is a legend. Not one of those run of the mill ordinary people who are touted as legends for doing just ordinary stuff these days, but a proper kickass, stand out legend. That is all.
He was very funny yesterday on Freecaster with Rob Warner
Is this the guy that won just about everything on a GT LTS about 15 years ago? Saw his name in the 4cross results on cyclingnews this morning.
He's a ****... Don't get the legend bit. He has a very unimpressive CV for a pro pilot, but yet he's on all the magazines
He even sounds like he's having fun....imagine that, fun with bikes
Is this the guy that won just about everything on a GT LTS about 15 years ago?
This is the guy that won just about everything for 15 years
Is probably more accurate.
but yet he's on all the magazines
This is *actually* the important bit - getting exposure for your sponsors. You can do that by winning races (which he has done a fair bit of), or you can do it by being a [s]knob[/s] - sorry, character. See Rob Warner for further details.
Gracia has also done pretty well, not only in DH, but 4x and Freeride comps, some great film shoots and has on-bike style to die for. Top all round rider.
He has style, who cares how many races he won. Nobody makes doing ridiculous things on a bike look so smooth and easy. I saw him picking up a very unattractive woman in the pub at Fort Bill WC once, and he still didn't lose any cool points.
Suicide no hander over the 'Nissan' jump at fort william dh final yesterday. Quality.
That's what I'm talking about davidtaylforth. He was completely sideways in a tailwhip over the hip jump too whilst staring out the camera, does a no hander at the top of the wall, manuals down the wall and whips the triple at the end. All with a locked up drivetrain and still comes in 7 secs off the lead at that time. He entertains and goes out of his way to entertain. Gee winning was a special moment in a brilliant atmosphere yesterday but my lasting memory of the race will be that suicide no-hander!
Gracia didn't ride for GT he used to ride for cannondale. I think it is nicolas voulliez you're thinking of, who did indeed win everything.
gracia was always too busy getting pissed with peat and warner
Suicide no hander over the 'Nissan' jump at fort william dh final yesterday. Quality.
I agree with that. Good sportsman ship given that his chain was off and all he could do was roll to the bottom of the hill, why not style it up.
Has anyone got a link to a vid with the no-hander on? Been itching to to see it since I read about it.
CG is a legend.
DH racing is a far better sport for him being in it thats for sure.
He was completely sideways in a tailwhip
Tailwhip on a downhill bike, must have missed that!
it was mint!
[img] 
[/img]
He has personality which is more than can be said for Sam Hill - his face is expressionless and vacant everytime he's interveiwed.
love the vid of him [gracia] at fort will racing in jeans and a hoody cos his luggage was lost at the airport. he's a dude!
and
[img] 
[/img]
That'd be something special with triple clamps!
Nico was on Sunn with Cedric was he not?
Lopes and Peat were on GT back in the day?
As for his detractors wingeing that he was only doing it because he couldnt win;
a) lets see the avrage weekend warrior get within 7 seconds of a good time with a chain. Hell, I'd give you 7 minutes!
b) he does that stuff anyway, can't remember the year/venue but he won the 4X finals at one event and backfliped the final jump (back when they wer new and cool)!
a 'moto' whip rather than a tailwhip. quite different tricks!
Mr Whippy
Nico moved from GT to Sunn.
what thisisnotaspoon said
whats not to like about Cedric? **** hot on a bike, great to watch and seems like a laugh.
And just look at his list of sponsors, bearing in mind how arsey some can get about using competitors products (Peaty used RF cranks and hope brakes untill SRAM bought truvative and avid) yet he manages to get away with it.
syncros/hope/sram/acros/A2Z all have (sometimes massive) overlaps in their ranges yet are quite happy to sponsor him and he doesn't even put their logos on his jersy.
I think it is nicolas voulliez you're thinking of, who did indeed win everything.gracia was always too busy getting pissed with peat and warner
I concur.
You want top DH riders: Nicola vouilloz indeed, fabien barel, steve peat, greg minnar.
You want top freeriders: dan simmons, richie schley, robbie bourdon, chris kovaric.
You want someone what can only show is ass during parties... Well he's your guy then.
He is a superb rider. sometimes (believe it or not) sport isn't just about winning. If you have a personality you don't need to win to get your picture taken.
He did the same two (maybe three?) years ago in the blazing sunshine and I think Gee won it then as well. Amazing atmosphere in the finish area!
Nico was on Sunn with Cedric was he not?
Post gt time for Nico
juan: Chris Kovarik is not a freerider, in fact I'm pretty sure it was him who had "F*ck Huckers" sprayed on/in his van in one of the Earthed movies?
Anyways, quality pictures! Makes me wish I'd gone now.
Blimey juan, you've really got the hump with him haven't you. He's won DH, FR and 4X events. If he wasn't such a piss head and party animal he could probably have dominated any one of those disciplines. As it is he's got the best of all worlds, there's few enough characters left in top level sport these days, it's nice to see one make an effort to please the fans.
Oh and please forgive my lack of knowledge of whip terminology, I can't do any of them, except by mistake occasionally! I take it a tailwhip is the one that BMXers do when they spin the bike around the steerer?
that aint a moto whip either in that pic. much more of a kickout.
the whole point of a 'moto' whip is that you use bars, weight of bike etc to whip, as on moto you cant just push it out with your legs (as pictured above)
Juan: Who is Dan Simmonns?
Shussshh it up with the negativity. He is a Dh racer. Fact. Is it because he is from Andorra you don't like him? 😉
The bloke who wrote the book on the shelve 😳 I indeed meant wade 😉
Rob nope because I just don't like him 😉
I much prefer local DH racer, at least they can win races :D[b][/b]
having enough speed to even make the last two jumps (hipped double and long table) before the ~tissot with no chain is insane enough never mind boosting out a fully stretched suicide then going massive on the last tripple too.
Kit - what are you on about? Gee has never won it before. Gracia has.
Gee pulled a suicide over the tripple in qualis one year, Cedric has done it many times on many jumps at Ft William in both 4X and DH including during practice & race runs.
Juan - you're an idiot!
Juan - Yes Fabien Barel is an amazing rider too (if that's what you mean by "local rider"). but for a number of reasons he is actually less well liked on the DH scene than Cedric
still remember gracia backflipping the 4x course in les gets '04. HERO.
I remember Gracia hitting a small rotting tree in Les Gets and the whole thing exploding in bits of bark and twigs.
I once posted CG's list of career highlights ( http://www.cedricgracia.com/ -> About CG)
Juan said it was rubbish 😆
CG always looks like he is having fun on and off the bike and I think some of the stuff he does adds to the whole atmosphere of DH/4x racing. It would be pretty boring stuff without the likes of him.
Gracia has also won the Red Bull Rampage in Utah - doing a back flip of a huge drop to finish his run... (he learnt the flip that week)
it blew everyone else away at that event.
have also drank Red wine with him a few years ago at the WC in Fort Bill.. he is a chilled out guy and a decent (if a womaniser) bloke, then his groupies hype him up and once again he becomes centre of attention.
Awesome rider, great character - downhill racing started with parties - he still races hard, has sublime skills and parties damned hard...
What is not to like? cept being French ??? 😛
he was a class act yesterday. 8)
Juan - you're an idiot!
Wow what a very mature comment. I am guessing your world is full of idiots that don't share your opinion...
I think Cedric is dreamy... :wub:
Oh I've always liked Barel especially when he takes off his peak on his full face just to annoy the establishment.
Juan - mature comment? no, simply an honest opinion. Anyone who shares information with others that is clearly totally wrong is an idiot in any world.
juan - MemberHe's a ****...
juan - Member
[b]Juan - you're an idiot![/b]Wow what a very mature comment. I am guessing your world is full of idiots that don't share your opinion...
Did CG shag your bird or something? Not only has he riled you to the point of blindness but you're also exhibiting most out of character double standards. What gives?
Forum calling JoJo
Forum calling JoJo
Well, he can show me his **** anytime ;-D
Legend - Nice guy - Sportsman - Showman - Excellent rider
So for clareymorris and the rest of the ladies - enjoy.......... 🙂
Smiling at my wife
[img] 
[/img]
Chillin'
[img] 
[/img]
Kit - what are you on about? Gee has never won it before
Really? Hmmm... wonder who it was then!
Ah yes, it was Minaar, Gee 2nd.
[img] 
[/img]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gingerfox/2568161683/in/set-72157605541423540/
He's the same age as me, which makes me question slightly what I've been dong with my life. Apart from that, I like him a lot.
Did CG shag your bird or something?
CG's shagged all our birds, and if any had a boyfriend/husband at the time he'd probably have called them mid stroke to let them know.
What is this mid stroke thing you speak of? Stop spreading vicious untruths that none of us can possibly live up to. They'll be expecting foreplay next.
Is CG the bloke related to CG the bird? Wouldn't surprise me too much.
Oh come on Juan, he almost gives Frenchmen a good name!
He is living life large and was dedicated and talented from an early age. He is living the dream as far as I am concerned and fair play to the bloke. If he did not have a mechanical that day he would have been in with a podium for sure and for being out for so long that is incredible. Watch out for him in the next few rounds. Welcome back Cedric!
didn't he make a load of money from an import business?
the guy's got nouse too
mr_krabs - Member
He is a superb rider. sometimes (believe it or not) sport isn't just about winning. If you have a personality you don't need to win to get your picture taken.
Do you mean an 'outgoing' personality? Everyone has a personality. Some are naturally outgoing and others less so. People have a go at Sam Hill and others saying they have 'no personality' whatever the **** that means. You don't know them you just see what they're like infront of a camera. Maybe they're just being themselves keeping their heads down, enjoying their sport and not play acting for the media.
LOL 'Dan Simmons'
I like the fact that he calls French by their correct name, Froggies 😉
I guess it must get annoying being called French when you are not from Fance though.
Maybe they're just being themselves keeping their heads down, enjoying their sport and not play acting for the media.
Yeap spoke to fabien and nicola and they are very nice people, very professional and they probably did more for MTB than cedric (plus fabien's mum makes amazing choclate cakes :D). Absalon (remy not julien) is also someone very lovely to talk to as well.
I guess it must get annoying being called French when you are not from Fance though.
He's french. Born in PAU...
eh? Gracia was born in Pau, France so is french - he lives (and has a bar) in Andora (pretty sure he still owns other property in other places too)
He moved to andorra, only because he is not up to French standard for world champs. That the only way he could keep [s]racing[/s], doing back flip.
CG is a legend. Joie de vivre, I believe it's called. He makes people smile, that's good enough for me.
He moved to andorra, only because he is not up to French standard for world champs.
You may want to see what top he was wearing on Sun!
Much rather listen to his randomness & hear him & Warner goofing off than poor old Rob Warner trying to extract some words out of Sam Hill.
You may want to see what top he was wearing on Sun!
Isn't Barel French DH champ currently? That said, between Nico, Cedric and Fabien, only 3 other people have won the French DH champs since 1994 which is pretty impressive. Oh and Cedric won it twice in the Nicolas Vouilloz era so he can't be that crap 😉
Have to admit that if he'd said "Where's the beef" one more time I might have ridden up to fort william and cut out his tongue, that got a wee bit old. But otherwise I like 'im. Still can't say gnarly as well as minaar though.
Billybob, spot on... How awkward was that "Sam, sometimes you go a bit too fast and then you crash" <huge silence> "Er, but that's why you're great!"
🙄
might also want to see what top he raced in on Sunday
[img] 
[/img]
Every sport has characters and needs characters, who can remember Ille Nastase, Jimmy Connors and John Mcenroe from Tennis? Its about having fun and enjoying yourself, I spent 14yrs riding as a pro It wasn't done for the money, I did it because I had fun and if I messed around and made people laugh or smile then job done. Sports men and women are performers and the public want to be entertained. If you were at FW and heard the cheers when Cedric came down then he did his job.
CG = win
juan = fail
the best frenchman won
just seen the Leogang world cup vid from front page.
The CG bit from 3min17 is quality.
quality. classic french aesthete-first attitude
Gracia is a legend. I've met him (briefly) and he seemed a thoroughly nice bloke to boot.
In the MTBCut video on the front page he said he wanted to flip the jump he ended up suiciding at Fort William. Nutter and legend.