Well, that was best World Cup DH season ever

It was right up there that's for sure... I enjoyed the different riders getting the wins, the podiums but with the superstars still dominating overall. With Hatton getting the WChamps and Benoit getting a win, it was awesome. Last of course for me was Ethan getting the 2nd place the other day in MSA, well that was the icing on the cake. I've spent a bit of time this year chatting with him and Rich his suspension guy and he's a proper nice lad, always open for a chat and disucssions... So that topped it all off for me 🙂

Hopefully Ethan is (deservedly) sorted for a team next year, @weeksy? Not looking for names, a wink will do nicely.

Awesome racing this year, although women's racing does not need yet again one dominant rider. Hopefully the others can step up.

Yes, the coverage can do with a polish, but the worst is far behind them. My pet peeve is when the camera is zoomed in on the tyres when somebody is throwing impossible shapes down the most technical parts of the track. It looks like the drone pilots are getting the distances from the riders correct, although it doesn't work at high speed through tight sections. I don't care how good the pilot is. It isn't about them, it's about keeping the camera stable and the rider in frame.

The Elite Women’s is feeling like the beginning of a Record Breaking era for Vali Holl. No one else wins in Elite Women, it’s only ever Holl losing.

While that may feel true, Rachel beat her, Camille beats her, and Miriam's out, Tahnee's not back up to speed yet and Marine is capable of beating her and I think so is Nina I think Vali's a strong rider without a doubt and you'd do OK betting on her, I don't think that this season's results show that we're in a Vali era.

The post-Red Bull era coverage was not to total bin-fire that some predicted. The actual amount of coverage – both of the course and the racing runs – was much better than previous years.

It was very easy to jump on the bandwagon of the end of the sport as we know it at the end of the year when the (free!) coverage ended and Rob moved on. Heck, I joined in.

However, I actually put my hand in my pocket and paid for Discovery+. It thought it was absolutely fine. Good, even, if not quite great.

It also got continually better throughout the year. Lots of Cameras, the drone footage is interesting and a big investment (Its a whole team of people involved and thousands and thousands of pounds worth of kit just for that single aspect of the coverage, I chatted with them at Fort William). They started doing more of the tech stuff

The app works great. The app on my smart TV works great. It works in a browser on my laptop or ipad (hallelujah!). Perfectly happy with it technically.

Ric is fine, the two ladies who's name I forget who do the anchor/interview thing are good, even Cedric is learning the craft a little. Aaron Gwin is great. Josh Carlson knows the tech stuff well as he's done it himself.
I've watched hours and hours of top quality, LIVE sport all year. Friday tea time short track is brill. Loads of exposure for Juniors is great.

The racing itself has been absolutley epic and I could go on for hours, but in terms of the broadcasting, I would vehemently disagree with anyone who says its been a disaster, and most of those seem to be Pinkers who havent or wont pay for anything anyway.

I’ve enjoyed the racing and have liked the coverage.  I have zero understanding of the qualification/semi’s/points but it doesn’t matter much to me because I just watch the finals. (I say just the finals, I always watch Ben Cathro amongst the shafts.  Pleased he and others weren’t edged out)

I would vehemently disagree with anyone who says its been a disaster, and most of those seem to be Pinkers who havent or wont pay for anything anyway.

Yep agreed, about the only complaint I have is casting it to the telly from the app causes a delay in picture-to-sound by about 5 seconds which is sometimes a bit annoying, but for a first year it's only got better through the year.

No way was I adding more payments to the Sky/Netflix/Amazon subs I already splash out for, so how glad was I when the final 2 rounds were live on Eurosport... er, very! It was fantastic viewing.

No way was I adding more payments to the Sky/Netflix/Amazon subs I already splash out for, so how glad was I when the final 2 rounds were live on Eurosport

If you have Sky Q, Glass or Stream, then you have free access to the Discovery Plus app, which means you can watch every race, including the finals, for no extra cost.

Also Canyon Cllctv as the third placed team with Shaw and Brosnan, both placed in the top 10 overall  when the two teams above them Santa Cruz and Specialized are fielding the teams they are; have got to feel pretty chuffed with that performance. And on the other side; Danny Hart back in 23rd over all and beaten by Max Hartenstern into the top 20 seems like a poor investment for Cube.

Great season. Loved it. Hopefully the women’s will be closer next year with a full compliment of fit fast ladies all healthy.

If you have Sky Q, Glass or Stream, then you have free access to the Discovery Plus app, which means you can watch every race, including the finals, for no extra cost.

I discovered this by accident and loved the Mont Saint Anne coverage. The drone footage at the top of the course was amazing, the commentary - I don't really "do" DH as such so I couldn't really give a qualified opinion but put it this way, it didn't make me want to switch channels or mute it so it can't have been bad! The course looked like a proper mix of everything you'd expect and I enjoyed watching it.

I don't really "know" the riders in the way that I'd know road riders but after a couple of days I was beginning to get some of it.

Danny Hart back in 23rd over all and beaten by Max Hartenstern into the top 20 seems like a poor investment for Cube

He's a weird one that boy Hart as sometimes you think "He's BACK" and then something happens, either with a mechanical or the weather and he just doesn't quite perform. I still think on his day he's right up there, but i just don't know when that day is coming again.

And on the other side; Danny Hart back in 23rd over all and beaten by Max Hartenstern into the top 20 seems like a poor investment for Cube.

Danny Hart has been a bit unlucky with a few DNFs from front flats after being up at the splits. Would like to see Danny Hart run his own program when his contract is up with Cube. He could get Adam Brayton on Team Marra Racing. The GasToVlogs would be amazing.

The Elite Women’s is feeling like the beginning of a Record Breaking era for Vali Holl. No one else wins in Elite Women, it’s only ever Holl losing.

Not crashing when you are leading by 3 seconds is a key part of the sport. Bruni seemed particularly aflicted by it and eventually overcame it, at an older age than Vali.

Cami beat her at round one despite not winning; Rachel beat her despite being not fully fit by her own admission; Hoffman beat her three times including the race she won; and Cabirou bested her twice. Thats out of only 8 races. That it took to race 7 to secure the overall also seems quite competitive compared to other womens seasons from memory.

Its only been the second half of the season that Cabirou has looked back to being on her previous form from before breaking her back; Tahnee has shown flashes of her old self too but not yet pulled a result out of it.

Cami bounced back from a prior injury with no ill effect, Pompon seems mentally back following her concussion, Rachel I'm hoping wants to return. Next season could potentially be even better.

I for one really enjoyed it.

I found the overall coverage was way better than the red bull coverage - although they seemed to skimp a bit on the drone quality while also relying heavily on it. The commentry was utter pants at times though, so glad we got Aaron in for a few, even if the circumstances are a tad disappointing.

That last run by Jackson though - mind blown. From when he was doing the course preview last year I knew he was one to watch but that whole run had me pretty much cheering at the telly it was so good. The final event of the year really was one worth watching.

Also, thanks for the reminder to cancel GCN+

but i just don’t know when that day is coming again.

I hate to say it, but he last troubled the podium back in 2019. This year has been crap for him fo'shure, but he's been on a downward trajectory for the last 3 years and I can't see him doing a Minnaar, can you? I mean; once his current deal with Cube ends, can you see any teams climbing over themselves wanting to employ him? And part of the reason why so many of the riders are pee'd off is the treatment of privateers, it's just becoming harder and harder to race at that level with no support, which is OK if you're young and desperate to race, but for some-one like Danny who's long used to being on a team, I can't see it being attractive.

I hate to say it, but he last troubled the podium back in 2019.

Yeah but i always felt the move in team was in part an issue and he just didn't get on with the Saracen. Then a few early season results this year gave some hope of a return, plus Val di Sole result made me think "mmmmm maybe."

You're right though, probably not... But i still think... Maybe 😀

Wasn’t he 2nd to Matt Walker at a round last season? He was also a protected rider so assume he must’ve finished top 10 overall last season, so can’t be doing too bad. 

Yes, Leogang.

It was definitely good racing. Viewing was poor though for us, with drop-outs and other faff when viewed on a browser. They could do with  a proper app to make it painless, not stress-inducing. Yes, now time to cancel it and hopefully there will be something in place to make it better next season. Good reminder re the cancelling.

As previously stated, the Discovery+ app was superb on Sky... Just worked really well.

I'd argue at times some of the camera work wasn't the greatest and Cedric is IMO not a great commentator... but i'll accept both if they're what we have.

If you have Sky Q, Glass or Stream

Nope. Sky HD box.

Ring Sky... they upgraded ours to Sky Q for £0.

I like me HD box! 🙂

Oh... you're screwed then because the Menu on the Q is garbage !

Danny Hart has been a bit unlucky with a few DNFs from front flats after being up at the splits. Would like to see Danny Hart run his own program when his contract is up with Cube.

Does he have another year to go? It seems like the Cube bike's not quite there, compared to some of the competition.

we live in a Vali Holl Era

She's certainly been the woman to beat this year, but I really want to see my favourite girls Myriam and Cami come back and give her a good kicking next year. Big fan of Marine too, Hopefully she'll be even stronger and faster in 2024.

As previously stated, the Discovery+ app was superb

From my point of view the Android one is junk. I wanted to watch the finals in full on Saturday evening but it refused to start from the beginning and just wanted to show what was happening live. It was the same the previous weekend. I ended up avoiding hearing the results and watched it yesterday in the end.

It was a great Men’s season, but I’m always thinking, “what would Amaury have done”.  He’s just a wild rider with bags of talent and such a curve ball on any track.

I don’t think it’ll be a walk in the park for Vali next year, lots of unlucky and injured riders this year will be back next and she might feel some decent levels of pressure if there are lots of riders nipping at her heels.

It’s been great tho.

we live in a Vali Holl Era

I think we may be more coming into a Goldstone era.  Hoping that Pierron's back to full speed but **** me, the lad's quick

Fantastic interviews on Vital. Bernard Kerr making clear what his issues are. <br /> https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/year-later-world-cup-downhill-racing-better

I still watched it when I could, although working out when it was on was difficult, and the apps are cuffing horrible to say the least. Rob needs to come back and the French bloke needs to go ( he was pretty much silenced in the last 2 races)

I still don’t get DH racing . There is no consistency in performance, and winning margins are all over the place. Maybe I should see that as a positive in a world where most professional sport is separated by fractions of a second

The season needs to start earlier, and the tracks are all a bit samey

Get rid of the it’s a knockout furniture on the course too

Just on the drone stuff - it’s always really poor quality on our TV, I don’t see the point

I personally think the Athertons discredited the series. You shouldn’t just be able to turn up and race if you feel like it. It should be world elite and you earn your place by going up rankings

You shouldn’t just be able to turn up and race if you feel like it. It should be world elite and you earn your place by going up rankings

Eh? Rachel's a nominated rider on a team who qualifies to race, same as everyone else who meets the criteria. If you're a woman racer and have a baby, you should be forced to start from the bottom again?

She took 2 years out, not 4 months, and her brother wasn’t pregnant either

Other sports require you to go up rankings

I don't think many other fans will share that opinion about Rachel.

She came back and won the first race, which justifies her inclusion - even if being the most-dominant racer of the modern era didn't.

i'm with you there Chak, i don't even know where to begin with the rest of his post about the results and the tracks...

You shouldn’t just be able to turn up and race if you feel like it. It should be world elite and you earn your place by going up rankings

I do agree with this to an extent, it does feel a bit pay to play. Gee could just rock up because he's on a team but Brayton missed 2 rounds because he's not and didn't have the points to enter.

I guess the assumption there is that if you are paying to be an elite team at a WC then you're not just going to have some random on your team. Rachel and Gee are former World Champions that have had significant injuries recently then Rachel took time out to have a baby.
Brayton missing out was just plain stupid. You could finish every race in 31st (so not making the finals) and not actually have any usable points for the following season, but do a couple of little races in the back of beyond and you're good to go. Hopefully that is something they will change for next season.

Though from those Vital interviews it sounds like there will be a lot of racers that won't be racing WCs next year as they will have to ride feeder events.

I guess the assumption there is that if you are paying to be an elite team at a WC then you’re not just going to have some random on your team.

Yeah, fair point.

Gee could just rock up because he’s on a team but Brayton missed 2 rounds because he’s not and didn’t have the points to enter.

But the fact that Brayton can't race and Gee can, isn't Gee's problem. He qualifies because he meets the organisers entry criteria and Brayton doesn't. If you're a professional racer, then the first job is to make sure you can enter the race.

I don’t think many other fans will share that opinion about Rachel.

Thats fair enough we are all entitled to our own opinion 🙂

If I remember rightly she actually finished racing with a potentially career ending injury. It all went very quiet for months, then it came out she was pregnant.

I absolutely get that she is probably the best female rider either, but she then came back very much on the well i think I will give it a try, Im not fit ha ha, but heck lets try approach. I think thats just not very professional to be able to play at it.

I don’t think that this season’s results show that we’re in a Vali era.

Much like marketing spin, the same happens with racers. I'm not convinced she's the dominating force that many seem to believe she is. As you've already pointed out, she's been scalped by plenty this year.

well i think I will give it a try, Im not fit ha ha, but heck lets try approach. I think thats just not very professional to be able to play at it.

Considering her pre-race build up and media, i think that was her very much playing her chances down rather than being unprepared or unfit. She'd been riding and pseudo-racing at Dyfi for months before that... which lets be honest, is a pretty decent way of testing yourself riding against Dan, Brendog, etc day in day out.

I think thats just not very professional to be able to play at it.

Lets not forget that she actually won at Lenzerheide and then got 3rd at Leogang before popping her shoulder in practice at Fort Bill. You make it sound like she rocked up and just bimbled down the track.

I got the impression that her comeback was all about the chance to race a home world champs. As soon as that went away she hasn’t been racing since.

@FunkyDunc I don't think you can "play" at elite WC racing TBH. Rachel's a professional athlete, and I think you should probably take her self depreciating social media output with a pinch of salt. How prepared she is vs how prepared she says she is are probably quite far apart.

I got the impression that her comeback was all about the chance to race a home world champs. As soon as that went away she hasn’t been racing since.

There's some truth to this, I think. But she was probably also testing the water to see how competitive she was.

It's kind-of cool that we forgot about her after that, because the racing's been so good anyway.

Would be cool to see her, Cami and Myriam all fit and wanting it next year.

Yeah that would be awesome. It's also why I hope they ditch the semi finals next year as if everyone is back next season only having 10 female riders isn't enough.

I do find it hard to even comprehend @Funkydunk 's point of view on the Atherton thing. They are, very professionally, adhering exactly to the rules as laid out, in that you can pretty much enter anyone into a World Cup DH event so long as they are on the rider list for your trade team. It is a bit of a loophole but not one that's widely exploited, because it's actually quite tough to even get to the level where you'd be safe getting down the courses, let alone have any hope of getting out of qualification.  There's obviously a risk that a team could put a Kris Kyle or similar on the roster for a race or two for some video content but it's unlikely.

I do have some experience of the old order and playing the team card, we put together a trade team in 2006 for the 2007 season and ran 4 guys who were just about good enough to go to World Cups. It was hard with a capital F. We qualified some and failed a lot but it was a great experience, even if financially ruinous. It was an expensive undertaking even back then so I have no idea how the guys do it these days.

I get that WB/Discovery are trying to turn it into a mini F1/MotoGP/MX series but it doesn't sound like they're helping to enable it in any way. The provisional schedule is pretty basic with races down as either Europe or Outside Europe and that could have massive variations in costs between say Japan/Australia and the US depending on where the team is based. It's almost as if they're saying that you just need an open cheque book for next year or don't bother.  None of this is going to help get those big ticket sponsors in and at the moment the bike industry on it's own simply cannot sustain this.

I have to say I'd love to see the teams get good outside sponsors and the riders start getting paid properly with the races being a vehicle for that but I don't see how they get to there from here without engaging the (and I hate this word) stakeholders.

Martin Whiteley was very much caught up in the organisation of things a few years ago and I'm kind of surprised not to hear his voice commenting on the current situation. I'd be very interested to hear his thoughts.

Great racing this year, despite all the changes..

Semis added nothing for me, coverage was OK for a first year, but no more than OK.

ESO don't appear to be bothered about riders, teams or fans. The fact that they haven't made any attempt to engage or respond is poor. In reality they probably are listening (I sincerely hope), but the perception is that they have their heads in the sand.

I'm fairly sure I read somewhere that Martin Whiteley now works for ESO/WBD so may not be able to talk publicly?

PS If you're reading this Chris Ball, what's happening to the SES?

Racing aside which was excellent:<br /><br />Liked<br />Drone footage<br />General camera coverage<br />Kate Morgan / Bart / Josh <br />Change from taping all the course<br />Aaron G commentating<br /><br />Didn't like<br />Perceived competition to talk over each other in commentary - Ric Mc<br />Commentating through the podium presentation<br />Constant incorrect name pronounciation<br />making the tracks fit a broadcast time window and dropping Fort William<br /><br />So for light relief and a depth of insight it was Redbull / Warner / Batty / Jackson with IMHO an dexcellent program which it looked like the riders actually enjoyed their interviews. <br /><br />

I have to say I’d love to see the teams get good outside sponsors and the riders start getting paid properly<br /><br />

I agree although I think you will find, like in most sports, the top riders are very well paid as in north of £100k a season with someone else paying virtually all your costs for the season as well. If you look at the annual accounts submissions to companies house you can see good incomes being declared

What about the XC World Cup? It is part of the MTB World series......

Anyway, anybody moaning about the coverage needs to see what the Cyclocross World Cup is like; the absolute bare minimum. Nobody at the venue, nobody on course, no guest co-commentators....and coverage starting 5-10 minutes before the start - so no previews, or track walks.......

What about the XC World Cup? It is part of the MTB World series……

It managed to remain mostly unchanged from previous years so didn't quite generate the same amount of mouth foaming and spittle from people who have a deep seated hatred of discovery or GMBN.*

Good season overall, kept interesting up until and including the final race. 

*There were of course people saying 6 months ago that MSA in October would be under a foot of snow... proved wrong... and even in the wet it was a challenging but ridable course. And gave Bart even more chances to use his favourite word, Shlippery.