....in Downhill
2009 USAC Worlds Team featuring Brian Lopes
- Thread starter Eastern States Cup
- Start date
Thats kind of cool. You have a link to a press release?
What bike will he race though? Will a Mojo HD really be enough bike to stay with the splits in the rockier parts of the course?
Rumours have it Sam Hill will be on a SX Trail and other riders will be shorter travel bikes. I think Lopes will be fine on a 180mm Mojo HD.
Isn't he old?
Smartest thing USAC has done in a while.
Smartest thing USAC has done in a while.
Wow, Ibis is looking pretty smart for their tactic of focusing all their sponsorship dollars on Lopes. His wins on A-line sold a lot of Mojos and a World DH win on their new Mojo HD would be the best marketing possible. Give that man a raise.
Ever seen the guy ride legitimate DH trails on a mid-travel bike? There's a good reason he was picked for that particular course.
Could you imagine Lopes winning worlds?
Yeah.... Nice to see lopes there !!
Is ross milan injured ? Or why isnt he on th list
Is ross milan injured ? Or why isnt he on th list
cool to see 2 home grown riders representing the US, obviously Strobel, but cool to see Luc in the junior mens!
He didn't focus on racing this year.
I would be most surprised, as he's got a good 3 years on Peaty, but the man is still in top physical condition.
pretty sure the new HD has 160mm of travel.
If it's true it rather disproves the other rumors that the course for this year is much better.
It would be nice if they posted the results of the riders they picked to justify the choices. I don't feel like digging through UCI and USAC results to find reasons to cheer/hate, but some actual justifications for choosing the ones they do would be great.
Hasn't Minnaar been racing Sea Otter on a DH bike the past few years.....?....he won last year and 2nd this year....
This worlds course may lack elavation but it looks to have some teeth in spots. Top racers will probably expirement but most will end up on their DH bikes....but making them light might actually matter for once.
This worlds course may lack elavation but it looks to have some teeth in spots. Top racers will probably expirement but most will end up on their DH bikes....but making them light might actually matter for once.
I hear you guys really know how to toss a good industry salad.
3 of 5 Pro GRT events complete...
The latest version of the USA Cycling Pro Gravity Tour standings is as follows:
Men's Standings
1. Kain Leonard (Gunnison, Colo./Crested Butte Mountain Sports) 100
2. Chris Heath (Durango, Colo./Manitou-Hayes) 99
3. Chris Boice (Albuquerque, N.M./Yeti) 90
3. Aaron Gwinn (Morongo Valley, Calif./Yeti) 90
5. Curtis Keene (Freemont, Calif.) 75
The latest version of the USA Cycling Pro Gravity Tour standings is as follows:
Men's Standings
1. Kain Leonard (Gunnison, Colo./Crested Butte Mountain Sports) 100
2. Chris Heath (Durango, Colo./Manitou-Hayes) 99
3. Chris Boice (Albuquerque, N.M./Yeti) 90
3. Aaron Gwinn (Morongo Valley, Calif./Yeti) 90
5. Curtis Keene (Freemont, Calif.) 75
so how bout that Ulmer kid...only one from the east.
Then why not pick him for the men's 4-Cross too? He's got to have a better chance of a medal than a couple of those riders on the US squad I'd imagine after seeing his 2nd in the DS at Crankworx. Is it because he already has Worlds titles in 4X so he's not interested in racing that?
Something tells me this wasn't a random thing from USA Cycling where someone said "Hey, let's go ask that retired downhiller Lopes who gave up full time DH back in 2001 and see if he wants to represent the US in the World Champs!"
Something tells me this wasn't a random thing from USA Cycling where someone said "Hey, let's go ask that retired downhiller Lopes who gave up full time DH back in 2001 and see if he wants to represent the US in the World Champs!"
Keep wondering where local Mid-atlantic ripper Neco Mulally is? haven't see a nats result or anything.
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I think some responsibility is placed on the athletes. They have to petition saying they want to go. Lopes might not have petitioned for 4x. The only athletes that USAC picked without expressed interest from the athletes are the ones indicated as automatic nomination.
Neko is at Crankworx - he is 16 you have to be 17 to go to Worlds.
He didn't race at Nationals.
as Rich said, he raced the Gravity East series instead of nationals
Unless they run the race on A-Line, no. He's an incredibly gifted rider with TONS of power, but I think he'll be lucky to crack the Top-20 against the current crop of WC guys.
-JP
(...prepares for a flame-fest...)
P.S. Go Ulmer.
Lopes petitioning for Worlds team has been rumored for months inside the industry. I think I first heard it back around US Open. I'd think that if Worlds were at say Schladming or MSA he wouldn't have petitioned nor would have been given a spot.
Love or hate Lopes, the guy can still race a bike at an elite level and has proven at more then a couple races that he still has the horsepower against the "kids". Worlds is also a lot about mental preparation and putting it all together for one perfect run. Lopes isn't some kid on his first trip to Australia busy chasing skirt, drinking beer, and hoping to see a kangaroo. That level of maturity helps and hopefully he makes himself part of the team (vs self supported) and can help guide some of the younger guys as an older brother who has worn rainbow stripes of his own.
At Worlds you technically aren't racing for your trade team or sponsors but for your national federation. With Worlds in Australia most federations are under a rather heavy financial burden. They aren't going to take a rider who is going to end up in the drunk tank and needing to be bailed out, a rider who can't wipe their own ass, or one who doesn't have the needed cash to support themselves once they are on the ground there since their already thinly stretched resources are already stretched mighty thin.
-ska todd
Love or hate Lopes, the guy can still race a bike at an elite level and has proven at more then a couple races that he still has the horsepower against the "kids". Worlds is also a lot about mental preparation and putting it all together for one perfect run. Lopes isn't some kid on his first trip to Australia busy chasing skirt, drinking beer, and hoping to see a kangaroo. That level of maturity helps and hopefully he makes himself part of the team (vs self supported) and can help guide some of the younger guys as an older brother who has worn rainbow stripes of his own.
I don't know the exact determining factors used this year, but looking at the Elite men names on that roster, most of them have top 20'd in World Cups this year and some have top 10'd. Also, it's often the case that certain riders fail to petition, turn down a nomination, or have had incidents (either public or private) that would keep them from being considered.
At Worlds you technically aren't racing for your trade team or sponsors but for your national federation. With Worlds in Australia most federations are under a rather heavy financial burden. They aren't going to take a rider who is going to end up in the drunk tank and needing to be bailed out, a rider who can't wipe their own ass, or one who doesn't have the needed cash to support themselves once they are on the ground there since their already thinly stretched resources are already stretched mighty thin.
-ska todd
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All but Aaron had to petition to USAC for selection. His 3rd in a WC and 1st at the Nationals gives him an automatic selection and a free USAC support package (supposedly worth $1800) when in Oz. He still has to pay for his flight and bike transport. All the rest of the Gravity team selected will be looking at flight, transport, accommodation etc. at a cost of about $3k to $4k.
I'm pretty sure this has been a deterrent to many eligible riders.
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There's a good chance Ibis wanted him to do this disipline specifically, he may be burnt on 4x, he may not want to do 2 events while there to focus on the leg burning DH race.
Besides, we have Ropelato to race 4x
Besides, we have Ropelato to race 4x
I got no beef with Gwin going. He's a given and his going is set in stone so a no brainer there.
OK, so if USAC's criteria for Worlds is to put the riders with the best chance (who also lobbied in a convincing fashion) and with decent results, rank 'em for me in terms of horsepower. Since apparently being able to sprint down a non-World Cup level course against the worlds top athletes during a week they're all on the biggest bender of the season is a factor, line 'em for me.
In Elite US men, who's got the horsepower in their legs in this group, best to worst?
OK, so if USAC's criteria for Worlds is to put the riders with the best chance (who also lobbied in a convincing fashion) and with decent results, rank 'em for me in terms of horsepower. Since apparently being able to sprint down a non-World Cup level course against the worlds top athletes during a week they're all on the biggest bender of the season is a factor, line 'em for me.
In Elite US men, who's got the horsepower in their legs in this group, best to worst?
probably the guys putting up top 20 results in the past WC races this year. The guys like strobel, strait, and riffle.
what is that money used for?
I realize that this is not a World Cup event and the rider's wear their nations colors instead of their sponsors but I'd have to imagine the sponsors would want their top riders at this race and might fund that $4k to get their rider there if they're selected. There's still value to the sponsor for their rider to do well at the Worlds.
If racers truly are paying $4k out of their own pockets at this most Elite level racing in the World Champs then there's truly something dreadfully wrong with the sport.
That's the sad reality that is mountain bike racing. We don't exactly have sponsors lining up to get their names on a team...
Sponsors are definitely ponying up some cash to get their racers out to worlds but not all of the racers on that list are able to get enough from sponsors and do have to pay out of pocket. Usually that means that the racers ends up not being able to go unless they want to throw down 2-4K.
You are right though, there is something dreadfully wrong with that. USAC should help fund if not fully fund all racers chosen on that list. Sponsors can pay for their guys to get over there, lessening the burden on USAC, but for those few guys that need help, USAC should fork over the cash. Do something good for DH/4X for a change.
I wonder if USAC helps out with the XC riders to get to worlds? Just an honest question.
If I had enough cash I would definitely donate to get them all over.