Quite an interesting final video from Fox. I get the sense that they're not sure if they'll be there next season
Any word on why Kade wasn't allowed to race?
Really wanted Craik to take the win, but my resentment for Goldstone turned into pure admiration as that run unfolded.
He looks like the one to beat for 2024.
Any word on why Kade wasn’t allowed to race?
He was interviewed post race on Wyn TV (@17:49).. pretty pissed off about "sponsor bullshit".
Great race, great season.. roll on 2024!
Men's XC on now.. women's was a bit of a sketch-fest but maybe looks like it has dried out slightly.
post race on Wyn TV
Was the BK & Bruni stuff tongue in cheek or is there an actual mutual dislike there? BKs face when Bruni crossed the line to knock him off the hotseat BK's face was absolute thunder. I know anyone's going to be disappointed to miss out on a win but it looked like real anger from BK
Also sounded like no GT team for next year? Can't remember if that'd already been confirmed.. in any case Ethan Craig making a good case for himself.
Yes , no GT factory team pretty much confirmed but will be interesting to see if the carry on doing something with the privateers with Wyn Masters .
Mondraker are doing their own thing so the MS team will need a new frame sponsor and apparently YT are coming back with a proper team and have signed Vali Holl .
I wonder if a few of the smaller teams will pull out , with the new format it must be pretty hard to justify the money of flying riders , mechanics and staff all around the world if your riders aren't getting into finals .
BK's face in the hotseat was a picture. Absolutely gutted when everyone around him was buzzing for Bruni.
Already been confirmed ages ago that GT are pulling out of DH and Enduro. Lots of riders looking for a new home.
I'd love to know the real reason Kade couldn't ride. He's one of the most visible riders out there. Not challenging for the win but guaranteed fireworks on track every time, he's a beast. Why would you pull him if he's fit and wants to race? Must have had a serious falling out with someone.
BK’s face was absolute thunder. I know anyone’s going to be disappointed to miss out on a win but it looked like real anger from BK
He's always a terrible loser, but he seemed to have chilled out a bit by the time Wyn interviewed him.
I get the impression he rubs some people up the wrong way, but then loic can be pretty intense himself so 🤷
He was interviewed post race on Wyn TV (@17:49).. pretty pissed off about “sponsor bullshit”.
Yeah I was hoping the story had leaked out already. Someone on PB guessed it could be he was blocked from riding because he wasn't on pirelli tyres, which sounds feasible.
So many riders use tyres other than their sponsors with the logos sharpied out. Bruni's been on Contis most of this season and there's been a significant number of riders with blacked out Maxxis for eons now. If it was the case, Kade must have had more than a strongly worded conversation to be excluded from the start by the team's direction over something as personal as tyre preference.
I’d love to know the real reason Kade couldn’t ride. He’s one of the most visible riders out there. Not challenging for the win but guaranteed fireworks on track every time, he’s a beast. Why would you pull him if he’s fit and wants to race? Must have had a serious falling out with someone.
Agreed. A photo of him pulling a no-hander on a WC track with Trek on his frame must be almost as good publicity as getting a podium.
"Contractual obligations" is the phrase Ben Cathro used and seems to have been repeated elsewhere...
Kade only gets on the team because it's Kade, let's not kid ourselves he'll ever trouble the podium. Budget cutbacks may mean he's already on the way out, so he may have said no to the tyres or similar, they said well do one then, and the rest is history.
Not using your sponsors tyres has been "a thing" since racing started. I'd be genuinely surprised if the obligations that he fell foul of had anything to do with that, after all I've seen Continental with Maxxis logos and vice versa this season alone.
The XCO was a slog yesterday, its never great watching top racers getting off and running. But the course looked frankly terrifying, and I'm pleased we didn't see any serious offs. Pidcock coming home 9th and taking the rainbow stripes after doing just 4 rounds must a wake up to rest of the field surely?
BK’s face in the hotseat was a picture. Absolutely gutted when everyone around him was buzzing for Bruni.
Probably thought/hoped he had done enough. Hopefully he got a bit more philosophical about it when the next generation smashed his time to smithereens shortly afterwards. There's nothing wrong with showing your disappointment when you've given your all, I always find the jumping up and down and hugging, as if you're as happy as the bloke who just beat you, a bit forced.
Budget cutbacks may mean he’s already on the way out
Is that a rumour you've heard, or just thinking aloud? I would've thought Kade's popularity has everything to do with the stuff he does outside racing and being on the race team is just the way they make that happen.
He’s always a terrible loser
He's come so close this season to finally getting a win, I can imagine he sees that slipping away from him as the next generation start to dominate, I think I'd be cheesed off as well TBF.
Imagine being contractually obligated to sit out a race. I think that's just something quickly thought up for the summary videos.
A plausible explanation is that lots of teams were running out of wheels and tyres and maybe they gave his set to Loris or Valli to get them through the race. That would be upsetting which would explain the mood on Wyn TV.
Not Vali, she's on a different team.
Bodhi Kuhn crashed out, so that's one donor bike already. If it was because there weren't enough spares remaining with only two team riders left standing, that would be surprising given the budget and management, although not improbable with the amount of breakages.
I think they'd have overcome a logistical issue like lack of parts, my money is on him having a row with management about something (not sharpie-ing off-brand tyres is quite plausible) and it just escalating to the point where they pulled him.
I know we're all making largely uninformed guesses, but it's fun anyway.
Kade already said in an earlier interview he's enjoying jumping more than racing at the moment and in the latest wyntv confirmed he's not racing the (full) world cup circuit next year.
and in the latest wyntv confirmed he’s not racing the (full) world cup circuit next year.
I'm not surprised. Kade's in an unenviable situation, he's taking a seat in a race-team that's probably looking at the riders coming up from juniors and wondering why they employ a rider who will get through semis, but is at best a decent top 20 rider, but on the other hand is a fantastic talent, but occupies a similar space currently filled by Brandon Semenuk.
Didnt spot during the live coverage, but a 'fan' ran onto the track on the final run in, seconds before Goldstone came down. A marshall absolutely decked him and dragged him out of the way and Goldstone just missed them. Mentioned by Phil Atwill and can be seen in Cathro's review.
I mentioned earlier but the whole 'oh arent the crazy fans in Les Gets great' thing is starting to cause some somewhat idiotic, football pitch invasion style fan behaviour that needs nipping in the bud. Its not big or clever, someone is going to have their race run ruined or get hurt.
As always, the problem with racing is, unless you are on the podium, no one remembers where you came.
Even as a fan, i’d struggle to tell you who came outside the top 3 & i’d be outright guessing the top 10.
But Kade’s value isn’t in being a top 20 rider, it’s doing ridiculous things on bikes that normal people can’t, more often than not in the middle of a race run.
His ‘viralability’ or marketability is significantly more than someone hovering around the top 10 IMO.
Didnt spot during the live coverage, but a ‘fan’ ran onto the track on the final run in, seconds before Goldstone came down. A marshall absolutely decked him
Yes, it's here...
But Kade’s value isn’t in being a top 20 rider, it’s doing ridiculous things on bikes that normal people can’t, more often than not in the middle of a race run.
Yes, I agree with the sentiment, but its 2023 and every bike manufacturer is looking at how much everything costs. If you've a race team its focus should be on podiums, not arsing about, and if you have a budget for arsing about and you're Trek, are you going to spend it on Kade or Semenuk?
If you look at that last video I posted^ at 1.14 that's Kade on track on a trail bike with a pisspot helmet on.
Did he get the boot for riding the track outside of scheduled practice times? Seems much more plausible than all the tyre sponsor theories.
They’ve got a podium contender in Loris. If he doesn’t perform he doesn’t have many other selling points. (very fast, Lovely bloke, bit dull in videos.) if he wins he’s their most valuable asset. A close podium and he’s a talking point. One tiny mistake and he’s in the also rans.
If Kade can qualify for finals and then whip and nose manual his way down he’s pretty much got maybe the ~3rd most memorable run of the day sewn up. <br /><br />
and if you jumped out the bushes and put a gun to my head and asked what team Loris was on I might struggle. Do the same with Kade and I know it’s trek. <br /><br />
And to be honest, I’m upset about the above. I’d love if the racing was all about who is fastest and careers were built purely on results. Never forgiven rat boy for quitting racing to make you tube vids tbh. <br />but sadly that’s not the world we live in.
sharkattackFull Member
If you look at that last video I posted^ at 1.14 that’s Kade on track on a trail bike with a pisspot helmet on.Did he get the boot for riding the track outside of scheduled practice times? Seems much more plausible than all the tyre sponsor theories.
I can imagine that could be the case for sure. Was that some kind of Youtube skit?
Never forgiven rat boy for quitting racing to make you tube vids tbh
Insta clips you mean?
Not sure he could even be bothered to make YT vids consistently.
Kade is a great asset for Trek because he's one of the coolest riders on the circuit and the one the kids most want to be like. He's probably better value than Semenuk 'cos he's way cheaper and more relatable at the same time.
Good to hear he's mixing it up more next year. I expect he's got his eyes on Rampage as a goal in due course.
Not using your sponsors tyres has been “a thing” since racing started.<br /><br />
I accept this is entirely true but I think it’s fundamental y wrong. If you’re paid to promote and give the impression you use and your name to help sell it you should be expected to use it.
He was interviewed post race on Wyn TV (@17:49).. pretty pissed off about “sponsor bullshit”.<br /><br />
He can always quit and not take the pay cheques if he doesn’t like it. See if anyone else will offer him a better deal
Yes , no GT factory team pretty much confirmed
im not surprised. This was the first race this season they had a bike on the podium. Not much use for a race team
im not surprised. This was the first race this season they had a bike on the podium. Not much use for a race team
Considering what they do for non factory riders through Wyn Masters, plus their junior world champ, not to mention the Viris team at grass roots level, that seems pretty harsh. Using that logic we may as well just have Commencal, specialized and Santa Cruz at races then.
I get why they've bailed, but your statement seems cold.
I get why they’ve bailed, but your statement seems cold.<br /><br />
it is cold, but these are business decision made to get the best bang for the buck from the marketing budget. I’m sure there are people in these companies who can show the ROI for each marketing strategy. GT aware a brand as part of PON. It maybe they decide that using Wyn via the socials is better value for money than funding a race team. Who knows
It maybe they decide that using Wyn via the socials is better value for money than funding a race team.
Clearly someone up there has decided along those lines yes. But you do comment at times without any thoughts for the many many people who are looking for jobs now etc... It's just like "yeah tough, they're shit" and that's it LOL.
Did he get the boot for riding the track outside of scheduled practice times? Seems much more plausible than all the tyre sponsor theories.
That would be a simple disqualification, nothing to do with team/sponsors
That would be a simple disqualification, nothing to do with team/sponsors
It would, and it seems like the simplest explanation out there so far. Maybe he didn't want to admit "I got banned for being a muppet" on video while he was still raging.
As it was a DNS, I wonder if the organisation and the team came to a compromise to withdraw Kade rather than give him a straight DSQ.
Clearly someone up there has decided along those lines yes. But you do comment at times without any thoughts for the many many people who are looking for jobs now etc… It’s just like “yeah tough, they’re shit” and that’s it LOL.
Perhaps my choice of words could be better. I do have sympathy for anyone who looses their job becuase their employer decides to stop doing something. Being a professional bike racer has to be one of the more precarious ways to earn a living with your livelihood based on your race results and the whims of some corporate marketing departments latest marketing strategy. Equally Im suprised by those who subscribe to the view that because you are very good on a bike that the industry owes you a living as some seem to infer
Didnt spot during the live coverage, but a ‘fan’ ran onto the track on the final run in, seconds before Goldstone came down. A marshall absolutely decked him
Another angle here:
The old drop'n'roll! 🤣
Hahaha was going to post that.
Roll out the barrel.
Any word on why Kade wasn’t allowed to race?
Anybody else listen to the Pinkbike podcast this week? Turns out their version of the Rumour is that Kade ran out of custom painted 100% helmets, and they wouldn't allow him to borrow a helmet from Jackson Goldstone - Same colours but wrong manufacturer. They - Pinkbike were at pains to say they they heard it third hand, so it could be as much bullshit as all the rest of the things anyone else's has heard.
