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, ...
By rockitman
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackworld.com/2022/05/dh-world-cup-round-2-fort-william-race-preview/
I'm not sure at this stage we have a lot of 'form' to go by.. The fast guys will all be fast, but i'd guess any of 10-15 of them could easily be on the podium.
You'd imagine at least 1 will be French though.
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....
Amaury Pierron had never even visited the podium before bagging 3 wins in a row in 2018 so I'd say your own example kind of disproves your own theory.
Weeksy is right there's probably a dozen riders who could win. I'd like to see Pierron on fire because he's one of the fastest riders we've ever seen but I'd also like to see old man Minnaar open the taps on the motorway and out drag everyone with raw power like he used to.
Tahnee to miss this weekend 🙁
Gutted she is missing it, but 100% the right thing to rest and heal up.
Nicole racing after the practice crash at Lourdes didn't look right at the time either, but she seems to be back now.
So much equivocating! If that whole MTB journalism thing doesn't work out for George, there's a future in the law for him.
Go on George, are you confident enough to make top-3 predictions for the categories? I'm not...
It appears that Mryam is out too for the same reasons. It’s going to be a straight fight between Cami and Holl for the ladies
@a11y I think that George has a policy against reading comments on his articles, so I will disclose that George has big money on Amaury and Finn.
@fahzure he does read the comments, he's just driving to Fort Bill right now! Patience!
🙂 Looking at the stats, more so than any other track people tend to be good or bad at Fort William. There are of course exceptions to the rule, that’s racing! Podium picks…
Mens: Pierron, Wilson, Vergier, Hart, Bruni
Womens: Nicole, Hoffmann, Balanche, Hoell, Cabirou
Enjoy the racing everyone. Should have quite a bit of content to share over the next couple of days!
@fazhure I always read the comments! Working off a 0.5mb connection & was torn between Finn / Bruni / Daprela for the final podium place.
Who are you all picking?
George does not fear the comments! 😂
Daprela; Pierron; Illes; Hart; Bruni
Hoffmann, Balanche, Hoell, Cabirou, Pompom
Pierron, Hart, Illes.
Who are you all picking?
Pierron, Illes, Daprela, Hart, Bruni
Hoffmann, Holl, Balanche, Cabirou, Hrastnik
I didn't think Pompon was racing due to concussion effects? Or is she racing in spite of those? I know Tahnee's sitting this one out for the same reason.
I don't get to head up noth until Saturday morning, cannot wait 🙂
Having read the two concussion articles on Pinkbike, I'd say the sport probably needs new protocols. Who let Myriam ride after her crash, after spending time in a darkened room to 'recover'.
Not good enough....
I cant wait. Clashes with the F1 and I usually watch F1 live then catch up on Red Bull but reckon I'll switch that this sunday. Gutted I'm not going - I remember being there year after year in the old days, including being in the 'pit' (it really was a pit, like a scrum!) around the finish arena the year that Peaty finally won.
Form is really difficult - its been so long since the first round, everyone has been off doing various national races... I'd love Danny to win, and EVERYONE would love Greg to win but I reckon its too open to call.
For the ladies, I reckon Nina Hoffman is a good shout - she always looks strong, stable, and, if i can say it without meaning to offend - like she rides like one of the men - Thats got to be a good basis for a result on this absolute monster of a track.
TL:DR
Who are you all picking?
Danny Hart.
Nina Hoffman.
I'm hoping to see Wilson take the victory in the mens, I reckon he could do it.
In the womens I reckon either Vali or Cami...or Rachel has just been blagging it in terms of being race ready and comes back and smokes everyone (don't think that's really going to happen)
Well, I knew I wouldn't predict the correct result but I didn't expect to know that on Thursday afternoon... that's Finn not racing due to concussion, so I'll need to amend by prediction.
Hannah, not all of us have or can view Insta.
Pic shows Rachel in full kit on a bike. It'll be in a track walk story soon too. It's not clear that she's racing, but she is in kit and riding.
awesome!
Also, apparently Amaury is on a 29er. Trying to get a pic!
And a podcast from the pits! https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/making-up-the-numbers-podcast-on-the-ground-at-fort-william-special/
Surprised Pierron wasn't on 29 already. Isn't he pretty tall?
Rachel on the qualifying start list, would be great to see her back after all this time.
You've got to feel for Meghan Flanagan! Imagine being in your first World Cup qualifying race and having Rachel chasing you down the hill! Meghan's attitude is fun though - check what she has to say at the start of George's podcast.
Anyone know where full results are from today?
For anyone braving the midges…💪🤘💥
Hardly any woods or slow sections this time around.
I'm predicting some nasty smashes with the length of track, fatigue and tighter margins.
It looks like one of those where a cannier rider with an eye on the overall might decide to settle for a top 10 and leaving in one piece on Sunday evening.
I'd live to see Pierron ride balls out and win it. He is pretty much untouchable if he keeps it on track. If I had to put the mortgage on anyone being top 5 it would be Bruni, though.
Vital Raw are being a bit slow to get their footage up!
Bruni is out, broken collar bone confirmed on Instagram and PB.
5 out of the top 10 mens qualifiers are Brits, good going guys. Greenland 2 1/2 seconds out front, Hatton second, Minnaar 3rd, Pierron 4th then Kerr, Vergier and Hart in 7th. Still a few to go but that’s probably how it’ll be.
Daprela 15th and Thirion 17th.
Reece quite a long way back. And Gwin almost a minute back, can’t get my head how he can fall so far behind.
Excitement is building!
Nina Hoffman was leading until the final split - flat tyre apparently.
Jackson Goldstone storming with what would have been a 4th position.
As suspected, Rachel was a DNS.
Cathro in 37th making up considerable time on the lower sections.
That's good to hear about Nina Hoffman, one of my dream teamers.
I've got...
Laurie Greenland
Jade Edwards
Taylor Vernon
Matt Walker
Nina Hoffman
Mikayla Parton
We’re at Fort Bill but she’s pregnant and knackered after today so come back home, hoping to watch the 4X on the live stream but it’s not started yet…. Anyone there with signal or wifi able to advise if it’d started yet? Really don’t want to miss it if it’s streaming
Just seen, they’re just a bit delayed
Where's streaming of 4x being done from?
there was a lot of folk crossing the line with flat tyres today! weather wasn't nearly as bad as I'd feared though.
Anyone know what happened to Jessica Blewitt? I think she crashed and caused the red flag that meant some of the women's elites got a rerun.
Ouch is that who it was? We saw medics bringing someone down on a stretcher (I think) then into back of an ambulance. Can only think that must’ve been her.
The 4X was streamed on Facebook live from Fort William DH’s profile
Gutted, Monika Mixova failed to qualify. Nice lass, ended up in synch with her round the Naughty a few years back, would have been good to see her in the final.
Laurie Greenland qualified in 1st! Can he win it tomorrow? Be brilliant if he does 😀
Ouch is that who it was? We saw medics bringing someone down on a stretcher (I think) then into back of an ambulance. Can only think that must’ve been her.
I think that might have been a Male Jr but not sure who.
Laurie Greenland qualified in 1st! Can he win it tomorrow
Well based upon qualification, maybe
He's certainly got to be in with a shout!
Ben Cathro being interviewed on Sunday Brunch!
didn't expect that when i turned the tv on 😆
Whoah juniors Williams and Goldstone, there’s a couple of future elite podium toppers! Be interesting to see how those times will stand up to the mens later on…
For all the good Red Bull have done, I think they've missed a trick not covering the qualifying live - it's an important element of the weekend, like F1, it should be live. One hopes Discovery address this next year.
Best winner’s celebration ever? It was a good one!
Middle woods section looks manky af, I’m expecting quite a lot of carnage through there in the mens.
Drone cam on the motorway section, not seen that at a World Cup race before.
Yep, Nina enjoyed that one. Brilliant run. Good to see the whole team chuffed to bits too.
Sunshine and showers forecast all afternoon. Probably a lot more fun to watch than ride! I look at that woods section and am just glad I’m not having to ride it.
Yeah middle section looks minging!
Going to be some big slams
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^ Break every ****ing finger on their thieving hands.
Well at least the event is spreading some wealth in the local economy 😐
Ooof Dakotah Norton! Shame, he was flying.
So Saracen use squeaky bushes (when wet) in the Myst then?
Great stuff, that last run was crazy close.
Brilliant racing.
Think Matt walkers noisy bike may have been the mudguard as it got higher in pitch with speed. Sounded awful from the very beginning though.
Good to see Claudio back but do you get the sense that he really doesn't like Fort William.? Commentary was all about 'flat section' this, 'pedally section' that and then at the wrap up it's a 'straightforward' track...?
Or am I just being over sensitive.?
Kade edwards is brilliant to watch .
Kade edwards is brilliant to watch
I was really thinking he was going to backflip through the Scotland banner for a second.!
It was a quality suicide through the arch🤟
Hats off to Pierron and Daprela, gutted for Greenland, thought he might just do it for a moment.
Good to see Claudio back
Think this is the only part of your post I disagree with
Think this is the only part of your post I disagree with
Was trying to be nice.. Eliot Jackson has been really growing into the pundit/co-commentator role.
Yeah Eliot > Claudio all day for me
Gotta say I'm a bit worried about MTB race coverage via Discovery/GMBN next year, seems like Red Bull have really pulled out the stops this year to try and make everyone miss them next year. FPV drone footage, roving reporter Gee (who seems to really fit in the role, possible retirement announcement?)
Can't help but think that losing the ability to tap into that pool of Red Bull sponsored athletes for coverage and insider background on riders and tracks is going to be missed next year. Fingers crossed I'm wrong.
Ben Cathro being interviewed on Sunday Brunch!
If anyone wants to watch him it's about 18 minutes in.
Chuffed to bits for Nina Hoffman - she strikes me as absolutely sound.
And Amaury. No one can live with his speed if he keeps it rubber side down.
Sunshine and showers forecast all afternoon. Probably a lot more fun to watch than ride! I look at that woods section and am just glad I’m not having to ride it.
It was pishing down all day, cold and miserable by the end, getting a gondola ticket was a regret. Of course the sun was splitting the sky as soon as we got back to Spean Bridge 😂
Saw Ethan Craik wipe out on a corner up top (switchbacks after the boulder fields), dunno how he came off but looked like he took a shot to the gut
So what happened to Bernard Kerr - Qualified 5th but no where in the race, and then not pedalling at the bottom but his chain looked fine !
Was he just a bit tired?
Gotta say I’m a bit worried about MTB race coverage via Discovery/GMBN next year
Is that free to watch or subscription only ?
Disagree with all those who like EJ as a presenter, almost zero race credibility and irritating to boot. Not sure who I'd rather have but I like the Warner/Claudio chemistry.
I think I missed a lot of the weather on sunday as it was fine at the top of the track when I started to walk down as the elite women started but it was fairly dreich by the time I got to the road gap. Not sure what happened this year but Sunday morning from the park and ride was dire I was in the bus queue for 40 minutes and by the time I got on it was twice the length. Spent far more time in queues this year than ever before even leaving which as you'd expect is very busy but seemed to take forever. I think next year they need to sort out some screens in the covered area for the gondola queue though, 40 minutes on sunday was a breeze compared to the hour 20 on Saturday but I assume that was because it was practice and the riders were piling in as many runs as they could
his chain looked fine
Looked like his rear mech was squewiff to me.