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Amaury considering to race with a collarbone that’s been plated 9 days ago… yikes.
photo pit bits from la thuile
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/pit-bits-2025-la-thuile-world-cup-downhill
Doesn't look to be the best built b line I've ever seen. I agree with Cami, I think I'd rather hit the gap.
1. Amaury should heal instead of going all in. But he is a madman (in the good way) and wants to prove he can. If it goes wrong his carrier could be over.
2. Closing a feature to a single group of contestants alone is wrong. Build a course that is rideable for everyone! Also junior woman.
3. I am refering to "Mooving the Needle" podcast and because I have written it somewhere before that. Abolish the juniors categories as a single main event and instead let them all race together. Let it make 60 Places for men an 25-30 for woman. Those top riders that are among those places should race in the finals. Vouilloz won everything as a junior. Or you are a good racer or you are not. Your age should not be important. Look at the Alran brothers times. Easy top 5 potential.
4. Yeah, it's a bit against WB. But not like you think. I dont want the Freecaster or RedBull days back. What I want is a sport broadcastet for the real fans, not for a mass audiance. It did not work in ski and it will not work for DH. Broadcasts as they are now are made for neither. It's shit if you dont know and it's shit if you know.
5. That's just personal and because I think that's how it should be. Do not limit the participants to 200. Make it 500 and let it be a sport for the masses. There is no need to have 30 riders in 4 seconds. It does not ad to the fun of watching. It's only when you see some strugle (not hurt himself or even die) that you can apreciate the very best. With the actual system you only see the very best, it does not ad to the WOW factor.
6. To all riders: Have a good race. I am really looking forward to the LaThuile track. Can't wait for the first images! Have fun
Course preview from JG.
that track is nuts and awesome! jackson being taxed and borderline out of control means race day is going to be hectic. let's just hope it stays dry (right now Sunday calling for light rain which may not be a bad thing).
here's a POV with mille and lou ferguson. the follow gives some new perspective too. bonkers!
Live timing just wrapping up
https://prod.chronorace.be/angular/results.html#/uci/event/20250703_mtb/DHI/CG1
(sspomer here, i added top 20 screenshots for quick reference)
Looks like Asa didn't do timed training?
AP is an absolute monster. Just put some plates in and back on the hill
"2. Closing a feature to a single group of contestants alone is wrong. Build a course that is rideable for everyone! Also junior woman."
Can't get behind this take. The difference in ability between elite men and junior women is massive.They should instead make a more interesting B-line than just a wooden ramp to the side, should make it more enjoyable for the riders.
I'll say it again, the top eight junior women would have qualified for elite women's finals in Val di Sole. All the junior women that have been interviewed are upset they weren't given the option to choose their line and wanted to hit the road gap.
Why do we believe that junior men are capable of making their own choices, but junior women aren't?
i've always wondered the same b/c he never shows up in results. i just asked neko who replied saying that asa is out there, but he doesn't put his timing chip on and uses his gopro to analyze his sector times.
i guess it's a strategy/mystery move.
Perfect lap times based on timed training splits:
Elite women: 4:06.005
Elite men: 3:34.139
I'm jealous you have a direct line to Neko Mulally. I'd love to ask him stuff about that new bonded FW bike of his.
I couldn't believe how composed he was for only his 2nd run. Being able to calmly and coherently talk the whole way down that track is so impressive.
He is the best thing to happen to DH in a long time.
Vital RAW from today!
AP might have more confidence in modern medicine than Ricky Bobby
Wow
The night stage could be cool.
Looking forward to seeing how that goes.
I do a local Enduro with a night stage every year, it's fun and gets rowdy - though the lighting is pretty minimal and more for spectators so riders use lights. I think it was last year they ran the same stage during the daytime and the top guys were only a couple seconds slower at night so I wouldn't expect the pros to be going slow.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAwyGiER9YF/?igsh=ZHljZTR2N2J4ajc1
WHAT. A. TRACK.
If you're talking about the Fall Enduro in Marquette Michigan, they often run one of the day stages and the night stage on the same trail (i.e., a repeated lap like you stated). There have definitely been years when multiple racers' faster times have been the night lap. One year the fastest overall time, day or night, might've come in the dark.
Edit: The night stage should be sweet, the pros will be going wicked fast. I hope they film and put out an edit of that at least that!
Enduro World Cup practice action to break up the DH onslaught a bit for you:
C Kilmurray was right about those roots—babadababadataktaktak!! Love it. This is an awesome track!
As far as closing the jumps to juniors, I hate it. As said above, the junior women are as skilled as the elites now, and they wanna race the track! I do love a feature that not everyone can hit though…can’t hang? Go around. Sit this one out. Quit. We’re racing.
I went to the Covid snowshoe. On the second race of that doubleheader, the track went straight down that first open ski hill at the V tree jump. Bruni (at least) was deathgripping that whole thing. What the fuck, it was so rad… there wasn’t some announce that junior women weren’t allowed to bomb no brakes down that too.
So weak on the organizer’s part.
Remi Thirion gets to take psycho high lines in the wet, Nina Hoffmann is allowed to go absolutely SCHINKEN down some straightline to possible vaporization, and Finnley Iles can fuckin SMASH through a tree to win if he wants. What are we doing here? Some UCI chump have a niece in the race or something? DH racing! Cmon!!!
So smooth and loose at the same time. Made me say things
3:33…shorts bounty!!!
I believe it’s Swiss Jr Loé Meier in the shorts. #51 on a Scott. Let’s find him and make him rich oh wait he’s Swiss let’s just say congratulations must be nice etc
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