Seems like medium placings on every day 2 stage so maybe just doesn't like the wet much or got injured?
Sam Dale in 18th, Matt Walker 21st, Phil Atwil 41st. Good mix of WC DHers through the field. I don't know what Eddie Masters falls into these days - maybe just "bike racer"?
Matt Simmonds in 38th. Looks like he won't be doing dh anymore now that he's with cannondale?
Pretty wild stuff. Couple of years ago, I'd be riding my DH bike on some of those sections. That chute of doom at the end of the video took out nearly all of the worlds best riders, despite not looking too techy - must have been slippery as hell. I'd hate to see how mortals would have ridden it.
richie posted something about rain on saturday evening. so yea.
that's no e-bike
i think this was inevitable. probably better than the UCI trying to build a competing enduro format from the ground up.
Oh no.
My incredibly high opinion of the sport of enduro is in jeopardy.
At least that's the one single format/series/franchise that did something fairly well and has a few years of proof of concept before the uci got involved. Let's not forget that 4x xc gate whatever the fuck it was called. Or short track xc. "gated racing" in spandex. That's what the uci does.
Well according to EWS on facebook
And they are also claiming this is not going to cost events anything financially?...... I don't buy that TBH.
Fucked. That is what the EWS will get out of getting into bed with the mob-eerrr UCI.
only the greasiest oligarchs
So how much PED use is going on in EWS? Check Yoann's comments on this article, for instance:
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/ews-to-start-working-with-the-uci.html
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/ews-to-start-working-with-the-uci.html
I think it was Cedric who openly said there was PED use going on. Must be for those tens of dollars in prizemoney.
Given what Chris Ball has achieved with the EWS, I'm willing to trust he's made the right decision here but damn.... I hate the UCI. Their mishandling of everything ever makes me wonder why they needed to do this.
The rainbows, and possible inclusion in the Olympics, are still rather important I guess.
I'm glad the venues wont be screwed with.
I'm glad the venues wont be screwed with.
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I'm thinking stimulants and maybe some blood boosting. But probably greenies for those loooong weekends.
Greenery? Man, seems like a lot of effort to go to just to stop Ratboy.
Serious though, I'd hope weed and booze don't get you suspended or banned. Thats the most un-mountain biking thing I've ever heard.
I’m pretty sure weed is a banned substance.
They should bring back the speedballs the early Le Tour guys were doing.
They should bring back the speedballs the early Le Tour guys were doing.
"legitimacy™?"
Basic logistics help?
Yeah I don't know either. Chris Ball was pretty vocal about being separate from the uci when he got that pony show rolling. Maybe he just wants some things taken care of that he's having to do over and over again. The fact that it's not a uci thing is literally the only thing I like about the EWS.
Interview with Chris Ball regarding this development.
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/interview-chris-ball-director-of-the-ews-why-would-we-mess-with-a-good-thing.html
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/interview-chris-ball-director-of-the-ews-why-would-we-mess-with-a-good-thing.html
Ahhhhh.... Chief ferret feltcher for the tory party?
*edit* note for the unsuspecting, do not google felching at work......
*edit* note for the unsuspecting, do not google felching at work......
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"Greenies" are what baseball players used to call amphetamines. Sometimes OTC stuff, sometimes not...
Hoy @slimshady maybe you can understand jose ratland's spanish manc accent.
Give me a link and I'll do the translation.
Not on a Stumpjumper
Seriously though: It's a shame as I quite like Graves, Keene and Rudeboy.
All three are relatively heavy and powerful riders on board of shorter travel bikes. And they are not really known for their finesse, although they are good bikehandlers.
Would they probably do better on a 170mm 27,5er instead of a 140mm 29er?
I think the real question is... Are Graves and Rude still using Bruce Banner as a trainer?
After watching Val di Sole, Vallnord, and especially Cathro's track analysis videos, I've come to realize I'd rather watch paint dry than these Enduro "highlights".
No doubt they are hard to race, and the riders are all exceptional athletes. And it's obviously challenging, nigh on impossible to film the excitement of the race.
But the format of the race does not lend itself to really perfecting lines, and really finding the fastest possible line down the mountain. As a result, as a spectator sport, it really pales in comparison to DH.
I s'pose a "well no d'uh" is in order...
No doubt they are hard to race, and the riders are all exceptional athletes. And it's obviously challenging, nigh on impossible to film the excitement of the race.
But the format of the race does not lend itself to really perfecting lines, and really finding the fastest possible line down the mountain. As a result, as a spectator sport, it really pales in comparison to DH.
I s'pose a "well no d'uh" is in order...
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One of the things I like about EWS, is that it is way less 'clinical' than WC DH has become. With the exception of Laurie Greenland, Bulldog and a few other rowdy riders, WC DH has - especially in the age of 29ers become super precise and less ragged.
I guess it is kind of like comparing Formula One to WRC - F1 will always have the speed and broadcast appeal, WRC just seems a bit more rowdy and unpredictable. But WRC and Enduro coverage sucks. You can always sit down for an hour, crack a beer and just watch a WC DH race unfold. Enduro takes too long and is spread out over too far to watch live.