It’s a shame they didn’t make it clear from when tickets were first applied for it was only for the start/finish area the rest of the course was free
Wonder how many people failed at in the ballot so made other plans
8 women racers?! Might as well get a load of handy youth and juniors in there for the experience, and maybe a shot at bronze.
Men’s race only has 26 listed starters too…. pah.
Anyway… Richards and Gaze.
So 25% of the woman’s field (2 out of 8) comes from the mtb mecca of Jersey – an island of 100K people. England (56 million), have one. Remind me again why the commonwealth games have any sporting relevance? Sack it off imo.
Evie Richards is making a comeback from injury.
her, Isla Short, Sam Gaze and Dan McConnell are the only 4* I recognise as being consistent World cup performers… but why have they not gone to Snowshoe and MSA?
*and Anton Cooper too, but he has covid and wont be starting.
I remember reading that Canada didn’t bother sending any MTB-ers, but did send road/track cyclists. Same for Wales, though I dont know of any decent Welsh XC racers.
I also suspect Evie would normally be riding the World Cups, but as she’s coming back from injury and illness, this is probably a better fit for her future programme. I think Sam Gaze is in a similar situation.
And don’t start me on Rochelle Gilmore as the expert summariser; can’t the BBC find any MTB experts?
Well, with only 8 riders in the race, at least she will have 39 left to use on future occasions.
I had no idea that there were only 8 riders in the women’s race, that pretty disappointing. Don’t worry though Rochelle managed about 20 “She’s such a strong rider” each for Jolanda Neff and Pauline Prevot at the Olympics
Looks like a pretty old school XC course, I’m surprised they haven’t been able to make it a bit more technical considering what some of the World Cup stages are like nowadays.
With so much of cannock to choose from, I am quite suprised with how simple the course was.
What I’m more disappointed by is how few people they had in the arena. I know I was in the ‘lottery’ for tickets and didn’t get any – there were more folks when I went to Peaty’s DH!!
The arena was a bit of a disappointment but around the course it was packed.
Just come away from there before the rush after watching bits and riding. Not seen any tv yet but it certainly didn’t look too tame 10 foot from the trails.
Those from lesser know mtb countries were struggling in places and a few fell off going over the stegosaurus rocks (taken the wrong way so downhill slightly).
Spose it’s all relative as the riders were mostly on the edge of exhaustion all the time. Of course they’re trained for it etc but it must make obstacles a bit harder than most riders out cruising on a 150mm+ gnar machine.
And don’t start me on Rochelle Gilmore as the expert summariser; can’t the BBC find any MTB experts?
apparently the BBC haven’t used their own commentators but are just using the world feed, Ned Boulting has been commenting on other sports for the world feed as well. He seemed quite surprised as to why the BBC was using him on his podcast.