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Haven't seen a thread for the forthcoming season yet so here goes, there may be spoilers during the season but until the WC kicks off next month it's speculation time.
Nationally it was great to see Adam Brayton take a SDA round win and I reckon he's a dark horse for WC results this year.
Ditto Bernard Kerr, he won Hardline at the end off last year and finally got picked for the GB team at Worlds, I reckon that'll do his confidence wonders, the talent had always been there but I think this year the results will come.
Laurie Greenland has transitioned to the elites seamlessly, with Hart to learn from i'm hoping for big things from him.
Then we have the usual suspects.
Gee will have hopefully recovered from the injury that plagued him all last year, he's had rotator cuff surgery and is on the mend, I'd like to see him back on the podium.
Danny Hart was showing bonkers form at the end of last season, I love watching him ride, I'm hoping he can take the fight to Gwin all year again.
Mike Jones, Matt Simmonds and Sam Dale I'm gonna lump together in the 'what happened?' category, a few seasons ago they were podium material and constantly in the top ten, I'd like to see them back but I'm not convinced, shame.
Rauridh Cunningham showed some good form last year, sporadic though, I reckon with the factory Canyon team and Barel's stewardship he could be a constant podium threat this year though.
I've been harsh in the past about Greg Williamson, always felt he underachieved at Trek, now he's British champ and moved to Cube I reckon he could be another dark horse for podiums.
Brendan? Hmm, difficult one, great to watch, if every event was at some horrible tech fest bitch of a course I'd put money on him....but the WC circuit doesn't work like that, top tens maybe, hate to say it but maybe spread himself too thinly with the Rampage commitments, still I'm sure his bank balance is healthy enough!
And now the foreigners.
Minaar will be there or thereabouts, especially at Fort Bill.
Gwin is the man to beat, only question mark for me is he had knee surgery in the off season, will it affect his early season form?
Loris Vergier and Luca Shaw are two young guns looking to upset the established order, I reckon Luca will break through first, quality rider.
Loic Bruni should be back to his best this year, another rider like Hart who can ride with Gwin even when Gwin's in superman mode.
Brosnan? There's a world championship in there I'm sure, certainly WC wins this year.
Connor Fearon, Mick Hannah, Blenki and the other Antipodeans....sounds disrespectful to lump them together like that but since Sam Hill dropped off the radar who has really stood out?....top 20s for these guys most races I reckon.
The women.
Rachel Atherton obviously springs to mind but what will her motivation be like after the perfect season last year?...that would be my only concern.
Manon Carpenter should be good to watch on the new Radon team, by all accounts the bike is good.
I expect Tahnee Seagrave to upset the applecart this year, in terms of raw speed I think she's the only one capable of matching Rachel.
Tracy Hannah will be a constant podium presence, I just think she's too small to muscle the bike around like some of the other women can.
Myriam Nicole is back and injury free, I expect to see on the podium most rounds, in fact I reckon with Hannah, Carpenter, Seagrave and Nicole all fit and hungry this'll be the best women's season in ages.
Is Ragot fit yet? I know Mondraker kept her on the books in 2016 even though she officially retired in 2015, something about not being too hasty and allowing the injuries to fully heal, is she racing in 2017? She was always capable of giving Atherton a decent race.
Sadly I don't know much about the juniors, I'll let others chip in on that instead, anyway long rambling post but the season kicks off soon and I bloody love it!
you do realise this is Singletrack forum?
menswise i can't see beyond a 3 way fight between Gwinn Danny and Loic, with as you say a few other Brits and others getting in on the podium. The 'comeback' from Gees will be interesting to watch.
Rachel Atherton was so far ahead even lacking in motivation I think she will walk to the title. I hope it's not the case as both the EWS and DH womens could be a little dull this year.
Should be another great year with so many amazing riders. I can't wait for it to start.
Gwin and Hart are the two obvious ones so I'll not comment on them. Bruni similarly but I don't think he's consistent enough..yet.
I think Brosnan could be a surprise bet. Kona Connor could also be in with at least a podium, possibly a win but I don't think he'll be in with a shot at the overall.
Greenland is the one I'm routing for - he's a beast and nearly as ragged as Hart.
Pretty much agree with your post deviant, except I can't see Gee bouncing back or Brosnan taking the top step at any WC races. I'll also throw a hat in the ring for Luca Shaw, it will be interesting to see if teaming up with Minaar can raise his game. I'm also looking forward to seeing Finn Iles in the seniors.
Might be a cop out, but I genuinely think the elite mens is too close to call. There are maybe 10 riders I can think of that 'could' win a round. There was a round last year where the top 20 were covered by 10 secs and the top 10 by less than 5secs. With those sorts of margins it's a lottery.
Didnt Bernard Kerr retire last year?
Didn't hear that, you thinking of Harry Heath?
*pulls up a chair*
The men's has the potential to be the best series in history.
Gwin, Hart, Bruni, Brosnan & Greenland can all ride insanely fast.
Minnaar can still win - and will Vergier & Shaw get even quicker riding with him?
And there are so many other fast guys bubbling under, from Fearon to the Frenchies - hopefully we'll see some new faces on the top step this year.
I hope one or two of the ladies can step it up to match Rachel's speed. Manon might have found a new focus with her move. Tahnee has a great style and will be getting stronger.
Pretty much agree with your post deviant, except I can't see Gee bouncing back or Brosnan taking the top step at any WC races.
Completely agree, as much as I'd like to see Gee have some luck and come back strong.
Gwin, Hart to be ahead through consistency, but others to podium during the season. I like Vergier and Bruni, lots of good riders, but only see Hart and Gwin picking up consistant top 3 finishes.
As for Rachel, half way through last season she was effectively champ, didn't seem to affect her motivation to go the season undefeated. I think she'll be streets ahead again this year.
Can't wait for it to begin.
Brosnan has been incredibly fast, but just hasn't quite been able to stay on the bike.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him get another win this year. Really hope he does actually.
I'm really looking forwards to it.
I think the main three will be Gwin, Hart and Bruni - but you can't write off Minnaar, though. He will always be a threat on the longer courses - just say he were to win Fort William and Mt St Anne - he will be there or thereabouts everywhere else and the main three have always got a potential crash of mechanical.
There are so many other riders around who are capable of upsetting the applecart and winning a round - no one has mentioned Neko Mullaly at YT yet - he's always capable of an upset as well.
I'd like to see some of the more "pedalling's not really his style" Brit riders be honest with themselves and give it a real go. Brendan and Sam Dale are a couple who I find immensely frustrating.
Didn't hear that, you thinking of Harry Heath?
Maybe... One of the Brits. Cant remember now.
I think Brosnan will do well.
Hoping Manon will get back to the levels of a few years back. Think she went stale last year with Saracen, maybe seeing Rachel Atherton smash it every week was disheartening. A new team and bike might be all she needs to push on and challenge. I really hope so.
I actually think Gee will do alright as well. He had one round last year (Fort William?) before he crashed and he was placing ok, that was with his injury, so no he has hopefully fully recovered, I reckon he will have two or three top 3 finishes.
I think Brosnan will do well.
Isn't this the same thing that gets said every year though?
Brosnan got five WC podiums last year, out of seven races.
And he was 4th at World Champs after the three Mondrakers.
Who will be debuting a 29er?
😆
Brosnan got five WC podiums last year, out of seven races
Last win was 2014 though.
He's fast, but then so are the other top 20 riders.
Isn't this the same thing that gets said every year though?
Well, considering he hasn't been out of the top 10 in the last two seasons World Cup races, has podium'd 11 out of the last 14 & was 3rd in the overall in 2014, 2015 & 2016, then yes, you could be right....
But i'm guessing you didn't mean it that way, right? 😉
Maybe... One of the Brits. Cant remember now.
bryceland
Bryceland
Who?
He is long gone and forgotten about.
Yeah must have got wires crossed somewhere. Maybe he changed team or was a privateer.
Gwin is the man to beat, only question mark for me is he had knee surgery in the off season, will it affect his early season form?
I think he's already won a race in the US last week, not WC Obviously, but still...
I think it'll be between Gwinn, Bruni and Hart (probably in that order overall) for most of the races with maybe a couple of good Minnaar/Brosnan runs.
I'd say Rachel will with the overall in the womens pretty easily. It would be great to see a return to form for Manon though and a reckon if Seagrave could win a round it could be like the year Bryceland got on a roll and cleared up.