Chuffed for Laurie Danny and Florent
Good day for Mondraker !
Bruni and Gwinn both unlucky but not hitting stuff too hard, to prevent crashing/breaking the bike is a race skill, both seem to struggle with when the pressure is on
How exactly did Gwinn do that to his wheel?
Fairclough REALLY isn't a decent racer.
I love when folk say stuff like this
2016 Season: https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider758/brendan-fairclough/results/?series=603
Barring a couple of races he's in the top 10% and only a few % behind the race leader
2015 Season: https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider758/brendan-fairclough/results/?series=489
Even more consistent and better results
He may not be winning but to say he isn't a decent racer is a huge dis-service. The margins are so tight and only a few seconds can cover the bulk of the field
jmatlock - Member
You will see where I say Fairclough is a really good rider. I love watching him. And his results are good. However, isn't a podium contender in any of the disciplines he decides to run in. Brilliant all round rider, and no doubt he has fun. But it must be a bit weird knowing he simply will never come away with a medal.He will never be as fast as Hart and Gwinn, he will never be up there with Semenuk, he is a web edit rider who turns up at events for fun I think. Good work of you can get it.
But its the same story for 80% of WC racers, you'd have a field of about 8 if only those with a chance of winning raced!
I think it's a shame if ratboy really is quitting but one of the things I have always liked about him is that he seems to be enjoying himself doing what many would think of as a dream job , if he is not enjoying himself anymore or has different priorities then fair enough . He was world cup champion and one dab of a brake away from being world champion so no one can say he hasn't achieved in the sport .
As for fairclough I think people need to actually look at his rresults , just to qualify for the gb team shows you have had a pretty good year
May as well sent everyone bar Rachel home from the Women's, cut the motogp field down to half a dozen too, same with F1, Wimbledon should just a seeded last 8, or 4 probably.
One of my favourite sportsing mash articles:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/relegations-fail-to-reduce-football-201105233853
That whole race was awesome, so many great moments. Hat off to anyone who's got the balls to take on that mountain. A master class again from Danny Hart, proved it... be it mud or dust.
Watched there various version of this so many times. Split screen of DH's 2011 insane ride:
Just in case you've not seen it!
Great results for the brits - thought Rachel had it in the bag because she seems to be on a different level compared to the rest of the ladies.
Was hoping Hart would do it after such a string end to the season - great result for the Mondraker team too. Will be interesting to see how they go next season because expectation will be high.
It's shame about Ratboy calling it quits - it does seem this year that he is happier dicking around with the 50:01 crew than racing / training etc.
I didn't realise Payet was also Mondraker. Blimey!
Gold, silver and bronze for the same team is pretty epic when they are so unpredictable!
mikewsmith - Member
Re: Bryceland - Is it me, or did something seem to change after his encounter with Missy Giove?What you saying fella?
That maybe she said there was more to life than racing, or that the need to win was something you could let go of, or something else.
I don't know, but he is always posting that he's reading books that are pretty radical.
([url=
and [url=
for eg).
Of course, it could just be since his foot-mash.
she said there was more to life than racing,
Selling tons of hash didn't work out too well for her
My life would change after an encounter with Missy G, I think I would quite enjoy it
I didn't realise Payet was also Mondraker. Blimey!
Gold, silver and bronze for the same team is pretty epic when they are so unpredictable!
Thought it was 2 of them being MS Mondraker team mates, and the 3rd being SrSuntour Mondraker?
Mondraker bikes ought to cash in on that though.
Thought it was 2 of them being MS Mondraker team mates, and the 3rd being SrSuntour Mondraker?
Mondraker bikes ought to cash in on that though.
Hart and Greenland are factory riders, Payet is a privateer and one of many it seems on Mondrakers
Also seemed to be a lot of Treks and SC's in the privateer ranks. Also nice to see some of the lesser known brands represented including Pole and NS bikes.
The top 20 in men's DH is just insanely tight at the minute with loads of brilliant riders. I was looking at the finish times for one race this year and the top 20 were covered by just 7 seconds and the 10-20 places were separated by 5 seconds. It's insane and pretty much a lottery when the racing is that tight. To call any these riders anything leas than massively dedicated does then all a disservice TBH
I'm pretty disappointed this morning to not see as much as a mention on the BBC Sport site of the World Champs. I get that we are a niche sport but they even had time to cover the Manx End to End, surely the WCs is far more newsworthy!
I guess they didn't get the press release, they have covered all the races this year and last I think.
I'm not even seeing anything about Danny Hart in the local paper where he/we live - The Evening Gazette, it's a massive shame really.
Beeb website sometimes has a story, sometimes doesn't. Not always the most prompt at getting the story online.
Busy weekend though, what with the Vuelta, ToB, and Paralympics results too.
One would imagine that getting both stripey jerseys might make a story some time in the next day or so.
I suspect Danny was giving advice to Laurie, as they're team mates.
I find it quite interesting as well the way the men's downhill is. 2 years ago at this stage of the season rat boy was on another level that no one could touch. Only lost out on the worlds because he over jumped the last jump. Still finished 3rd tho I think. Last year it was bruni, this year it's hart. Given how close the racing is most of the time what have these guys got to be able to take seconds out of the opposition?
honourablegeorge - MemberAlexSimon - Member
Just caught up.
Real shame not to see full pulls from Bruni and Gwin.Yeah - you want to se ethe best guys, hard to know just how good Danny was without those guys to gauge against
Well Gwin was 1.5 seconds down at the first split and Loic was nearly 4 seconds down but no idea where he punctured. No coming back on a short course with those time gaps.
scandal42 - MemberI ride with dannyh, hes only a few seconds off Hart
Absolutely correct - in a 20m race down a straight fire road I reckon I'd only be a few seconds behind.
The reason that many (me included) have a pop at Brendan Fairclough is the sheer talent he possesses, yet refuses to capitalise on by getting into decent shape. As a mere mortal, it vexes me that someone with such amazing talent will not do the extra 5%. Claudio just sighs when Fairclough is on a run.
I know he sells loads of bikes for Scott and the 'slacker' image is great for that, but selling bikes for someone else and being in loads of magazines comes a poor second to winning titles - at least as far as I am concerned.
tomlevell - MemberWell Gwin was 1.5 seconds down at the first split and Loic was nearly 4 seconds down but no idea where he punctured. No coming back on a short course with those time gaps.
Gives you a rough idea, yeah, but I'd like to have known that Hart was six seconds (or whatever) faster than Gwin. Also, I think Gwin had flatted early, so it was probably already costing him time when his rim failed.
I find it quite interesting as well the way the men's downhill is. 2 years ago at this stage of the season rat boy was on another level that no one could touch. Only lost out on the worlds because he over jumped the last jump. Still finished 3rd tho I think. Last year it was bruni, this year it's hart. Given how close the racing is most of the time what have these guys got to be able to take seconds out of the opposition?
It tends to ebb and flow doesn't it - Sam Hill, Gee & Stevie Smith (RIP), Ratboy and others, they reach a point in their career when they're just on fire, the planets align for them somehow and they seem unbeatable, and then for some reason it seems to go as quickly as it came and they're left wondering what happened, most of them stick around near the top, but they lose whatever it was that gave them that 1% over everyone else.
Dannyh gets it. I have never said Fairclough can't ride, quite the opposite. He is probably the most natural talent out there. If he put in half the training that Gee, Danny and Nico used to be would podium.
He needs to either shit or get off the pot. Or have a season where he is 100% World Cups or 100% Rampage and properly train.
Claudio is often embarrassed by how little he try's. You can hear it.
Gee and Minnaar have been consistently at or near the top, so I'm not sure that theory stacks up. Even Hart has won the worlds twice, so I'm not sure that theory makes sense.
The theory that if he trained like those guys he would be up there with them? Wins wise?
OK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar. He's had spells within the season where he's not been on it, then turned it around and got some good results and always looks capable of doing some damage, each and every season.
Gwin is similar, but had that complete flop of a season (by his standards) after his first World Cup overall. I would have put Gee up there too but he's gone off the boil now. Hope he can pull it back.
Just Minnaar then or do the results suggest some others are also year-on-year consistently and competitively in the mix for a win?
[quote=Dark Side]I'm pretty disappointed this morning to not see as much as a mention on the BBC Sport site of the World Champs.
It's up [url= http://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/37338450 ]there[/url] now.. spooky!
BBC more into DH than the Singletrack homepage shocker!
That is an awful report, not even a mention of Laurie Greenland, assuming that the BBC has no reporter covering the DH, that can't just be the press release from british cycling can it?
Anyone got a link to Laurie & Danny's runs?
Anyone got a link to Brendan's training schedule?
Some of you have obviously seen it.
that can't just be the press release from british cycling can it?
More likely a press release from Team Atherton.
I wouldn't call it an awful report, it's not meant for us armchair experts.
Anyone got a link to Brendan's training schedule?Some of you have obviously seen it.
Apparently dirt jumps, moto & (shr)edits around the Surrey Hills with the S4P crew.
Clearly the slackers route to being a top DH (free)racer.
stilltortoise - MemberOK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar. He's had spells within the season where he's not been on it, then turned it around and got some good results and always looks capable of doing some damage, each and every season.
Gwin is similar, but had that complete flop of a season (by his standards) after his first World Cup overall. I would have put Gee up there too but he's gone off the boil now. Hope he can pull it back.
Just Minnaar then or do the results suggest some others are also year-on-year consistently and competitively in the mix for a win?
Minnaar is certainly, you can never write him off, he's everyone second favourite rider I think.
There are a few more riders who are pretty consistent, but not quiet as close to the sharp end.
Outside of DH I think Rossi is a lot like Minnaar, different character certainly, more dominate, but a long career, only really ever had one major injury and it's rare to see him do something rash. Aside from that disastrous time with Duccati
Some of you guys LOVE you some Fairclough.
You don't need to see his training schedule to see he isn't as physically fit as Atherton and Gwin etc. If he peddled more he would place higher. Fact.
He is a throwback to the Rob Warner days. What happened the one time Warner actually peddled? He won his only ever medal at Kaprun.
Don't think there was much pedalling at Val di sole....
OK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar.
It can only be Minnaar. His podium ratio is bonkers.
I'm here nor there on Fairclough, I just think its much more complicated than "training + skills = winning".
There hasn't really been anywhere to pedal on most of the courses this season anyway.
jmatlock - MemberSome of you guys LOVE you some Fairclough.
You don't need to see his training schedule to see he isn't as physically fit as Atherton and Gwin etc. If he peddled more he would place higher. Fact.
He is a throwback to the Rob Warner days. What happened the one time Warner actually peddled? He won his only ever medal at Kaprun.
Love is a bit strong perhaps, but I really like the guy.
I don't know what's going on in his head, but IMHO he's living the life he wants - lord knows I'm jealous - he's a 'Pro Rider' a World Cup Racer, a very good Freerider, even if he's not a Slopestyle rider (which seems to be what some people think is a freerider) he's on-par with someone like Thomas Vanderham for 'big mountain' riding - but TV was never as good as BF at racing World Cups.
What he doesn't seem to have is a burning desire to be a World Cup winner, I don't think he's a dismissive about it as he might seem to be - I certainly recall some slightly snide FB/Insta posts from him when he's failed to qualify for the team before now.
He might change his mind this winter, 28 now I think, he might go all Atherton, get serious (and a bit boring) spend 6 months lifting weights and eating kale, clip in and start chasing tenths instead of throwing whips. I've no doubt he could if he wanted to, but perhaps like Ratboy seems to have done, he's already worked out what makes him happy rather than what he's 'supposed' to do, so he'll keep doing it.
OK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar.
Gee was incredibly consistent till the last couple of seasons.
P-Jay - Memberfor some reason it seems to go as quickly as it came and they're left wondering what happened, most of them stick around near the top, but they lose whatever it was that gave them that 1% over everyone else.
Look at Minnaar's career though. Incredible how he's been right at the top - apart from 14/15 which you can forgive, fiven the years previous, and still came abck with a win this year. Some boy.
2001 - Won in Austria, won the World CUp, 3 in Champs
2003 - Win in Switzerland
2004 - 2nd in Legs Gets
2005 - World Cup winner 2005, 3rd in Champs
2006 - 2nd World Champs., 3rd in World CUp
2007 - 4th in World Champs with a dislocated shoulder
2008 - Just the World Cup overall
2009 - Won in Canada,SA & Fort William, won the World Champs
2010 - 2nd in World Cup, 3rd in Champs
2011 - Won Fort William & La Bresse
2012 - Won South Africa and the World CHamps
2013 - Won South Africa (he does that a lot) and Leoganf
2016 - Won Fort WIlliam
jmatlock - Member
Some of you guys LOVE you some Fairclough.
Well we did have a laugh at the mega years ago, he was late to the start and me and a mate were yelling for him at the lift, caught a beer after top lad. (long story about a German and his mech hanger - you had to be there) then honestly his mega run this year was so sweet and bold it should have scored more for balls alone. And some other stuff that tells me he's a top guy.
And Greg
G. O. A. T.
Still nothing on the front page? Pretty shabby guys.
Oh wait. There's loads of Eurobike stuff. So that's ok.
Start with the obvious that Rachel's win is so deserved and what a truely incredible season. Danny Hart had a quite time after his Champery win but has been right back in the hunt this year so surpeb. Greenland arriving on the big stage in style.
So to Josh. Not a big surprise he is leaving Santa Cruz, all the rumours about emails flying around from the factory "demanding" results. You get the sense Josh has just said "wtf just do one". Maybe he does need a rest - he's young enough to do it and come back.
Who is to say we won't see a Steve Peat Racing team with Josh or even a new "Syndicate" with Minaar too.
