In this episode George and Jack run a Mock Draft of how they see the teams lining up in 2025 and then they’re joined by the Fighting Irish; two of the fastest DH riders on planet earth, Oisin O Callaghan and Ronan Dunne… Oisin O…
George Thompson
After taking a 17 year break from exercise, George rediscovered mountain bikes in 2008. Six years later, at 40 years of age he started racing Downhill and the following season somehow ended up on the Revolution Bike Park Race Team. As the other members of the team fought for podiums and National Series victories, George searched for mid-pack mediocrity. In a bit to add some value #makingupthenumbers was born; a blog about their race weekends and in particular life towards the back of the field.
Greg Minnaar: Retirement 20 Questions with the GOAT
In this episode George, Jack and Emi chat MSA, 2025 & Team Rumours before they’re joined by the G.O.A.T., Norco Race Division’s Greg Minnaar to chat about his final season racing World Cups and to play retirement 20 questions! Listen to the podcast here: Watch…
Tech Spots and Pit Chat: Fort William Special Podcast from Making Up The Numbers
George has been up to Fort William to chat to folks in the pits before the racing kicks off. He’s also sent us a very interesting collection of photos. NB: There’s no video version for this episode. Enjoy, sports fans! Pit Chat from the 2024…
2024 DH Season Preview with Wyn Masters and Making Up The Numbers
In this episode George, Jack and Emilie are joined by the Privateer Project’s Wyn Masters to preview the 2024 World Cup Season… Watch the Podcast Listen to the Podcast The Making Up The Numbers podcast is sponsored by: Previously on Making Up The Numbers Podcast…
Pre-Season Insight with Jess Blewitt and Making Up The Numbers
After a little break over winter, Making Up The Numbers is back! The 2024 race season is already underway and in this episode the gang chats about those races that have already taken place. Then, making her debut on the podcast, they’re joined by one…
Loic Bruni and Dean Lucas: Podcast Special
It’s a bumper Christmas Special ‘double episode’ of the pod! We kick things off with Dean Lucas’ retirement 20 questions, then Loïc Bruni chats winning World Champs in 2022 and the World Cup overall in 2023, his relationship with Finn and Jordan, and the rider…
Team Rumours Abound: Podcast With Charlie Hatton and Martin Whiteley!
In this episode George, Jack and Emilie discuss 2024, the World Cup calendar and some team rumours. Next up they’re joined by Mr 23 Degrees, Martin Whiteley who has exciting news about his 2024 plans and then it’s over to the 2023 DH World Champion,…
Benoit Coulanges, Camille Balanche, & Discontent in the pits: MUTN Podcast
In this episode George, Jack and Emilie catch up on World Champs and three World Cups, including a special guest appearance from Camille Balanche. Then they’re joined by the winner of the Les Gets World Cup, Benoit Coulanges before closing out the show with a…
Making Up The Numbers Fort William World Champs Special
George made the trip to Fort William between bouts of real life to catch the pros in practice. Hear from: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Thanks to George for an epic effort pulling this one off. You’re probably listening to this while he’s still…
Back To Racing: Tahnee Seagrave and Roger Viera
World Cup DH racing is back and in this episode George, Jack and Emi discuss the first two races of the season. Then, they’re joined by Canyon Collective FMD’s Tahnee Seagrave for a chat about the concussion that ruined her 2022 season and changed her…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast: Aaron Gwin
After a short break they’re back and in this episode George, Jack and Emilie are joined by the five time World Cup Champion, Intense Factory Racing’s Aaron Gwin, to chat about moving away from SoCal, redemption in 2022, and the new era of DH that’s…
New Mondraker DH Bike? – Making Up The Numbers Podcast w/ Brook Macdonald
George, Jack & Emilie round up all of this off season’s #teamrumours & chat with the Bulldog, Brook Macdonald, about his struggles in 2022, a new Mondraker DH bike and the broken back he sustained in 2019. Enjoy… Watch the podcast here: Listen to the…
New rules and new bikes! MUTN Podcast with Richie Rude and Todd Schumlick
In this episode… George, Jack and Emilie try and make sense of the new rule changes. Then they chat with two time EWS Champion Richie Rude about that DSQ in Innerleithen, his battles with Jack Moir and Jesse Melamed, and his return to DH; will…
Epic Race Rumours With Wyn Masters and Ronan Dunne – Making Up The Numbers Podcast
Just a hint of what’s in this episode… A Red Bull Race Series? Mark Wallace, Mille Johnset and Angel Suarez Team Rumours. Wyn bending the plate in his arm. Why was Ronan Dunne riding gloveless at Hardline? Greg Williamson and Sam Blenkinsop Team Rumours. The…
Old Hand and Young Buck: Greg Minnaar and Jordan Williams – Making Up The Numbers Podcast
On this episode of the pod George and Jack chat with Greg Minnaar about his 2022 season, the three broken vertebrae he sustained in Val di Sole & how excited he is for 2023. Then they’re joined by 2022 Junior World Champion, Jordan Williams. Oh,…
DH World Cup 2022 Finals – Val di Sole (Spoilers)
Where better to hold the finals for what has been an epic World Cup season, than the valley of the sun?
DH World Cup Rd 8 – Val di Sole – Preview & How to Watch
Just like that, we’re heading into the final round of the 2022 DH World Cup season… Surely, nothing can eclipse Les Gets World Champs?
DH World Champs Race Report (Basically, one big spoiler)
The track in Les Gets was fantastic and the crowds turned out in such numbers that this was definitely the biggest World Champs of all time.
2022 Downhill World Champs: Preview and Talking Points
World Champs is the perfect microcosm of the sport of DH. A week of hype and custom paint jobs ending with one race run to win it all.
DH World Cup Rd 7 – Mont Sainte-Anne – Preview & how to watch
Mont Saint-Anne is the venue with the longest World Cup history and it’s back this year after a two-year absence!
DH World Cup Round 6 – Snowshoe delivers drama! (SPOILERS)
Snowshoe, scene of some of the most dramatic DH racing of recent times but always in the dry. Conditions were crazy this week!
DH World Cup Rd 6 – Snowshoe – Preview & how to watch
Snowshoe has only hosted 3 DH World Cups, yet it’s delivered more drama and memorable moments than most other venues!
DH World Cup Round 5 – Vallnord – The new track delivers! (Spoilers)
If you’ve not already watched the downhill action from Vallnord, now would be the time to do so. Or, read on, and then wish you’d watched it not knowing the results, and be compelled to go back and watch it anyway. So. Much. Action. Photos…
DH World Cup Rd 5 – Vallnord – Preview & how to watch
All photos credit Red Bull Content Pool The last time the DH World Cup visited Andorra was in 2019 and that race is probably the one we talk about most on the podcast. With just Amaury Pierron, Troy Brosnan and Loic Bruni remaining at the…
Lenzerheide DH World Cup Round 4 – Race Report (Contains spoilers, obviously!)
All photos credit Red Bull Content Pool How do you turn a ‘bike parky’ race track into something much better? Well, it turns out it doesn’t take that much for a successful transformation. Add in some fresh new sections with a few roots for good…
DH World Cup Round 4, Lenzerheide – Race Preview & how to watch
George brings us a close look on the likely riders to watch at the next round of the DH World Cup, in Lenzerheide. All photos: Red Bull Content Pool I’m never quite sure how to pronounce Lenzerheide. Is it Len-zer-hide or Len-zer-heidi? Hopefully it’s the…
Podcast: Flo Payet, Camille Balanche, and Lenzerheide World Cup Preview!
On this action packed episode of Making Up The Numbers, George apologises to the fastest woman in the world right now, Camille Balanche for not making her the favourite in Leogang; we catch up with Florent Payet who recently announced his retirement at the end…
DH World Cup Round 3, Leogang – Race Report (Contains Spoilers)
All photos – Credit Red Bull Content Pool If you were to design a track to provide the best spectacle for the sport of DH, you’d probably use a similar formula to Leogang: a super fast top section meaning tight times at the halfway point…
When & how & who to watch at Leogang DH World Cup on Saturday
All photos – credit Red Bull Content Pool In the latest episode of the Making Up The Numbers podcast Jack Reading states that Leogang is the hardest track to race on the World Cup circuit. Once bemoaned as being ‘too bike parky’ that all changed…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast With Danny Hart and Dakotah Norton
On this episode of the podcast, George, Jack and Emilie chat all things Fort William and Leogang. They’re joined by 2011 and 2016 World Champion Danny Hart, and 2021 US National Champion Dakotah Norton. Dakotah Norton Gallery Credit: Nathan Hughes Danny Hart Gallery Credit: Red…
DH World Cup Round 2, Fort William – Race Report (Contains Spoilers)
In last week’s race preview I talked about form and history being the two factors that can help guide us towards picking a race winner and the next time my wife suggests that I don’t get anything right, I can reference this moment. All images:…
DH World Cup Round 2 – Fort William Race Preview
When you’re trying to pick the winner of a DH race, there are two factors that help guide you towards your decision: form and history. Amaury Pierron, the winner of Round One in Lourdes a few weeks ago, was also the winner of the 2018…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast with Loic Bruni
Joining George, Jack & Emilie on this episode of the podcast is the one and only #Superbruni! We chat about everything from his mental strength to his epic WorldCup overall battles with Amaury in 2019 & Loris & Thibaut in 2021; his chances of becoming…
DH World Cup Round 1, Lourdes – Race Report (Contains Spoilers)
The 30th season of UCI DH is underway and what a race we had in Lourdes, France to kick things off! Pre-race concerns about the weather in the foothills of the Pyrenees in March amounted to nothing as the sun shone from Thursday’s track walk…
When & how & who to watch at Lourdes DH World Cup on Sunday
For race fans, the week preceding the first World Cup of the season is perhaps the most exciting of the year. “Who will be fastest this season?” is the ultimate question, but trying to formulate an answer produces many, many more. Some of them will…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast with Matt Walker and Izabela Yankova
We’re on the cusp of the 2022 DH World Cup Season and there’s much to talk about… And joining George and Jack as co-host for 2022 is Emilie Siegenthaler who retired at the end of the 2021 Season after an illustrious 14 year career including…
2022 Downhill Season Preview – Get hyped!
The 2022 DH World Cup season starts relatively early this year, with the season opener taking place on Sunday 27th March in Lourdes, France. Famous for its healing waters and miracles, the riders will gather exactly six months and one week after Loïc Bruni and…
Amaury Pierron Interview – Podcast with Making Up The Numbers
In 2018, Amaury Pierron won 3 World Cups in a row & clinched the 2018 World Cup Overall title. In 2019 he won another 3 but dramatically lost out on the overall on the final run of the final race of the season. In the…
Making Up The Numbers: Benoît Coulanges and Emilie Siegenthaler
In the last two seasons Benoît Coulanges has jumped from the world’s top 30 into the top 10 & is now a podium threat at every race. Along the way he’s pocketed a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships & the 2020 & 2021…
2021 Down Hill Season Review – A Gripping Year!
We’ve asked George to take us back through the 2021 DH World Cup, letting us relive the highs and lows, the dramatic finale, and already turning our thoughts to what comes next year. Coming into the 2021 season, the women’s title race was the most…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Vali Höll and Thibaut Dapréla
They’re the two young guns taking the DH World Cup by storm, but their 2021 seasons were diametrically opposed! Thibaut Dapréla started the season strong, podiuming at each of the first four rounds but crashed out in Snowshoe and lost his grip on the overall.…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Loris Vergier
He might not consider himself the man to beat at World Cup level but we certainly think he is and this is his first solo podcast! We’re delighted to welcome ‘The King Of Maribor’ Trek Factory Racing DH’s Loris Vergier to the show. Social stuff…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast: Myriam Nicole and Greg Minnaar!
We’re calling this one ‘The Royalty Episode’ because our guests are the GOAT, Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Greg Minnaar & 2017 World Cup Overall Winner & 2019 and 2021 World Champion, Commencal Muc-Off’s Myriam Nicole! From Greg’s advice for younger riders to how Myriam conquered her…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | National DH Champs Special
Here’s something a little bit different! As well as racing the GB National DH Championships this weekend, George took a mic along & chatted to some of the riders. Starring, in chronological order: Dan Slack, Connor Smith, George Gannicott, Danny Hart, Adam Brayton, Ian Warby,…
2021 Making Up The Numbers Team Launch Video!
Ahead of National Champs this weekend here’s the 2021 Making Up The Numbers Team Launch Video. Enjoy! Massive spoiler, it’s exactly the same race team as 2019 & (although we didn’t get to do any racing) 2020. Kieran Davies – Elite Men Fast. Made our…
#MUTN Les Gets Special – Aaron Gwin, Camille Balanche, Joe Breeden & Aaron Dobie
Race season is in full swing & joining us for this episode of the pod are 5 x Elite Men’s World Cup Champion Intense Factory Racing’s Aaron Gwin, 2020 Elite Women’s World Champion Dorval AM Commencal’s Camille Balanche, 2019 British Champion NS Bikes UR’s Joe…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast – EWS Special
This episode of the pod has everything! Florian Nicolai is the most consistent finisher in the EWS in recent times, having finished in the Top 3 in each of the last 3 seasons. Isabeau Courdurier is the 2019 EWS Champion having won every round delivering…
Making Up The Numbers: Reece Wilson, Nina Hoffmann and Jamie Edmondson
Let’s go racing! The 2021 Downhill World Cup is about to get underway and in this season preview episode of the pod George and Jack catch up with Reece Wilson, Nina Hoffmann and Jamie Edmondson. Reece Wilson Image credit: Ross Bell Nina Hoffmann Image credit:…
Fizik Goes Gravity with Versor and Tensor Shoes – first ride review
Fizik has gradually built up its shoe range, starting with road, then heading through XC, trail and gravel – not forgetting winter boots – and now onto Gravity riding. The new Gravita Versor and Tensor are Fizik’s response to the quest for the perfect Downhill…
Making Up The Numbers | MTB Training with Richie Rude and Todd Schumlick
Todd Schumlick has trained some of the world’s leading bike sports athletes from Aaron Gwin to Stevie Smith, Sam Blenkinsop to Emmeline Ragot. Richie Rude is the 2 x EWS Champion, 2013 Junior DH World Champion & has worked with Todd for the last 8…
Troy Lee D4 Carbon Helmet – The King of Helmets?
George has a long and happy history with Troy Lee helmets - will the D4 Carbon keep a smile on his face? Being 6’ 6” limits your ability to test stuff. Test bikes are generally supplied in a medium or large, clothes the same; I…