Pity 2 of the most exciting racers are out 🙁
Its that new prototype 6bar Supreme - deathtrap I tells ya.
Are we seeing higher speeds and therefore more injuries? Are we going to legislate madatory 26 inch wheels to slow the riders down?
Are we seeing higher speeds and therefore more injuries?
Dangerous section of track apparently. Modified with a chicane after Diprela's crash but Pierron still nailed himself somehow.
Haven't seen any footage from the race yet.
Its looking like it could be another interesting race, conditions wise. There has been some thunderstorms go through and lots of the track is brand new. It certainly sounds like it'll chop up again and we'll end up with another race with riders struggling to stay upright with the wheels turning.
Track walk with Wyn is on the front page: https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/les-gets-is-upon-us-head-for-a-track-walk-with-wyn/
They need to start finding big hills in dry places where they can ride and battle without a slop fest 😀
The DownTime Podcast has an excellent episode about this one, really enjoyed it and enjoying the wider coverage too. Feeling pretty hyped about this years racing. Massive shame Daprela and Amaury are out though, especially with the way Daprela rode at Leogang.
Daprela was recorded by Cathro practicing earlier today, despite the stitches in his face. It stands a chance he'll be racing on the weekend. Hard as nails that guy!
Agh, that creates a Fantasy DH team dilemma. He was on my roster but I removed him after he got injured and rejigged the rest.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/Les-Gets-Road-Gap-Carnage,11216
It's gonna be a corker if any riders survive to finals.
Course doesn't look very good tbh, how come its a brand new one?
That road gap carnage is insane 😵
Course doesn’t look very good tbh, how come its a brand new one?
Have you watched any of the track walk videos? There's a rare level of enthusiasm and excitement for this one.
I think the track looks mint. The only issue is that it's fresh and soft and it's going to rain loads. It's going to get totally sliced up immediately.
In the dry it would be wild but it could go either way in the rain. I hope we get a good race and not another gag reel.
The DownTime Podcast has an excellent episode about this one, really enjoyed it and enjoying the wider coverage too. Feeling pretty hyped about this years racing. Massive shame Daprela and Amaury are out though, especially with the way Daprela rode at Leogang.
Agreed. I really enjoyed it. The interviewee, Chris kilmurray, was the most well informed guy I think ive ever heard in an MTB interview. He really knows his onions. They should interview him every week. Chris the interviewer did a good job too
Have you watched any of the track walk videos? There’s a rare level of enthusiasm and excitement for this one.
I dunno I think it's maybe just because it's so fresh it looks a bit unbuilt. The run in to that gap is just a horribly muddy wide featureless slope.
I guess it will all get rutted and lines will become more obvious but at the moment it kinda looks like a freshly created enduro stage not a WC DH track. I like rocks also 🙂
I dunno I think it’s maybe just because it’s so fresh it looks a bit unbuilt
That's exactly what it is. It's on the Mont Chery side of Les Gets and the track they put in isn't actually a trail that can be ridden. It's only for this race and it's classic drag some tape down a hill and see what happens
I dunno I think it’s maybe just because it’s so fresh it looks a bit unbuilt. The run in to that gap is just a horribly muddy wide featureless slope.
Most of the riders are saying its EXACTLY the type of track they've been asking for as there is no obvious line on most of the track, time can be made up and lost on almost every corner and its changing every run. I think they were cutting some of the biggest roots away on the run into the gap out of the woods last night after practice, should be a good race on Saturday and the track should suit the British riders
Certainly looks entertaining from the videos. !
Some of the casing off the gap were a bit heavy ! As well as riders backing out of it, which i've rarely/never seen before... So was kinda cool to watch.
It is the type of track the majority of riders have been asking for.
The issue will come if it rains because some bits will become unrideable. Even more so than Leogang last year. But you can't have 'natural, rooty, loamy' and expect it to stand up in the rain. I just hope it stays dry because there is going to be some epic riding and line choice if it does.
I also hope no one is seriously injured as the step down at the top and the river gap will claim a few and there is a point if no return with both. It is a risk inherent in the sport, so no problems there, but just hope any crashes are classifiable as 'funny' rather than 'nasty'.
Course doesn’t look very good tbh, how come its a brand new one?
If this was pinkbike you'd be down voted into oblivion.... 😁
Track looks interesting, wet or not.
I'm glad I'm not racing it, but should make for interesting and exciting viewing.
Reese Wilson?
I watched the Wyn Masters course-walk vid and I think claiming that all the riders have been crying out for/are thrilled by this track is quite the exaggeration. Some of them seemed excited by it, some didn't. I can defo see that it should suit British riders.
I can see I'm in a minority here but it just looks amateurish to me and like the old days of taping off bits of a ski slope and seeing what happens. I can appreciate it might make for good drama/bloopers reel...
I've also never seen multiple people case a jump like on those vids. Difficult is fine but it just seems badly designed.
🤷♂️
Brosnan looked amazing and in control on the bits I've seen. Vergier riding some mental lines at mental speeds.
Got a link danny?
It's going to be a good one!
On Wyn's track walk vid you could see how steep it is. I watched Bernard Kerrs practice video too. It's going to get interesting if/when it rains.
Look at the 'bed' of roots that is coming through.
If it rains on race day it could become a lottery.
But it looks flipping incredible - best riders on the planet having to give it full body English to stay upright....
All the footage so far is very promising. It looks like a wild ride.
It's going to be much better than watching the 20th visit to a hard packed, one line motorway.
Wide taping, fresh cut, roots = all amounts to lots of line chose. That means bigger time gaps and a much greater opportunity for errors.
I have more excitement for this race than any since Danny was on his winning streak back in 2016.
I even have more excitement for the quali results than for most races.
Not looking to belittle anyone else's opinion, but it'll be so good to see a technical course which gives so much opportunity for creativity and interpretation - and which will favour the best bike handlers.
If only Sam Hill was making his DH comeback here.
I'm going to miss it...
Happily that's because i'm at Afan and BPW for the weekend...
So will catch up on Sunday evening 🙂
Still I'm wondering what is under the cover on Bruni's bike and if its so good, why does Finn and Chris not have it on theirs?
Bring on the random rough tracks. I wont be able to watch live, but I'm sure I'll be glued to every run, even if I accidently see a spoiler before I can watch it.
Here's hoping the camera locations are actually on the key bits.
Was 2019 Les Gets the race where we got to see the full run due to it being a sub 3 minute track?
You all just want to see loads of crashes, admit it 😛
It will be good as a spectacle but there's already a lot of riders out injured, I'm not keen to see more.
Anyway I'm just arguing for the sake of it now really, I'm sure it will be grand.
Cabirou has updated on her Instagram page, no broken bones just bruised heavily. No racing for her this weekend.
Front wheel slipped out on take off at the big road gap and she went straight to the right side of the berm. Ouch.
Was 2019 Les Gets the race where we got to see the full run due to it being a sub 3 minute track?
Pretty much.
It's worth reminding yourself how wild the winning run was...
what is under the cover on Bruni’s bike and if its so good, why does Finn and Chris not have it on theirs
If it's some kind of remote lockout, as speculated, I can't see it adding a lot of value for this event.
But generally, perhaps Loic doesn't want Finn to have it?
But generally, perhaps Loic doesn’t want Finn to have it?
I've never quite got the spesh team dynamic. Is there some bad blood between them? You're more likely to see Loic hanging with Loris - or am I getting the wrong impression from the coverage.
I’ve never quite got the spesh team dynamic. Is there some bad blood between them? You’re more likely to see Loic hanging with Loris – or am I getting the wrong impression from the coverage.
Dunno, but perhaps Loic thinks Finn is an arrogant little shit with ideas above his station.
Just 'cos that's the vibe I've got from Finn in the past.
😀
Marine Cabirou Pulls Out of Les Gets World Cup Following Road Gap Crash
Sounds like they took some of the roots out before the road gap to make it easier, but still causing issues..
You all just want to see loads of crashes, admit it
There'll be crashes for sure, but I like the idea of different line choices and a more natural track.
Finn does come across a little jumped up at times.
Just ‘cos that’s the vibe I’ve got from Finn in the past.
Glad its not just me. I would have excused it in the past when he was winning in the Juniors, but this is his 3rd? mens season, and he's still acting like a 15 year old.
Of course he's Mr Whistler, so his fan base is going to be bigger than purely race results would suggest.
Is there some bad blood between them? You’re more likely to see Loic hanging with Loris – or am I getting the wrong impression from the coverage.
I don't think bad blood, I think its more Finn is a team mate and Loris is actaully Loics friend, they've been buddies for years, sure I saw something showing pics of them being really young and riding bikes together.
I don’t think bad blood, I think its more Finn is a team mate and Loris is actaully Loics friend, they’ve been buddies for years, sure I saw something showing pics of them being really young and riding bikes together.
I was going to say aren't Loic & Loris really good mates. Are the Specialized team all on the same suspension (should have looked it up)? It could just be that Finn doesn't want to run whatever it is and Loic likes tinkering to wring every second he can out...who knows?
@chakaping we chatted with Finn at Fort Bill after the race a couple of years ago. In no way did he seem arrogant. He was very polite, very friendly. His folks were with him, and they were also lovely.
