Intro Text
Tires get in the dirt for the first time as the 2019 World Cup Downhill gets underway in Maribor, Slovenia. The track has proven to be considerably more fun, challenging and entertaining than first expected via track walk. Throw in just enough moisture and some hero dirt with bike gobbling rocks and it was a great day on a great track to kick the season off. Sven Martin, @maddogboris and Dan Hearn deliver with a bonus banger by Nicolas Brizin.
Marine Cabirou, stylish and fast on the new Scott Factory Team. Fastest in timed training by four seconds, watch out. -Sven Martin
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Loic fastest today on the new bike. All the planning and preparation falling into place. -Sven Martin
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Wind tunnel-approved! Loic knows when it's better to tuck. -Sven Martin
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When you show up early to work ready for your first training runs and the track is still closed. @maddogboris
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Frix Frix with the freeracer line into one of the last few berms at the bottom of the track. Damn, son! - Photo: Nicolas Brizin.
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Thibaut Daprela did his best to squish those pesky media squids. -Dan Hearn
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Gee Atherton with the second fastest time training run. He just likes to have a fast timed training run and doesn't chill like others. @maddogboris
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Gee has had to look long and hard to find the speed he lacked last weekend. -Sven Martin
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Rachel Atherton looks super confident on her new bike and was looking pinned. @maddogboris
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Tahnee is stoked on her new Fox kit, designed by herself of course. Fastest top split in timed training but took her time checking the track out on the way down so didn't put in a full run. -Dan Hearn
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Tahnee Seagrave on the throttle, wheels up for attacking the rocks. -Sven Martin
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Misty start to today's training. -Sven Martin
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Cornflakes for breakfast? Amaury in audio. -Sven Martin
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Troy Brosnan had a wild moment in training in the rock garden but managed to hold on. He didn't do a full timed training run so we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how his time compares. -Dan Hearn
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Luca Shaw didn't have a crash today, but what he thought was a small shoulder injury sustained last weekend tuned out to be a broken collar bone and he pulled the plug today after two runs. Greg Minnaar subs in for the audio here. -Sven Martin
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Tracey Hannah will be a threat for the top step come tomorrow and Sunday. -Sven Martin
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Connor Fearon in classic flat-corner mode. -Sven Martin
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Steve Peat sweeping the course (literally) after training today. -Sven Martin
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Magnus is just getting stronger and smarter as he matures each year. -Sven Martin
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Loris Vergier kept it smooth in training today. He didn't break the top 10 in timed training but was still less than 3 seconds back. -Dan Hearn
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Danny Hart is keen to better his 2nd place at the IXS Cup last week. -Dan Hearn
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Aaron Gwin shaving corners and milliseconds at the same time. -Sven Martin
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Monika Hrastnik is the local here. She will have the crowd behind her and is not afraid to go full gas in the rocks. -Sven Martin<br />
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The rock garden offers a couple pretty different lines. Laurie was on the outside-outside line and takes as much speed as possible out of it. @maddogboris
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Brendan Fairclough loving the track out here. Seems like he figured out his pedals. -Sven Martin
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Brendog is loving the track. @maddogboris
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This pole was originally by Alex Marin's back tire. The small change made during practice opened up a much straighter line and upped speeds through the rock garden to a ridiculous level. -Dan Hearn
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Alex Fayolle is my insider tip. He's been the fastest in most sections, has a few unique lines that no one else even dares to touch, but more importantly, his bike looks dialed. Extremely smooth, extremely under the radar. -Sven Martin
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Matt Simmonds and the new Cannondale in action. @maddogboris
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Do you even tweak bro? Dak Norton on the fadeaway off the roads where Sam Hill crashed so many years ago. -Sven Martin
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B Practice senders. -Sven Martin
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With tape this wide they could run a 4X race down the track. -Dan Hearn
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Hurly Burly prime real estate signing for Amaury. -Sven Martin
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8:30 - 5:30 on the track calls for some hydration at the bottom. -Sven Martin
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It seems like every at race, someone takes a turn hosting a social BBQ. Today it was the home team Unior Devinci, who are headquartered not too far from here. -Sven Martin
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Bruce Klein is back from injury and ready to rock. -Sven Martin
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Bruce Klein enjoying the track in B practice this morning. -Dan Hearn
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Silver Surfer Mitch Ropelato! @maddogboris
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Jamie Edmondson with a little wake up crash today. @maddogboris
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Brook the Bulldog is a MTB photog's dream. Never a dull moment shooting the Kiwi. @maddogboris
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Finn Iles is on fire. A podium is waiting for you, bru. @maddogboris
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Kade Edwards didn't have luck on his side today. He just recovered from an Injury and went down in the rock garden today. Luckily its wasn't as bad as it looks, and he was back on track. @maddogboris
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Charlie Harrison leading the pack, but my focus preferred to jump on his teammate, Reece Wilson. @maddogboris
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Bernard Kerr with the 4th fastest time on timetraining, The new 29er Pivot seems to work pretty well in the rockgarden . #Bernardforanaheim2020 @maddogboris
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Phil Atwill was the only rider who "rode" this line. #stumptostumpgap @maddogboris
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"Why do the have so many rocks here in Slovenia?" @maddogboris
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Norco Factory Racing Junior, Elliot Jamieson, getting low after the big double. @maddogboris
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Yes Vali. I guess we need another Vital Whip-offs in Fort William. @maddogboris
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Morgane Charre racing EWS and World Cups this season. @maddogboris
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First year junior, Luke Williamson of Propain, looks set to make an impression on the field. -Dan Hearn
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We reckon Remi Thirion can knock a few digits of that number plate here. -Dan Hearn
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In true Gwin style, he didn't actually race the IXS Cup and didn't many runs today. That didn't stop him from looking one of the fastest on the hill by the end of the day. -Dan Hearn
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Which will get you first, the cigarette or the hole in this collapsed berm? -Dan Hearn
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It might be "just" timed training but it's still a useful tool to gauge speed. -Dan Hearn
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Fresh from his IXS win, Matt Walker runs us through his approach to the World Cup. -Dan Hearn
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High speeds mean lean angles. -Dan Hearn
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Dense forest covers most of the track, nothing a downpour of rain on Sunday can't break though. -Dan Hearn
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Always a favorite to watch, Benoit Coulanges will always have a place in the slideshows. -Dan Hearn
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Vali Höll, down to earth chilling with her friends and race buddies. Stay tuned for race action heating up this weekend! @maddogboris
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