2025 World Cup Downhill / EDR - Loudenvielle, France

It they sold pink springs and pink lowers I would be 100% interested.

Weather is starting to look dry. Nice.

"free" streams on YouTube are always a sham, 100% of the time 

New Gamux rear end! 

Hopefully Reece is a bit more on the pace this weekend. 

How do people think Gwin will do? I would love to see him go straight to finals from q1, but I think he's gonna struggle to start with.

First of the track walk vids from Janaynay.

Troy had some cool insight during his track walk—planning to run suspension in Flight Attendant's middle 'Pedal' mode; talked about removing the seat and chain stay bridges if the track stays dry and slippery to help with traction.

Also at 6:21 they show a section of track that has a pad to mark the inside of the track, but there is also a pole up against the pad to mark the outside of the track. It seems they're making it extra clear that you have to stay between the poles. The marking in that section is visually confusing though as the race track departs from the main line from a moment. 

Some enduro bike checks. Looks like these were shot in Poland, but still some cool tech - 

Why not put up some of the low to the ground "mesh tape" I have seen elsewhere in these questionable areas ??

If the limit of the track is marked by the pole what's the point of having the pad there?

 I think the pad is there since it's assumed riders will be clipping it as they try to stay tight through the chicane. A single pole would likely get kicked out repeatedly. 

I'm not saying it's possible in this section, but since the pole is outside the pad, wouldn't it be legal to jump over the pad instead of zig-zagging around it? 

the pad creates a bus stop to slow the riders down.

so is it a man-made obstacle or a course marker?

Definitely trying to jump that pad. 

There’s still not been any official clarification on course markers vs obstacle designators vs line gates, right? Cathro said he’s talked to a guy who works there but we’ve all worked places with guys and he really does seem to be focused on becoming a clickbait YouTuber now (see today’s thing on the suspension lights). 

It’s either no big deal or an existential threat to DH racing. I go back and forth. Seems easy enough to say “here’s how tracks are defined” and move forward, but that really hasn’t been WB’s bag so far. Weak. 

Don’t worry, introducing gambling into this very well-organized and transparent race series will be fiiiiiiiiine

I really want to ask a UCI official what the middle pole signifies... And see if they can give a coherent response.

AGAIN, if it was a different color it could mark 'danger' in the way painted rocks do. Like hey you don't want to be riding here cuz it leads to a tree, or a gap jump, or there's a hole in between these two lines. That's sensible enough.

But as it's not a different color, and it's a crap color thats probly hard to see at race pace among the foliage... It seems pointless.

And if it marks A and B line, yet neither will be closed at any point... I don't see the point. Obviously if there was a fast flat spot in the middle (almost never the case) I could see taping JUST that flat spot off so riders aren't... Well, cheating. But of course the terrain between an A line and a B line is usually 'unrideable' in one way or another.

I really wanna ask the question "If we removed the concept of 'middle poles', could ALL this be avoided?" Again, use tape if you need to tape off a dangerous spot between lines. Otherwise, don't need a 3rd pole. I'd love to see a screen shot where it is NEEDED.

I belive the pad are considered track markers. I don't think the rulebook mentiones "poles" as markers, so anything goes. 

it’s a bit of “we know it when we see it” combined with “just trust us” and a sprinkle of “none of your business” …I feel anyone in their position—especially when touting how pro they’re making it all—is obligated to clear it the fuck up!

So the rule is stay between the poles, except when there's a pad next to the pole, then you need to ignore the pole and stay between the pad and the pole?

And when there's 3 poles, you can go on either side of the middle pole as long as the 3 poles are "in a line" (per Cathro), except when they're not in a line and it's still ok to go on either side (Vital's screenshot above), but not when they're not in a line and it's not ok to go on either side (Poland).

Makes total sense.

So the pole/pd assembly is one big “course marker?” And your tires must pass to the inside of all course markers?

So. Much. COURSE TAPE 😍

enduro remains amateur. Vague poles are where it’s AT

I would bet decent amount of money that the tape used in one Enduro race would cover whole DH season. Not very eco friendly.

No Wyn TV at this round which is a bummer. It's always a highlight with the banter imo. Must be years since hes missed one come to think of it.