UCI DH World Cup 2018 Season

[Capricorn]

Fast forward caught up last night. Why was Myriam out? Crash?... And Gwinn? That thumb from his crash?

 

 

Loic was looking fast

I don't know what happened with Luca at the top... Bit he flew down the rest of the track

crashed in prac, bruised her back. was in hospital for obs even though no major injury. 

Gwin: yep, you can give him the thumbs up.

Luca: not sure if his expression after finishing was one of surprise (look, no mechanicals!), or whether he couldn't understand where he left time on the track.

Loris too was looking on a smoking hot run at the bottom. Pity he bailed pretty dramatically in the 2nd corner from the top.

[Odinson]

Early bets for this weekend, chaps? 

 

Smart money is on Pierron bagging a fourth in a row. Andorra is the home of Commencal and it would be safe to say that Max would pony up a nice little bonus for Pierron if he can make it four in a row (he recently gave both Nicole and Ravanel sweet new Minis). Greenland is on an upward trajectory and at least one of the Santa Cruz young guns are going to have a break sometime soon and take a win. 

 

In the Elite women, I think Seagrave should take it, with Nicole out. I think we're starting to see Rachel lose her edge, in the same way that Gee has over the past few years. 

[Stretch]

Early bets for this weekend, chaps?

 

Smart money is on Pierron bagging a fourth in a row. Andorra is the home of Commencal and it would be safe to say that Max would pony up a nice little bonus for Pierron if he can make it four in a row (he recently gave both Nicole and Ravanel sweet new Minis). Greenland is on an upward trajectory and at least one of the Santa Cruz young guns are going to have a break sometime soon and take a win.

 

In the Elite women, I think Seagrave should take it, with Nicole out. I think we're starting to see Rachel lose her edge, in the same way that Gee has over the past few years.

4 in a row never been done in the men's apparently... Would be massive

[Headshot]

Early bets for this weekend, chaps? 

 

Smart money is on Pierron bagging a fourth in a row. Andorra is the home of Commencal and it would be safe to say that Max would pony up a nice little bonus for Pierron if he can make it four in a row (he recently gave both Nicole and Ravanel sweet new Minis). Greenland is on an upward trajectory and at least one of the Santa Cruz young guns are going to have a break sometime soon and take a win. 

 

In the Elite women, I think Seagrave should take it, with Nicole out. I think we're starting to see Rachel lose her edge, in the same way that Gee has over the past few years. 

 

Yep, that sounds like a pretty good summation. Dak Norton is out otherwise I would have mentioned him as a threat too. The other commencal boys - Estaque and Wilson are also looking fast and quite reliable. I think Rachel is chilling a bit - seems to be quite relaxed. Maybe the pressures off after so much success and she's just having fun? Perhaps that's a  bit of a stretch bearing in mind her personality type though.

[Hairy]

4 in a row never been done in the men's apparently... Would be massive

in his last interview he said he can do it .... far more confident than the previous interviews where he had not build up the realisation that he can win....now that he know's it, having felt the rush from winning, and riding on "home ground" .... I recon he is good for the win....he also seems to carry pressure well.

[Odinson]

Yep, that sounds like a pretty good summation. Dak Norton is out otherwise I would have mentioned him as a threat too. The other commencal boys - Estaque and Wilson are also looking fast and quite reliable. I think Rachel is chilling a bit - seems to be quite relaxed. Maybe the pressures off after so much success and she's just having fun? Perhaps that's a  bit of a stretch bearing in mind her personality type though.

 

There's no way that Atherton chills if she knows she's competitive. Just not her personality.

 

I've got both Estaque and Wilson in my PB fantasy team. Estaque would be especially motivated to perform, as Commencal 100% is the feeder team for the main Commencal factory team and he would hope that he could perhaps get the leg up next year. I don't know whether they'll be adding riders, but it's a possibility. 

[Stretch]

That young Slovak is fierce in the technical... She almost won... She's gonna be a champ soon

[Capricorn]

There's no way that Atherton chills if she knows she's competitive. Just not her personality.

 

I've got both Estaque and Wilson in my PB fantasy team. Estaque would be especially motivated to perform, as Commencal 100% is the feeder team for the main Commencal factory team and he would hope that he could perhaps get the leg up next year. I don't know whether they'll be adding riders, but it's a possibility. 

 

i think Rachel is finding her race pace because she lacks her normal level of fitness. She said she hit the top section too hard and ran outta gas, clearly demonstrated by how exhausted she was at the bottom. Compared to the other ladies after their podium runs, she's clearly not as fit as the rest of them. Look at her VdS performance versus Crankworx: the latter track wasn't at technical, but it was faster, and Rachel blew everyone away. Just zero competition. Chuck in stuff that's more taxing on the body, and well, she gives everyone else a sneaking chance, and that's VdS.

 

Rachel is not Gee, not even close to going quietly into the night. Just let this season roll past, and if she's still stoked to race, she'll smoke em all like before.

[Eddy Gordo]

Agreed I think Rachel is just getting back to race pace. Whats it now 2 crashes in 3 years, one broken shoulder? So she most likely just easing into it.

[Odinson]

i think Rachel is finding her race pace because she lacks her normal level of fitness. She said she hit the top section too hard and ran outta gas, clearly demonstrated by how exhausted she was at the bottom. Compared to the other ladies after their podium runs, she's clearly not as fit as the rest of them. Look at her VdS performance versus Crankworx: the latter track wasn't at technical, but it was faster, and Rachel blew everyone away. Just zero competition. Chuck in stuff that's more taxing on the body, and well, she gives everyone else a sneaking chance, and that's VdS.

 

Rachel is not Gee, not even close to going quietly into the night. Just let this season roll past, and if she's still stoked to race, she'll smoke em all like before.

 

Yeah, that could well be. However, I sincerely don't hope so. The depth of top racers in the Women's Elite is not great at the moment. There aren't too many young riders with a true challenge to the throne. 

 

I think we should prepare ourselves for a period of utter domination once Vali Holl is racing in the Elites. With another year or so of WC experience, she's going to be wiping the floor with the older racers like Hannah and Siegentahler. 

[Capricorn]

Yeah, that could well be. However, I sincerely don't hope so. The depth of top racers in the Women's Elite is not great at the moment. There aren't too many young riders with a true challenge to the throne. 

 

I think we should prepare ourselves for a period of utter domination once Vali Holl is racing in the Elites. With another year or so of WC experience, she's going to be wiping the floor with the older racers like Hannah and Siegentahler. 

 

wrt VH, i fully agree: the successor to Rachel was born 16 years ago. If that chickie doesn't get a bf, or distracted in some other fashion, or break herself a few times in a big way, she's going to rule.

 

that said, Rachel is abit of a freak: tall, strong as a dude, and that latter aspect is what I think sets her apart. Whoever is going to dominate, needs to be as strong.

[Headshot]

https://www.pinkbike.com/video/479797/

 

A bit of mad Andorran DH action off trailforks/pinkbike. Looks like there is riding for days there...

[Capricorn]

just for you stretch:

 

[Nick]

[Hairy]

Track Walk Pics

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/track-walk-photo-report-andorra-world-cup-dh-2018.html

[Eddy Gordo]

 Jack Moir is back in the game.