UCI XCO World Cup 2020 -2021 Season

[Frosty]

Remember Emily doing that race with a broken shoulder? True grit!

 

Sadly though I think her Olympic medal goal ship has sailed, but could be wrong. Hope so.

My EB ship has also sailed on. I find KC’s smiles on her IG profile addictive; a pleasure to see someone so happy. Although she was rather grumpy after the Short Track event on Friday.

[kosmonooit]

My EB ship has also sailed on. I find KC’s smiles on her IG profile addictive; a pleasure to see someone so happy. Although she was rather grumpy after the Short Track event on Friday.

I agree Kate is great, such a good spirited person, and such good sportswomenship with Haley after the race. I think she was a bit aggrieved by being a bit outwitted by PfP on the short track, but hey all is fair in love and war.

 

Crazy to see all the  youngsters getting results when just yesterday it was her and her first year in the Elites, I think as she races more she will settle down a bit and hopefully step up on the podiums.

 

Yolanda: I hope it goes well for her, she is also just getting back into the swing of things after that big accident.

 

Anne Terpstra is also one to watch.

[b-rad]

And Hatherly held the U23 WC in 2018, but Rob has never been too excited about him.... Bart however does notice him and brings up his name when applicable.

 

Rob has a moment whenever Annie Last is seen in a bunch of riders, at the back of the race ... and then nearly faints when he sees Pidcock.

 

Next best thing to a Brit is a NZ rider ... so when he sees Anton Cooper his voice also peaks.

 

Now this is all good, but these racers are all fighting for airtime during a race or on media outside of a race to highlight both themselves and their sponsors ... so blaring wildly when you see your UK rider and over sell them compared to the others who are also in the race in a close proximity in the race is rather unfortunate.

 

That's just my take on it.

 

Seems like he likes to mention the riders from his Rob meets series in particular.

[Hairy]

Seems like he likes to mention the riders from his Rob meets series in particular.

If that is the case, then I can imagine that is why he mentions them as he has more information on them and is familiar with them ... just a natural human reaction then.

So Rob need to "meet" Alan then

[kosmonooit]

I rewatched the Ladies race, the others stood no chance once Loana Lecomte went. Wow. Must be some serious power to weight ratio, any ideas? She looks tiny.

 

Although some good climbing there, I think they have dumbed down Albstadt significantly from a  technical pov. Way too easy, wooden ramps and all. That one short sharp decent after that climb used to see a lot of action, now its a gentle roll out.  And call that a  rock garden?

 

Hopefully some more testing stuff in the Czech Republic this weekend although LL won there last year didn't she?

 

Or maybe there is a UCI memo going around making cycling safe again.

[Stretch]

Rob and Bart mention Redbull athletes more than anyone else because .. Well.. They're Redbull athletes. It's the only reason why they still point out Emily Betty in the field in the last 4 or 5 years because she really hasn't been in the sharp edge of the competition in years.

 

Rob certainly getting a lot of flack on here. He's not perfect, but he's improved a lot. We could have worse. Just go listen to the 2012 Olympics.

[Shebeen]

Rob and Bart mention Redbull athletes more than anyone else because .. Well.. They're Redbull athletes. It's the only reason why they still point out Emily Betty in the field in the last 4 or 5 years because she really hasn't been in the sharp edge of the competition in years.

 

Rob certainly getting a lot of flack on here. He's not perfect, but he's improved a lot. We could have worse. Just go listen to the 2012 Olympics.

guess how many audio tracks there are for last weeks racing?

 

SEVEN!!!

 

Sure the english is the main one, but pretty sure the german and french ones don't focus more on riders from albania and east timor

[DieselnDust]

If that is the case, then I can imagine that is why he mentions them as he has more information on them and is familiar with them ... just a natural human reaction then.

So Rob need to "meet" Alan then

 

 

He also features the Red Bull sponsored riders since the series sponsor is RedBull.

Then he mentions riders of interest. Alan isn't quite on his radar yet even though he finished ahead of Henry on Sunday. Henry still got more mentions. Rob knows his job and he does it well...

[Kranswurm]

Seems like he likes to mention the riders from his Rob meets series in particular.

I enjoy those.All rehearsed of course.Who cares...Kate was an interesting one.Rachel Atherton was hilarious.

[DieselnDust]

I rewatched the Ladies race, the others stood no chance once Loana Lecomte went. Wow. Must be some serious power to weight ratio, any ideas? She looks tiny.

 

Although some good climbing there, I think they have dumbed down Albstadt significantly from a  technical pov. Way too easy, wooden ramps and all. That one short sharp decent after that climb used to see a lot of action, now its a gentle roll out.  And call that a  rock garden?

 

Hopefully some more testing stuff in the Czech Republic this weekend although LL won there last year didn't she?

 

Or maybe there is a UCI memo going around making cycling safe again.

 

 

After Flukigers wheelie into the hospital a few years ago they buiilt the wooden board walk. The course was just too dangerous but also those rock gardens strung the field out. If you went in first and didn;t crash you gained 10 seconds easy as the riders behind had to wait. I rode that course many years ago, its a lot scarier than it looks on TV! Haven't been there since the course has the new woodwork though but that woodwork is probably steep enough to make it unwalkable in the wet let alone ride a bicycle down it

[Frosty]

I rewatched the Ladies race, the others stood no chance once Loana Lecomte went. Wow. Must be some serious power to weight ratio, any ideas? She looks tiny.

 

Although some good climbing there, I think they have dumbed down Albstadt significantly from a technical pov. Way too easy, wooden ramps and all. That one short sharp decent after that climb used to see a lot of action, now its a gentle roll out. And call that a rock garden?

 

Hopefully some more testing stuff in the Czech Republic this weekend although LL won there last year didn't she?

 

Or maybe there is a UCI memo going around making cycling safe again.

An easy track but intense racing. Just ask all those that got dropped, including some big names.

 

Not all tracks should be too technical. Variety is nice to see.

[ChrisF]

He also features the Red Bull sponsored riders since the series sponsor is RedBull.

Then he mentions riders of interest. Alan isn't quite on his radar yet even though he finished ahead of Henry on Sunday. Henry still got more mentions. Rob knows his job and he does it well...

 

The same happens when watching DAKAR on RedBull.

 

The racing clips are the same as seen as on DStv and others.  But all the behind the scenes clips are of RedBull riders and teams.

 

Perfectly understandable, it IS an ADD channel after all.  

 

 

Busy watching the ladies race.  WOW !!! some seriously powerful ladies !!!  Very happy Yolanda is slowly getting her form back.

[Hairy]

Rob and Bart mention Redbull athletes more than anyone else because .. Well.. They're Redbull athletes. It's the only reason why they still point out Emily Betty in the field in the last 4 or 5 years because she really hasn't been in the sharp edge of the competition in years.

 

Rob certainly getting a lot of flack on here. He's not perfect, but he's improved a lot. We could have worse. Just go listen to the 2012 Olympics.

2012 ... the one commentator had a gem of a comment relating to the Lefty's "I have just recently discovered the Lefty fork" ... well technically it is not really a "fork" either, then his buddy chips in saying "many high end motorbikes are using the same forks these days"

 

Then they spend what feels like an eternity discussing bike weights.

 

Let's hope for better at the 2021 XCO events .... wait what ... did you see that .... 2012 and 2021 .... 

[Headshot]

After Flukigers wheelie into the hospital a few years ago they buiilt the wooden board walk. The course was just too dangerous but also those rock gardens strung the field out. If you went in first and didn;t crash you gained 10 seconds easy as the riders behind had to wait. I rode that course many years ago, its a lot scarier than it looks on TV! Haven't been there since the course has the new woodwork though but that woodwork is probably steep enough to make it unwalkable in the wet let alone ride a bicycle down it

Yep, the descents are super steep, they were going seriously quickly there. I'm not a fan of the wood work though. I like Nino's gap on the last descent drop off. A few years ago that plus his speed on the downs would have won him the race but the XC crowd have gone full enduro and all fly down the mountain (and up).

 

BTW, was Gaze even in the race? I though he went full roadie?

Edited May 11, 2021 by Headshot

[Hairy]

I think we can all agree that modern XCO is really entertaining and that Red BullTV have done a brilliant job in making this and the DH be exposed to a world wide platform that the sport would not have seen otherwise.

 

Even as a big advertorial for RBTV, I really do not mind and love their "advertising"

[DieselnDust]

Yep, the descents are super steep, they were going seriously quickly there. I'm not a fan of the wood work though. I like Nino's gap on the last descent drop off. A few years ago that plus his speed on the downs would have won him the race but the XC crowd have gone full enduro and all fly down the mountain (and up).

 

BTW, was Gaze even in the race? I though he went full roadie?

 

 

Gaze was there. he finshed waaaaaaaaaay down.

Theres a bloke who's gone from hero to zero within 2 years.

 

hairy, watch Alan this weekend. The course will suit him a little more. Remember how well he went there last year?

He's shaping up to be a strong medal contender