SUMMARY
- Junior Men: There looks to have been a number of crashes up on the track, with many riders unable to finish and those expected with a fast time, crossing the line way back in the 10s, including the likes of Andrew Crimmins. Laurie Greenland crosses the line with the fastest time, 1.6 seconds up from Alex Marin Trillo, and 2.9 seconds up from Charlie Harrison.
- Elite Women: Ragot leads the Elite Women's field, with Rachel Atherton two seconds back. There's then a massive gap between these two riders and the rest of the field. Looks like the Lenzerheide track is proving to be quite a challenge for riders to get down cleanly on.
- Elite Men: Riders are on track and timings are tight. Riders are struggling to punch through the Loic-Gwin-Fearon bubble of the top three fastest times. Bryceland manages to clock the fastest time in split one and two, but crosses the line 0.8 seconds behind Loic. Aaron Gwin clocks the fastest speed through the speed trap. Brendan Fairclough appeared to have a DNF after reaching the second split but this has now turned to a DSQ. Meanwhile, Sam Hill makes it down the track and crosses the line in 68th place, 12 seconds off the leader. It's also worth noting that Kenta Gallagher qualified 17th today. Kenta made the move to downhill from XC Eliminator this year, and looks like things are going pretty well for him.
QUALIFICATION RESULTS - ELITE MEN
QUALIFICATION RESULTS - ELITE WOMEN
QUALIFICATION RESULTS - JUNIOR MEN
is that what you call leaving one of the best trade teams in the world to go hang with 'some bros' on a sub par team with a sub par bike?
that ain't bad luck, thats called 'a horrible career decision'. neko blew it big time.
He was also dealing with an early season injury he made no excuses for (did you see his wreck at Port Angeles?).
No "horrible" career decision. And no, he didn't "blow it big time".
Since I met him, got to hear his story and why he chose his path, let alone the fact he had the ability to choose it, I'm certain he made a great choice. His brother is wrenching for him and is a dang good mech at that.
The guy couldn't have been happier with his decision and that's all that matters.
Tone it down. Don't be a meat head. You just sound hateful.
Last time I checked it was one of the biggest teams on the circuit with a whole bunch of people for just two riders, I'm not sure Trek has more.
And the quality of the bike is beyond question, nobody who rode it would say it's bad!
a podium this year would make me eat my words.
lets see if it happens.
will neko reach his potential on that team?
hateful? nah. skepitcal of that team and that bike? you bet.
hows the focus on winning and team intensity with scott/gstaad?
And your comments about the bike, oh let me guess you ridden one, compared times, picked holes in the geometry, weight vibe etc.
Brendog seems to go be going really badly.....
Sure twr is awesome too I'm sure, but just maybe neko has had other issues? Or maybe he has yet to achieve the performance people have expected on any bike? I'm in the latter camp
back what up ? its bench racing, you new to the racing world? cricket player in your youth?
maybe rugby?
bench racing, been doing it since 1995/96 with the wc mtb dh series.
and sweet to see minnaar hand the kids their asses today, been watching him since he was on that blue kona i believe waaaaaaay back at big bear.
so again, how did neko do today? podium?
Funny thing is, he said that himself in an interview at Ft Bill
Looking at those times I don't think anybody deliberately played a 'strategy'. It's certainly been done in the past and there are precedents for top gun riders crashing/mechanicaling(?) their quali run and then putting a winning run together on a 'fresher' track with an early race run.
I like to think that if you are going for the overall you grab as many points as you can. Plus I bet those guys can predict how a track will wear on race day and adjust their lines to suit.
Deep down inside I'm hoping Sam Hill played tactics and is secretly on fire.
Not sure which one they use for determining the protected riders. Anyone?
One would think that's petty, but it's just the UCI.