I'm not actually 100% sure of what I witnessed today. This was by far the most unhinged thing I've ever seen involving bikes. Conditions, weather, riding...
I'm not actually 100% sure of what I witnessed today. This was by far the most unhinged thing I've ever seen involving bikes. Conditions, weather, riding, fans, etc... all completely unhinged.
Hell yes. And this was qualifying day.
Pound an extra beer for the vital forums, this is so sick!
At what point are we going to discuss that proffesionalisation of the sport could also mean shifting schedules to avoid having to carry your bike because the wheels don't turn any more?
And why doesn't get Millie a rerun, as she is blocked at the trickiest turn of the course by a crashed rider in the main line?
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was smushed in the melee near max at the end and it was reported that a girl in the crowd was removed w/ a bone sticking out of her arm (compound fracture). perfect storm of racing, fans, alcohol and narrow spaces. lawlor said he was near a barrier before the end of the race and realized it was a bad idea and got away from it. it was leaning in at 45 degrees once everyone started rushing. the force/pressure down there was significant.
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was...
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was smushed in the melee near max at the end and it was reported that a girl in the crowd was removed w/ a bone sticking out of her arm (compound fracture). perfect storm of racing, fans, alcohol and narrow spaces. lawlor said he was near a barrier before the end of the race and realized it was a bad idea and got away from it. it was leaning in at 45 degrees once everyone started rushing. the force/pressure down there was significant.
Yeah I hope I can see it in person someday. It looks pretty epic.
At what point are we going to discuss that proffesionalisation of the sport could also mean shifting schedules to avoid having to carry your bike because...
At what point are we going to discuss that proffesionalisation of the sport could also mean shifting schedules to avoid having to carry your bike because the wheels don't turn any more?
And why doesn't get Millie a rerun, as she is blocked at the trickiest turn of the course by a crashed rider in the main line?
Riders impeded by crashed riders should get a second run.
changing the core dna of the sport and using ‘professionalism’ to cover it will kill the sport so fast. It is not a televised event people are allowed to attend, it’s a mountainbike race, in the real world, and the environment will reflect that.
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was...
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was smushed in the melee near max at the end and it was reported that a girl in the crowd was removed w/ a bone sticking out of her arm (compound fracture). perfect storm of racing, fans, alcohol and narrow spaces. lawlor said he was near a barrier before the end of the race and realized it was a bad idea and got away from it. it was leaning in at 45 degrees once everyone started rushing. the force/pressure down there was significant.
I was gonna say wait until someone gets hurt. That looked dangerous.
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was...
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was smushed in the melee near max at the end and it was reported that a girl in the crowd was removed w/ a bone sticking out of her arm (compound fracture). perfect storm of racing, fans, alcohol and narrow spaces. lawlor said he was near a barrier before the end of the race and realized it was a bad idea and got away from it. it was leaning in at 45 degrees once everyone started rushing. the force/pressure down there was significant.
Loved the scenes at Les Gets, we need more big crowds, it adds so much, but when Max was bent over screaming for joy he was nearly trampled and being pushed against the railing pretty hard. I wonder if a simple re-design of the finish corral could better protect riders while still letting crowds do their thing.
Like a second, smaller area at the end of the corral where the final rider's team can wait to go crazy and where the rider can cruise into, and then a gate could be quickly closed to keep the crowds back literally just a foot or two. If it was Max who had the compound fracture it would be such a bummer. Anyway, what a race!
i was under the impression that is more or less what they had. but the problem is max stopped in the corral itself instead of making his way into the second space. and the crowd was already on him by the time officials were trying to usher him over the fence into the second area. it wouldve been on him to go through the corral itself and into the second area right away to be escorted safely. this is PURE visual theory, btw. just what i saw in the videos.
the only solution would indeed be to tell the rider to roll all the way through to the podium type area where they already have a set up for containment. but... i dont think riders want to do that, regardless. but les gets may need it. idk
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was...
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was smushed in the melee near max at the end and it was reported that a girl in the crowd was removed w/ a bone sticking out of her arm (compound fracture). perfect storm of racing, fans, alcohol and narrow spaces. lawlor said he was near a barrier before the end of the race and realized it was a bad idea and got away from it. it was leaning in at 45 degrees once everyone started rushing. the force/pressure down there was significant.
Loved the scenes at Les Gets, we need more big crowds, it adds so much, but when Max was bent over screaming for joy he was...
Loved the scenes at Les Gets, we need more big crowds, it adds so much, but when Max was bent over screaming for joy he was nearly trampled and being pushed against the railing pretty hard. I wonder if a simple re-design of the finish corral could better protect riders while still letting crowds do their thing.
Like a second, smaller area at the end of the corral where the final rider's team can wait to go crazy and where the rider can cruise into, and then a gate could be quickly closed to keep the crowds back literally just a foot or two. If it was Max who had the compound fracture it would be such a bummer. Anyway, what a race!
They opened up one corner of the finish corral prior max coming down. However the whole place was swarmed so over the barriers was the only way out.
personally I think they can figure out a way to keep the tradition alive while making it safer for everyone. Keep the finish corale clear of fans and keep em away till the rider crosses the finish line. If they want swarm the track safely and congregate around the finish corale who cares.
I absolutely love it.
Hell yes. And this was qualifying day.
Pound an extra beer for the vital forums, this is so sick!
Probably the most relaxed interviews I’ve seen from Gracey
The track has shaped up nicely compared to yesterday
At what point are we going to discuss that proffesionalisation of the sport could also mean shifting schedules to avoid having to carry your bike because the wheels don't turn any more?
And why doesn't get Millie a rerun, as she is blocked at the trickiest turn of the course by a crashed rider in the main line?
HH taking home that purse!
Hattie, how good.
What a performance from Hattie.
Oh Great Mr Josh Adderal is back in the booth.
Commentary was fine . Chuck him back out to the finish arena plz
Is it actually drying out and baking in? Looks like the usual suspects are back on top. Interesting.
Wow
Les Gets delivers again!!!
So many good storylines to dig into! https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/results-les-gets-world-cup-downhill-elite-finals-0.
Unreal round, can't wait for the sleeper edit on this one!
Todays races were epic, i even shed tears for Hattie.
Too bad there will be no WynTV for this one though.
In case you were still wondering where the true heart of DH beats:
Elite Men highlights from Les Gets:
Full junior women's race broadcast replay from Les Gets:
Gonna call it, if you rush the finish area you’re no better than a 4th rate TikToker, it’s been done now and you’ve got zero originality
Elite women's highlights:
re: rushing the finish, in a chat of videographers at the race, filmer, TJ Smith is going to get x-rays on his leg as he was smushed in the melee near max at the end and it was reported that a girl in the crowd was removed w/ a bone sticking out of her arm (compound fracture). perfect storm of racing, fans, alcohol and narrow spaces. lawlor said he was near a barrier before the end of the race and realized it was a bad idea and got away from it. it was leaning in at 45 degrees once everyone started rushing. the force/pressure down there was significant.
Insane how close people were before that last turn, almost feels like group B racing in the 80s
Laughs in Peugeot 205
Yeah I hope I can see it in person someday. It looks pretty epic.
Riders impeded by crashed riders should get a second run.
changing the core dna of the sport and using ‘professionalism’ to cover it will kill the sport so fast. It is not a televised event people are allowed to attend, it’s a mountainbike race, in the real world, and the environment will reflect that.
Interesting that it didn’t seem like an airbag went off in AP’s crash. Maybe not wearing one this weekend because of the mud?
I was gonna say wait until someone gets hurt. That looked dangerous.
Loved the scenes at Les Gets, we need more big crowds, it adds so much, but when Max was bent over screaming for joy he was nearly trampled and being pushed against the railing pretty hard. I wonder if a simple re-design of the finish corral could better protect riders while still letting crowds do their thing.
Like a second, smaller area at the end of the corral where the final rider's team can wait to go crazy and where the rider can cruise into, and then a gate could be quickly closed to keep the crowds back literally just a foot or two. If it was Max who had the compound fracture it would be such a bummer. Anyway, what a race!
i was under the impression that is more or less what they had. but the problem is max stopped in the corral itself instead of making his way into the second space. and the crowd was already on him by the time officials were trying to usher him over the fence into the second area. it wouldve been on him to go through the corral itself and into the second area right away to be escorted safely. this is PURE visual theory, btw. just what i saw in the videos.
the only solution would indeed be to tell the rider to roll all the way through to the podium type area where they already have a set up for containment. but... i dont think riders want to do that, regardless. but les gets may need it. idk
They opened up one corner of the finish corral prior max coming down. However the whole place was swarmed so over the barriers was the only way out.
personally I think they can figure out a way to keep the tradition alive while making it safer for everyone. Keep the finish corale clear of fans and keep em away till the rider crosses the finish line. If they want swarm the track safely and congregate around the finish corale who cares.
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