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Vouilloz's - Expanded 2011 Schedule?

aaronjb

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2010
1,105
659
Sounds as if the alien may do some EU World Cups:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vouillozs-role-at-lapierre-evolves

For the kids with the flat brim hats and clown costume suits: Nico is the downhiller's downhiller. His methodical approach to event preparation and innovative approach to technology certainly helped to push the sport beyond its "x-treme!@!!" roots. He was polling telemetry before others were even timing practice runs.

Oh, yeah: only an untimely flat kept him from stringing together a run of 11 consecutive world championship wins. Even so, his 10 wins across junior and elite classes is to be respected.

Maybe Vouilloz is looking to reclaim the crown of most men's World Cup wins that Steve Peat snagged from him a couple years back?

/fanboy out

/title fail, two thoughts mashed into one?
 
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John P.

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,170
0
Golden, CO
For the kids with the flat brim hats and clown costume suits . . .
LMAO + props. If my history of making statements like this is any indicator, prepare for a charbroiled tidal wave of flaming hate. :)

Glad to hear Nico is considering doing some WC's. In his prime, the guy truly was an alien.
 

ebarker9

Monkey
Oct 2, 2007
848
242
Sounds more likely that he'll be around in the pits for some of the WC's (as much as I'd love to see him racing).
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,193
media blackout
I too hate the flat bills and tucked ears, so lets gets roasted together. But timestamp 1:48 :eek: Committed!
I am a wearer of the flat brim hat. I only tuck my ears because otherwise I look like a g-damn elf :rant:

That being said, it's not a monster energy hat. I received it as a gift from a friend who is a sales rep for Bern helmets.

but i don't wear girls pants.
 

nowlan

Monkey
Jul 30, 2008
496
2
I wear Pajamas and I woudlnt say my brim is flat, but its not a U either.
Anyway gonna be awsome to see what he can do this season. Hes a bit before my time as far as when I got into the sport, but hes obviously a legend. Stoked.
 

Dogboy

Turbo Monkey
Apr 12, 2004
3,208
581
Durham, NC
man, vouilloz is still competitive in urge event.. he could easily win dh cup huh?
If you are going to be sarcastic you really should use a smiley :p

I say bring it Nico! It would certainly be interesting if he made real push to race WC DH again. It's not like he's too old - over a year younger than Peaty.
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
it would be kinda funny if he came back to try and win another race, just to get his record back from Peaty! I could see those two trading places for a long time!
 

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
I remember watching Worlds when he first entered the senior ranks ('94 I think). Amazing that he won in his first year. The guy made the transition from the open, less technical tracks, to the crazy tracks we see today. My two favorite scenes with him are NWD2 and his interview in Headliners 2.
 

General Lee

Turbo Monkey
Oct 16, 2003
2,860
0
The 802
This was Nico's final WC race. Quite a few cool bits in here, including a future Mondraker engineer and a 17 year old Sam Hill.

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/124458/

And just for a bit of perspective on how dominating he was, Vouilloz retiring at the end of this race would be like Sam Hill and Gee both calling it a career at the end of 2011.
 
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General Lee

Turbo Monkey
Oct 16, 2003
2,860
0
The 802
I thought he raced Champery as a minor comeback a year or two ago?
I wouldn't call it a comeback. Though having to pass 2 slower riders and still ending up 5th in qualis, on that track, after 5 years off makes you wonder what he could do if he really made a comeback. Clearly the man can still ride a bike.
 

Banga

Monkey
Sep 7, 2001
362
11
Wellington, New Zealand
I wouldn't call it a comeback. Though having to pass 2 slower riders and still ending up 5th in qualis, on that track, after 5 years off makes you wonder what he could do if he really made a comeback. Clearly the man can still ride a bike.
Watching him in practice at Champery was epic, he was every bit as fast as the "top" guys and still super smooth even when he was running flats for the first couple of runs.
 

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,864
4,164
Copenhagen, Denmark
I wouldn't call it a comeback. Though having to pass 2 slower riders and still ending up 5th in qualis, on that track, after 5 years off makes you wonder what he could do if he really made a comeback. Clearly the man can still ride a bike.
Plus I think it irrelevant if he is number one or not. I great to have legends racing.
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
I've witnessed his riding on video a million times and watched virtually every World Cup and US National ever aired on TV with him in it. He was and still is the best. I even think the French federation dismisses guys like Pascal & Gracia because they would dare to ride flats.

As referenced before, he is younger than Peat. He went where there is far more money (rally) and I can't blame him.

In reference to the flat at Sierra Nevada, he knew before the event the course did not suit him b/c of the lack of technical trail, high winds, etc. It was a perfect storm race for Rockwell or another big guy. Sierra Nevada was almost like a narrower version of Mammoth.

I wish I could find the video of Les Gets WC with the massive root ball where he rips a short travel bike across it and so does Chausson. They make everybody else look silly. I have no doubt he'd challenge for the overall if he came back to race a full time DH schedule.
 
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stiksandstones

Turbo Monkey
May 21, 2002
5,078
25
Orange, Ca
As referenced before, he is younger than Peat. He went where there is far more money (rally) and I can't blame him.
Nico did not make near the money Peaty is still making racing his bicycle...not even close. Nico did not leave to go where 'more money' was. He retired because it was his time. Champions go out on top, they don't stick around just looking for a paycheck.
 

ianjenn

Turbo Monkey
Sep 12, 2006
2,998
702
SLO
Nico did not make near the money Peaty is still making racing his bicycle...not even close. Nico did not leave to go where 'more money' was. He retired because it was his time. Champions go out on top, they don't stick around just looking for a paycheck.
He may have grown tired, bored with racing bikes so went to cars for a new challenge.
 

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
Nico did not make near the money Peaty is still making racing his bicycle...not even close. Nico did not leave to go where 'more money' was. He retired because it was his time. Champions go out on top, they don't stick around just looking for a paycheck.
Some champions can't stand the thought of quitting.

There's nothing wrong with how Nico went out but he didn't have to. I bet he regrets it when he sees Peaty's success in the last few years.

Think of how big Nico would have been if he had stuck around.
 

Raingauge

Monkey
Apr 3, 2008
692
0
Canadia
Champions go out on top, they don't stick around just looking for a paycheck.
John Elway is the perfect example of this. Dan Marino is the exact opposite.

I think both Nico and Peaty are doing what's right. Peaty is still fast; if he wants to keep racing that's awesome.
 

stiksandstones

Turbo Monkey
May 21, 2002
5,078
25
Orange, Ca
Some champions can't stand the thought of quitting.

There's nothing wrong with how Nico went out but he didn't have to. I bet he regrets it when he sees Peaty's success in the last few years.

Think of how big Nico would have been if he had stuck around.
I bet Nico doesn't regret it for a second. Peaty is one of a kind and I don't think we will ever see someone in their mid to late 30s ever doing what he did. But then again, they race 6 times a year, not like Moto guys who do 30+ weekends of series racing...so I guess its a bit easier to race as an old guy.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Sorry, but Nico will not be racing world cups. He will be at some but wont be racing. This is not to say he would not be able to still podium at one, especially Labresse style, but he wont be racing. Sad but true.
Source? I'm really curious.

I think he also tried to race in Schladming 08 or 09. Can't remember.
 

NoUseForAName

Monkey
Mar 26, 2008
481
0
. I bet he regrets it when he sees Peaty's success in the last few years.

Think of how big Nico would have been if he had stuck around.
1; He's French.
2; He never made any history with the companys that are paying the big bucks in MTB today.
3; He was successful, using what guys now take for granted, at a time when that sort of stuff was unusual.

Glad (and sad too) to hear about his non involvement at the sharp end. I hope he stays the Nico of 10 World Championships, and doesn't become the Nico of finishing mid pack and abandoning his 'comeback'.