DHI Lourdes 9-10 Apr UCI MTB World Cup Round 1

[NicoBoshoff]

BTW, Bruni said in a post-race interview that he was hammering the brakes at the end to keep it together but still bailed.  He doesn't quite know why he crashed because he tried to slow down.

 

That to me says (in my "what do I actually know sitting on my office chair commenting on actual pro's" opinion) that he's not as calculated as we're keen to give him credit for.  I suspect he's gooi'ing everything at it because lord knows, that's what it's going to take.

 

I just have to say it again.  Gwinn absolutely monstered that track. 

[capediver]

I had a sense of nostalgia waiting for the live feed....

[NicoBoshoff]

Oh, and seriously, I don't care if Gwinn looks like everyone's BFF all of a sudden.  Same reason I said don't assume he's a d**s I'll say don't assume he's a puppy.  The man is the apex professional of the sport and he gets the job done. I respect that.  Along with the fact that he looks like a friggin rockstar doing it.

 

The frontman of Rammstein is an absolute jerk.  Still a complete badass in my books.

[NicoBoshoff]

20140728_161615.jpgI had a sense of nostalgia waiting for the live feed....

Was that for Windham or MSA?  Dammit, every year with the World Cups I resent my parents for not being billionaires and allowing me to just own my own DH pro team, touring the circuit and getting free crap from sponsors.  Imaging being able to take 5 promising riders from SA and just pay their way through the whole IXS and WC season.

 

Come on Mr. Rupert.  Be lekker.

[Thermophage]

Oh, and seriously, I don't care if Gwinn looks like everyone's BFF all of a sudden.  Same reason I said don't assume he's a d**s I'll say don't assume he's a puppy.  The man is the apex professional of the sport and he gets the job done. I respect that.  Along with the fact that he looks like a friggin rockstar doing it.

 

The frontman of Rammstein is an absolute jerk.  Still a complete badass in my books.

Till ain't no jerk

[NicoBoshoff]

Till ain't no jerk

Yeah, 'fraid he is a giant douche.  His own band members don't even get along with him.

[Thermophage]

Yeah, 'fraid he is a giant douche.  His own band members don't even get along with him.

Meh...Oh well...as you say he's still badass!

[Duane_Bosch]

Was that for Windham or MSA?  

I seem to remember it being Windam. Although I did drink quite a lot of that golden amnesia juice.

[Stretch]

lekker write up by my girl favourite...gives you an idea the mental strength required

 

'It’s always a funny one the day after a big race, reflecting on my performance. My emotions are no longer like a crashing tide and my mind is finally at rest (sort of). Lourdes has been both my worst World cup performance and also after this week end, my best. So I really wanted to share what’s going through my mind with you guys.

Last year I came to Lourdes unprepared and scared, I wasn’t in great physical shape which put a dent in my confidence, and I purely relied on talent alone to get through a though, physically challenging track and an over emotional week end.

I came 7th, 13 seconds off the win. I was beyond dissapointed with my riding, my mental attitude and my preparation towards this race, especially considering I had finished my previous season on a 5th overall.

I came in to Lourdes thinking that anything above a 7th place would be an acheivement! The difference between the preparation for this world cup compared to last year is huge. Every hour, every minute and every second has been used productively and precisely to help my performance be at it’s optimum for that 5 minute window on race day.

I can not say it enough: All the hard work is done before a race. I went up for my qualifying and clearly quoted to my mechanic: “Something must be wrong, this feels too easy.” Truth is, without me even really knowing it, it was. All the sweat, blood and tears were all done and dusted for me to be able to feel this way at races. The hard work was done, and now all I needed to do was the one thing I know how to do best: Ride my bike.
I felt no pressure. I was a little nervous as it was time to transfer over all the winter training and see where we were at. I had no idea what the other girls had been up to all winter, so it’s pretty unknown territory going in to the first Qualies of the year.

I had one aim: A to B. I wasn’t focused on a poisition, a place, a time, or a person. I focused on the process rather than the outcome. I was smart about how I rode, conserving energy where I could. I had a slight crash towards the bottom, and when I hit the floor all I could think was “Sh*t, I might not qualify”. Got up as quick as I could and rode over the line with a very painful and ready to be bruised leg. Head in between my arms and on the stem, griting my teeth, little did I know I had just crossed the line with a 4 second lead on Atherton. Wait, what? From this moment on I can’t begin to explain how shocked/excited/mind-blown I was. Was that me? Did I just do that? How? Is that even possible? SO many doubtful unnessasary questions.

Why was I so shocked? Lack of self belief? Still can’t quite get my head round this one, but when I do I’ll let you know.

This was pure fact in front of my own eyes that I CAN do this. That hard work pays off and that everyone is beatable. Even your biggest heroes.

I’m not going to lie, the Sunday was tough. I had never experienced being fastest woman down the hill. I had never ridden down last at a World cup. I was so far out of my comfort zone I may as well have been a 5 year old girl learning to ride a bike again. The ball in my stomach made me feel sick. Made me want to cry at the top of my run. Honestly guys, I couldn’t function! This could of gone a lot of ways. I see people too often crumble under pressure. At first when I crossed the line in 2nd I thought I rode safe because of the pressure and nerves. Which isn’t exactly false. They play a big role, but they didn’t make me crumble. I made a desicion and 2nd place being the outcome was an acheivement, not a loss.

Before my race run I played every scenario in my head. I mentally prepared myself for any outcome possible. Being that if any of these happened, it would be Ok, because I had already excelled my personal goals (toot, toot…).

I rode safe with the intention of not wanting to throw it all away, it wasn’t enough to match the fastest woman of the day, but I overcame nerves and a certain type of pressure I haven’t felt in years. I made it from A to B. I held it together. Yeah, I’m pretty bummed about not winning. But success isn’t about winning. Success is being the best you can possibly be, acheiving your own personal goals and by NOT giving up. So I am sitting here typing with a cheesy grin I can’t wipe off my face and that I will carry along with me on to Cairns!

Basically, after all the bla bla jibber jabber, I read a quote this morning that pretty much summarises this whole post: “Difficulties are intended to make us better, not bitter.” Xx

[Mntboy]

Easy tiger! He hasn't won a World Cup yet.

I know but he will, and soon soon imho.

 

Sent from my GT-S6790 using Tapatalk

[Super_mil]

It was a great weekend of racing in flippen tough conditions. Seeing some of the weekends wipe outs on The Wall shows just how tough that section was. Ratty's line just above that section was awesome.

 

I think Bruni was on it and his pushing too hard at the bottom was a result of the couple of bobbles he made at the road gap and in the forest section immediately after that. Keep in mind that you're always racing in your own head in DH, there is no rabbit to chase and you never know you're up on time in your race run. He most likely was pushing to make up time that he didn't need on the lower section which forced the error on his part.

 

Looks like a brilliant season ahead.

Can't wait for Cairns... The PinkBike Keyboard warriors can now mount up and tear apart the track electronically 

[KingTJ]

GOAT = Greatest Of All Time.

 

The term was first used (to my knowledge) to describe the career of Ricky Carmichael.

 

AMA Record

 

15 Championships (Record)

10 Outdoor (Record)

5 Supercross

150 Career wins (Record)

102 MX Wins (Record)

48 SX Wins  (2nd or 3rd all time)

2 perfect seasons (Record) That's winning 24 races. In a row. TWICE!!

 

Didnt know about him before....but it looks like he needs a G.O.A.T sticker album....much respect for that record

[dev null]

What's up with the French?  Do they really think everybody want to see their bleachy white butts?

 

Loic should get a PK for stuffing that up.  I was so hoping for him to win Gwin.

[wacker]

pffft. dungey is going to trash RCs record.

Pity he is about as bland as the Wheaties he punts all the time.. Dam good rider, I dont buy the whole image he sells. He must have a basement with latex getups I reckon...

[capediver]

Was that for Windham or MSA?  Dammit, every year with the World Cups I resent my parents for not being billionaires and allowing me to just own my own DH pro team, touring the circuit and getting free crap from sponsors.  Imaging being able to take 5 promising riders from SA and just pay their way through the whole IXS and WC season.

 

Come on Mr. Rupert.  Be lekker.

MSA....the Rat took it in style, i recall...