Downhill World Cup #1, 2010. Maribor, Slovenia. Day 1 of practice.

May 14, 2010
by Fraser Britton  
The Downhill World Cup season got underway officially today at 8:30 am local time here in Maribor, Slovenia. Riders took to a muddy course that quickly dried and turned to hero dirt by timed runs at 2:45. The roots, the rocks and the corners are all back, with a few extra twists.

Check out some quick snaps below of the first day of practice of 2010 - inside you'll see the new Specialized DH bike, the Yeti Prototype, and the Intense M9 Prototype!
photo
Let's get it out of the way. Specialized has a prototype downhill bike under Sam Hill and, seen here,
Brendan Fairclough. It's black, it's light and it goes good and fast. No closeups allowed!

photo
It's the only day of sun we will have all week. No flashes, and Mick still glows in the dark!

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Bryn has been doing tons of riding in the PNW. He is used to mud and roots and ruts now.
Apparently, he can slay rocks as well.

photo
The infamous rocks are back, with a twist. A couple actually. Riders now weave back and forth to make it through them, no more straight shot at mach 5. Skills will be tested when the mud gets dragged onto them.

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One of the French POC team riders was easily the most stylish person to boost this root ball all practice long. Lines were all over, left, right, high, low. It'll be interesting. Sam Hill even manualed it, where last year he turned it into a massive triple.

photo
Yeti has a new bike as well, and Aaron Gwin has been abusing it all day.

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Chris Kovarik's Intense M9 Prototype. Look for a feature on it soon.


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55 Comments
  • 8 1
 Is anyone as excited as i am to see who is going to come out on top???? who do we reckon??
  • 2 0
 Oh yes, I am so excited.

That M9 looks the business, can't see a linear rail on the Yeti I guess it's hidden behind the swingarm?
  • 2 0
 yeah its like hidden in the yellow prtion of the swing arm
  • 2 0
 im liking the new spesh demo already
  • 1 1
 yea i think its the best of the demo and sx trail with a lower bb and maybe a little longer, looks sick,
  • 2 0
 Retro yeti colors!
  • 1 0
 Its vertical, on the seat-tube, the lower point of the rear triangle attaches to the slider. Not its first outing by a long shot.
  • 1 0
 looking forward to a close up on that specialized. and im pumped on wc starting again!
  • 1 0
 Greg Minnaar FTW
  • 5 1
 do we all just expect things for free these days and really have to moan about it when we have to pay a TINY fee for a great service. its less than a cost an inner tube. step up or shut up. its the most exciting sport in the world.
  • 3 0
 best sport in the world!!
  • 4 0
 This year's world cup series is going to be awesome. So much talent...you got the podium regulars like Peat, Minnaar, Hill, Atherton plus a bunch of young guys like Fairclough, Steve Smith, etc that we should be seeing in the top 5.
  • 8 0
 Go Bryn!
  • 3 0
 GO LOOOOOOOOOCH!
  • 5 0
 Yeah- LOOOCH! Oh and Nick Beer, Luke Strobel and Aaron Gwinn! WHOO HOO its race season again!
  • 2 3
 USA! USA! USA!
  • 2 0
 Go PNW guys!!! haha!
  • 1 0
 PNW USA FTW
  • 1 0
 in the us its 3 bucks you cant go wrong. if no one wants to pay that then whos going to cover it? no one will, and the coverage doesn't suck at all. great veiws of the dopest shit and the announcer great. you cant get anything like that here in the us on any channel or like web cast. bunch a girls its 3 us bucks.
  • 4 0
 o yeah...prototype intense M9,beautiful bikes...go go go
  • 5 1
 That new Demo looks sooooooooo nice! Razz
  • 7 2
 looks like a breed between sx trail and demo Razz
  • 1 0
 In other words............AWESOME!! Big Grin
  • 2 1
 Andy. No, no it doesnt.
  • 1 0
 hmmmm ... i think it does...
  • 1 1
 Nope, it is not similar to an SX at all except it is a specialized and it has suspension.
  • 4 1
 You can afford dowhill, but can't afford a $3 fee to guarantee that you get coverage through the season? Wow.
  • 3 0
 that course looks so nice a wish a could ride it!!!!!!!!!
  • 3 1
 That Rock Section!!! how are people suppost to ride that?? I guess thats why they are pro and I am not.
  • 2 0
 WHERE ARE WE GUNNA BE ABLE TO WATCH IT!

you have to pay for freecaster now!?
  • 1 0
 Weather report for Maribor DH final? Rain, more rain and wind!
This is going to be an interesting race!

meteo.arso.gov.si/met/en
www.sat24.com/alps
  • 2 0
 can't wait, this season will be awesome
  • 1 0
 eurosport 2 usually cover the dh.. they did last year.. this is going to be a great season
  • 2 0
 Carbon GT might just be that bit faster. We'll see.
  • 10 0
 Carbon V-10 with Carbon wheels ... and the champ was fast last year, just wait, you just wait!
  • 2 0
 going there tomorrow!!! cn't wait Razz
  • 1 1
 all these new bikes that i could never aford great i am so gelious of these pros
  • 1 0
 new Demo very beautiful
PS where i can see this race?
  • 1 0
 freecaster.com
  • 1 0
 or extreme sports if you have that channel
  • 1 0
 Is the downhill tomorrow?
  • 1 0
 i'm stoked , i gotta see the winner this year!!
  • 1 0
 be nice if Stevie Smith took this one....xcellent pics Fraser
  • 1 0
 Damn, every other rider has Deemax rims :p
Want some!!
  • 1 0
 the demo looks very transition tr450ie with the front triangle
  • 1 0
 mountain bike racing on eurosport 2 in uk @16.30 today... 4x ??
  • 1 0
 GO BRYN!!
  • 1 0
 Filip Polc rox
  • 4 3
 mick hannah
  • 1 0
 hey! gotta cheer for Looch mang!
  • 1 0
 Me like new Demo
  • 1 0
 Damn, I want that M9
  • 1 0
 Ben Cory anyone?
  • 1 2
 chris kovairks gonna b flying dis year!
  • 3 6
 is there another spot other than FEEcaster? where there's no cover?
looks cabrone-fiber is trying to be king on the circuit this year.







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