[url] http://live.redbull.tv/events/56/uci-valdisole-dhi/ [/url]
Footage from Saturday's DH World Cup, Top 5 men start about 1hr 40.
Likewise with Swinley, which is also even used to handling big events
Now just imagine how many people would have moaned if Swinley (or somewhere in Wales) had a great big XC course plonked down in it for the Olympics but weren't allowed access to that area for 6+ months before the Olympics.
Olympic XC courses have certain requirements. All the blah blah by the people who don't like that sort of riding (and the similar blah blah from the DH haters) is irrelevant. People who ride it say it's pretty good, people who don't want to ride it after the Olympics don't have to.
Not entirely sure where all the stress is coming from.
I have to say what I have seen of the XC course it looks very good indeed. some real techy bits with alternative lines, good visibility for spectators, looks like it should make for a good race
Having just watched the video from the link above I think the course looks good. I was a sceptic when they anounced the venue. Certainly looks like being on a par with other world cup courses
I'd love a crack at the olympic course after the event. It would really put into perspective how skilled and fit these elite riders are. I think alot of those technical features would look horrible from the top of the bars.
As much as I love Wales trail riding I agree that filming in tight dense forests probably would not make great TV viewing or provide enough passing opportunities.
DK you miss the point entirely! Wales would have been crap. You want a course of 15 minutes at most, so a plod up a hill, turn around, come back down. It would be boring, give bad racing and look rubbish on tv. That's based on what's good to ride, which isn't what's good to race.
Swinley was an initial option, but there's no access for all the media, and again all the trees etc mean it'll look largely rubbish.
Bisley wasn't going to practically work. I was involved in the planning, "just off the M3" isn't enough. You need primary and secondary Olympic Route Network access - roads from the accommodation (Egham) to the venue that are closed to everyone bar the 'Olympic Family'. Look at the ramifications of that for the wider network.
There is a lot of planning in organising the Olympics, it's not just a big party, I find it odd people are surprised by this and think they know better!
atlaz - Member
Now just imagine how many people would have moaned if Swinley (or somewhere in Wales) had a great big XC course plonked down in it for the Olympics but weren't allowed access to that area for 6+ months before the Olympics.
True. There's enough moaning about Swinley as it is. Sure I'd be amongst them moaning, but then again Swinley gets boring and could skip it for 6 months. In fact boring would make it great for the Olympics 😛
Not entirely sure where all the stress is coming from.
It's STW, that's what we expect 😀
