Rachel Atherton Qualifies (Despite Dislocating Shoulder At Fort Bill)

ouch. Been there, putting it back myself and enduring the time off the bike afterwards, more times than I care to remember. Ultimately got some surgery (and a rehab regime) that, touch wood, has meant I haven’t had the problem since! Was really hoping Rach could win again this week too.

Again!

She did it in the woods a few years back and asked someone track side to pull it back in!

Argh no, I hope it’s not a serious dislocation and she can get it back in, tape it up and go win

I was hoping for her to make headlines differently. Now I’m not feeling very optimistic about her weekend being as stripey and golden as I wanted.

Ah, crap. The comeback had been incredible, after so long out to be not just competitive, but to win races. Be a shame if she couldn’t finish the season

Wide-open mag suggesting that it wasn’t a crash and that Rach’s shoulder popped out on landing down the motorway ☹️

somehow she’s done a quali time?!

Blimey! Nails. And here’s me struggling to type.

Update 1pm 4th August: Flippin heck, Rachel is nails! She’s put down a qualifying run, which is enough to get her through to finals tomorrow. Both Rac …

By stwhannah

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Rachel Atherton Dislocates Shoulder At Fort Bill

dirkpitt74

Wide-open mag suggesting that it wasn’t a crash and that Rach’s shoulder popped out on landing down the motorway ☹️

Rachel herself reporting it wasn’;t a crash, she just cased a jump and it popped on impact

Qualified more than a minute behind, she must have trundled down (by her standards)…. hoping to be OK tomorrow I guess

How come she’s still got protected status (although not needed at worlds)? Is it because it was pregnancy that took her away for a few years?

All the women who started today will qualify, so I guess just rolling down (by their standards) means the finals are still an option tomorrow. Nina Hoffman did the same after a big crash in practice.

Tanhee Seagrave is hopefully still good medal prospect, she qualified 2nd despite a big crash just before the finish line. She was about in the paddock afterwards, so hopefully still ok for tomorrow.

Blimey! Nails. And here’s me struggling to type.

If it makes you feel a bit less awed, it goes back* easier and hurts less each time.

*just back, honest, nothing to see here.

@BoardinBob

How come she’s still got protected status (although not needed at worlds)? Is it because it was pregnancy that took her away for a few years?

It’s to do with her current points score from the 2 rounds she’s done – still in the top 5 despite only racing 2 rounds.

Aaah. I thought protected status was based on the previous seasons performance

If it makes you feel a bit less awed, it goes back* easier and hurts less each time.

This is true, I know from personal experience of a shoulder that likes to pop out randomly from time to time. Damaged it in a big OTB back in 2010 and basically blew the socket up of my right shoulder enough that it’s only the muscles holding things in (but not enough to warrant surgery apparently…) and if I don’t keep up with my exercises it likes to ‘remind’ me to do so every now and then. Used to hurt for a few days each time but now it’s just two solid clicks (similar to a torque wrench) and it only hurts for 30 mins or so.

Still doesn’t take away from what Rachel does, normal life and racing down one of the toughest DH tracks are two completely different things!

Tahnee was nails too, crashing down the barriers and across the finish line whilst qualifying second…

Tahnee was nails too, crashing down the barriers and across the finish line whilst qualifying second…

That looked pretty bad, on the videos I’ve watched she seemed pretty unsure she’ll race today. Sure can’t see her contending the top spot, never say never though eh.

On the subjct of injury, anyone know what happened to Ryan Pinkerton? He was a DNS yesterday.

Nina Hoffman’s crash was a weird one, was that initially German or gibberish she was speaking.