Jolanda Neff & Mathias Flueckiger are the 2021 Swiss XC National Champions

[OVERDRIVE]

Nino seems to be battling a little. Or has everyone just stepped up their game? 

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/results-jolanda-neff-and-mathias-flueckiger-are-the-2021-swiss-xc-national-champions.html

[babse]

Flueckiger looked red hot in the WC races so no real surprise in my view. 

[mecheng89]

Time waits for no man. Happy to see emerging talent. 

 

[DieselnDust]

Flueckiger has been on the up for a couple of seasons and N1no has plateaued since 2018. Even 2019 wasn't quite as successful. We all thought 2020 was a dip year due to Lockdown but it seems others used 2020 as a big training year and have caught up or surpassed N1no. He may only have 1 peak period left in the legs and saving that for Tokyo. However he is going to have to have a special day to win gold at the Olympics again. Smart money would be on a MVDP/Pidcock/Flueckiger podium with Alan/Viktor/Jordan/being the outsiders

[TheoG]

Don't write off Nino yet.  He's a fighter, will probably come back with a bang.

Edited May 31, 2021 by TheoG

[Shebeen]

4 minutes ago, TheoG said:

Don't write off Nino yet.  He's a fighter, will probably come back with a bang.

earlier this month Nino had a photo finish for a WC win. memories are short!

[DieselnDust]

20 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

earlier this month Nino had a photo finish for a WC win. memories are short!

nee man you're getting old and memory is becoming more of a painting than a photograph.

Yes they take photos at the finish even if you 4 bike lengths behind

[Iwan Kemp]

"For the Elite Men, Nino Schurter loses the title of national champion as a hard-charging Mathias Flueckiger takes the win today by over one minute."  ????

Nino saving himself for the Olympics? 

[DieselnDust]

with 8 weeks to go I doubt there's any savings. The form just isn't there yet. Maybe he will peak for the Olympics but so will everyone else and they all have pretty decent coaches. Baring MVDP, Tom Pidcock and others sustaining injury, falling ill or the Olympics being cancelled, N1no is in for a hell of a fight to retain his Olympic title.

[OVERDRIVE]

9 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

Flueckiger has been on the up for a couple of seasons and N1no has plateaued since 2018. Even 2019 wasn't quite as successful. We all thought 2020 was a dip year due to Lockdown but it seems others used 2020 as a big training year and have caught up or surpassed N1no. He may only have 1 peak period left in the legs and saving that for Tokyo. However he is going to have to have a special day to win gold at the Olympics again. Smart money would be on a MVDP/Pidcock/Flueckiger podium with Alan/Viktor/Jordan/being the outsiders

I like the Alan part ????

[OVERDRIVE]

9 hours ago, TheoG said:

Don't write off Nino yet.  He's a fighter, will probably come back with a bang.

Am battling a little to see how, though...

[OVERDRIVE]

58 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

with 8 weeks to go I doubt there's any savings. The form just isn't there yet. Maybe he will peak for the Olympics but so will everyone else and they all have pretty decent coaches. Baring MVDP, Tom Pidcock and others sustaining injury, falling ill or the Olympics being cancelled, N1no is in for a hell of a fight to retain his Olympic title.

Pidcock is scary. That cut through the field...

[Moult]

Age is a basterd. The youngsters are bringing a different level. He will remain one of the greatest of all time regardless. But the changing of the guard is upon us...

[mecheng89]

Can't wait for F1 change of the guard as well. 

[AccidentalGenius]

4 hours ago, mecheng89 said:

Can't wait for F1 change of the guard as well. 

Agreed. 

[DieselnDust]

4 hours ago, mecheng89 said:

Can't wait for F1 change of the guard as well. 

its happening.... I just hope that the challenge can be sustained. Watching Shamilton winning without a fight and calling himself GOAT is just vomitworthy