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I'm not even seeing anything about Danny Hart in the local paper where he/we live - The Evening Gazette, it's a massive shame really.
Beeb website sometimes has a story, sometimes doesn't. Not always the most prompt at getting the story online.
Busy weekend though, what with the Vuelta, ToB, and Paralympics results too.
One would imagine that getting both stripey jerseys might make a story some time in the next day or so.
I suspect Danny was giving advice to Laurie, as they're team mates.
I find it quite interesting as well the way the men's downhill is. 2 years ago at this stage of the season rat boy was on another level that no one could touch. Only lost out on the worlds because he over jumped the last jump. Still finished 3rd tho I think. Last year it was bruni, this year it's hart. Given how close the racing is most of the time what have these guys got to be able to take seconds out of the opposition?
honourablegeorge - MemberAlexSimon - Member
Just caught up.
Real shame not to see full pulls from Bruni and Gwin.Yeah - you want to se ethe best guys, hard to know just how good Danny was without those guys to gauge against
Well Gwin was 1.5 seconds down at the first split and Loic was nearly 4 seconds down but no idea where he punctured. No coming back on a short course with those time gaps.
scandal42 - MemberI ride with dannyh, hes only a few seconds off Hart
Absolutely correct - in a 20m race down a straight fire road I reckon I'd only be a few seconds behind.
The reason that many (me included) have a pop at Brendan Fairclough is the sheer talent he possesses, yet refuses to capitalise on by getting into decent shape. As a mere mortal, it vexes me that someone with such amazing talent will not do the extra 5%. Claudio just sighs when Fairclough is on a run.
I know he sells loads of bikes for Scott and the 'slacker' image is great for that, but selling bikes for someone else and being in loads of magazines comes a poor second to winning titles - at least as far as I am concerned.
tomlevell - MemberWell Gwin was 1.5 seconds down at the first split and Loic was nearly 4 seconds down but no idea where he punctured. No coming back on a short course with those time gaps.
Gives you a rough idea, yeah, but I'd like to have known that Hart was six seconds (or whatever) faster than Gwin. Also, I think Gwin had flatted early, so it was probably already costing him time when his rim failed.
I find it quite interesting as well the way the men's downhill is. 2 years ago at this stage of the season rat boy was on another level that no one could touch. Only lost out on the worlds because he over jumped the last jump. Still finished 3rd tho I think. Last year it was bruni, this year it's hart. Given how close the racing is most of the time what have these guys got to be able to take seconds out of the opposition?
It tends to ebb and flow doesn't it - Sam Hill, Gee & Stevie Smith (RIP), Ratboy and others, they reach a point in their career when they're just on fire, the planets align for them somehow and they seem unbeatable, and then for some reason it seems to go as quickly as it came and they're left wondering what happened, most of them stick around near the top, but they lose whatever it was that gave them that 1% over everyone else.
Dannyh gets it. I have never said Fairclough can't ride, quite the opposite. He is probably the most natural talent out there. If he put in half the training that Gee, Danny and Nico used to be would podium.
He needs to either shit or get off the pot. Or have a season where he is 100% World Cups or 100% Rampage and properly train.
Claudio is often embarrassed by how little he try's. You can hear it.
Gee and Minnaar have been consistently at or near the top, so I'm not sure that theory stacks up. Even Hart has won the worlds twice, so I'm not sure that theory makes sense.
The theory that if he trained like those guys he would be up there with them? Wins wise?
OK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar. He's had spells within the season where he's not been on it, then turned it around and got some good results and always looks capable of doing some damage, each and every season.
Gwin is similar, but had that complete flop of a season (by his standards) after his first World Cup overall. I would have put Gee up there too but he's gone off the boil now. Hope he can pull it back.
Just Minnaar then or do the results suggest some others are also year-on-year consistently and competitively in the mix for a win?
[quote=Dark Side]I'm pretty disappointed this morning to not see as much as a mention on the BBC Sport site of the World Champs.
It's up [url= http://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/37338450 ]there[/url] now.. spooky!
BBC more into DH than the Singletrack homepage shocker!
That is an awful report, not even a mention of Laurie Greenland, assuming that the BBC has no reporter covering the DH, that can't just be the press release from british cycling can it?
Anyone got a link to Laurie & Danny's runs?
Anyone got a link to Brendan's training schedule?
Some of you have obviously seen it.
that can't just be the press release from british cycling can it?
More likely a press release from Team Atherton.
I wouldn't call it an awful report, it's not meant for us armchair experts.
Anyone got a link to Brendan's training schedule?Some of you have obviously seen it.
Apparently dirt jumps, moto & (shr)edits around the Surrey Hills with the S4P crew.
Clearly the slackers route to being a top DH (free)racer.
stilltortoise - MemberOK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar. He's had spells within the season where he's not been on it, then turned it around and got some good results and always looks capable of doing some damage, each and every season.
Gwin is similar, but had that complete flop of a season (by his standards) after his first World Cup overall. I would have put Gee up there too but he's gone off the boil now. Hope he can pull it back.
Just Minnaar then or do the results suggest some others are also year-on-year consistently and competitively in the mix for a win?
Minnaar is certainly, you can never write him off, he's everyone second favourite rider I think.
There are a few more riders who are pretty consistent, but not quiet as close to the sharp end.
Outside of DH I think Rossi is a lot like Minnaar, different character certainly, more dominate, but a long career, only really ever had one major injury and it's rare to see him do something rash. Aside from that disastrous time with Duccati
Some of you guys LOVE you some Fairclough.
You don't need to see his training schedule to see he isn't as physically fit as Atherton and Gwin etc. If he peddled more he would place higher. Fact.
He is a throwback to the Rob Warner days. What happened the one time Warner actually peddled? He won his only ever medal at Kaprun.
Don't think there was much pedalling at Val di sole....
OK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar.
It can only be Minnaar. His podium ratio is bonkers.
I'm here nor there on Fairclough, I just think its much more complicated than "training + skills = winning".
There hasn't really been anywhere to pedal on most of the courses this season anyway.
jmatlock - MemberSome of you guys LOVE you some Fairclough.
You don't need to see his training schedule to see he isn't as physically fit as Atherton and Gwin etc. If he peddled more he would place higher. Fact.
He is a throwback to the Rob Warner days. What happened the one time Warner actually peddled? He won his only ever medal at Kaprun.
Love is a bit strong perhaps, but I really like the guy.
I don't know what's going on in his head, but IMHO he's living the life he wants - lord knows I'm jealous - he's a 'Pro Rider' a World Cup Racer, a very good Freerider, even if he's not a Slopestyle rider (which seems to be what some people think is a freerider) he's on-par with someone like Thomas Vanderham for 'big mountain' riding - but TV was never as good as BF at racing World Cups.
What he doesn't seem to have is a burning desire to be a World Cup winner, I don't think he's a dismissive about it as he might seem to be - I certainly recall some slightly snide FB/Insta posts from him when he's failed to qualify for the team before now.
He might change his mind this winter, 28 now I think, he might go all Atherton, get serious (and a bit boring) spend 6 months lifting weights and eating kale, clip in and start chasing tenths instead of throwing whips. I've no doubt he could if he wanted to, but perhaps like Ratboy seems to have done, he's already worked out what makes him happy rather than what he's 'supposed' to do, so he'll keep doing it.
OK, so how about a different angle? Which rider has been genuinely consistent year in year out? For me it's only Minnaar.
Gee was incredibly consistent till the last couple of seasons.
P-Jay - Memberfor some reason it seems to go as quickly as it came and they're left wondering what happened, most of them stick around near the top, but they lose whatever it was that gave them that 1% over everyone else.
Look at Minnaar's career though. Incredible how he's been right at the top - apart from 14/15 which you can forgive, fiven the years previous, and still came abck with a win this year. Some boy.
2001 - Won in Austria, won the World CUp, 3 in Champs
2003 - Win in Switzerland
2004 - 2nd in Legs Gets
2005 - World Cup winner 2005, 3rd in Champs
2006 - 2nd World Champs., 3rd in World CUp
2007 - 4th in World Champs with a dislocated shoulder
2008 - Just the World Cup overall
2009 - Won in Canada,SA & Fort William, won the World Champs
2010 - 2nd in World Cup, 3rd in Champs
2011 - Won Fort William & La Bresse
2012 - Won South Africa and the World CHamps
2013 - Won South Africa (he does that a lot) and Leoganf
2016 - Won Fort WIlliam
jmatlock - Member
Some of you guys LOVE you some Fairclough.
Well we did have a laugh at the mega years ago, he was late to the start and me and a mate were yelling for him at the lift, caught a beer after top lad. (long story about a German and his mech hanger - you had to be there) then honestly his mega run this year was so sweet and bold it should have scored more for balls alone. And some other stuff that tells me he's a top guy.
And Greg
G. O. A. T.
Still nothing on the front page? Pretty shabby guys.
Oh wait. There's loads of Eurobike stuff. So that's ok.
Start with the obvious that Rachel's win is so deserved and what a truely incredible season. Danny Hart had a quite time after his Champery win but has been right back in the hunt this year so surpeb. Greenland arriving on the big stage in style.
So to Josh. Not a big surprise he is leaving Santa Cruz, all the rumours about emails flying around from the factory "demanding" results. You get the sense Josh has just said "wtf just do one". Maybe he does need a rest - he's young enough to do it and come back.
Who is to say we won't see a Steve Peat Racing team with Josh or even a new "Syndicate" with Minaar too.
What a great race on a truly brutal track. Only just watched it - glad I managed to avoid any spoilers! Can't wait to see what 2017 brings with Gwin vs Hart!
Anyone got a link to Laurie & Danny's runs?
Can still watch it on Redbull TV, they even have markers for the riders so you can skip to specific runs.
http://www.redbull.tv/live/AP-1KRDTX1YN2111/uci-mtb-world-championship
What happened the one time Warner actually peddled?
What was he selling ?
I'm getting quite intrigued by the lack of a mention of this on the home page whilst the Eurobike stuff keeps on going. Any bets on what time Danny and Rach will get a mention?
It's also weird that none of the MTB media have had enough initiative to do a piece on Bryceland.
Maybe they're waiting for someone to start a thread on here so they can just link to it?
😉
It's also weird that none of the MTB media have had enough initiative to do a piece on Bryceland.
As there has not been any public statement I guess it means he isn't in a mood to talk to people. Waiting to see what the last syndicate video holds as in some ways they like to say it their way.
It's possible that SC has requested media not to cover it, but it's not necessary to get quotes from someone to do a story about them. Otherwise the newspapers would be a lot thinner.
Very true but unless you want to write a complete speculation piece about somebody you probably know that great think called being a nice person cuts in. I'm not sure many people are holding off on big life decisions based on the future of the syndicate. At times the newspapers could probably exercise some of that judgement.
Coverage has been abysmal of the entire event Imo.
You have to ask why the BBC would bother covering it when a site like singletrack can't be arsed to even mention it.
2 Brits win the world champs and nothing.
BBC?
Rachel Atherton and Danny Hart win mountain bike world titles - http://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/37338450
Stw? The editorial staff are all away?
Coverage? Try one of the main dh sites pink bike, vital or others. Loads of coverage everywhere
This place has dropped the ball big time on this one, can't believe they can't be arsed to even cobble together some kind of vague story.
Hang on is that the world stopping turning...
But they do have a feature on e bike sprockets!
mikewsmith - Member
Hang on is that the world stopping turning...
I'm just surprised. Although in the new age of "no videos unless we get paid" I suppose the Eurobike saturation coverage is the way forward.
At this point there is so much coverage available from people who were there etc. that I can cope that stw are not rehashing a story or trying to write one while drinking at euro bike. Either way it's not enough to make me Mr angry
A few observations:
In the last 'syndicate' episode Bryce looked genuinely choked up that Peaty was leaving....can't be good for his head game, he needs a year out and I think the idea of Peaty running a team with Josh as sole rider is a brilliant one...let's hope it happens.
Gee is injured, he plays it down 'robo-Gee' style as he comes across and will rarely admit to it but it was magnanimous of him to give his spot up to Kerr for the WC run, Kerr did it justice too....anyone who thinks Gee has gone off the boil should watch any of the Red bull Hardline edits, the lad can still make world class riders look ordinary....he's having some bad luck that's all.
Mike Jones?....what happened?....he seemed the coming man but has now been eclipsed by Greenland, hopefully some friendly rivalry will bring them both up another notch.
Sam Dale and Matt Simmonds seem to have gone off the boil and the OAP Beaumont is making them look silly.
Re. Fairclough, when I lived in Surrey I saw him on a semi regular basis....he was always with mates at the dirt jumps in Milford, he has crazy skills but compare that to when I've been booked on uplift days and shared a minibus with other British pros....i obviously don't know his training regime but on observation it doesn't look good....still if by cocking around with Sam Reynolds and Ollie Wilkins he can make a lucrative living then why not?!....i just can't help but think there's unfinished business in DH there, his season when he was teammates with Sam Hill was his best, I'd like to see more of that.
Greg Williamson has been the revelation for me this year, for years I was hard on him criticising that plum Trek ride he seemed to hang on to but he's stepped it up this season and I'm happy to eat humble pie, good on the lad.
All things considered British DH is in rude health, it must make the other nations twitch especially as we don't have any real mountains here!....long may it continue.
Hard to call yourself the premier UK mtb site when you don't cover the biggest story in UK mtb racing in years. But hey carry on with the Eurobike coverage that is getting minimal views and no comments.
Fairclough is an odd one, I think he probably needs to just pick one discipline and do it properly for a season. Maybe he should spend some more time hanging out with Nino Schurter and see you can have fun and train hard.
Devient, interesting thanks
If it is true about Bryceland its a shame that it got announced like that , he deserved to have control over how that got out although im not sure he is the type of person who would give a toss .
I think Devient sums it up pretty nicely , although as well as Dale and Simmonds you could add quite a lot of names who are on factory rides who haven't performed this year , Mullally , brook macdonald , sam blenkinsop , needles etc . This year seems to have a bit of the changing of the guard feel about it
STW and most other sites (BikeRadar) must have some kind of block with Redbull perhaps - or get more click through revenues from EuroBike ads? It beggars belief the lack of coverage. In fact the magazine is pretty dull all over to be honest, compare it to Decline or Big Bike which whilst they cover the sport with a much more 'sporting' design, STW is dull. Perhaps STW is only for leisure riding in which case it explains everything.
Do they ever read and comment on these threads?
If it is true about Bryceland its a shame that it got announced like that ,
what announcement? all i've seen is rumour and conjecture.
although the warner comment about a bike made of grass was quite funny...
Claudio saying he wasn't racing next year because of environmental concerns. Just before warners grass bike comments
Do they ever read and comment on these threads?
Probably not with any regularity, unless they are made aware of them by mods or friends. I wouldn't expect them to.
But I am surprised, and a little disappointed, they haven't covered the world champs, especially as exciting and successful as it was for the UK.
[quote=dragon ]Hard to call yourself the premier UK mtb site when you don't cover the biggest story in UK mtb racing in years.Dunno. How many folk that cycle off-road are actually interested in DH racing?
[quote=mikewsmith ]Claudio saying he wasn't racing next year because of environmental concerns. Just before warners grass bike comments
ah, that must have been in one of the bits where the coverage froze.
Either way it's not enough to make me Mr angry
You seem more angry than most of the posters registering surprise at the lack of a mention regarding a World Championship Brit double on a MTB site.
Bikeradar have kind of covered it, with stories about Rachel and Danny's winning bikes. Although it's still a little lame, but Bikeradar seem to be going more for the road crowd now anyway.
No just bored in another airport. A stw report would basically be a rehash of story or the red bull feed. Does it add anything? The stuff from those that were there is a little more interesting. The team vids will be out shortly and anything more than a hell yeah American style back slap would be a bit much. Feels more like people want to be get their stw hate in 😉
It's not like people are hanging out on stw to deliver the results
Watching Gee ride there Hardline course is amazing. That course should be on the DH calendar. It's amazing.
Dan Atherton is a trail/course building virtuoso. Men from the boys that hardline course.
How many folk that cycle off-road are actually interested in DH racing?
It's a bit chicken and egg though, if it isn't reported you don't hear about it and hence aren't interested. A story about 2 GB winners would grab the attention of people who don't normally watch downhill.
STW were pretty quick to criticise BC's lack of support for mtb racing, but what are stw doing?
It's a bit chicken and egg though, if it isn't reported you don't hear about it and hence aren't interested. A story about 2 GB winners would grab the attention of people who don't normally watch downhill.STW were pretty quick to criticise BC's lack of support for mtb racing, but what are stw doing?
Exactly - it's a pretty big deal. Plus we did well overall really with Greenland taking the silver etc.
That track was brutal, so fair play to the quick boys and girls getting done that in one piece. It really did feel like a proper end to the season.
If Josh is going, it is a shame but with Peaty leaving and him appearing to struggle with form after his ankle, he just doesn't seem into it.
Sam Dale and Matt Simmonds seem to have gone off the boil and the OAP Beaumont is making them look silly.
Dale seems to be getting caught up in the trap of dicking about a lot too. Maybe they just had a bad season.
Fairclough is a hugely talented rider and makes a lot of stuff look effortless but doesn't seem to have the drive to train like a beast etc (on the face of it anyway). But he seems happy and is making a living having a fun - fair play (even if it seems like a waste of talent from where we are sitting). Perhaps there is more mileage in being a 'brand ambassador' than a racer?
STW were pretty quick to criticise BC's lack of support for mtb racing, but what are stw doing?
Completely agree. I didn't expect an in depth article with interviews etc (like Dirt), but surprised at the lack of acknowledgment of a brilliant achievement for the Brits.
Completely agree. I didn't expect an in depth article with interviews etc (like Dirt), but surprised at the lack of acknowledgment of a brilliant achievement for the Brits.
Agreed, a 5 minute article - Headline, 1 paragraph and a "more to come later" to a link to the official results page is all that's needed if the staff are working all hours at Eurobike.
/edit. Besides - what a race!
Dunno. How many folk that cycle off-road are actually interested in DH racing?
Quite a lot, from my experience.
its up now. Finally.
scotroutes - Member
dragon » Hard to call yourself the premier UK mtb site when you don't cover the biggest story in UK mtb racing in years.
Dunno. How many folk that cycle off-road are actually interested in DH racing?
Well, there is a 9 page thread on the topic of downhill, you are currently posting on it. I cant find a topic on Up the Buttress, but that had an indepth article up pretty sharpish and I'd venture is of a more niche interest than the DH World Champs.
I guess the Fairclough question will be answerable by the man himself in about 20 years. It depends if he is going to be happy with a load of videos of him showcasing his amazing talents whilst, essentially, dicking around. Or would he be happier if he'd actually given himself a fair crack at being the 'best' in a much more empirical sense?
I would have just loved to see him as fit as a fiddle really sticking it to the others and winning World Cups.
I don't think Brendog has ever been quickest on any of the splits at a WC DH race, and surely if he was quite as naturally fast as you think then he would have been?
[quote=Dark Side ]Well, there is a 9 page thread on the topic of downhill, you are currently posting on it. I cant find a topic on Up the Buttress, but that had an indepth article up pretty sharpish and I'd venture is of a more niche interest than the DH World Champs.There's a 22-page thread on tractors but I'm not expecting to see Mark and Chipps doing back-to-back tests on Fords and MF's anytime soon 🙂
How's Manon? Broken collarbone?
here's a 22-page thread on tractors but I'm not expecting to see Mark and Chipps doing back-to-back tests on Fords and MF's anytime soon
Maybe they could do a feature on tractors used for DH uplifts across the UK? 😀
cloudnine - Member
How's Manon? Broken collarbone?
Yup. A season to forget for her really. I'd like to see her back to her 2014 best.
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Things change with money.
Chortling at a bunch of fat knackers, IT middle managers and trail centre warriors saying Brendan is dicking about and wasting his/ everyone's time 😆
World cups & champs results: https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider758/brendan-fairclough/results/2cnt/?org=21&s1=6&y=700
By my reckoning over his entire world cups/ champs races, he's finished on average in the top 14%. In addition, barring a couple of outliers where he's probably had a mechanical, he's finished on average less than 5% slower than the race winner.
Totally dicking about
I'd like to see her back to her 2014 best.
I think her 2014 best was due to a bad year for Rachel.
The issue with Brendan for me is that he's constantly average. Top 20 is a great achievement, no doubt, but to do it year on year with no real improvement just feels disappointing when he's hailed as having such prodigious talent. All the best guys seem to have average seasons, or bad results, but they always seem a threat / outside chance at least. Not with Fairclough. Look at most of his "[url= https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider758/brendan-fairclough/nemeses/ ]nemeses[/url]" for example. Bernard Kerr, Eddie Masters, Thirion, even Ruaridh Cunningham - even though he's technically beaten most of those guys more often than he's lost, they all feel to me more like podium contenders. That's fine, but I don't think he deserves this mythos he has.
they all feel to me more like podium contenders. That's fine, but I don't think he deserves this mythos he has.
Maybe it's due to more than results, as I said before great nice bloke with a sense of humour that seems lacking among many these days. Probably something STW doesn't get though.
I don't think Brendog has ever been quickest on any of the splits at a WC DH race, and surely if he was quite as naturally fast as you think then he would have been?
He has been in the past. He nearly won Schladming (I think it was '09) when he was winning and had an off, still podium'd the result in 5th though.
He has his niche, when he & Sam joined Specialized, UK demo sales went through the roof, and subsequently remain buoyant. He sells a lot of bikes and kits for his sponsors. Some do that by winning races, others do that by taking his approach.
It's always interesting to compare him to the absolutely professional approach to racing the Atherton's take. I'd be fairly confident of the number of Gamblers sold over the number of Fury's.
He's very good & very savvy at what he does. It works well for everyone involved.
Brendog's a star!
Met him at Crankworks were he came 2nd in the DH race,2 secs off the winner Remi Thirion.
My son thought he was cool! 8)
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I think her 2014 best was due to a bad year for Rachel.
True up to a point, but there was more competition in 2014 - both Nicole and Ragot were racing. Competitiveness in the Women's has dropped right off this season - at least Nicole was back for the Worlds.
Is anyone else having problems getting this to play on chromecast? Other redbull shows seem to work