Is anyone else really looking forward to watching some WC racing this weekend?
The other site (PB) have the fantasy league up now, i've set us up a league "SingletrackWorld" for anyone interested in participating. Password is "louise"
There seems to be plenty of the pre-race video footage going up now, I'm looking forward to seeing who they replace Loris with on Dialed over the next few days.
Just joined the league, I'm buzzing the the WC to start again, especially to see how Vali goes in the womens. Who's everyone's money on this year?
@cleetonator cheers for setting this up. Joined as Psythepie. Bring on the racing 🙂
Just joined up.
I'm top of the league... 🙂
will join later but it's pretty tough to build a team with a top rider in either class isn't it !!!!
I’m in . Matt walker at 375k seems quite cheap considering he’s current World Cup champion , maybe because he’s not won a race yet but even so .
looking at that list of riders it’s just so open this year , so many riders capable of winning In both the men’s and women’s. Can’t wait !
In - can’t wait for this!
Cheers for setting up.
I'm in.... my young lad will be joining tonight.
I'm very much looking forward to this years events.
I think the late and very limited / wet season we had last year means there is little to no chance of predicting this years winners. Practice, training and race experience was all messed up last year. Even this year we may see the effects of Covid messing with some riders travel / race plans.
Can you join more than one league this year?
Obviously I'd like to give you all a good hiding, but I have to prioritise thrashing my mates.
Getting very hyped for this!
A bit distracted by Dean Lucas' hair though 😲
Hope he has that as a wig on top of his helmet when racing 🤣
Got a Team. It appears to be full of Frenchies.
Well excited for this, hoping for a proper good season this year. I'll set up my (no doubt losing) team tonight.
Then I can get the Mrs back for all the cooking / dancing / sewing / house shows we watch for the rest of the year...
I'm in. Having lots of riders fully fit and also race-rusty should lead to mixed results, would be very easy for someone to have a run of a lifetime or even make some basic mistakes.
Update - seems you can compete in two leagues this year.
😀
In. Also quite a French looking team.
Is this the thread for virtual teams or discussion about real world DH?
Choose carefully. There's lots of riders on those lists that won't be racing. Some of them I'm not sure if they even ride anymore.
Ok when is the racing? I need to plan my weekend….
Is this the thread for virtual teams or discussion about real world DH?
I presumed it would start as the virtual teams but swiftly evolve into the general World Cup DH chat.
I think the late and very limited / wet season we had last year means there is little to no chance of predicting this years winners. Practice, training and race experience was all messed up last year. Even this year we may see the effects of Covid messing with some riders travel / race plans
I agree that it's wide open this year, in both the men's and womens fields, it's anyone's guess at this stage who'll be taking the first few wins. I think vali is going to give the 'old guard' a run for their money in the womens races. In the men's, who knows? Matt Walker should be coming into the season on a confidence high, so should do well. However all of the frenchies will be hungry for it and riding hard this year.
Interesting that Marshy is back and working for Scott? I thought he'd retired.
Going camping for brother in laws birthday this weekend. Gutted.
That no social media or Singletrack or PB for me until at least Monday night to avoid the spoilers.
Great venue to kick it all off though. Super excited.
Interesting that Marshy is back and working for Scott? I thought he’d retired.
Wasn't he at Pivot last year?
I think vali is going to give the ‘old guard’ a run for their money in the womens races.
She was smoking everyone up to the point she broke herself at WC last year (caveated that a lot of the old hands were crocked). But I can see a similar trend as old hands didn't get much running last season either so a lot of riders coming in after a looong time out of the tapes.
I'm disappointed with Pinkbike coverage cos my favourite WC bits are the photo splurge track walk and then Cathro vids.
I don't like track walk videos cos its full of riders trying to be funny and you can't check out the shots properly. Photos!!
The tech photos are good though. Reece Wilson's bike is looking spunktastic
Ok when is the racing? I need to plan my weekend….
the news is on pinkbike I believe men elites are racing from 12.30 saturday
its CET
Thursday June 10
• 08:15-17:00 // Official Downhill Training
Friday June 11
• 08:30-11:45 // Official Downhill Training
• 12:15 // Seeding Run - Junior Women
• 12:30 // Qualifying Round - Junior Men
• 13:30 // Qualifying Round - Elite Women
• 14:00 // Qualifying Round - Elite Men
Saturday June 12
• 08:15-09:15 // Official Downhill Training
• 09:45 // Final - Junior Men
• 10:30 // Final - Junior Women
• 10:50-12:05 // Official Downhill Training Elite Men and Women
• 12:30 // Final - Elite Women
• 13:30 // Final - Elite Men
• Awards to follow
Note: All times are local and subject to change by the event organizer.
Just watched Duprela's POV cam on Pinkbike. I say watched. He got a splodge of mud on the camera right at the top and it stayed on throughout! proper mud fest. For some stupid reason I was expecting it to be dry as high Austrian alps would mirror our weather.
Timed training:
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/timed-training-results-leogang-world-cup-dh-2021.html
Which the women clearly do not take seriously, and I guess just use it as further practise.
I´m in Leogang on Sunday doing an MTB guiding course if someone facies a beer
In and ranked no.1 😎
What’s CET in GMT? My viewing plans may have run into a problem…
What’s CET in GMT? My viewing plans may have run into a problem…
Redbull.tv says their coverage starts at 11.30 GMT for the ladies, men follow at 12.45.
If you can hang on until some time in August I’ll buy you a Stiegl
Vital raw is up on YouTube.
Rain has arrived and looking like a repeat of the mud bath of last year. Will make for some interesting riding again but can't help but think something could have been done to reduce the impact rain has on the bottom section.
I'm in.
I'm in! Much scanning of timed training times to tweak my team. Because timed training is everything, right? 😄
But, I cannot wait for the race. I think it's going to be a great one. The talent in both elite fields is of very high quality! Fast af.
Ah, only 2 leagues allowed. I am out unfortunately.
Cant wait , Would love to see Reece smash it again in Leogang. I always look out for the home riders so Jamie Edmonson and Mikayla in the seniors . Also young William Brodie and Ryan brannen in the under 23's.
Realistically can see Amaury , Loris and Loic vying for no 1.
I thought I had a bloody good team but now I'm second guessing myself because of the mud.
Just makes it such a lottery.
UK riders have just shortened their odds IMO - now the rain has appeared.
Reece Wilson looked more at ease than most last year and wasn't moaning about the track.
Looks like a vaseline coated jelly to ride on....
The best riders in the world struggling to stay on thier bikes. Amazing.
Cathro is back. 👍
I'm having trouble identifying the riders in the footage. Too many teams running identical kits with matching bikes. Now that Laurie has a Red Bull helmet I can't tell him apart from Brook.
Has Vali looked to be handling the mud well?
I'm in.
I am way, way more excited about Leogang than I am about the eurosoccerball on at the same time, amd I'm not remotely one of those anti football guys!
I've got a full team of Brits too, picked just for a laugh a while back but now the rains back, maybe a good choice!
It could have completely dusted out by race runs though if the sun comes out.
Has Vali looked to be handling the mud well?
Erm, difficult to say really, I think very few have handled it "well" I think even the Scots are struggling...BUT it was only practice, and not timed runs (that mean anything) Most rides just seemed to be puzzling it out.
Has Vali looked to be handling the mud well?
She looked pretty tentative compared to Miriam Nicole.
I've just realised that the DH finals are on Saturday, not Sunday, as its a double header with the XC. Wooohoo!
Got a couple of my lad’s friends racing in the junior men’s, we should have been out there cheering them on with a crate of beer on the hill.
I always look out for the home riders so Jamie Edmonson and Mikayla in the seniors . Also young William Brodie and Ryan brannen in the under 23’s.
No under 23s in DH - straight into the big league after Juniors. I'm looking forward to seeing how Jamie follows up after an exceptional end to last year. Also keeping my eye on Dan Slack as a first year senior coming in slightly under the radar.
I'm trying to ignore timed training and not second guess my fantasy team. Gone for more value picks in the men as I think it's going to be too tight to blow my budget on the established top 5. I expect Vali to dominate once she picks up her first win.
Well in contrast, I've caved and had a reshuffle influenced by timed training and my instinct about wet riding.
May go back to plan A for the next round though.
Well in contrast, I’ve caved and had a reshuffle
me too! Haha
I may have made wholesale changes to my team after watching the practice videos, definitely going to favour certain riders!
I'm in 😎
I just watching the live timings and im excited, pity im working for the finals though, will have to avoid the results until i can sit down and watch it tomorrow evening
Anyone got Flo Payet?
Vali has taken a comfortable lead in the qualifiers. 2.2 seconds over Myriam Nicole. Pulling nearly 3 seconds back after the final split! Looks like a mistake in section 3 cost Vali a couple of seconds, and a mistake in section 4 cost Nicole a couple of seconds.
Tomorrow is going to be nail biting.
Anyone got Flo Payet?
Blimey 😳
Really gives new meaning to the phrase "going balls-out". Ow
I wish I hadn't read that .....
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/qualifying-results-leogang-world-cup-dh-2021.html
womens qualifying done
Elite Men (After the top 60 riders)
Troy by 6 seconds!!! (the next 4 within a seconad an a half of eachother)
Is anyone decent not top 60 from missing last year due to Covid/injury?
Anyone got Flo Payet?
Balls. I have him on my team
What happened to matt Walker, going well until split 4. Crash?
Daprela was far quicker for the first 3 splits, but Troy has destroyed everyone last 2. Pierron looks to have made a mistake in sector 2 but finished well.
Walker (GB) was pretty steady throughout - there just isn't much separation in the top splits. Reece the same, hopefully just banking solid qualifiers without the pressure of #1 plate and rainbows getting to them.
Ronan Dunne in 22nd is an outstanding ride.
I think it's a full roster with exception of Moir and Maes prioritising enduro for now.
I am EXCITED! Feels like a real season this year even with the changes and cancellation of Fort Bill. I will endeavour to post all the good stuff over the weekend.
Really looking forward to having Tracey's perspective when commentating on the women's racing.
Juniors was interesting with Jackson Goldstone 2nd and the borders William Brodie 9th. The tree stump section looks horrendous as ever, I don't think its the best track for TV but probably a hard test for the worlds best.
Hoping for a Scottish win but would love to see Brosnan do it.
Who's that bird with the microphone alongside Jackson doing the qualifying vid?
She's annoying.
In fact, I find Jackson with his girly, overly enthusiastic laugh annoying, too.
Who’s that bird
Hello 1970
I'm not so convinced about Brosnan - I'm wondering if more than a few held back and didn't risk injury yesterday. Noticeable how many were saying they were having minor offs in the top and wood section - and a lack of confidence in the track.
A drying track could see a few out the gate putting everything on the line, and a bit more confidence that the lines will support you.
Based upon XC short track it was deffo drying lots in the afternoon, but the DH course had deep deep mud that'll take longer to dry.
A few years ago I did a "what do you want to do when you leave school?" Phoebe Gale put down "Be world champion" 8th in junior quali given she crashed and finished with only 1 working brake. Her and William Brodie were playing around at our pumptrack last week.
Young William has looked like a pro for years , My son raced a few Borders mini and did well to get within 7 secs of him years ago. I'd imagine he wont be the last we see racing world cups from the borders / edinburgh area in the coming years. The UK and Scotland in particular has some young talent coming through.
In fact, I find Jackson with his girly, overly enthusiastic laugh annoying, too.
I’m with you on that - wish they’d tell him to tone it down.
No Claudio?
What times the men's showing on RB tv?
Argh, Valli 😫
That was a tough watch, poor Vali, that top section was mental from her!
