Val di Sole World Cup - DH in Pictures
Photos by Colin Meagher and Fraser Britton
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 The amazing thing about this rear shock that SRAM blackbox specialist Jon Cancellier is delivering to the Syndicate boys is that it's exactly 12.552 seconds faster than the one used for qualifying. However, it needed to be another 6.974 seconds faster to beat out the unbelievable Aaron Gwin. |
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| Reflecting on a hard decision. Dan Atherton was simply not feeling on his top game here at Val di Sole, and this is a track that is completely unforgiving to doubt. Rather than feed that rat, Affy wisely tuned into that inner voice and opted to sit this one out. |
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| Mark Fitzsimmons of Fox Racing Shox giving Gee Atherton's rear suspension a thorough work up, feeling for hang-ups in the suspension or the linkages. The bikes were getttng so hammered here at Val di Sole that rear shocks were damn near smoking as riders came off the track. More than one rider was getting completely pumped out fighting brake fade too. Yes, it was that rough and that steep. |
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| Danny Hart wanted to work on his tan this morning as he warmed up for racing, but the glaring sun reflecting off his pasty British skin was simply too much for the Syndicate boys across the pit row... "I was nearly blinded a couple of times as I was setting up Peaty's brand new carbon swing arm until Danny covered up. It was rough there for a few moments."-Ricky Bobby, Santa Cruz Syndicate. |
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| Sam Blenkinsop may be good to go after tweaking his knee in La Bresse, but that doesn't mean Martin the Masseur is going to let one of his clients go to battle without proper support for that tender ligament. |
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| Hand built. It may be old school, but it ensures that riders have exactly the gears they want; Andy Ward piecing together the gear spread ordered up by fifth place finisher Cameron Cole of Lapierre Racing. |
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| What might have been. Steve Smith as well as teammate George Brannigan both fell to injury in the morning's training. Steve's ankle has ballooned to the size of a grapefruit; he may be out for Worlds in two weeks. George tweaked his knee badly enough he was out for finals; no word as of yet on the damage. |
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| Kiwis en route to smashing down a final training run before the DH Final: Blenki and Bulldog. |
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| No beer garden along the track? No problem, the creative Italian fans will find a way to take in their suds as they cheer on their favorites from only a few meters away. |
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| Absolute focus. |
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| With the pressure on, Florian Pugin did her best to deliver; but a few mistakes in the top section cost her. They were pretty minor, really, and given her blistering pace after split two, had there been another 200 meters or so of track. she may have taken it from Pom-Pom. |
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| Pom-Pom FINALLY took the win. She's been almost there all season long. Congratulations! |
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| The woods were full of carnage this morning. Jack Reading boosting rocks in mega silt at 50kmh. Sketchy at best. |
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| Marcus Klausmann of Ghost took a smooth line here, but the difference between 36th and 21st is aggression... |
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| ....as demonstrated by Mitch Ropelato. Ropelato was absolutely pinned coming over this drop. A few riders pulled up and launched, but Ropelato just flat out sent this. |
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| More than one rider binned it during training, qualies, and finals. Getting bikes from fallen riders back to the pits was complicated by the insanely steep and technical track. Thomas Jeandin--I'm assuming this is his bike as he was the only DNF for the final--got a ride out on a back board while his bike got the shuttle down in the rescue wagon. Heal up, man. Next year is another season. |
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| Ahh, what might have been. Markus Pekol of MS-Evil had a smoking qualifying race. And his Final run started with a bang, too; he was number 4 at the first split. A few mistakes in the middle section dropped him to 15th--less than a half second back behind 7th place finisher and fellow MS-Evil rider Brook MacDonald. But then came the rear wheel flat and a 42nd place finish. Next time... |
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| Mick Hannah just couldn't get on the podium today. He was looking fast and aggressive. The young guns seem to have made their move. |
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| Bryceland is coming into fine form for Champery. I have no idea how he can ride like he does after separating his shoulder at Windham, but he's somehow able to get past the pain of that nagging injury and rise above. 11th on the day. |
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| Troy Brosnan. 4th Place. First World Cup podium of his young career. Get some next week, Rivers! |
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| Full throttle for Gee-Man. Good enough for third on the day and third on the season. |
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| Danny Hart ended up second today. He was flying all week. Could it be the grampa socks? The changing of the guard seems to be complete here in Val Di Sole. |
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| Aaron Gwin didn't need to win to take the overall, but he needed to win to beat the record for most wins in one season. Mission accomplished. |
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| Just like little league... parents and mechanics trying to figure out the world cup overall in the pits... |
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| Hope you don't have stage fright. time to pee for the man. |
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| Champagne shower indeed. Myriam Nicole finally getting the top spot and not minding a bit.... |
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| Aaron Gwin taking the historic fifth win for a 7 race World Cup season. Brosnan (4), Danny Hart (2), Gee Atherton (3), Cam Cole (5), and Aaron Gwin (1). |
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| Overall WC Elite Women's Podium: Myriam Nicole (4), Floriane Pugin (2), Tracy Moseley (1), Rachel Atherton (3)m Sabrina Jonnier (5) |
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| Third place pay out may not be fat, but it pays out well enough--especially when combined with Rachel's winnings, too. Dinner and drinks on Gee-Man for the Atherton Racing team tonight. |
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| Steve Smith ended up 5th place in the overall, despite not being able to race today due to a knee and ankle injury sufferred in practice. He made his way to the podium no matter what. Heal up Sender, Canada needs you. |
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| Men's Elite WC DH Overall: Danny Hart (4), Greg Minnaar (2), Aaron Gwin (1), Gee Atherton (3), Steve Smith (5). |
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Heres a pic off the Giant team's facebook:
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309493_237673799602988_169174973119538_578279_7331273_n.jpg
What is this, proportionate representation or what?
Yeah man, you're SO tolerant! I mean if only other bigots like yourself only grouped together most people and not all of them, then our world would be a much better place!
You generalized all americans dude, just man up and admit it.