and crankworx...
New Freecaster DH series
- Thread starter iRider
- Start date
arent those UCI sanctioned though? i thought some people were able to get UCI points there
Nope.
Where can I find those dates/venues Akula? Or are you just going off of the UCI calendar (in which case venues are often just "placeholders", and subject to change, I believe.
http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/2012-Freecaster-DH-Series-Confirmed,359?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=spotlight
2012 Freecaster DH Series Confirmed
We've been in the know about a new Freecaster supported DH series for awhile now, but only today has information about the series been publicly released. The creation of this series is in some way a direct response to the UCI's demand for more money to broadcast next year's World Cup series.
A quick run down:
For 2012, a series of eight Freecaster/Nissan downhill races will be broadcast online, for free, and in high-definition.
Dates and locations work well with the UCI World Cup series, enabling racers to attend both events if they choose to do so.
Prize money is substantially larger than the UCI World Cup series.
Open to amatuers and pros alike. The top amateurs will have the chance to compete against the pros.
The series is on the UCI calendar, but is managed privately.
Several major teams and riders have confirmed that they will attend.
Crankworx Whistler is rumored to be included in the package as well.
We'll provide more details as they become available, including dates and locations.
2012 Freecaster DH Series Confirmed
We've been in the know about a new Freecaster supported DH series for awhile now, but only today has information about the series been publicly released. The creation of this series is in some way a direct response to the UCI's demand for more money to broadcast next year's World Cup series.
A quick run down:
For 2012, a series of eight Freecaster/Nissan downhill races will be broadcast online, for free, and in high-definition.
Dates and locations work well with the UCI World Cup series, enabling racers to attend both events if they choose to do so.
Prize money is substantially larger than the UCI World Cup series.
Open to amatuers and pros alike. The top amateurs will have the chance to compete against the pros.
The series is on the UCI calendar, but is managed privately.
Several major teams and riders have confirmed that they will attend.
Crankworx Whistler is rumored to be included in the package as well.
We'll provide more details as they become available, including dates and locations.
glad to see that Whistler is in there, I know they were ready to sign on the dotted line for a WC until the UCI's greed got the best of themselves, again.
Crankworx Colorado was UCI sanctioned
Crankworx Whistler definitely wasn't.
it says crankworx whistler, you know, the real crankworx....which wasn't sanctioned
just not real enough to offer Cat 1 UCI points
Honestly, why would they?just not real enough to offer Cat 1 UCI points
Most big names show up and race anyways, every event is sold out, the village, hotels and restaurants are PACKED and no one has to deal with the morons at the UCI dictating what people can wear, eat or drink. Not to mention, whistler does't have to shell out expenses for a bunch of commissars all week.
Win win not having UCI points.
I'm kinda curious, given we all have only so much free time to watch racing on the internet (when we could be out riding), which series are you guys going to watch more of?
I've got to say that so long as the World Cups attract the full field of pro riders, that's what I'll be watching. I want to say that I'll watch this Freecaster series, but if it's missing some top pros, then I just don't think I'll make it a priority. Unless there is something unique about the format.
I've got to say that so long as the World Cups attract the full field of pro riders, that's what I'll be watching. I want to say that I'll watch this Freecaster series, but if it's missing some top pros, then I just don't think I'll make it a priority. Unless there is something unique about the format.
In addition to what Fraser said, I think that the UCI sells advertising and sponsoring rights exclusively. So that would mean that Freecaster couldn't necessarily bring in outside sponsors to supplement their coverage.
If I'm not mistaken road riding went through this a few years ago. I'm fuzzy on the details but I think it went something like this...: The Big Races (spring classics and the grand tours) are owned by a few large promoters. The UCI was unhappy with them for some reason, and threatened to pull their accreditation as part of the pro series tour so that the pro-teams wouldn't be able to race for UCI points and the championship if they raced in the Big Races. Those grand tours and spring classics are the biggest advertising opportunities for the pro teams, and there was no way they were going to give up racing them. I think there was something about doping-testing regulations in there too. Anyways, I seem to remember that it took several years for the issue to resolve. Now there is a UCI-sanctionned pro-tour, that takes into account the Big Races. In order to race the Big Races, teams must be accredited by the UCI and labeled Pro-Tour teams... and submit to the UCI doping regimen, which is paid for by the pro-teams and the UCI together.
Anyways, like I said, this is all fuzzy recollection from a distant observer of road racing. I like watching Paris-Roubaix (who wouldn't like to watch the best of the best battle it out for 160 miles in the mud and freezing rain over cobbles in the forest - those dudes are effin' tuff!), and the Tour de France, and these issues always come up during the broadcasts. So my point is, I think Freecaster's move is an attempt to create the mtb equivalent of the Big Races. If those races or that series become "classics" that riders and teams want to participate in, it will give the promoters some leverage to deal with the UCI. Points collected at those races could easily count towards the Championship title... It would be nice if things worked out that way...
Also, I think that AMS (the promoter that puts on the TdF) jealously guards it's broadcasting rights... there is no negotiating on that one for the UCI. It would be cool if Freecaster could pull that off.
Last edited:
the fact that so many WC races take place at super early hours of the morning in my time zone, i have plenty of time to watch without cutting into riding time.
personally i plan to watch both - the UCI races will have all of the teams participating and will continue be the premier race series and be the most competitive (at least for the immediate future). i'm just hoping whoever gets the streaming rights doesn't ruin the experience with poor feeds and commentating.
the DH1 series will be in HD with warner commentating and appears to have a decent amount of factory teams on board initially. i love watching the elite level of DH racers race, why not watch both and get double the chances to see some of the best in the world compete? two of the most popular and exciting riders to watch barely competed the last two seasons (hill and barel) and while i would have loved to see them, it wasn't any less of an experience for me.
Where are you going to watch the UCI WC stuff? Unless I'm missing something, that will not be broadcast online next year.
From an article on Rocky Roads regarding the bidding to get the rights to the broadcast:
“The interest is great. We have four serious offers plus another one that has to be further developed and specified. I’m assuming that we will have live Internet broadcasts in 2012,” said Gruber-Gil. Freecaster is probably one of the four bidders. One who likes to keep the price low.
http://www.rockyroadsnetwork.com/2011/09/30/uci-mtb-world-cup-negotiations-on-internet-rights/
and where do you read "free internet broadcast" in this article?
who said anything about expecting it to be free?
i rather watch the free freecaster series then pay for the "official" uci version...
Call me crazy, but it's a long season. I'll take 'em all if you put Hart, Brosnan, Gwin, Hill, Minnarr, Peat, Atherton, Strobel, Smith, Pascal, Atkinson, Neetling, Fairclough, Bryceland, Beaumont, etc on my screen!!!
Someone in the Dirt comments made the point about Boxing having several "titles". I think they're right, I hope they don't create that sort of situation.
My other concern, if this isn't meant to replace World Cups, is that the top riders might not want to risk injury and jeopordize their World Cup series by racing in this one. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out...
My other concern, if this isn't meant to replace World Cups, is that the top riders might not want to risk injury and jeopordize their World Cup series by racing in this one. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out...
Easy.. $$$. Riders want cash, teams want TV coverage. Win Win.
I wouldnt mind spending a reasonable amount of money on this if it benefits the sport/riders/teams.
Ill take paying for Freecaster over free UCI any day...
Ill take paying for Freecaster over free UCI any day...
Just depends on who is paying. If a client pays me to be there, I'll be there.
I think this is a great move for the sport. The more high level races and more coverage the better. One question if this new series is a UCI sanctioned series like eg a maxxis cup or a BDS what are the reasons for Trek and Atherthon racing not being part of it?
read the dirt interview from post 63 to get some insight.
Well, what do we have here, some decent original reporting from RockyRoads:
http://www.rockyroadsnetwork.com/2011/10/06/freecaster-launches-new-dh-series-or-not/
http://www.rockyroadsnetwork.com/2011/10/08/dh1-series-gravity-teams-say-“nothing-is-certain-at-this-point”/
Sounds like things are pretty uncertain surrounding the DH1 series. (Alternate conspiracy theory for the haters: RockyRoads acting as the militant arm of the UCI backhandedly trying to squash the new series!)
Excerpt:
Trek World Racing team director and former downhill rider Martin Whiteley thinks that there are already many series, like iXS Cup, Pro GRT etc. and that TWR may do some DH1 races, if the series happens, but not all. “That’s impossible. The World Cup is still our focus and the rest of the events we do will depend on scheduling and locations. DH1 is not an alternative to World Cup.”
In addition, Whiteley sees the DH1 Series as a European Cup under another name. “They wanted us to commit to another 6 races on top of the World Cup, and other events we normally do, and to do that by September 30th. Apart from Santa Cruz, none of us were ready to do that. We have the salaries and careers of athletes and staff to think about including our sponsors, and there are no people more passionate about DH than those that own and run these teams.”
http://www.rockyroadsnetwork.com/2011/10/06/freecaster-launches-new-dh-series-or-not/
http://www.rockyroadsnetwork.com/2011/10/08/dh1-series-gravity-teams-say-“nothing-is-certain-at-this-point”/
Sounds like things are pretty uncertain surrounding the DH1 series. (Alternate conspiracy theory for the haters: RockyRoads acting as the militant arm of the UCI backhandedly trying to squash the new series!)
Excerpt:
Trek World Racing team director and former downhill rider Martin Whiteley thinks that there are already many series, like iXS Cup, Pro GRT etc. and that TWR may do some DH1 races, if the series happens, but not all. “That’s impossible. The World Cup is still our focus and the rest of the events we do will depend on scheduling and locations. DH1 is not an alternative to World Cup.”
In addition, Whiteley sees the DH1 Series as a European Cup under another name. “They wanted us to commit to another 6 races on top of the World Cup, and other events we normally do, and to do that by September 30th. Apart from Santa Cruz, none of us were ready to do that. We have the salaries and careers of athletes and staff to think about including our sponsors, and there are no people more passionate about DH than those that own and run these teams.”
politics...
curious to see what will happen more races and more coverage can only be good for us consumers.
curious to see what will happen more races and more coverage can only be good for us consumers.
Are you being sarcastic? I'll just quote the very first sentence from the first article and that should give us an indication of what we're dealing with:
This is the most under-handed, 2 bit, defensive, butt hurt reporting I've read in a long time. I can only imagine what goes on in their press room - "Hey let's put out a bunch of BS information about our competitors. That always works!"
Everything on rocky roads has been the most biased, one sides, reporting in the MTB industry, and that is going some.
See: "The contract between the UCI and Freecaster had expired and the UCI in negotiations demanded a much larger licensing fee (UCI says a normal increase of 15%) that Freecaster had declined to pay."
Uci says 15%, freecaster says much larger AND presented numbers. I happen to have known what the old numbers are and it isn't merely 15%. RR has decided either not to fact check, or to simply just act as a mouthpiece for the UCI for about every single story i could find.
Useless.
Edit, now they are also quoting "a guy on mpora" (I am not kidding) about teams not wanting to participate. This site gets better and better. What a joke.
See: "The contract between the UCI and Freecaster had expired and the UCI in negotiations demanded a much larger licensing fee (UCI says a normal increase of 15%) that Freecaster had declined to pay."
Uci says 15%, freecaster says much larger AND presented numbers. I happen to have known what the old numbers are and it isn't merely 15%. RR has decided either not to fact check, or to simply just act as a mouthpiece for the UCI for about every single story i could find.
Useless.
Edit, now they are also quoting "a guy on mpora" (I am not kidding) about teams not wanting to participate. This site gets better and better. What a joke.
Last edited:
haha, i read that the other day and got a good laugh.
They took a random persons forum comment and used his screen name to quote what he said as fact.
At least they are entertaining
Well, they went out and got quotes from Martin Whiteley, Fionn Griffiths, and team manager for MS Evil too. And the overall tone of the article seems to jive with what those team managers are saying.
they are quoting other peoples articles/interviews
Rockyroads does not have any original MTB content.... they simply cut and paste from others and reword it at best.
it would be better if you never gave them the satisfaction of visiting their sham of a site in the first place
(and fixed)Didn't realize that. Thanks for the info.
I was hoping that RR had stepped up their efforts since this all broke into the news, guess they're still up to the same old tricks though.
