I'd tell em to fuck off too.
onenerdykid* 6/14/2016 8:07am
6/14/2016 8:07am
trailwolf wrote:
Well no wonder they can't move or build a new track, the builders made the hillside at Leogang look like a an apocalyptic wasteland. Absolutely no...
Well no wonder they can't move or build a new track, the builders made the hillside at Leogang look like a an apocalyptic wasteland. Absolutely no reason to cut down hundreds of trees and make the place look like total shit. There were no camera angles requiring bulldozing the fucking mountain. It's the very thing we are all trying to fight against...the idea that land and park owners say that mountain biking harms the terrain and trails. If I owned land and UCI wanted to rape it like that I'd tell em to fuck off too.
Pump those brakes brah. I do believe the reason for cutting down the trees was due to a beetle infestation that was causing damage and they wanted to stop/slow the spread to the neighboring trees.

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