[Closed] Megavalanche cheat

It followed an incident where the race organisers had felt a line was too obvious to require taping, IIRC. So any cheating was more of a matter of interpretation.

iirc the trail dropped off the side of a fireroad and rejoined a hundred yards further down. They just didn't bother their arse taking the trail 🙂

isn't that where the phrase 'spirit of enduro' arose?

Search really hard and you might be able to find out something about Karim Amour getting a different ban

wasnt that after the mega?, he was dropped by kona & I distinctly remember Chris Ball saying hed never race an EWS , but he has since

I've got to say, if it was me in that race I wouldn't have been able to be sure which rider it was that came past after cutting in, and it's not at all clear from the footage that it was 1613. Anyway, in his shoes I'd be doing what I could but probably engaging with the race organisers first as people on social media can be somewhat mobbish at times. I'll be interested to see the outcome.

The comment above about "too obvious to be taped" seems a bit odd - surely that translates as "too lazy to tape the course but then upset when people see another line"?

The comment above about "too obvious to be taped" seems a bit odd - surely that translates as "too lazy to tape the course but then upset when people see another line"?

This was in the early days of enduro in the UK.

The comment above about "too obvious to be taped" seems a bit odd - surely that translates as "too lazy to tape the course but then upset when people see another line"?

MA is 32km long isn't? That's a lot of tape and stakes.

It followed an incident where the race organisers had felt a line was too obvious to require taping, IIRC. So any cheating was more of a matter of interpretation.

Basically this - the course wasn't taped properly & was left open to be abused, but they 'spirit' for want of better phrase was to follow the actual trail. Not sure technically he did anything wrong - he didn't cut the tape, he just bent the rules. But then there is an argument it should have been taped properly.

The Karim Armour thing - wasn't he banned for doping?

Karim Amour ban was for a masking agent IIRC.

And I think the ban got imposed out of season.

He seems to be back in full effect and very competitive now anyway.

Et voila...
https://dirtmountainbike.com/news/french-enduro-rider-tests-positive-for-a-banned-substance.html

I thought the French were pretty harsh on le dopage, but perhaps not in all cases.

and not once is it mentioned who got done 🙂

https://dirtmountainbike.com/racing-events/making-it.html

Is that to do with this incident? ^^^

Sorry to divert mid thread but the Joe Barnes thing - its the first time I have heard about it but am I understanding correctly:
He was in a race,
The course at a certain point was not taped,
His intention was to win/go as fast as possible,
He choose the fastest 'line' he could see at the untaped point,
That line happened to be a path/forest road etc,
anywhere there was tape he followed the 'course',
He's then accused of cheating for not following the 'trail' or 'line' it's assumed he would take despite the fact that there was no clearly marked 'course' at that point?

Or did he intentionally divert through/over/around a taped section of course and ride down a road/path/forest track?

Yoann Barelli seems pretty pissed about it!

rules on the mega were pretty clear, 2 or more unrelated people report someone cheating then they are out, it seems here not enough people around him could really be arsed at the time.

groundskeeperwilly - Member

The rules were you follow the tape where it exists, otherwise follow the trail

surely every other rider was a tellytubbie wih a go-pro on their lid?
surely there must be other footage from riders of the guy leaving the course, and other riders a few behind where he rejons?
all I see is one single very blurry vid from one single rider.

Thanks legend.

Re: Yohan Barelli - What or who was cheating at EWS France?

Here's another angle - he definitely didn't end up on that line by accident!

Jeezus that video makes it worse hes cut out about 50 places doing that

Why on earth is it being brushed under the carpet!?

What a prick 🙄

Carnage!

Slightly outside the tape there then 👿

It's still not obvious who it really was though is it?

Pretty obvious it's the same guy. In the video above you can see he's got a red top, no backpack and purpley long shorts.
In the original video when he passes Ben Deakin he (number 1613) is dressed identically.
So I'd say the original ID was spot on.

Ben discusses it on the latest HKT Podcast.

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-808908651/the-hkt-podcast-030-ben-deakin

Looks like the same guy to me:

[img] [/img]

Good collage its defo the same guy, hence why hes just deleted every comment associated to it/him on his social media, in the vain hope it will be forgotton

Ban and DQ

never mind!

Just listened to the Hookit podcast. Sounds like the lad's been getting a pretty hard time (receiving threats) so Deakin took the video down.

Fair play to Deakin, I think I'd say he's made his bed so needs to lie in it. A public confession and apology is needed.

The only thing he can be banned from here is UCC events, they're not UCI sanctioned so a ban will be relatively meaningless on a wider scale. He should definitely be marked as DQ though. Utter crap behaviour from a sponsored rider, suggest his team need to have a strong word with him and start a media campaign to apologise.

After the unfortunate weather conditions this year I'd hate for the organisers to be lumped with this crock of shite after working with what they had to get a race underway. It's still a mad race and a great event.

DQFor sure, but his team do need to say something or else they look complicit. Interesting to see how little the websites are commenting on this. All my links on Pinkbike have been deleted. Respect to stw for not doing that here.

Just had a quick listen to the relevant part and I think Deakin is being overly nice - he's saying "well I don't want to mess with a guys career' - but I'd say that this Joe Connell has done that himself.
If you're going to blatantly cheat as a sponsored rider then you should get the sack. No ifs, no buts.
What Joe Connell needs to do is come out and hold his hand up and apologise to at least mitigate some of the harm, if only to his reputation.

My pinkbike thread is still up

Maybe he could bare his soul on Oprah and tell everyone he is the real victim in all this.

My pinkbike thread is still up

Time to remove my tinfoil hat. Got a link?

Nobody has posted on it mind you

https://m.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=200500

Interesting to see how little the websites are commenting on this. All my links on Pinkbike have been deleted. Respect to stw for not doing that here.

Joe Connell has an instagram account. Two photos from qualifying but no photo or mention of the actual race.

The guy has made a bad decision and is probably in a very dark place now, watching his career hopes and his reputation crumble.

It's not going to be pretty, whatever happens next.

I'd wager that Focus' legal team have been on the case. I can't see any other reason that outlets have caved.
I expect Mark has told them to get ****ed.

Is that race suppose to be enjoyable?

who in the right mind would pay to do that?

Reckon if he does admit it it will be along the lines of 'red mist, didn't notice the tape, won't do it again'

Nobody'll buy that... TBH I'd totally get "Went there looking for a top result and didn't deal well with being stuck so far back, got frustrated being stuck in the queue watching the race slip away, lost my mind for a bit". If nothing else I suspect it's exactly what happened.

Reckon if he does admit it it will be along the lines of 'red mist, didn't notice the tape, won't do it again'

He bunny hopes the tape!

0:55

Young guy makes a stupid decision.

I hope he learns from it, and i hope he doesn't lose his ride with focus.

Clearly hops over the tape, best thing to do is publicly come forward, hold his hands up and say sorry. Nobody died, it will all blow over and he will learn from it.

I think if he came forward with an apology and admitting cheating in the heat of the moment people would move on, but the silence is deafening. It doesn't help that in that second video you can clearly see both Bryceland and Sam Hill stuck in the traffic he cut.

Bagstard - Member
Clearly hops over the tape, best thing to do is publicly come forward, hold his hands up and say sorry. Nobody died, it will all blow over and he will learn from it.

+1

Very much if he says hands up, I ballsed up and made a bad decision, please take me out of the results, no-one can really have any anger towards him and everyone can get on with not really wanting to ever do the Mega while thinking they ought to cos they're a mountianbiker.

Is that race suppose to be enjoyable?

who in the right mind would pay to do that?

everyone can get on with not really wanting to ever do the Mega while thinking they ought to cos they're a mountianbiker.

Apologies if you've seen it before, but it seems like a good time to share this again...
http://unduro.co.uk/mtb/that-time-i-raced-the-megavalanche-and-got-a-free-helicopter-ride/

I'd quite like to ride the course, I wouldn't want to get caught up in all that mayhem particularly though.

superstu - Member 
Joe Connell has an instagram account. Two photos from qualifying but no photo or mention of the actual race.

he did, there were loads of comments on his insta page about him cheating, he deleted them all, just left the nice positive ones on 🙄

gloating about finishing 27th, what a dick.....he deserves a internet bashing (which is the truth and just as the video proves) and ben deakin etc are being overly nice, he cheated with a gain to look good for his racing resume simple as that....

My favourite MA vid, well the first couple of minutes off the start.

Just a heaving mass of copulating bike. 🙂

Time to email Focus...
Be interesting to hear their view on it. Silence is what I expect. STW features lots of Focus stuff of late, maybe Mark can ask for a comment.

'tis a bit weird that no media have run with this.

If someone had taken a shortcut in the TdF the press would be all over it.

I'd put it down to lack of confidence on the legals rather than a conspiracy not to upset advertisers.

My favourite MA vid, well the first couple of minutes off the start.

I remember it well, being one of the victims in the pile up 🙂

chakaping - Member

'tis a bit weird that no media have run with this.

If someone had taken a shortcut in the TdF the press would be all over it.

See the discussion a couple of pages back. The MTB world is massively protective of it's cheats, any other sport (not just road) would instantly be reporting cheating

'tis a bit weird that no media have run with this.

I'd imagine it's probably more to do with no-one really caring in reality. A few people on here who arn't affected by it at all, some professionally offended types & that's about it.

I think in every single quali & main race I did there was bending the rules/cheating occuring.

I'd go so far as to say in most races I do, there is talk of people 'taking the piss', being creative, questionable cheating etc.

I guess the difference is this guy was a bit more blatent. Doesn't make it right for sure, does it deserve the guy being threatened by a mob of strangers, people baying for blood, demanding he be sacked etc - probably not.

Hob Nob - Member 

'tis a bit weird that no media have run with this.

I'd imagine it's probably more to do with no-one really caring in reality. A few people on here who arn't affected by it at all, some professionally offended types & that's about it.

this sums it up, us angry keyboard warriors seem to be the only ones bothered by it, id have defo been bothered by it on the day had I seen it and been racing....as clearly the 2 vids seem to suggest they swear and call him a cheat...also barelli and deakins comments clearly don't condone it and are pissed off but letting it slide....

its more disappointing in him that hes just decided to ignore all of the claims, delete comments everywhere and hope it just goes away, without even apologising, pretty arrogant indeed

It is a fair point actually. Top 5 (or whatever) maybe, but "guy who placed in a position you'd never have noticed, did it by cheating" isn't a great attention grabber

I'd imagine it's probably more to do with no-one really caring in reality. A few people on here who arn't affected by it at all, some professionally offended types & that's about it.

Very much this

You're right. Why am I bothered?
He's the one who is going to be known as Joe 'the cheat' Connell on internet coverage with a comments section.
I'm out of here and off for a ride.

I'd imagine it's probably more to do with no-one really caring in reality.

I dunno, when you look at some of the contrived drivel the MTB media puts out in the hunt for clicks - the bar is pretty low to begin with.

Then suddenly there's a really juicy story about cheating in one of the most famous races in the MTB world, with clear evidence and witnesses. Ironclad stuff. But nobody's biting.

I admit that I am "professionally outraged", but as a journalist rather than a reader.

What struck me was the utter bunfight/carnage of a load of startroopers on big bikes trying to roll down a narrow mountain path.
What's the point of that's? That's like going for a lakeside drive on bank holiday Monday, sounds like a great idea in principle but the reality is a log jam of frustration.

And yes to the posts above.

Hob Nob - Member

'tis a bit weird that no media have run with this.

I'd imagine it's probably more to do with no-one really caring in reality. A few people on here who arn't affected by it at all, some professionally offended types & that's about it.

As a race organisers I hate seeing stuff like this in bike races, EWS is worse! Spectators everywhere, people pushing up tracks etc... Everyone that watches EWS elite riders POV and see all the unsafe practices. Then they turn up a local races and do the same.

You try your best to improve safety standard in your series and the UK in general via BEMBA. Then you watch the EWS and bang your head against the wall!

I've always thought the "avalanche" in Megavalanche refeered to horde of riders descending the mountain willy-nilly (and possibly arse over tit as well).

gfrew88 - Member 
Is that race suppose to be enjoyable?
who in the right mind would pay to do that?

Years ago everyone raved about the Mega and lots of encouragement to do it. One of those bucket list things every MTB rider should do. Saw the videos and while a bit crazy it looked like something I could maybe survive with bike and bones intact. Thought I may give it a go some day, but for laugh purposes, not competitively (I'd finish last anyway probably).

Now it's got so big, egos so big, so competitive, and everyone's prepared to take a lot of risks, deliberately crash into others to get the best line, cheat, etc. It doesn't look attractive to me any more and I think my chances of surviving without injury to self or ride over bike breakage is slim. I'm not aggressive enough to barge my way through and get out of danger so I'm likely to get the shit kicked out of me or run over.

Anyway, as for this incident. If this was TdF and someone cheated like that, it would be all over the news. MTB coverage though is limited at the best of times. Unfair that social media lays into him, or just what you'd have to expect if you do something as stupid as that?

It's not just a cheeky cut line, it's a massive deliberate short cut in full view of everyone. I don't get what he was thinking to do that.

Time to email Focus...

Really? get a life.

As a race organisers I hate seeing stuff like this in bike races, EWS is worse! Spectators everywhere, people pushing up tracks etc... Everyone that watches EWS elite riders POV and see all the unsafe practices. Then they turn up a local races and do the same.

You try your best to improve safety standard in your series and the UK in general via BEMBA. Then you watch the EWS and bang your head against the wall!

Don't I know it - 6 weeks & counting of being broken from another idiotic rider incident causing me to have a massive crash at the Ireland EWS!

Don't I know it - 6 weeks & counting of being broken from another idiotic rider incident causing me to have a massive crash at the Ireland EWS!

Years ago everyone raved about the Mega and lots of encouragement to do it. One of those bucket list things every MTB rider should do. Saw the videos and while a bit crazy it looked like something I could maybe survive with bike and bones intact. Thought I may give it a go some day, but for laugh purposes, not competitively (I'd finish last anyway probably).

Now it's got so big, egos so big, so competitive, and everyone's prepared to take a lot of risks, deliberately crash into others to get the best line, cheat, etc. It doesn't look attractive to me any more and I think my chances of surviving without injury to self or ride over bike breakage is slim. I'm not aggressive enough to barge my way through and get out of danger so I'm likely to get the shit kicked out of me or run over.

It's actually got smaller over the years with less entrants.

The disparities of riding standards at the Mega is huge though. From full time pro riders, some of whom are the fastest riders in the world, to first time Alps riders who are so far out of their depth, it can't be any fun at all.

Generally neither of those, or people close to those ends of the spectrum are the issue though, its the mid pack warriors who cause the problems. I don;'t know what it is about that race, but there is definitely a 'lads of tour' mentality going on with some spectacular egos on display.

Thankfully I have qualified well in the few times i've done it, so never had to suffer the full Mega experience of a total sh*t show of people everywhere. its fairly spaced out at the front & everyone is hauling, from top to bottom, so no traffic.

'tis a bit weird that no media have run with this.

If someone had taken a shortcut in the TdF the press would be all over it.

This: Bloke most people have never heard of cheats in race most people have never heard of.

I meant the relevant specialist media doug, not the TV and newspapers.

meh. french line to get from also ran to slighty higher placed also ran...

Opportunity for the ultimate enduro line at today's TDF.

[img] [/img]

I'd agree there's no reason anyone of us should care but, there is no reason he should get away with it.

Is the mega actually a serious race then or just (as I'd assumed) a mountain bike sportive that some people forget is really just for fun?

[quote=dangeourbrain ]Is the mega actually a serious race then

for the front row...

Surly if a sponsored rider is cheating in an amateur race it's even worse lol

I'm not sure who was sponsored by Surly...