Technically he is also a downhiller so it almost belongs here. Seems like Graves can't catch any damn breaks. World Championships, and Olympics BMX finals were way too similar. I don't know how he deals with the rage he must have.
No he didn't. No way he would've caught the Latvian guy. It's his fault his gate isn't that good and he got tangled up in the crowd.It's unfair. The guy deserved that so badly!
Complete BS. He got completely blindsided by a flying bike from behind. Hardly getting tangled up in the crowd.he got tangled up in the crowd.
From an official Graves fanboy...Seems like Graves can't catch any damn breaks.
Um how is that not getting caught up in the crowd? If he was in front that wouldn't have happened.Complete BS. He got completely blindsided by a flying bike from behind. Hardly getting tangled up in the crowd.
Go look at that second straight again. He had some momentum stored up in that berm.He was mid-pack on the 2nd turn and wasn't going to make that difference up.
Correct but getting took out isnt racing that just plain **** luck:huh:rubbins racin
or stop being in the wrong place. it might be a cliche but 'making your own luck' still applies, if you are regularly being taken out you can't keep laying blame on everyone else.rubbing is definately part of racing, but graves seems like he gets it more than most...he just needs to find a way to be in the right place at the right time.
When Graves was in the second turn, two riders were passing him and it looks like their momentum took them right into Graves.
I don't know if those riders should have held their lines or Graves should have been faster to stop passes.
I was hoping Graves would get Gold and the USA would get silver and bronze. No doubt Maris Strombergs and Mike Day were fast all day. But sometimes, the fastest rider doesn't always win. It's about being smart, being comfortable riding in a pack, being able to stragetize on the fly and being aggressive when the time calls for it. I just don't think Graves has as much experience riding in Packs of 8 and a number of other skills like the other guys do. I think it's all experience and he'll get it eventually. He's learning and getting better. I don't look for him to repeat the same mistakes he made this year next year. IMO, Graves is the single most talented overall rider in the world. Call me a Graves Fanboy too. It takes someone who is awfully special to be a world class rider in DH, MX and BMX. Last year, he was the only rider in the world to participate in 3 of Cycling worlds competitions - DH, MX and BMX. I have replayed the video number of times and I see some opportunity for Graves to have put himself pretty much in the lead to stay. When he came out turn one in the lead if he had swung over to his right and cut off the charging pack and slowed them down he would have been by himself in the lead in turn 2. There are other opportunities for him to have been in a better position in turn 2. If he had swung over and been on the right side line instead of mid track to a little bit left. He had LOADS of opportunity to stragetize on the fly in the 2nd straight and put himself in a better position for turn 2, but he didn't do so. He kept his line. Just as he did at MTB worlds and it cost him. AGAIN.
FWIW, it's just my opinion. What do you guys think??
Thats BS! The same exact thing could've happened had he been in first place! It's a given he wasn't gunna take gold. However his goal was to medal, so he would've been stoked with bronze and it was a definate possibility. He definately has some bad luck!Um how is that not getting caught up in the crowd? If he was in front that wouldn't have happened.
From an official Graves fanboy...
Tell us something we don't know. :biggrin:
A wise man once told me 'a great rider makes his own luck'.
he actually started out as a bmx'er, and raced bmx for a number of years before crossing over to MTBHay Buddy . I agree on alot you say about JG the only guy in 3 sports. He has come a hell off a long way in bmx in so little time. Maybe the quickest transition in history and only cross over i have ever seen in Pro bmx racing at the top level coming form a different sport.
He has not really even done a full year in bmx so he's on track to winning some titles.
I do think like you said if he had exited turn one and gone right it might of worked but would of been VERY aggressive if he had. DR went super tight which was the main reason JG crashed. Remember it was the Olympics everyone was going balls out.
Maybe if he got more a pump on the first 2 sets out turn 1 he might of been in a better position in turn 2 but still he rode great. ( just bad luck ) Just lacking a bit off experience on title races. It will come around he's young and wants it.
As for the 4x Worlds. While you had idiots like Phil Sax building short 1st straights with quick 180 turns , moves like that in the 4x Worlds Main will always happen. No matter who it is!
I know you think you know...but feel free to play next time.The irony of me being called a fanboy when you are speaking so fondly of "a wise man" whom we all know the identity of. :biggrin:
Sure he did. But what im saying it;s not like he took a year or 2 out to race MTB then got back into it. I think i read somewere he raced as a kid.he actually started out as a bmx'er, and raced bmx for a number of years before crossing over to MTB