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I think you misunderstood my post. If you followed Kerrs results you would know he has really only come close to actually winning a WC round in the last two years or so. He himself has said how long it takes to get to that point, even with the advantages he has enjoyed. Is he a late bloomer, well maybe. Greg's career illustrates that age is not necessarily an obstacle to performance in DH. There are plenty of racers in their 30s. Erlangsen is over the hill according to you though..

A few puddles on the jeep track but little if any standing water or thick mud on the trails - just a few streams to cross usually lower down.

You're just being illogical now to avoid climbing off your high horse.

I can say with relative certainty that in DH riders support each other and would be happy to have as many fellow rider riding with them. This is not road racing.

Okay, you got it right now.

And the first point above goes to show that CSA are out of touch with reality and the WC calendar too, it seems.

Yes, more strange facts on this thread. Well spotted. Its bad when people cant even regurg Google results properly.

I'm waiting to get wind of what is happening "behind the scenes". If you hear, let us know please.

Looking into my crystal ball I see a DH worlds without any SA riders in it in a year or two after Greg retires. Hell he may not even make it to the 2024 worlds, given the risks attached to training and the possibilities of injury before the time. Zero participation is a possibility in 2024 It is quite clear that the qualifying criteria are set too high considering the "hurdles" faced by our athletes, many of which have been explained on these pages. They may not be good enough according to the CSA criteria but they're the best and only riders SA has. Not sure who has the wool over their eyes here, but it ain't me.

And there is a massive difference between MX and DH - big $$ for everything from equipment to coaching. I'm still not understanding why any of you think it would be a bad idea to have as big a contingent of riders as possible at the Worlds.

30 is still young for DH these days. teams sign riders for various reasons. Greg was signed at 42. Kerr is 36. yes they're well established but there are many who only bloom later in their careers like Kerr for instance. How well do you actually follow DH? I suspect that numerous opinionated nay sayers on this thread barely do. Ill informed invective from bikehubbers - who would have thought.

John I think you're showing your lack of knowledge of the sport of downhill racing. At least two or three of the riders not permitted to go would never be two minutes behind the winner. Who gained you say .. well the sport gains because it provides an incentive for other riders to up their game and try to get there too. No help given by CSA and little if any interest in the sport from sponsors and the average marathon/gravel riding SA public so its an uphill battle, as can be seen from your and the other punters here who seem to look down on the downhill racers from their lycra clad pedestals. Greg has mentioned time an again the lack of recognition his achievements have received in SA and that trend is clearly not about to change, given the attitude to up and coming racers displayed here. The WC is like the CTCT - said nobody, ever? That's ludicrous. There are many examples of breakout performances that occur in DH racing because suddenly everything clicks, especially for the younger riders. SA is the poorer for not having all its best riders at the WC.

Your post clearly states that there was no petition, or are you splitting hairs now and saying you weren't referring to the hard copy petition that was sent in, if there was one?

What we also have in SA is a growing culture of irrational rules and regulations that condone bad administrative decisions and cover those who make them. I stand by my point that CSA are ill equipped to deal with DH. They don't understand it and their behavior does nothing for the riders. Easy to say they shouldjust try again next year when they're already battling to pay their way to make a go of it as it is.

Exactly they did petition but we have fake news being spread here. Disappointing

Greg is 42, started racing when the R was about 3 to the dollar and now has a home in Andorra and full team support. He is super talented but the guys over there at the moment are also the best we have in SA at the moment, not some no hopers who can barely ride a bike, like most on this thread, me included. I'd like the biggest team of the best riders representing SA at the worlds. Why don't you?

Stop, you're making me cry with your in no way relevant comparisons to play to the audience on this thread.

It means that the criteria that road/XC biased CSA have in place for selection in DH are probably poorly thought out in that they fail to take the famous "hurdles" and nature of DH racing as opposed to road and XC into account. https://bikenetwork.co.za/csa-dont-see-this-from-a-riders-point-of-view/

This segways back to my statement that DH racers from SA face bigger hurdles than their XC)/marathon/roadie counterparts. How many pro DH racers come to SA over summer to train here? Absolutely none or if any do, its not for training but promo work like Greg. Why not? Because we lack shuttle and chairlift assisted DH tracks of a suitable standard. Where do they go - places like New Zealand's South Island. How many XCO racers including top names. come to Cape Town in particular to train - lots and lots. Why, because its terrain and trails are made for it. Nino. Keller and others are often here in summer. So, CSA and other punters on this forum including the XC coach, how are SA talents supposed to compete and meet criteria imposed by an organization that appears to hardly understands downhill racing given the dearth of training venues available to them in SA? Far tooo many high horses being ridden by too many people quoting this and that from the CSA without understanding the context or the nature of DH racing in SA.

Not sacrifices - hurdles. All the parents from GM on down have had their hands full and bank accounts emptied.

I strongly suspect that all the XCO riders even Candice have more support from local sponsors as a result of the XC bevok nation we live in. The "race that measures all" has seen to that. Imagine if it was the other way around as it is in most other countries, with gravity orientated riding predominating.

They are at the level or better than many WC riders. This is a sport where only 30 make the finals. Just as you were the best SA had to offer on the road, so these guys are the best SA has to offer in DH. By the way, where did you come in the world champs?

I put the ball in your court ...

Sincerely hoping that all you "DH Bro" disparaging commentators are proved wrong and that the very well organized WC DH committee and others manage to overturn the silly CSA decision. DH racers from SA face far bigger hurdles than our XCO racers to compete overseas. Prove me wrong.

You're inferring that a lack of funding is the issue when that hasn't been given as the reason. Again, self-funded riders.