[Mo(n)arch]

Ciao ragazzi e benvenuto in Val di Sole!

So there it is, the final round of world cup DH racing is on. The race will be held on Saturday. Weather should be good and the track will deliver.
Oh, and I will be there for the whole weekend

My hopes are on Minnaar, but his new tire tells me that Gwin will take the win and the overall. We have pretty much the same scenario going on as in 2015 where Minnaar and Gwin battle for the overall but Brosnan waits in third.
Maybe Brosnan sends another win?
Now some entertainment:

 

[atrokz]

Gwins to win. Brosnan can definitely do well, and if either have a good run, I predict either on the top step.

People to win this race in my mind are:

Troy
Aaron
Loic
Danny.

I can see Minnar doing well here, but I don't see him winning, as this course is a do or die, 100% all in kinda run, which suits guys like Hart, Troy, Gwin, etc.

I think Gwin will take the series, would love for him or Troy to take it.

 

[dump]

Hard to see anyone but gwin winning. Troy and Hart should be up there though. Minaar will retire.

 

[atrokz]

Yea I get the feeling this is the last season for Minnar, or next year at the latest. He's been at the top for so long.

 

['size]

Minaar will retire.

but he just had a new 'tire' made for him, he can't quit until he's sold enough to recoup costs. based on results and the internet he won't be able to do that for some time.

 

[FlipSide]

I think Minnaar alluded at a press conference in MSA that he is considering pursuing his career until 2019 for the world champs at MSA.

 

[canadmos]

I'm excited for the race, but damn what the hell happened to this summer? Is it really the end already?

as this course is a do or die, 100% all in kinda run

Isn't this the type of situation that Minnaar does well with? All the pressure and he'll end up at the bottom like normal, usually on the podium.

 

[atrokz]

I think Minnaar alluded at a press conference in MSA that he is considering pursuing his career until 2019 for the world champs at MSA.

Ah, makes sense. Still has lots left in him, clearly.

Isn't this the type of situation that Minnaar does well with? All the pressure and he'll end up at the bottom like normal, usually on the podium.

While he does incredibly well under pressure, and has done well here (best result is 3rd I think), his times suggest he does ok here because he pulls people in at the bottom of the course, probably due to fitness. Against Troy, Danny and Gwin, I don't think he can do as well on this type of track now that the fitness of the competition is so high these days.

 

[dump]

but he just had a new 'tire' made for him, he can't quit until he's sold enough to recoup costs. based on results and the internet he won't be able to do that for some time.

You see what I did there? He will re-tire.

 

[Electric_City]

I wanna see G'Win! But I still think it's going to be Minnar. Finishing this race third will be Moir.

Ive been meaning to say something for the last 4-5 years, but the millenials in the upcoming class won't win till the best class of racers ever, get old and retire. Gwin, Minnar, Hart, Ratboy, Hill, Atherton, Peaty... As you can see, that's about what's happening.

 

[Mo(n)arch]

Minnaar's advantage is just 33 points. So basically nothing. Qualifying will be taken by either Gwin or Brosnan. Wildcard for Hart. The race will be taken by Gwin.

 

['size]

here : https://dirtmountainbike.com/racing-events/downhill/world-cup-overall-calculator.html

go crazy.

 

[captainspauldin]

Ive been meaning to say something for the last 4-5 years, but the millenials in the upcoming class won't win till the best class of racers ever, get old and retire. Gwin, Minnar, Hart, Ratboy, Hill, Atherton, Peaty... As you can see, that's about what's happening.

Hate to break it to you, but.. Gwin, Minnar(on the cusp), Hart, Ratboy, Hill, and Atherton are all millennials. I certainly get your point, maybe we should refer to the next class as the post-millennials, but I guess technically they are still in the juniors

 

[Electric_City]

Hate to break it to you, but.. Gwin, Minnar(on the cusp), Hart, Ratboy, Hill, and Atherton are all millennials. I certainly get your point, maybe we should refer to the next class as the post-millennials, but I guess technically they are still in the juniors

Sure. Good enough.

 

[roflbox]

Tracking this bread

 

[Mo(n)arch]

Cecile Ravanel will race in Val di sole. I thought this worked the other way around?
http://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/Cecile-Ravanel-to-Race-Val-di-Sole-World-Cup-DH,9829

 

[Nick]

Cecile Ravanel will race in Val di sole. I thought this worked the other way around?
http://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/Cecile-Ravanel-to-Race-Val-di-Sole-World-Cup-DH,9829

might have to bust out the respect cape for Cecile !!!

 

[roflbox]

Ciao ragazzi e benvenuto in Val di Swole!

 

[kidwoo]

Cecile Ravanel will race in Val di sole. I thought this worked the other way around?
http://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/Cecile-Ravanel-to-Race-Val-di-Sole-World-Cup-DH,9829

Sweet! Now the women's field will have what, like 16 participants?

 

[toodles]

Be sure to catch her result and you'll see why it absolutely works the other way around.

Talk about jumping into the deep end for your first WC DH race!

"Oh yeah, been thinking of trying this DH sport. Whats a good beginner track to ease into? Oh Val di Sole? Valley of the Sun? Sounds pleasant enough..."

Seriously though, Cecile has murdered the competition at this year EWS. Will be keen to see how she fares on the big bike.

 

[kidwoo]

I changed my post when I realized I had no idea who that even is


fuckin enduro


Yeah she'll probably get humiliated but whatever. At least it's another female actually trying race the real peak of the sport and not stuffing lawn chairs into fanny packs and taping a microwave to their top tube.

 

[Dogboy]

Maes won a couple of World Cup races as a junior and 2nd at World Champs. Pretty good at slalom as well. Good bike riders are good. Go figure.

 

[kidwoo]

Maes won a couple of World Cup races as a junior and 2nd at World Champs.

 

[toodles]

Yeah she'll probably get humiliated but whatever.

Like that time Graves brought his enduro bike to the DH world champs and walked away with a measly Silver medal...

Seriously though, good to see anyone new in the women's DH field at the moment with Manon leaving. And the Commencal DH bike is a damn good starter bike.

 

[kidwoo]

Like that time Graves brought his enduro bike to the DH world champs and walked away with a measly Silver medal...
.

That's true because like graves cecil enjoyed a decade long successful dh racing career, and continues to race 4x, a discipline much like that worlds race. Pretty much identical really.


This is sparta man. Val di sole ain't no endurpo course, and it sure ain't PMB.

 

[toodles]

Yeah yeah, I know. Sheesh, no sense of humour round here any more.

 

[kidwoo]

I have 4 broken bones in my back right now. I can't punch anything so grump.

I wish ALL the endurpo women would race dh because there's only one sport that deserves the attention.

 

[roflbox]

I have 4 broken bones in my back right now. I can't punch anything so grump.

I wish ALL the endurpo women would race dh because there's only one sport that deserves the attention.

Maybe the drugs will convince you that 29" is the correct wheel size

 

[toodles]

I have 4 broken bones in my back right now. I can't punch anything so grump.

Shit. Gary must have like 20 broken back bones or something.

Heal up you squid. Did 2 verterbrae in Whistler 2010 and took me ages to get the aches to go away. Back injuries suck.

 

[kidwoo]

Maybe the drugs will convince you that 29" is the correct wheel size

Don't get me wrong 29 is absolutely the right wheelsize. For giving up on vitality and accepting one's geriatric demise. None better really.

toods: probably not as serious as yours, just a bunch of transverse processes and a rib or two. No vertebral bodies. But yeah.....pain.

 

[jstuhlman]

Don't get me wrong 29 is absolutely the right wheelsize. For giving up on vitality and accepting one's geriatric demise. None better really.

toods: probably not as serious as yours, just a bunch of transverse processes and a rib or two. No vertebral bodies. But yeah.....pain.

didjer barz explode?

 

[kidwoo]

didjer barz explode?

Not mine but on a friends bike yes.

 

[jstuhlman]

Not mine but on a friends bike yes.

well shit...heal up man.

is it saturday yet?!?!?!

 

[kidwoo]

You're no fun. I was ready to go to great lengths to fuck with you about carbon bars with at least 3 completely fabricated stories to choose from.

WC threads don't get exciting until vital coverage so I was really going to go deep on this one

 

[slimshady]

I predict Minnaar's KnobVomit wagon rubber will help him maintain speed over the VDS roughness. The "M" in his last name stands for "Momentum" after all .

Nah, seriously, I'm hoping Gwin will pull one more move from his bag of magic tricks, leaving me with a face which is half jaw dropped to my ankles, half smile. Not a nice mental image to picture I reckon -especially if you'd know me- but an accurate description of how I feel when I see Rock Jeebus running lines no one else seems to find.

 

[Nick]

I have 4 broken bones in my back right now. I can't punch anything so grump.

damn dude ... what happened?

heal up soon.

 

[kidwoo]

I just wrapped myself around a tree not paying attention and riding too close behind a buddy making fun of his fanny pack. Couldn't see the trail and sucked at life for a split second.

 

[Da Peach]

I just wrapped myself around a tree not paying attention and riding too close behind a buddy making fun of his fanny pack. Couldn't see the trail and sucked at life for a split second.

Sounds like an enduro injury.

For shame...

 

[kidwoo]

Sounds like an enduro injury.

For shame...

directly after 4 days of vail, keystone and sol vista riding lifts at least

#dhtakesmoarenergy

 

['size]

I just wrapped myself around a tree not paying attention and riding too close behind a buddy making fun of his fanny pack. Couldn't see the trail and sucked at life for a split second.

if you were on a 29er you could have seen over him and avoided all this. yes i'd rather be fucked up on 26's also...