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the first leg of the UCI DH WC will be on on Red Bull TV Sat/Sun 21st-22nd April....new course in Croatia
https://www.redbull.tv/live/AP-1V94M7NG91W11/mercedes-benz-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup
*pulls up a chair*
*Gets out cowbell and vuvuzela*
Looking at the preview videos of that course its seems really different to the normal DH WC courses. Its the first and only course I've seen where I thought I could actually ride down that. All the others look like they will kill me and my bike. But this one almost seems like an Enduro stage.
Its nice and natural, but I'm not so sure about the section in the town.
We will see when Red Bull show it and what the riders think.
Can’t wait! Course looks good, half normal, half urban.
The urban bit is a waste of time. The rest is OK, but too short. I'm looking forward to the season but I hope they don't use this track again.
Saw the Sam pilgrim video a few weeks ago and thought it looked like a poor track. Looks better on this preview though
The urban bit is a waste of time.
I have to admit I sort of think the same, "urban DH" races are fine as redbull sponsored novelty events but a World Cup should really be on trails down the side of a mountain IMO...
I'm sure I'm being a bit of an old duffer but that's just what I think about it...
I'm all for urban DH but the section here adds nothing: it's neither steep nor technical. Its just tacked on to make the track longer and result in a picturesque finish. Its BS.
the urban bit is fine with me, as no one will make/lose any time so it's just a tag on for the cameras.
I expect the times will be close though - hard to see where someone will make a lot of time up.
I'm reserving judgement til the race- see how it's taped and how it actually races, and especially on the urban bit.Also, I've not seen anything saying if that's exactly how the urban section will be set out,or if they'll be adding features before the race
I really want to ride the top rocky section though, it looks amazing.
The tale of the tape will be what the riders use - if they’re retro fitting droppers to their DH bikes or breaking out the Enduro bikes. But I’ve got faith, the Sam Pilgrim vid was just an add for EBike then course was far from finished and with the greatest respect to Sam, he’s a brilliant rider, but he’s not WC DH fast.
I’m reserving judgement til the race- see how it’s taped and how it actually races, and especially on the urban <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">bit.Also</span>, I’ve not seen anything saying if that’s exactly how the urban section will be set out,or if they’ll be adding features before the race
+1
if they’re retro fitting droppers to their DH bikes or breaking out the Enduro bikes.
I thinl droppers were becoming a thing at Ft William at one point 😉
Fast short tracks make for tighter racing in the end normally so I'll sit back and enjoy it
Troy Brosnan ftw at the new place.
From the couple of other videos I've seen, I think punctures could decide this race.
Lets see if that vid works, or basically some people who had seen some go pro's and decided what the track was like before turning up 😉 When the current World Champions tell you it's technical maybe they are worth listening to 🙂
Looking forward to seeing how Richie Rude gets on.
or basically some people who had seen some go pro’s and decided what the track was like before turning up
No one in their right mind would watch any of the footage that has been about and say the track is "smooth". It's also pretty obvious the track is fairly technical, up to the point where they hit the town; at which point, it just becomes a borefest. I'm sure there will be some exciting racing, though, so I'm looking forward to the new series getting under way.
Let’s hope the token urban section at the bottom of Losinj doesn’t decide the race, it shouldn’t with any luck.
I’d like to see Jack Moir do well this season - seems a really down to earth fella, outrageously talented, and has a bit of a novel take on line choice sometimes.
Did Fin say 2 minutes?!?
Nothing wrong with a shorter track, hopefully some nice tight racing with consistent weather conditions.
The concrete sprint could well have an effect on the results though. Reserving judgement here.
Seems Claudio’s managed to hospitalise himself on the course preview... so perhaps not as weak as it seems.
I love when people try to predict the winner.
Have you ever watched Downhill before?
I was just thinking that I was looking forward to Claudio's track review, Hope hes OK.
He seems chipper enough on Insta, 24 hours for observation so I guess he knocked himself for a bit.
I how he’s okay too, selfishly Claudio’s track run really gets me ready for a WC and the first one of the summer is a bit special to me.
A colleagues son takes part in his first WC - look out for Jamie Edmondson....he's fast...
Ben Cathro has a video with a wee clip of Claudio on it.
Good to see that Red Bull are letting him make videos at the world cups after almost stopping him.
Ben Cathro is doing his #CathroVision stuff on youtube this race weekend (and hopefully all the others). Usually the best coverage around.
looks FUN! Interesting to see if Gwin can stay puncture free, who can get near him on a punchy 3 minute rock fest otherwise?
Cathrovision is great - I am looking forward to him doing more. Nice insider and personal view, not polished thrash metal and panning HD shots of slow motion suspension action everywhere.
Who can get near Gwinn?
Greg, Loic, Lois, Sik Mik, Laurie to name a few 😉 3 mins mean one mistake and your out or least mistakes wins, going to be an interesting opening round too
WynTV is up on pink bike and looks like he has also had a wee run in with Red Bull.
Hoping that it doesn't come down to the sprint through the streets for the podium.
Top section looks great though.
+1 on Cathrovision. I hope he develops the analysis part, as that is pretty weak in most DH coverage.
Claudio is my receding hairline haircut / style idol.
Bet there will still be people on pinkbike complaining about it not being technical.
WynTV is up on pink bike and looks like he has also had a wee run in with Red Bull.
They really didn't like him broadcasting live. I guess he's sorted now though.
They really didn’t like him broadcasting live. I guess he’s sorted now though.
I think from what I heard he does himself no favours...
Looks like Claudio needs some pointers from the stw riding gods if it's such an easy track ! Not the same without his preview to whet the appetite 🙁
I'm really glad Ben Cathro managed to sort things out with RB. His coverage of last year's WC was fantastic.
As a novice bimblecore merchant I love watching the WC DH races, but it's a bit like watching an accomplished magician: you enjoy the show, but you have no idea how they did it. Cathro's coverage of practice days and discussion of various line choices was a real eye opener. I'm looking forward to more of the same this year!
Rumour of Bruni going down hard?
Rumour of Bruni going down hard?
Ben Cathro saying he has a suspected dislocated elbow.
Vital saying broken arm for Bruni. Shame, hope he heals up quickly.
Looks like some are struggling to clear one of the gaps based on the dirt instagram. A lot of cases going down. Presume there is a way round the outside for the ladies given i assume they won't be carrying as much speed.
That's a bummer about Bruni. He hasn't had the best luck with injuries.
Hoping that it doesn’t come down to the sprint through the streets for the podium.
better than coming down to who punctured and who didn't.
^ You have to love the head up, looking the line, holding the bars *hope* and *intention* of that last still from instagram...just before a hoofing crash...
The lawyers are going to be busy
Apparently Claudio finished his run & his course preview should be dropping later today...
Sounds like he's OK, just kept in for 24hrs for observation.
Super excited about the start of the season
Wonder if 29ers will make more of a breakthrough. Some seemed to ride them on trend such as Hart last year when he admitted he hadn't used it enough to feel comfortable.
Either way I cannot wait. Hope Atherton stays injury free too.
Apparently Claudio finished his run & his course preview should be dropping later today…
Always watched the coverage on the Redbull tv app on my xbox 360, just turned on to see what was on there to be greeted with "This app is no longer supported on this device" nice one!
Any other ways of watching through an xbox before I have to resort to a shitty laptop or even worse a phone?
Course preview over on PB with Brendon Fairclough.
What time does mens coverage start? Busy Saturday but would love to catch the business end, say top 30 riders.
2 things
Thing 1, I'm very much looking forward to Cecile and Rachel racing, I have a feeling the EWS champ will be a strong rider particularly on this course
Thing 2, How many injuries! Claudio spannering himself, Loic out, Mick Hannah's out with a busted finger and concussion, couple of Juniors already...
Are they streaming qualification this year? Says live in 3hrs on redbull to but I thought main event was Sunday?
I think it's just a preview but would love to see qualifying live!
Quali times are in.. maybe can't read too much into them but DNS for Mick Hannah and Matt Walker and DNF for Bruni (protected for tomorrow?). Ravanel not too far off the pace in the women's and a top ten showing for Katy Curd's first race back..
Hannah is out having broken his finger. Going to be some very tight racing tomorrow
Walker?
Walker bust himself on Friday timed practice.
Amazing to see Cecile 5th!
<div class="bbp-reply-author">@ howsyourdad1
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What time does mens coverage start? Busy Saturday but would love to catch the business end, say top 30 riders.
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race coverage starts at 13.00 BST.....
The lawyers are going to be busy
Yep cases everywhere!
Of course Hannah spannered himself, I put him in my fantasy team!
Just watched the Chatter thing on Red Bull TV and quite enjoyed it, now increase the time from 40 minutes to an hour or so and stick Ben Cathro in with 20 minutes of line choice and track walk and i'd be a happy bunny.
Still enjoying #cathrovision but 3 minutes isn't long enough!
Does anyone understand the starting order this year? Brook McDonald is heading out 18th from last and just makes the TV cut-off despite qualifying first.
I think it was covered in the chatter above, top 10 from last year are protected so slot in up higher for prime tv viewing,
I think it was covered in the chatter above, top 10 from last year are protected so slot in up higher for prime tv viewing,
<div id="singl-9ee78274bda31927b9796cb5d49374f1"> That's kinda crap isn't it? What was wrong with the protected riders going in just outside the top 20? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.</div>
It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Because TV.
ARGHGHGHGHGHHG No Brook!
That looks like a big one
One of the best races I've seen in a while is nobody else watching?
i am.just popped inside for the business end. great stuff
Such a fine line between Hero and Zero on this course!
Lol it's been business end all the way
It is a strange track, the backdrop of walls and farmland then urban just doesn't look like a downhill track. But the attrition rate seems quite high so actually pretty technical and rocky.
Damm, thought Luca Shaw had that
gwinning
mike you are an angry guy arent you. chill blud