Downhill Riders,including current SA National Champ, overlooked for World Champs

[Irvin85]

8 minutes ago, Headshot said:

Greg is 42, started racing when the R was about 3 to the dollar and now has a home in Andorra and full team support. He is super talented but the guys over there at the moment are also the best we have in SA at the moment, not some no hopers who can barely ride a bike, like most on this thread, me included. 

I'd like the biggest team of the best riders representing SA at the worlds. Why don't you? 

World champs is not a numbers game, is for the cream of the crop. I would rather have no one there than have 10 guys that basically just make up the numbers and takes the last 10 spots on the rankings. 

There should really only be one from each country except if the second and third rider is also ranked in the top 20 of the world. Then only should they be considered.  It is a exclusive club and representing your country should be reserved for only the best. 

[Sally E Kirk]

Unfortunately CSA set a precendent in the last two years of upholding the non-selected riders' appeals and said riders got to ride at World Champs in Les Gets (2022) and Fort William (2023).  This year, CSA, for whatever reason, has decided not to show the same discretion/leniency towards the appeals.

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, Irvin85 said:

All I hear is the reasons why it is so difficult for them to qualify and get over to do the races, but then there is this unknown guy called Greg Minnaar, who with all the challenges mentioned that all the other SA guys faces some how managed to get into the major events and made his performances count for him to secure sponsors and help him to get to where he is now. If he managed to do all that he did what is the excuses of the other guys?

Do you follow cricket? GM is like Shane Warne, a once in a few generations freak. Australia were wrist spin bedonnered for 15 years and none of the kids who came through the systems are even close to what he was.

 

GM is called the GOAT for a reason. I don't think CSA had much to do with his development and I doubt they would have found another one even if Patrice Motsepe put all his soccer money into downhill., but we did have 2 Grundig world cup events in stellenbosch that brought the world stage here at a crucial time in his development, which is probably a massive stroke of luck..

[SwissVan]

1 hour ago, Irvin85 said:

All I hear is the reasons why it is so difficult for them to qualify and get over to do the races, but then there is this unknown guy called Greg Minnaar, who with all the challenges mentioned that all the other SA guys faces some how managed to get into the major events and made his performances count for him to secure sponsors and help him to get to where he is now. If he managed to do all that he did what is the excuses of the other guys?

I can’t answer your question about Greg but I do believe that racers (any discipline) need to spend at least an entire season overseas travelling and living the racers life to build up their skill, fitness and experience. 
 

I’ve said it before, if I win the euro lotto I would buy a farmhouse somewhere in EU where talented Saffa cyclists could base themselves at no cost to themselves so they can come and stick a toe in the water here…..

Coming over for one event like WC is not enough, this policy has been tried and it does not work.

[rock]

1 hour ago, Irvin85 said:

All I hear is the reasons why it is so difficult for them to qualify and get over to do the races, but then there is this unknown guy called Greg Minnaar, who with all the challenges mentioned that all the other SA guys faces some how managed to get into the major events and made his performances count for him to secure sponsors and help him to get to where he is now. If he managed to do all that he did what is the excuses of the other guys?

Martin Whitely saw the talent at the 1997 (or 98?) stellenbosch world cup and got some Swiss Francs from the UCI that was available for african cycling development.....got him to more events overseas and the rest is history.

[rock]

*was 1998 - he got 28th as a 16 year old

[Irvin85]

57 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Do you follow cricket? GM is like Shane Warne, a once in a few generations freak. Australia were wrist spin bedonnered for 15 years and none of the kids who came through the systems are even close to what he was.

 

GM is called the GOAT for a reason. I don't think CSA had much to do with his development and I doubt they would have found another one even if Patrice Motsepe put all his soccer money into downhill., but we did have 2 Grundig world cup events in stellenbosch that brought the world stage here at a crucial time in his development, which is probably a massive stroke of luck..

Exactly, a generational talent, his talent got seen at a very young age and got rewarded for his talent, hard work and sacrifices,

The SA champs this year had a total field of 29 riders. so we want to send 20% of the total SA field to the World champs. What a joke. If you are good enough chances are that someone will see your talent and you will get a opportunity to showcase it on the big stage. 

 

 

 

[Jewbacca]

So I remember there was a similar argument surrounding our Hockey team a few years ago.... We had qualified for something but by default. 

SASCOC decided to say 'the men's hockey team will not be going to X despite having qualified because they are crap'

They didn't go.

No one made an online petition and no one shed big tears because the truth was, our team was rubbish and wouldn't have made it out of the groups.

It's a logical decision. I really have no idea why some people are so butthurt that CSA hasn't chosen to select people who aren't good enough to compete. 

[Danger Dassie]

https://bikenetwork.co.za/csa-dont-see-this-from-a-riders-point-of-view/
 

“In response to the comments in the media by CyclingSA on the article we published on the Unusually small SA Team announced for UCI DH World Championships, the Chairperson of Western Cape Downhill has issued us with this statement. 

---

Western Cape Downhill is administered by a voluntary group of people, like it is across all cycling disciplines in CSA — in other words, we have normal day jobs and do this for the love of the sport. We represent the largest number of Downhill Racers in South Africa, but in relation to the other cycling disciplines, Downhill has a smaller contingent of participants.

We only became aware of the changes to the selection criteria for the South African Team (for the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships) in March 2024…..”

[ChrisF]

7 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

.....I really have no idea why some people are so butthurt that CSA hasn't chosen to select people who aren't good enough to compete. 

 

CSA is our common enemy, nobody remembers why, but they are reportedly useless ....

 

No matter what they say or do, it will be met with a social outcry and a special meeting of the pitchfork brigade ....

[Irvin85]

11 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

So I remember there was a similar argument surrounding our Hockey team a few years ago.... We had qualified for something but by default. 

SASCOC decided to say 'the men's hockey team will not be going to X despite having qualified because they are crap'

They didn't go.

No one made an online petition and no one shed big tears because the truth was, our team was rubbish and wouldn't have made it out of the groups.

It's a logical decision. I really have no idea why some people are so butthurt that CSA hasn't chosen to select people who aren't good enough to compete. 

I had a quick look at our current national downhill champ, he participated in 4 events this entire year, two of those were UCI events. He had a DNF and a 124th place in the UCI events. 

[Danger Dassie]

32 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

CSA is our common enemy, nobody remembers why, but they are reportedly useless ....

 

No matter what they say or do, it will be met with a social outcry and a special meeting of the pitchfork brigade ....

Chris, this is a patently dishonest characterisation of the topic raised and people involved, and only speaks to the lowest denominator of the discussion.

The underpinning issue at hand is a policy that raises concerns. The governing body claim it was acknowledged and adopted without protest. This is untrue, as we see in the statement from WC Downhill, the provincial body.

People who do actually have fundamental knowledge of DHI have reached out numerous times to assist, and get rejected. 

Regardless of what people thinks of the riders and the snide remarks about their character and potential, the sport deserves a better level of cooperation. 

It’s been encouraging to see Minnaar call out similar behaviour from people creating fake accounts. 

[Jewbacca]

12 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Chris, this is a patently dishonest characterisation of the topic raised and people involved, and only speaks to the lowest denominator of the discussion.

The underpinning issue at hand is a policy that raises concerns. The governing body claim it was acknowledged and adopted without protest. This is untrue, as we see in the statement from WC Downhill, the provincial body.

People who do actually have fundamental knowledge of DHI have reached out numerous times to assist, and get rejected. 

Regardless of what people thinks of the riders and the snide remarks about their character and potential, the sport deserves a better level of cooperation. 

It’s been encouraging to see Minnaar call out similar behaviour from people creating fake accounts. 

By saying someone who isn't good enough, isn't good enough, is not snide nor is it bringing their character into question.

None of the snubbed riders are good enough to compete at World Champs. I'm sure they are the raddest of dudes, but they are simply not good enough to compete with the best in the world.

Also, why do we have 5 slots available? Who earned those slots? Did the snubbed riders accrue UCI points towards the available slots?

I want to see those details. From what I can see there are very few people NOT going who earned us UCI qualifying points. 

[Danger Dassie]

13 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

By saying someone who isn't good enough, isn't good enough, is not snide nor is it bringing their character into question.

None of the snubbed riders are good enough to compete at World Champs. I'm sure they are the raddest of dudes, but they are simply not good enough to compete with the best in the world.

Also, why do we have 5 slots available? Who earned those slots? Did the snubbed riders accrue UCI points towards the available slots?

I want to see those details. From what I can see there are very few people NOT going who earned us UCI qualifying points. 

You are twisting words. “Butthurt” and “Also rans” etc … are by their nature snide when used.

Further to that, take the time to read and absorb objectively the WCDH statement as well as some of the points raised by not only the riders, but also people who do actually have the knowledge and experience of the sport at hand, for example Myles Kelsey, Andrew Neething etc

 

[Jewbacca]

1 minute ago, Danger Dassie said:

You are twisting words. “Butthurt” and “Also rans” etc … are by their nature snide when used.

Further to that, take the time to read and absorb objectively the WCDH statement as well as some of the points raised by not only the riders, but also people who do actually have the knowledge and experience of the sport at hand, for example Myles Kelsey, Andrew Neething etc

 

Nonsense. I have been an 'also ran' at many many races. I'm honest enough to admit it. I will call myself not good/talented/accomplished enough to compete. 

Show me the people who earned the UCI points who aren't going. Then I might change my stance

[ChrisF]

47 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Chris, this is a patently dishonest characterisation of the topic raised and people involved, and only speaks to the lowest denominator of the discussion.

The underpinning issue at hand is a policy that raises concerns. The governing body claim it was acknowledged and adopted without protest. This is untrue, as we see in the statement from WC Downhill, the provincial body.

People who do actually have fundamental knowledge of DHI have reached out numerous times to assist, and get rejected. 

Regardless of what people thinks of the riders and the snide remarks about their character and potential, the sport deserves a better level of cooperation. 

It’s been encouraging to see Minnaar call out similar behaviour from people creating fake accounts. 

 

Oooo come on.

 

YOU have been around long enough to KNOW what ITALICS are for.

 

 

 

Thus far I have ONE question post on this thread, which remains un-answered.