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Well whoever the companies are that race the World Cup, they're gonna be in Europe. Because zero indication of North America, South America, Australia,.South Africa being involved
Based on the gopro video of the crashes... Maybe we need to cancel DH racing forever and all go ride flat trails, just to be safe.
Some real talk on the state of things from Wyn and Dean.
So wait a sec, you mean all of these juniors on all of these fancy pro teams with tire sponsors that make spikes, mechanics that have tons of experience, and elite riders as their mentors and none of them thought to use spike tires?
Digbyyyyyy! I really wish we were joking, it would be way more fun. It is definitely too much with the schedule changes and now disappointing cancellation. This absolutely effects privateers. Every rep you get at a World Cup is super valuable. Not to mention expensive. See Andrew Driscolls post: https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/cost-racing-world-cup-downhill-europe…
Damn Gwin is a natural in the commentary boot. So well spoken and does not pretend to be talking to casual viewers.
There's a very outspoken (or rather shocking?) article over the whole situation over at German website www.mtb-news.de with some juicy insights about what led to the cancellation, the current situation in DH and even some rumors, I can highly recommend. You will find it here: https://www.mtb-news.de/news/downhill-world-cup-2023-loudenvielle-cance…
To read it in English Google is your friend I guess. 😉 If everything there is true I think the points in the article would be worth a write up on vital too @sspomer.
Currently watching finals on my phone because the shitty gcn app constantly fails to stream to my tv thru airplay and there is no Roku version of the app.
absolutely unacceptable to pay for this. Just another example of how this organization’s incompetence is driving away fans.
Why don't the powers that be scrap the whole semi finals. Would have been plenty of opportunity to run the juniors finals in place of elites semi's.
Not like that hasn't been done before with great results. 🙄
Dakkkkkkk! 2nd place with feet out like 6 times. Looks like that time in France has really paid off. Loic definitely had a slightly dryer track. What a run from both of them.
The racing today was absolutely spectacular. Maybe Downhill is in danger but certainly it isn't dead.
Huge congrats to the crew that worked so hard on making this track the best I have seen in years.
Of course some things can be done better, but I think we can take lots of positive points out of this race.
Mad respect to all the riders. Can't wait for the rest of the season to come.
fantastic racing and broadcast with great track coverage and replays. gwin in the booth was money!
bike abuse video w/ footage from the days of practice
so stoked for dak! never wanted loic to go slow so badly in my life.
It seems like there is a lack of understanding what makes course conditions truly dangerous by the organizers making the decisions. Last week, big jumps above the tree line in high winds was no problem until multiple people got injured. This week falling over at slow speed in the soft mud is too dangerous and the race has to be cancelled.
There are some juicy team rumors in the article too
Gwin in the booth is pure gold, everything you want in a "technical expert co-commentator". I just wish they'd let him finish talking every now and then...sooo many times they cut him off mid-sentence with a "whooaaaaa up by .5!!!!! waaaaaa" or some random fact that they felt the need to interject. Seriously, if they play back that webcast and check how many times they just spoke right over him, I bet they will be shocked. I hope someone does, there's a learning moment to be had here.
let's speculate that the new goal of the organization is only tippy-top-level riders and teams at a world cup. look at today's top 15 and how many non-top 30 overall riders are at the top of the list. #SNOOZEFEST if the same 30 riders are racing each every weekend, not to mention world's most boring Vital RAW videos in practice.
The lesson being remove Cedric from the booth.
Great race, I loved it! Track turned out to be pretty good. I feel some top riders ran cut spikes when it was already too dry and they paid the price. Gwin in the booth was amazing, insightful and well spoken, and aware of what happened in practice and at previous events, unlike the other two who clearly don't study/prepare enough ahead of race day (which is the key for sport commenting). I am also sorry because he is such a legend of the sport, but I think Gracia's english is not helping him in making his case.
30 seems way too low, but how about 60 elite men?
If I am not mistaken, this weekend the track saw 295 people riding, until the cut from qualifying.
I can see a format with only two categories: men and women's. Total riders about 80-100.
Juniors over 16 could race if they are truly phenoms like Jordan or Jackson. Until then, a feeder series where they can learn the crafts.
Let's face it. The current model is not that great for privateers IMO. They travel huge distances driving the van where they sleep, spend lots of money and effort, and most of the time they end up risking their life trying to beat people like Brosnan who have all the resources from a big team. Including health insurance if something goes wrong.
We all love the romanticism about privateers trying their luck at qualifying. But there is more to bike riding and racing than the World Cup. It is not the end of the world if you have to compete in a feeder series. Might even be more fun if you ask me.
Many people are commenting that they don't like the way tracks are getting smoother and faster, the UCI messing things, the broadcasts, etc. Rider's vlogs and bike reporting are getting so good that we don't even need a big media company to watch sick videos of riding.
Seems like the perfect time for another series to shine. Just my opinion
Nice pile of logs on the side of the track to crash into!
Both mentioned how good was at spotting little things. Is that because CG and Gwin had very different styles on the bike so CG never was looking at those little things? Maybe he can learn from that.
man, i really loved hearing aaron in the booth🤘
I think im up for having reece wilson and aaron gwin in the booth. those two are excellent.
Enjoyed the race coverage today. Having Aaron in the booth lifted the broadcast to a different level. Getting that level of insight and expertise was a breath of fresh air and a privilege.
Sadly, I do think Cedric needs to go. He's given it his best shot, but today proved that having someone fluent in English with current knowledge is required for a professional level production, which is what we are paying for.
Awesome to see Dak so close to the win. Bruni is a machine. Daprela is a wild man! Jackson doing the huck was super impressive.
Spicy team rumors indeed! Is it true they no longer run the winning riders’ national anthem on the podiums?? That’s really really lame and I wonder the reason for it, can’t believe it would be for copyright issues but maybe.
I'm hearing about multiple big teams folding for 2024.
Now...let me go read that article to see if that was one of the things I've heard but can't say.
Oh...and I sent this to Jack, but it was by far the best moment of the race for me.
Anyone else catch how competitive Dak is on the podium? Wanted to be first to hose the bros so he "pre-unwound" his bottle.
I rewound it 3 times. Don't know what he was actually thinking about, but he looked like the guy about to prank you who can't keep a straight face. Love little stuff like that.
Bruni was complaining on Beyond The Line about how being one of the last riders down was detrimental and saying the top 30 should ride first. It seemed like he wants the smaller field. Personally I think it would be a backward step. So many great stories around guys who were supposed to be also rans that pull something special out of the bag.
If the story on the German website about press being told to use machetes in the b zone is accurate, that's truly shocking.
Maybe the pile was to help you not fall into the pit? heh
But seriously...terrifying camera angle. Like watching a first person beheading.
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