rudi-h Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 The only exclusive thing about the Epic is the price. Its more like climbing Everest than doing a TdF. If you have the means and is dedicated to train you can achieve success. Thats why we see marathon runners, soccer players and rugby players (and even the odd F1 driver) doing the event and succeeding. I wish people would stop romanticizing about the Epic. It is in fact nothing like the TdF. not arguing, but I think we should embrace the fact that the Epic is romanticized and considered by many cycling journalists as the TDF of mountain biking. I think it would be great for the sport and for the country if the Epic can achieve / maintain / improve on that status, potentially also one day have tourists from all over the world to line our mountains to come and see ALL the legends of mountain biking in action in one event! what if epic became so big that riders would build their seasons around it and forego their early season XCO events to make room for this spectacle? I've said it before, but I also think they should lose the 2-man team format (at least for the pro category) to initiate a dimension of team tactics other than the strongest team taking top honours from stage 1. if the goal / aim / vision is to just have a very expensive mass participation event, then I'm clearly not on the money here. edit: spelling
NicoBoshoff Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Is "The Epic the Tour de France of mountain biking"? No, no it isn't. Next.
rudi-h Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Is "The Epic the Tour de France of mountain biking"? No, no it isn't. Next. So what is the Tour de France of mountain biking then, and what's wrong with thinking the Epic can/should be it? Agreed that some changes would be necessary but look how far they've come... substantial prize money, strong international field, multiple grueling spectacular hard days of racing, better TV coverage than any other MTB race on the globe. Why is it a bad thing, and why shouldn't organizers aim for this, and why shouldn't spectators want this?
Thor Buttox Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 So what is the Tour de France of mountain biking then, and what's wrong with thinking the Epic can/should be it? Agreed that some changes would be necessary but look how far they've come... substantial prize money, strong international field, multiple grueling spectacular hard days of racing, better TV coverage than any other MTB race on the globe. Why is it a bad thing, and why shouldn't organizers aim for this, and why shouldn't spectators want this?All it takes is one billionaire to put up serious money. Two years ago Cool Harvey pretty much said he'll never be back, so there must be some attraction. The ABSA guys have done a great job with it, even if there is a (small) part of me that resents the massive entry fee. Is it the Tour de France of mtb? Well, there are two or three guys who can win it, and the rest are passengers. Some X-country guys can win a time-trial, sorry, short single-track stage. Other than there being a bunch of amateurs not impacting anything, I don't think it's too far off. Now if only the would sponsor ABSA-lon to attend, and get Nuno back.
GLuvsMtb Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 So what is the Tour de France of mountain biking then, and what's wrong with thinking the Epic can/should be it? Agreed that some changes would be necessary but look how far they've come... substantial prize money, strong international field, multiple grueling spectacular hard days of racing, better TV coverage than any other MTB race on the globe. Why is it a bad thing, and why shouldn't organizers aim for this, and why shouldn't spectators want this?To be the TdF of mountain biking the following needs to happen:- cut the field to 200 riders- increase the support crew and media to 1000 - increase the prize money substantially- add another 14 stages- add 2 rest days- plan the route around availability of suitable hotel venues to accommodate the 200 riders and 1000 support crew and media- Think about it. You'll need lead media bikes, bikes in the chasing group(s), live timing splits and uncle Phil to make it the TdF. Then you somehow need to put around a million spectators along the route over 23 days as well. The scale of the logistics means that the event has its limitations. It shares some of the limelight with the TdF in prestige only.
DJR Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 So what is the Tour de France of mountain biking then, ..................... Whether it is or not I cannot tell you, but wherever in the world you go and people find out you are a mountainbiker, they ask whether you have done the Epic.........I think it is much better and more widely recognized worldwide than us locals give it credit for. Good!
V12man Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 DIPS. I cannot also be judging riders for doing the Epic and their preparedness for doing it and having the money to do it, but, FFS man, taking 3 and a half hours to do the 20km prologue I would seriously question any team's commitment to actually complete the race. Dammit man, my wife can do that 20km in 2 hours. But I am sure today would have sorted those out not prepared for it.maybe they had to run 18k of the 20 - it does happen and people do run to make the cutoff time.. with a broken bike... seen that happen before... kudos to those that make it when that sort of thing happens.
rudi-h Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 To be the TdF of mountain biking the following needs to happen:- cut the field to 200 riders- increase the support crew and media to 1000 - increase the prize money substantially- add another 14 stages- add 2 rest days- plan the route around availability of suitable hotel venues to accommodate the 200 riders and 1000 support crew and media- Think about it. You'll need lead media bikes, bikes in the chasing group(s), live timing splits and uncle Phil to make it the TdF. Then you somehow need to put around a million spectators along the route over 23 days as well. The scale of the logistics means that the event has its limitations. It shares some of the limelight with the TdF in prestige only. i never said it has to happen in one year, two or even three. I'm sure the TDF didn't even come close to the epic in 1915 (after 10 years of running), they didn't even have camera's back then, never mind timing chips and live streaming... Maybe in 5 years from now we will have drones that can follow the top riders and high-precision GPS tagging to get split times which would make similar coverage to the TDF possible? how does the saying in that movie go: "Build it, they will come!". I say dream big!
GLuvsMtb Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 i never said it has to happen in one year, two or even three. I'm sure the TDF didn't even come close to the epic in 1915 (after 10 years of running), they didn't even have camera's back then, never mind timing chips and live streaming... Maybe in 5 years from now we will have drones that can follow the top riders and high-precision GPS tagging to get split times which would make similar coverage to the TDF possible? how does the saying in that movie go: "Build it, they will come!". I say dream big!to do that, they will have to reduce the field to 200 (or maybe only 100) pro's only. I am sure that day will come, but it will change the Epic forever. Come that day, the riders will all have to be able to descend like Greg Minaar, climb like Alberto Contador and time trial like Tony Maarten. Even then the climber who can time-trial will win it, not the rider who can descend like G_d's fury from heaven.
dev null Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 My take on it: TdF has a huge viewership, and the reason I guess is that people see parts of France they will never be able to see. I wonder how many people actually watch the TdF for the cycle racing in itself. BUT, this thread is now so far off the ST that we will never make the cut-off...
Gen Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 To be the TdF of mountain biking the following needs to happen:- cut the field to 200 riders- increase the support crew and media to 1000 - increase the prize money substantially- add another 14 stages- add 2 rest days- plan the route around availability of suitable hotel venues to accommodate the 200 riders and 1000 support crew and media- Think about it. You'll need lead media bikes, bikes in the chasing group(s), live timing splits and uncle Phil to make it the TdF. Then you somehow need to put around a million spectators along the route over 23 days as well. The scale of the logistics means that the event has its limitations. It shares some of the limelight with the TdF in prestige only.And live TV coverage[emoji6]
DJR Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 ..................BUT, this thread is now so far off the ST that we will never make the cut-off...
rudi-h Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 My take on it: TdF has a huge viewership, and the reason I guess is that people see parts of France they will never be able to see. I wonder how many people actually watch the TdF for the cycle racing in itself. BUT, this thread is now so far off the ST that we will never make the cut-off... oh yes, where were we again? flaming rich, fit folk with XC bikes without dropper posts because we are jealous of their little "holiday"?
GLuvsMtb Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 My take on it: TdF has a huge viewership, and the reason I guess is that people see parts of France they will never be able to see. I wonder how many people actually watch the TdF for the cycle racing in itself. BUT, this thread is now so far off the ST that we will never make the cut-off... Even if the Epic was the TdF of Mountain biking, it will still be won by a climber who can TT, so while technical skills are complementary, it is not absolutely essential. There, I did a Kevin Evans and took a short cut back in topic.
Headshot Posted March 16, 2015 Author Posted March 16, 2015 This one I do take credit for incl the lie down. AFAIK that bridge was built for the Epic. It ruined a lovely tricky but quite rideable corner,,,
rudi-h Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 to do that, they will have to reduce the field to 200 (or maybe only 100) pro's only. I am sure that day will come, but it will change the Epic forever. Come that day, the riders will all have to be able to descend like Greg Minaar, climb like Alberto Contador and time trial like Tony Maarten. Even then the climber who can time-trial will win it, not the rider who can descend like G_d's fury from heaven. And that my friend is exactly what people want to see when they watch sports. Super athletes with extreme skills, huge cahoonas, crazy talent and supernatural abilities! Who cares about the ex F1 driver and the ex Bok captain coming in at 7 hours anyway?
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