the unofficial UCI Mountain Bike World Cup thread

[BuffsVintageBikes]

I called it some time ago, it was just a matter of time before the technical nature of the XCO courses started claiming some big scalps with injuries. If it carries on like this then the guys will just stop trying to do it all as it's too risky for their road commitments.

[DieselnDust]

Hard to tell if compressed but doesn’t look to be too deep into the travel.

[jcza]

Needs 165mm cranks 🤪

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Or is the Giant Anthems BB too low? 🤣

[J Wakefield]

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

the twitterati have spoken!

 

If the top guy is talking about MVDP, I am pretty sure he makes a touch more than 7k a month.......

[J Wakefield]

42 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Hard to tell if compressed but doesn’t look to be too deep into the travel.

Doubt that is all his travel on the front fork that is available. But what do I know. 

But you right, he needs shorter cranks, that why he had a left foot down in a left hander and hit the pedal like we all did on our bmx's as a kid and went over. 

[DieselnDust]

1 minute ago, J Wakefield said:

Doubt that is all his travel on the front fork that is available. But what do I know. 

But you right, he needs shorter cranks, that why he had a left foot down in a left hander and hit the pedal like we all did on our bmx's as a kid and went over. 

Definitely not all the travel but he had his 34 set to 110mm. 
look I can’t blame Alan having a moment of fatigue or I’ll get crucified so long cranks it is ok…. Work with me here

[J Wakefield]

11 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Definitely not all the travel but he had his 34 set to 110mm. 
look I can’t blame Alan having a moment of fatigue or I’ll get crucified so long cranks it is ok…. Work with me here

Agree long cranks it is and a fat pedal. Bro science always prevails as in this case.

[amac]

Surprised there weren't any comments around the MVDP first crash of race. Reminded me of a Cavendish/Sagan tdf sprint.

[DieselnDust]

7 minutes ago, amac said:

Surprised there weren't any comments around the MVDP first crash of race. Reminded me of a Cavendish/Sagan tdf sprint.

The one where he tried to squeeze past Valero Sorano and took them both out?

that move was quite indicative of why he needs to race XCO more. He completely misjudged that one. It was one of those “ he isn’t going to…. He is…<closes one eye>”.

 

then the camel bump spacex launch …. 
like bro…. 😳 

 

[Bub Marley]

3 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

I called it some time ago, it was just a matter of time before the technical nature of the XCO courses started claiming some big scalps with injuries. If it carries on like this then the guys will just stop trying to do it all as it's too risky for their road commitments.

Yeah courses are definitely getting more technical. At the same time bikes are also getting way more capable to handle the terrain. You hardly see a hardtail these days at any XC race. Not sure if that’s a good thing though.

 

The main concern though is the rider safety. It’s fine to do all these courses but XC pro’s have minimal protection. They all wear road helmets also, no knee or elbow guards. Some of those crashes in the rock gardens were hectic. 

 

Not really sure what’s the right move tbh.

[DieselnDust]

So MVDP has an adulation fracture of the scaphoid. That’s him done for the next 10 -14 days

[Headshot]

3 hours ago, Bub Marley said:

Yeah courses are definitely getting more technical. At the same time bikes are also getting way more capable to handle the terrain. You hardly see a hardtail these days at any XC race. Not sure if that’s a good thing though.

 

The main concern though is the rider safety. It’s fine to do all these courses but XC pro’s have minimal protection. They all wear road helmets also, no knee or elbow guards. Some of those crashes in the rock gardens were hectic. 

 

Not really sure what’s the right move tbh.

And yet far more riders get completely broken on road races...

[GLuvsMtb]

4 hours ago, Bub Marley said:

Yeah courses are definitely getting more technical. At the same time bikes are also getting way more capable to handle the terrain. You hardly see a hardtail these days at any XC race. Not sure if that’s a good thing though.

 

The main concern though is the rider safety. It’s fine to do all these courses but XC pro’s have minimal protection. They all wear road helmets also, no knee or elbow guards. Some of those crashes in the rock gardens were hectic. 

 

Not really sure what’s the right move tbh.

Humanity should really stop sticking warning labels on everything. Rider safety is first and foremost the responsibility of the rider. Years ago on a mining site there was a mirror at the checkpoint counter with a sign above it that said "Safety Starts Here". Riders should know their limits and perform within those limits.

Switching cycling disciplines is always tough, and perhaps VDP should have picked a less technical race to get going on. Mountain biking was, is and always will be an extreme sport. Check your travel insurance closely next time you go overseas with your mountain bike. The fact that we get so few falls and even fewer injuries is a testimony to rider skill and conditioning, and equipment performing almost flawlessly under extreme conditions. It's the reason some of these bikes are selling for north of R300k. 

[tinmug]

MTBing an extreme sport? 
 

What does that make base jumping?

[Eugene Oppelt]

The high high and the low lows of professional sport.