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Can't speak for other countries, but if you're a US rider you pretty much need to be rich to get into World Cups. DH isn't a cheap sport, but traveling the country for 5 races that get you UCI points (and not even that many) is crazy. Expecting people to max out credit cards and make objectively horrible financial decisions just to have a shot at participating is sad, and fundamentally bad for our sport. The UCI needs to start giving points for respected regional races like NW cups. They need to just accept these races will be run different...

We have to keep in mind, UCI is a Euro/french centric organization and they are probably blind to what is DH racing outside of their cocoon. In France and in Europe, the sport is much more organized with clubs in every village and races at every level (department, regional, national). In US, there is way less regional racing, it makes the sport more expensive and just limits the pool of talents. Enduro is also a distraction for race promoters and racers. I understand UCI (and Red Bull) wanting to make WC DH an elite series and not a participation sport...

Thanks for the feedback team. One point which might not have been crystal clear in my article. If you cant get the points, you enter via the national jersey. Then travel to your first world cup and if all the stars align and you qualify for finals. Then, in my opinion you have the speed, the talent and you've proved yourself. So you should be able to enter yourself into the following race. Giving 50th place 10 points is bullshit as its those points which dictate whether they race the next race, not their skill and not the fact that...

Well said. A few years ago I got 5th at US Nationals and qualified for my first World Cup. I now work my ass off as a traveling nurse- often on call and overtime and get usually get up at 5 am, train, and then go work a 10 hr shift. Not at a desk. In surgery. Lifting more heavy things. Running down hallways. All so I can can afford to fly myself to any World Cups I’m able to qualify for. Where I am my own driver/mechanics/chef/trainer/mental coach/unexpected catastrophe solver. Life as a privateer is HARD WORK. Thank you...

Bring back the days where winners had hangovers and STDs

Another issue: the UCI should take a look at how the FIS handles the comebacks of injured skiers. As far as I know when injured skiers come back they are in an "insured state" for a couple of races where they can keep their pre-injured starting position. So something like with Myriam Nicole should not happen. She was former World Champion, is current Vice World Champion but was not allowed to participate at A practice. I assume she was not protected, so a mechanical or crash in qualification would have taken her out of the race. I further assume such...

Whilst all these points are very valid, why shouldn’t the UCI and red bull make the best TV show to cover the pinnacle of DH racing? I have been a fan of DH for over 20 years and the coverage now is the best it has ever been. But let’s take this year, we have only just got into the coverage so I was certainly thirsty for it, but have I watched all of the coverage from Red bull? Well no, to watch the men’s and the women’s show’s it’s over 3hrs. Then take the double header that’s over a...

Did it just get hot in here? Because it feel hot.

I hear Hart is being hired onto Gwin's team as they are lacking a top 10 capable rider.

Fir a lot of people, that Enduro bike is a one bike quiver... DH bikes are a small niche in a niche market.. I would guess that 500 to 1 ratio is off, too... I bet it's even more..

Could be a new SUNN DH bike..... The sun is pretty bright.

Kind of takes away the fun of it when the teams start getting involved with the actual team 'rumors'. haha Next we will has SC Syndicate popping in to tell us Greg is fine for another year as they just dropped of a crate of wine at his house.

we totally got the point, BUT some dude from Switzerland wrote "the team manager of ms has personaly wanted danny back. He needs someone to put pressure on laury to finaly start winning more frequently" and we simply want to state that this is not the case. It's one thing to do some random guessing and share speculations, but another thing to make a bad joke on the back of riders.

Great start to the thread, a whole bunch of nonsense! I think the syndicate would be nuts to let Vergier go, he is the best performing but also the most entertaining with his goofy funny style. They know it too with how much they put him into their edits.