2023 Racing Talk

The fact that Reece was so secretive about wadding it on the moto a few weeks before training camp and now missing most of the season (again) is pretty telling.

I'll bet you 100 baguettes Loris was not sending it on a full bore MX track just before everything was about to start...

ìs it not more that fans and industry people expect total transparency via social media and being private through a tough injury period is seen as being secretive?

NOOOOOOOO!!!

amaury's epic movie

Truly epic. Makes me want to ride, but not race. 

Really interesting and admirable (maybe not the decision-making) that the film so transparently explores the exposure and risk related to Amaury's concussion. Finn made the call not to race VDS because of a hit to the head and commitment to stay healthy for his livelihood, who knows how similar the two cases were. If Discovery/UCI really want to protect riders- though it would be tricky with so few races- it would make sense to deduct the lowest result from the overall, and make it easier for riders with concussions to both rest and remain competitive. Or, to provide riders failing the concussion protocol and reward them (at the end of the season) 75% of their average points per race for the first weekend missed due to protocol. We might need more races though for this to be reasonable.

Injuries are a huge part of the game, and it would make sense to smooth the injury effect if we're really out to determine the best overall rider over the season. I don't think it would incentivize riders to take more risks- as like Amaury and many racers say they're only there to win, or there to survive if they're really not feeling it. 

Per Needles podcast Rachel will be racing Lenzerheide. Mostly to try to qualify for world champs. 

And regarding Amaury racing concussed, it's not great. I don't know how to fix the system, but leaving it up to a concussed rider to make the right call is not the answer. And (with the benefit of hindsight) he still would have won the overall even if he'd sat out that final. 

Is it just me or does it appear that Noga Korem has left GT mid season 

Everyone responds to brain injuries differently. The exact same impact can have vastly different results. That being said, multiple impacts are always bad. I hope more riders err on the side of caution vs. pushing through.

Some of her captions seem to allude to some change of focus in her life. That being said, I think her latest story, she's on a purple Sensor (maybe?) and Conti tires, which would still be GT gear, right?

She is still listed as rider on the GT Team. She concussed in Derby and might still struggle 🤷🏼. 

She got married which will change anyone's focus for a bit 

So strangely, there doesn't seem to be any DH fantasy for 2023... So I went ahead and created an app so we can all still play and follow along with the 2023 season. 

https://www.downhillmtbfantasy.com/

I've been testing for a couple days, hoping I got rid of all of the bugs. If I didn't, just let me know and I'll patch it ASAP. Also welcoming any feedback! 

Wow! Thanks for doing that! The last fantasy sports I took part in was the 2010 TdF...

Rad.  Thanks for building this!

She has looked stupid fast in some Dyfi bike park clips lately.. and is back training in the gym but has herself said her fitness isn't where it was in the past. Really excited to see her race again and see what she can do. Lenzerheide is a bit shorter track 3:15ish for elite women in 2022, better than Fort Bill haha.

I am predicting Rachel will do some serious damage. 

If her fitness is shaky, I'd put her just behind the trio of Myriam Nicole, Camille Balanche, and Nina Hoffman. If her fitness is there, I think she will be just behind whoever of those 3 is on-form. 

Because pietra race tracks are flat and easy compared to finale or other race venues 

Lenzerheide just released it won't do another worldcup in the near future.

https://www.mtbworldcup.ch/en/No-Bike-World-Cup-2024_n_14171463

Wonder if this has anything to do with new eso/discovery? 🤷‍♂️

  From the link: The reason: in 2025, the Mountain Bike World Championships will take place in Valais and, like every World Cup organiser, the organisers in Valais have the privilege of holding a World Cup as a "main rehearsal" the year before. "We are basically positive about a resumption from 2025," says OC President Christoph Müller. However, these negotiations would only be started at a later date.

The release says why there is no world cup in the near future.

Nothing to do with eso/discovery and everything to do with the 2025 Mountain Bike World Championships taking place in Valais and, like every World Cup organiser, the organisers in Valais have the privilege of holding a World Cup as a "main rehearsal" the year before 2024.

Lenzerheide "are basically positive about a resumption from 2025".

Thats pretty funny for a place whose name is literaly stone. 

Also heard rumors PBR will run EXT shocks!

Sounds like they're just not hosting for the next two years because Valais has a World Cup in 2024 and World Champs in 2025 and it's fairly close by. I don't think that has anything to do with ESO/Disco

From the link: The reason: in 2025, the Mountain Bike World Championships will take place in Valais and, like every World Cup organiser, the organisers in Valais have the privilege of holding a World Cup as a "main rehearsal" the year before. "We are basically positive about a resumption from 2025," says OC President Christoph Müller.

Pompon out for at least the first few rounds due to ongoing concussion symptoms (sounds really similar to what Tahnee went through )

I'm just happy people are taking concussion recovery properly instead of pushing through and suffering as I've seen people do in the past. 

finale EDR practice vid

Jackson out for round 1.