@FunkyDunc I don't think you can "play" at elite WC racing TBH. Rachel's a professional athlete, and I think you should probably take her self depreciating social media output with a pinch of salt. How prepared she is vs how prepared she says she is are probably quite far apart.
I got the impression that her comeback was all about the chance to race a home world champs. As soon as that went away she hasn’t been racing since.
There's some truth to this, I think. But she was probably also testing the water to see how competitive she was.
It's kind-of cool that we forgot about her after that, because the racing's been so good anyway.
Would be cool to see her, Cami and Myriam all fit and wanting it next year.
Yeah that would be awesome. It's also why I hope they ditch the semi finals next year as if everyone is back next season only having 10 female riders isn't enough.
I do find it hard to even comprehend @Funkydunk 's point of view on the Atherton thing. They are, very professionally, adhering exactly to the rules as laid out, in that you can pretty much enter anyone into a World Cup DH event so long as they are on the rider list for your trade team. It is a bit of a loophole but not one that's widely exploited, because it's actually quite tough to even get to the level where you'd be safe getting down the courses, let alone have any hope of getting out of qualification. There's obviously a risk that a team could put a Kris Kyle or similar on the roster for a race or two for some video content but it's unlikely.
I do have some experience of the old order and playing the team card, we put together a trade team in 2006 for the 2007 season and ran 4 guys who were just about good enough to go to World Cups. It was hard with a capital F. We qualified some and failed a lot but it was a great experience, even if financially ruinous. It was an expensive undertaking even back then so I have no idea how the guys do it these days.
I get that WB/Discovery are trying to turn it into a mini F1/MotoGP/MX series but it doesn't sound like they're helping to enable it in any way. The provisional schedule is pretty basic with races down as either Europe or Outside Europe and that could have massive variations in costs between say Japan/Australia and the US depending on where the team is based. It's almost as if they're saying that you just need an open cheque book for next year or don't bother. None of this is going to help get those big ticket sponsors in and at the moment the bike industry on it's own simply cannot sustain this.
I have to say I'd love to see the teams get good outside sponsors and the riders start getting paid properly with the races being a vehicle for that but I don't see how they get to there from here without engaging the (and I hate this word) stakeholders.
Martin Whiteley was very much caught up in the organisation of things a few years ago and I'm kind of surprised not to hear his voice commenting on the current situation. I'd be very interested to hear his thoughts.
Great racing this year, despite all the changes..
Semis added nothing for me, coverage was OK for a first year, but no more than OK.
ESO don't appear to be bothered about riders, teams or fans. The fact that they haven't made any attempt to engage or respond is poor. In reality they probably are listening (I sincerely hope), but the perception is that they have their heads in the sand.
I'm fairly sure I read somewhere that Martin Whiteley now works for ESO/WBD so may not be able to talk publicly?
PS If you're reading this Chris Ball, what's happening to the SES?
Racing aside which was excellent:<br /><br />Liked<br />Drone footage<br />General camera coverage<br />Kate Morgan / Bart / Josh <br />Change from taping all the course<br />Aaron G commentating<br /><br />Didn't like<br />Perceived competition to talk over each other in commentary - Ric Mc<br />Commentating through the podium presentation<br />Constant incorrect name pronounciation<br />making the tracks fit a broadcast time window and dropping Fort William<br /><br />So for light relief and a depth of insight it was Redbull / Warner / Batty / Jackson with IMHO an dexcellent program which it looked like the riders actually enjoyed their interviews. <br /><br />
I have to say I’d love to see the teams get good outside sponsors and the riders start getting paid properly<br /><br />
I agree although I think you will find, like in most sports, the top riders are very well paid as in north of £100k a season with someone else paying virtually all your costs for the season as well. If you look at the annual accounts submissions to companies house you can see good incomes being declared
What about the XC World Cup? It is part of the MTB World series......
Anyway, anybody moaning about the coverage needs to see what the Cyclocross World Cup is like; the absolute bare minimum. Nobody at the venue, nobody on course, no guest co-commentators....and coverage starting 5-10 minutes before the start - so no previews, or track walks.......
What about the XC World Cup? It is part of the MTB World series……
It managed to remain mostly unchanged from previous years so didn't quite generate the same amount of mouth foaming and spittle from people who have a deep seated hatred of discovery or GMBN.*
Good season overall, kept interesting up until and including the final race.
*There were of course people saying 6 months ago that MSA in October would be under a foot of snow... proved wrong... and even in the wet it was a challenging but ridable course. And gave Bart even more chances to use his favourite word, Shlippery.