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Probably the wildest race on the calendar these days. Amazing track, crazy fans. I'd love to see Benoit finally seal the deal. He's been right at the precipice for long it's not even fair.
If anyone wants to drive down to spectate let me know and I'll phone in sick.
I don't get the love for the Les Gets track, I find it to be one of the least interesting tracks on the calendar.
I've walked most of it and like all tracks, the footage doesn't do justice to how steep and tech it is in places... but that's just the nature of TV/GoPro. Whether Les Gets is the ultimate track doesn't even come into the discussion for me, it's more that it's the ultimate destination/race for the area, atmosphere, people, support.. it's just quite simply epic.
Jackson this weekend for me... the track suits him lots.
The finish area is crazy small! Saw it from the gondola this summer and it just ends on a sloping bit of grass by some chalets.
I'm surprised they didn't have to change that after the crowd scenes last year which looked pretty unsafe.
The compression/bombhole just after the start hut with a blind landing onto off-camber grass could be fun if it rains.
Can't see past a frenchie win again but who knows which one!
I was there for world cup in '19 and last year's world champs and it was brilliant. I was in the finish line crowd and it was all in great spirit. The after-party goes on and on. Looks dry all weekend.
Mont Chéry is where the track is? Many happy memories from bitd on the top part of the original track, it was so mint.
Mont Chéry is where the track is?
Yep. I love Mont Chery. Sadly it's been a while since I sampled it.
Sad to see Daprela out of the running with a broken scaphoid although it wouldn’t surprise if he just slapped some gaffa tape on it, necked some painkillers and carried on…looks like there’s now 4 riders (Bruni, Illes, Goldstone, Vergier) with a chance of the overall, although still possibly too early to tell. Kolb and Greenland a little further behind.
I noticed Gee is on the start list, always good to see, and also Reece Wilson, would love to see him back at the sharp end.
I'm disappointed to see Thibaut out but not at all surprised. I feel like he got off lightly from such an enormous, high speed crash. If I crashed like that they'd carry what was left of me down the hill in a bucket.
I just had to refresh my memory by watching Amaury's 2019 run and yes, still one of the most on-the-limit race runs of all time. Starts at 3:16
I feel like AP is probably the fastest person to ever race a downhill bike. When he's on a winner, I don't think I've ever seen anyone go that fast on a bike. The man's an absolute savage. I can't wait until he's back.
Juniors are popping off as always
https://youtu.be/qkZEz1bGTAQ?si=_AhRVWiZLR0lBUDg
Does anyone know if the bottom half of the track is open to punters in the summer? I know they don't use the top lift but from the reservoir down it looks like fair game.
Wasn't a lot of it open when mates were there... but some bits yes.... Certainly not enough to put a decent run together as far as he told me.
Practice looks FUN !
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Does anyone know if the bottom half of the track is open to punters in the summer? I know they don’t use the top lift but from the reservoir down it looks like fair game.</span>
Most of it was open when i was there in late August, it's harder and steeper than it looks!
I pushed up the fire road and rode down from the first road gap, not sure it was worth it though.
The World Champ is out of action sadly. This is such a harsh sport.
www.pinkbike.com/news/charlie-hatton-fractures-arm-and-wrist-at-loudenvielle-dh-world-cup-2023
Oh man... that's a gutter for him.
Does anyone know if the bottom half of the track is open to punters in the summer?
It's open. Whether you can link it all, as they've taped it for this weekend, that's different. We rode some of it, switching between steeper bits and the jumps in July. The jumps near the finish hadn't been re-shaped when we were there (I think), as they were still huge and completely out of reach for us. The speed that the WC riders carry into them is incredible, and many of them still case them, so I'm not too deflated by that!
Ryan Pinkerton in the junior men absolutely flying, another Goldstone coming up?Dont know much about the junior women’s but noticed the times are very close. Track looks just so dusty, some bits look almost like a beach. I can imagine it’s scorchio out there…but after last week it’s one extreme to the other!
Would love to see Benoit C get it.
Benoit fastest qualifier again. Les Gets will erupt if he wins.
Wish I was there, it's been years.
Juniors was interesting, loads of wash outs in the dust. Looked a lot like Aussie winter conditions somewhere like Toowoomba.
Ryan Pinkerton in the junior men absolutely flying, another Goldstone coming up?
Definitely. What an amazing rider 😊🤘
I'm not a subscriber but was able to watch juniors live on YouTube. Are they trying to hook me in and get me on the hard stuff?
Is Gwin on comms again today? He was effortlessly brilliant last weekend
Well so far it’s been Charlie Hatton instead for semis. Not bad.
Charlie sounds like he's scared to open his mouth. I wish Ric had the same problem.
Loris and Benoit on another level there. Vergier's run looked like perfection and BC beat him.
Hope he can handle the pressure this week.
Where's the XC thread? And why is it constantly overlooked on here? FFS
Feel free to start a thread @wipperman95 guess it's whats popular.
Did not expect to see Holl crash out so early on her run!
The way the splits swap around on this Les Gets track is interesting. It definitely has distinct zones and only the top few riders have seemed to make enough sense of all of it.
I'm another one cheering for Benny The Jet today. He looked crushed when Wyn interviewed him after Loudenvielle. It is good to see a gangly rider doing their thing amongst the current crop of riders who stay central, charge and hold on.
The track looks mega powdery - hopefully not to the point where later riders are expecting a line to be there and find it isn't.
Fin Iles had a major hang up on the top two corners, Kolb just nearly got stopped there too. I think the track is breaking up badly.
Where’s the XC thread? And why is it constantly overlooked on here? FFS
Start your own and see if anyone joins in.
I've missed most of the final I got my euro to GB start times mixed up. Just saw Kolb smash it.
The track is absolutely hammered.
I've still heard Cedric refer to every single rider as dangerous.
Lol, that's nuts! 🤣
That was excellent!
Benny!
That's made my day - in a great sport that is mercifully under-populated with egos he comes across as a top bloke.
Scenes.
Amazing stuff. This is why I watch downhill.
Not just a first win but a perfect weekend. Qualis, semis and finals in the bag.
6 different winners now from 6 races. 3 first timers? Can't remember every one.
Super cool to see Benny do it, can imagine the party in Les Gets will be nuts tonight. With him and Kolb at the top it’s great to see such down to earth guys getting the top spots. Shame for Vali but those top few corners were looking pretty dodgy. Shame Tahnee couldn’t do better on her home turf pretty much
Haven’t seen any update of the overall yet but I think it’ll have got tighter still, Vergier has been pretty consistent this year. Minnaar got a pretty respectable 7th too, hats off, he’ll probably want better but still good and better than a load of other big names.. Not sure what happened to Greenland? Edit, just seen he’s still ill.
There's an argument that Benny had the worst track conditions too - so a brilliant first win. If Amaury Pierron can get back to his previous pace a full French podium (1-5) is a distinct possibility. Bruni, Vergier, Daprela, Coulanges & Pierron. Sacre bleu!
Can't wait to have Pierron back. One of the most flat out riders we've ever seen but with the ability to finish a run. In the words of Cedric he's dangerous.
I think peak Amaury is the late 10s, early 20s version of peak Hill late 00s, early 10s.
If they ride to the best of their ability andkeep it rubber side down, they are simply unbeatable. But Amaury is more likely to bin in than Loic.
Actually quite similar between Pierron-Bruni as it was between Hill-Minaar/Peat.
Just caught up with the men’s final.
That was brilliant, one of my favourite of the season. So pleased for BC.
in a great sport that is mercifully under-populated with egos he comes across as a top bloke
what I love about DH is I root for nearly everyone. So many great riders and from what I can see not too much ego.
In both the men’s and women’s races the genuine joy for someone winning can be seen across the faces of all the other racers. They literally run from the hot seat to congratulate the winner.
I can’t think of another sport where that happens so consistently.
From the outside it looks like a great community to be part of.