The fifth World Cup DH of the year took place in Italy. Here are the results, race report and highlights vids from La Thuile.
Love to see all that la thuile grey dust... Interesting track, I kind of assumed it'd be all burly roots and ruts since that's how I remember the trails there but just going all in on the steepness made something pretty different.
Wow I remember when the WCDH discussion threads used to have loads of replies, I wonder what's changed...
Watched this race last night on 'that' website. Some really great racing, although never seen so many good riders crashing out, the dry dust and hidden compressions / rocks proving more difficult than the wet. Vergier really did seem back to his best, just a pity that Goldstones best is more betterer. Absolutely smashed it, and I'm gonna say he's my favorite rider to watch as well which doesn't always go together, seems to genuinely enjoy skipping down the hillside and pulling for gaps no one else can.
Wow I remember when the WCDH discussion threads used to have loads of replies, I wonder what's changed...
Because there was always a lively thread on the forum and someone would close it to direct traffic to the article on the homepage. Homepage articles aren't really where I look for discussion.
Really enjoyed that, the steep and freshness definitely gave it a different dimension.
It was really good to see Nina back up to her best in the women's race, feels like she's been knocking on that door for a while but has had a bit of bad luck. I was rooting for Tahnee as well.
The men's racing feels like it's really tight this year... Until Jackson comes down and blows everyone away. He seems like a genuinely lovely kid though, so fair play. Nice to see Gwin getting back up to speed too, I wouldn't be surprised to see him trouble the podium some time this year.
Some awful crashes mind. Watching Ronan go down was not pleasant, hope he's not suffered anything major. Looked like he would have been on for a podium, too.
Until Jackson comes down and blows everyone away. He seems like a genuinely lovely kid though, so fair play.
It could just be his personality but I always feel like he has spent a lot of time practicing being interviewed. I can understand why since he's there to sell a product but it's a shame if DH has become one of those sports where kids know they not only have to be fast but also have to be marketable.
However, any interview with Ronan Dunne reminds me that not every rider at the sharp end is nicely polished and media friendly 🙂
"I wonder what’s changed"
Free access to the live coverage.
Yup - actually being able to watch it or even not actually boycotting it.
I've watched the highlight reel on YT and a lot of the social vlog content and find that better than having to sit through 2-3 hours of sub-standard coverage at more than I pay for the rest of my TV subs a month.
This race was pretty epic and great to see the riders genuinely thrilled to ride there.
JG is on fire - this is going to be a completely different sport next year when Asa and the Alran brothers move up.
With that in mind was very disappointed to see WBD move the Juniors off YT and stick them behind the paywall. Another nail in the coffin.
"I wonder what’s changed"
Free access to the live coverage.
Yup - actually being able to watch it or even not actually boycotting it.
I've watched the highlight reel on YT and a lot of the social vlog content and find that better than having to sit through 2-3 hours of sub-standard coverage at more than I pay for the rest of my TV subs a month.
This race was pretty epic and great to see the riders genuinely thrilled to ride there.
JG is on fire - this is going to be a completely different sport next year when Asa and the Alran brothers move up.
With that in mind was very disappointed to see WBD move the Juniors off YT and stick them behind the paywall. Another nail in the coffin.
I don't see what other see in Asa.. He's fast yeah but he's not the 2nd coming of christ as people seem to think. The fact that Max and Till regularly beat him shows that. I think they'll all do reasonably in Elites next year, but i don't see them coming in and cleaning up that's for sure.
I don't see what other see in Asa
I was sceptical until Hardline (I think) when he looked mighty impressive. Was surprised when he didn't really show up for the World Cups this year (yet).
The Alran brothers on the other hand are regularly putting in FTD type times and I'm excited to see what happens when they move up. It's often a bumpy transition though . . .
TBF to Asa he has crashed in the first few rounds this season and he's said a couple of times on Wyn TV that he's reigning it in a bit of late. I think all 3 will be at the pointy end at some of the races next season.
With that in mind was very disappointed to see WBD move the Juniors off YT and stick them behind the paywall. Another nail in the coffin.
Rumours going around (raised by Sven on the Moving The Needle podcast) that the juniors category is getting ditched entirely.
Does anyone know when Mens juniors coming in and winning in their first season became a thing?
Jordan Williams and Jackson Goldstone are the first ones I was consciously aware doing it. I don't think anyone would be surprised if Asa and the Alran brothers started picking up wins their first year in Elites.
Has this always been something that happened and I just didn't notice or is it a relatively recent phenomenon? If so, why is it happening now?
I don't see what other see in Asa
I was sceptical until Hardline (I think) when he looked mighty impressive. Was surprised when he didn't really show up for the World Cups this year (yet).
The Alran brothers on the other hand are regularly putting in FTD type times and I'm excited to see what happens when they move up. It's often a bumpy transition though . . .
They sure are, but i wonder if they'll suffer in the same way some of the others like Jordan (apart from his breakout win) have done. It's pretty rare for the juniors to come in and fly, but quite a few now have some awesome days here and there like say Nathan Pontivanne who's shown moments of brilliance, Hauser is showing it at times too, but the pace is just INSANE. Hatton this weekend was actually not a million miles off in Q1... but nothing... Nada... It's bonkers how fast everyone is now.
The interesting thing with the Alrans for me is whether they'll stay at Commencal. They're currently the 'factory juniors' but will they become factory elites with Commencal ? Or do the Muc-Off squad need some Juniors and then they'll get pushed into a secondary Commencal squad... If that happens, maybe they'll take a factory leader role at somewhere like Giant instead ?
Does anyone know when Mens juniors coming in and winning in their first season became a thing?
Jordan Williams and Jackson Goldstone are the first ones I was consciously aware doing it. I don't think anyone would be surprised if Asa and the Alran brothers started picking up wins their first year in Elites.
Has this always been something that happened and I just didn't notice or is it a relatively recent phenomenon? If so, why is it happening now?
Looking at Jordan for example when in Juniors, his competition were Jackson, Kuhn, Lachie, pinkie, Holguin, who've all gone on to do pretty darn well. Looking back a few years though you don't see as many Juniors who then come in and do well, looking at say 2015-16 Juniors, most of the name there don't seem to do much any more.
I seem to remember Troy Brosnan having some decent results in his first year and Luca Shaw too.
Finn Iles and Thibaut Dapréla are the first that I can think of that really hit the ground running in Elites though and looked like they were capable of winning races.
"I wonder what’s changed"
Free access to the live coverage.
Yup - actually being able to watch it or even not actually boycotting it.
I've watched the highlight reel on YT and a lot of the social vlog content and find that better than having to sit through 2-3 hours of sub-standard coverage at more than I pay for the rest of my TV subs a month.
Tiz-Cycling. HTH.
The interesting thing with the Alrans for me is whether they'll stay at Commencal. They're currently the 'factory juniors' but will they become factory elites with Commencal ? Or do the Muc-Off squad need some Juniors and then they'll get pushed into a secondary Commencal squad... If that happens, maybe they'll take a factory leader role at somewhere like Giant instead ?
The twins have been with Commencal since they were tiny. Initially there was only the budget for one junior at Muc Off, but they found a way to accommodate both of them (the parents were very much against them being separated). I have my doubts that they're going anywhere else for a few years yet.
Here's a real conundrum for you. Put yourself in the Ruffin brothers shoes.
The rules state that teams are limited to 4 riders per category, so for next year which one do you let go of? Amaury, Dylan, Loris, Max or Till?
For successful juniors moving up to dominating elites there's also Nico Vouilloz who won worlds in his first elite year. And the next one, plus the next one, etc. This is not a recent phenomenon.
Nico is the exception to pretty much everything. Plus the Downhill World Cup in 1995 was a very different beast.
Sam Hill didn't win any races in his first season although he was 2nd in the overall. 2004 was kind of a weird period from what I remember though. Sort of transitioning from one era to another (even though those eras were pre-Sam Hill to post-Sam Hill),
Apart from that it took Finn Isles five seasons before he got his first win. Aaron Gwin even took three seasons.
I also think there is quite a big difference between being up there and actually winning. In terms of Juniors who moved up and won in their first season there are only three, Nico, Jordan, and Jackson.
It could just be pure coincidence but a 30 year gap and then two in one year seems like something has happened. Could absolutely be a fluke though. If Asa, Max, or Till manage it next year then I think something has changed.
Although if WB do ditch the Juniors then that will put an end to that kind of thing happening.
The interesting thing with the Alrans for me is whether they'll stay at Commencal. They're currently the 'factory juniors' but will they become factory elites with Commencal ? Or do the Muc-Off squad need some Juniors and then they'll get pushed into a secondary Commencal squad... If that happens, maybe they'll take a factory leader role at somewhere like Giant instead ?
The twins have been with Commencal since they were tiny. Initially there was only the budget for one junior at Muc Off, but they found a way to accommodate both of them (the parents were very much against them being separated). I have my doubts that they're going anywhere else for a few years yet.
Here's a real conundrum for you. Put yourself in the Ruffin brothers shoes.
The rules state that teams are limited to 4 riders per category, so for next year which one do you let go of? Amaury, Dylan, Loris, Max or Till?
For successful juniors moving up to dominating elites there's also Nico Vouilloz who won worlds in his first elite year. And the next one, plus the next one, etc. This is not a recent phenomenon.
That's why I can see the Alrans moving. Although that could be to a secondary but still essentially factory Commencal team of course. It's a nice dilemma to have though I'm sure, especially as some teams can barely get a rider into finals at the moment.
It's such a topsy turvy season with riders like Finn, Ethan, Laurie etc really struggling and even a fair few others who you'd expect to see in finals far from being assured to be in there.
