[Closed] Pro riders - results v reputation etc

Who wants a field of Athertons, fast determined but because of corp backers like Jeep won't say anything too interesting.

The Athertons were pretty much there right at the start of all these pissing about 'edits' you get these days with the Atherton project. Not sure where this idea that they are a bit too race focused to be fun idea comes from. Seen some of the stuff they jump in their spare time at Revo Bikepark? 😯

Only this week, Rachel has been publicly putting Rob Warner and Claudio Callouri in their place following comments they made on her MSA race run about being so good because she rides with her brothers.

Also all the stuff they do beyond the racing such as the hardline and the foxhunt.

The Athertons are proper bo.

I think the athertons are the only mtbers who have managed to turn themselves into a brand , plenty of people have signature grips , pedals etc but they are the only ones who have gone the whole hog the way teams do in what you might call more mainstream sports , and that might be the issue people have with them , in downhill it was never cool to admit that you trained or lifted weights . I don't think that's the case now but maybe it still is for some people .
If you read interviews with Hannah Barnes she is quite open about not being the best racer but but offering specialized something different , I could see how if you were top 10 in the ews without any real support that would irk you somewhat

Have you heard Rachel being interviewd? She doesn't have much time for some of the UCI and organisers. Her position and security of sponsors means she can speak ehr mind and is very interesting to listen to.

You'll have to point out some interesting stuff but I don't find "extreme sports star sticking it to the man" that interesting and it's a bit hackneyed, especially considering she and her brothers have made their money riding in championships run by those organisations. Enduro cut itself loose of the UCI, if they all feel that strongly they can do the same with DH.

Anyway, I'm 41, I'm constantly impressed by DH riders skills but rarely find them that engaging to listen to, but I'm not the target market for their image I imagine.

moonsaballoon

but they are the only ones who have gone the whole hog the way teams do in what you might call more mainstream sports , and that might be the issue people have with them

I would put it all down to Gee and his attitude. His hot seat mannerisms and his post race interviews when things didn't go his way.

If you read interviews with Hannah Barnes she is quite open about not being the best racer but but offering specialized something different , I could see how if you were top 10 in the ews without any real support that would irk you somewhat

It's the same in a lot of sports. Anna Kournikova has apparently got a net worth of over 50M dollars but rarely had the results to trouble the top players. Fair to the less photogenic but more talented players, probably not but life rarely is 🙂

You'll have to point out some interesting stuff but I don't find "extreme sports star sticking it to the man" that interesting and it's a bit hackneyed, especially

Enduro cut itself loose of the UCI, if they all feel that strongly they can do the same with DH.

There was a serious attempt at splitting the DH (Called DH1) when Rocky Road (remember them?) got hold of the sponsorship and had most of the unofficial media who were doing the bulk of the leg work covering DH booted. They were damm close to getting it going when the UCI caved in.

This isn't a DH only thing. All sports have it. Sagan won't be remembered for being possibly the best all round road racer of his generation. He'll be remembered by the average man in the street as the bloke who pulls one handed wheelies during the TDF.

What we're forgetting is out of say a 100 people in a DH race (or any other race for that matter) realistically only 10-20 of them really stand a chance of winning. The majority of racers are on their way up or down the ladder. Some will never fully rise to the top, but can prolong their careers by being good for the brand. That doesn't mean that they're not one the top 100 best in the world. They're just not top 5.

Racing would be a lot less exciting if only the enough riders for 1st, 2nd and 3rd raced.

I think the issue most riders have with the Athertons is that Gee comes across so boring, and the others get tarred with it. It doesn't look like he enjoys racing. It's not dissimilar to Casey Stoner in Moto GP, fans didn't warm to him because it seemed like he was there because it was job, not his passion.

Pedrosa also has less of a fan base despite being hugely consistent because he's managed to hold onto a factory ride when not being in with a shot of winning the overall.

This sums it up perfectly

[img] [/img]

To be fair to Gee, most people would seem pretty straight compared to Ratboy... 😀

I think the issue most riders have with the Athertons is that Gee comes across so boring, and the others get tarred with it. It doesn't look like he enjoys racing.

I don't agree. He comes across as focussed on his racing, but not like he doesn't enjoy it. Again, watch some of the ****tin about he gets up to in the Atherton project edits.

Gee Atherton being boring recently...
[img] [/img]

I see other very clearly focussed riders as a little dull too, but appreciate that they are focussed and not necessarily as entertaining as the likes of Ratboy all the time.

He comes across as focussed on his racing, but not like he doesn't enjoy it

Speaking of podiums, I thought Ratboy made a bit of a dick of himself when he (pretended?) didn't know the words to the national anthem.

mark88 - Look at that picture of him on the podium - he doesn't look like someone who is delighted to be there!

He looks like I would do if someone was trying to take the piss out of me in my moment or recognition.

Video wise, Fairclough seems to say "I'm cool", Briceland seems to say "I'm cooler than you".

Video wise, Fairclough seems to say "I'm cool", Briceland seems to say "I'm cooler than you"

Gee Atherton being boring recently...

What he DOES is exciting, the persona he adopts is boring is what I think people are saying

I don’t have a problem with him, and I'm not sure he's boring, but he can come across as if he's trying to be someone he's not. He's an excellent DH rider with a shed load of achievements, but he isn't a pin up boy for Redbull and he doesn't sound stoked when he says, 'stoked'. In fact he always sounds insincere when he uses that sort of language. But in fairness, may be feels a pressure to talk/act that way.

Love him or hate him one of the best things about Bryceland is he comes across as himself, his personality, his language seem genuine. If not to everyone's tastes.

atlaz - Member
[b]Gee Atherton being boring recently...[/b]
What he [b]DOES[/b] is exciting, the persona he adopts is boring is what I think people are saying

I know what they are saying, and I also think it's rubbish. When he is racing he is very focussed as you have to be, but when he isn't, he is very normal. watch any Atherton project video and you can see he pisses about just like anyone in his off-time. There are loads of racers who also are not like Ratboy personality-wise and seem a bit stiff in comparison.

Minnaar, Barel, Vouilloz etc. Not stiff, just focussed.

Now, Sam Hill....he does come across as dull.... 😆

Gee is a very good rider, but I find him quite hard to like probably because he comes across as a bit of a robot / PR machine. It does seem like he's not really enjoying.

Guys like Peaty, Bryce, Brendon, Gracia etc all come across as really enjoying it and not being forced in the way the Gee does.

Fair play to the Athertons though for finding a branding opportunity (Red Bull, Jeep etc) and for Rachel for doing other things with it such as ladies riding days at places like Revo.

There's been a bit of discussion recently about social media vs racing results (escpecially amongst the women) & there's a few people out there who I follow on instagram who don't race (& if they do they certainly aren't troubling the podium) but they're building a following & getting free shiny, so.. who's to say which path is correct?

Nice wee insight into Bryceland's race routine. Laidback doesn't even come close, but Santa Cruz don't seem bothered

Sponsorship is complicated, in all honesty I don't expect stw to get it.

[quote=mikewsmith ]Sponsorship is complicated, in all honesty I don't expect stw to get it.

Yip. Basically this

[img] [/img]