La Bresse World Cup DH Day 2

Aug 6, 2011 at 19:29
by Colin Meagher  

Again with the coffee. If it weren t for SRAM s caffeine support of the working media none of these images would be possible.
  Again with the coffee. If it weren't for SRAM's caffeine support of the working media, none of these images would be possible.


Myriam Nicole dropping in with her fellow teammates for the final time during the morning s practice session before qualifying. Pom Pom s come on strong this season and is representing the female equivilent of the young guns .
  Myriam Nicole dropping in with her fellow teammates for the final time during the morning's practice session before qualifying. Pom Pom's come on strong this season, and is representing the female equivilent of the "young guns".


Dan Stanbridge of Dirt Norco dropping in.
  Dan Stanbridge of Dirt/Norco dropping in.


Steve Smith was definitely on this morning. Usually Steve s a bit mellow on the track during training--pushing only as hard as he needs to in order to get a feel for the track but this morning the Devinci rider was pretty full tilt.
  Steve Smith was definitely "on" this morning. Usually Steve's a bit mellow on the track during training--pushing only as hard as he needs to in order to get a feel for the track, but this morning the Devinci rider was pretty full tilt.


Minnaar looked to be the one to beat based on his perceived speed during training. But a few mistakes on the track had Minnaar a few seconds back behind Aaron Gwin in qualifying.
  Minnaar looked to be the one to beat based on his perceived speed during training. But a few mistakes on the track had Minnaar a few seconds back behind Aaron Gwin in qualifying.


The food tents and beer gardens on the track side are something that you don t find trackside in North America. Pity... The lines were long but the saucisse and frites were bomb as was tucking back a a cold one between practice and qualies.
  The food tents and beer gardens on the track side are something that you don't find trackside in North America. Pity... The lines were long, but the saucisse and frites were bomb, as was tucking back a a cold one between practice and qualies.


Sabrina Jonnier has been struggling since falling off a step ladder in her kitchen way back in February and bruising her tail bone but the Rocky Mountain Maxxis rider was looking a lot stronger in qualifying. She was a bit over 6 seconds off pace but was in ahead of Myriam Nicole.
  Sabrina Jonnier has been struggling since falling off a step ladder in her kitchen way back in February and bruising her tail bone, but the Rocky Mountain/Maxxis rider was looking a lot stronger in qualifying. She was a bit over 6 seconds off pace, but was in ahead of Myriam Nicole.


Smith did turn in an exceptionally fast qualifying time beating out a determined Gee Atherton for second in qualifying.
  Smith did turn in an exceptionally fast qualifying time, beating out a determined Gee Atherton for second in qualifying.


Dan Atherton continues to improve qualifying 60th today.
  Dan Atherton continues to improve, qualifying 60th today.


Everyone loves a persona delivery. Phillipp Martin of SRAM dropping a bit of Blackbox love to a few riders this morning.
  Everyone loves a personal delivery. Phillipp Martin of SRAM dropping a bit of Blackbox love to a few riders this morning.


Ruaridh Cunningham and Mark Scott of Rocky Mountain Maxxis are the fruits of Chris Ball s dirt school. The young Scots represent a small surge of talent coming out of Scotland. Only 80 riders qualified today but 3 of them are former students of Chris seen lounging here in red .
  Ruaridh Cunningham and Mark Scott of Rocky Mountain/Maxxis are the fruits of Chris Ball's dirt school. The young Scots represent a small surge of talent coming out of Scotland. Only 80 riders qualified today, but 3 of them are former students of Chris' (seen lounging here in red).


Racing done but work s just starting for the mechanics. JC of SRAM giving a due date for the Giant Boxxer fork overhauls.
  Racing done but work's just starting for the mechanics. JC of SRAM giving a due date for the Giant Boxxer fork overhauls.


Day one in the pits saw a fair number of cut spikes taking to the track the grass and rain earlier in the week meant softer turf and a need for some extra grip. Once the track started to burn in many riders swapped out the spikes for more all conditions tires like the Maxxis Minion or the Schwalbe Muddy Mary tires.
  Day one in the pits saw a fair number of cut spikes taking to the track; the grass and rain earlier in the week meant softer turf and a need for some extra grip. Once the track started to burn in many riders swapped out the spikes for more all conditions tires like the Maxxis Minion or the Schwalbe Muddy Mary tires.


It wouldn t be France if the track wasn t aswarm with local paparazzi.
  It wouldn't be France if the track wasn't aswarm with local paparazzi.


Beaumont is one who could put it all together here in La Bresse. It s a short track with more than a few interesting bits that mean making mistakes here will punish a careless racer with a shit time vs glory.
  Beaumont is one who could put it all together here in La Bresse. It's a short track with more than a few 'interesting' bits that mean making mistakes here will punish a careless racer with a shit time vs glory.


Brook MacDonald and the rest of the young guns will be the ones to take chances here. And on a short track like this that s either going to mean going big or blowing up--there truly is very little room for mistakes here and there are a lot of places with potential for errors on this track despite it s abbreviated length.
  Brook MacDonald and the rest of the young guns will be the ones to take chances here. And on a short track like this, that's either going to mean going big, or blowing up--there truly is very little room for mistakes here, and there are a lot of places with potential for errors on this track, despite it's abbreviated length.


Young guns What young guns. Greg Minnaar is worried about only one thing winning.
  Young guns? What young guns. Greg Minnaar is worried about only one thing: winning.


Can you say PROtotype Aaron Gwin is not rocking a standard XTR master cylinder on his Session.
  Can you say "PROtotype"? Aaron Gwin is not rocking a standard XTR master cylinder on his Session.


Nor is Gwin rocking a standard Saint rear caliper.
  Nor is Gwin rocking a standard Saint rear caliper.


Unpacking the Atherton s bikes from a bit of vactation time in Whistler means rebuilding them from scratch. Rachel Atherton took a few extra minutes to dial in her cockpit this morning before taking to the track.
  Unpacking the Atherton's bikes from a bit of "vacation time" in Whistler means rebuilding them from scratch. Rachel Atherton took a few extra minutes to dial in her cockpit this morning before taking to the track.


The French National racing federation makes wearing back plates mandatory. Marc Beaumont expresses his disdain for another country s racing federation dictating what he has to wear during a World Cup in no uncertain terms. If I was racing a French National race sure but this is a World Cup. We shouldn t be held to their racing standards only the UCI s.
  The French National racing federation makes wearing back plates mandatory. Marc Beaumont expresses his disdain for another country's racing federation dictating what he has to wear during a World Cup in no uncertain terms. "If I was racing a French National race, sure; but this is a World Cup. We shouldn't be held to their racing standards, only the UCI's.


Labresse is a bit different for a European track. There is no chairlift just a truck uplift.
  Labresse is a bit different for a European track. There is no chairlift; just a truck uplift.


Racing a World Cup in Europe is a different animal than in North America. A public ceremony to introduce the top pilots saw the riders signing autograph after autograph from hordes of young fans.
  Racing a World Cup in Europe is a different animal than in North America. A public ceremony to introduce the top "pilots" saw the riders signing autograph after autograph from hordes of young fans.


TSA--the American agency charged with analyzing threats in the checked luggage in the USA is definitley getting a lump of coal from Monkey Vasquez of Trek World Racing. They searched his tool box en route to La Bresse. Not a big deal--Monk understands security concerns. But he does NOT understand the manner in which they dumped everything willy nilly back into his tool box. It s gonna take me all day to organize all my tools again an irate Monk-Dawg stated.
  TSA--the American agency charged with analyzing threats in the checked luggage in the USA is definitley getting a lump of coal from Monkey Vasquez of Trek World Racing. They searched his tool box en route to La Bresse. Not a big deal--Monk understands security concerns. But he does NOT understand the manner in which they dumped everything willy nilly back into his tool box. "It's gonna take me all day to organize all my tools again," an irate Monk-Dawg stated.


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28 Comments
  • 17 5
 why is it that at the end of world cups gee and them are given flowers on the podium? we r not F1 drivers. In my opinion we should be given bike parts and fireworks by naked girls! much more suited for us downhill riders Smile
  • 12 1
 Dan Atherton's plate # is 69. Sweet!!!
  • 7 0
 That caption should read: "Greg Minaar is only worried about one thing: Aaron Gwin (Just like everyone else)"
  • 7 0
 Thats def the 2013 saint on aaron gwins bike.
  • 1 0
 Yes, new Saint next year.
  • 1 0
 Shit, I just got all new saint stuff for my new build! Shoulda held off for a little...
  • 1 0
 I'm waiting.
  • 6 1
 If my eyes dont deceive me, Brooks photo's up twice, probably for maximum radness, Go Kiwi !
  • 2 0
 Not seeing duplicates... maybe I'm just missed something...
  • 3 0
 I didn't see anything twice . . .
  • 1 0
 more than only Brook's photo Wink see here www.pinkbike.com/news/La-Bresse-World-Cup-Gwin-and-Moseley-qualify-fastest.html
  • 7 6
 When you are in someone else's country, you abide by their rules as far as I am concerned, otherwise you might find you won't be racing there at all in the future.
  • 2 1
 Yeah but when you are a world cup rider you normally have an advantage of bending the rules, such as not like wearing a back plate.
  • 2 1
 i think they should have been recomemded but not compulsory, meet in the middle with them
  • 2 0
 2nd photo ''i like big buts and i can not lie'' Razz
  • 1 0
 Those panning shots are crisps.... sweet shots as always can't wait for the race
  • 1 0
 In the last pic, are the disks on the table proto's also for the Shimano saints?
  • 2 0
 Looks like a regular xt disc to me
  • 2 0
 correct
  • 2 0
 i reakon stevie smith could have it
  • 1 0
 Great pix! Its the next best thing to being there.
  • 1 0
 Feel for monkey, also double post with that shot of Macdonald.
  • 1 0
 Great grouping of shots Colin! Poor Monk!
  • 1 0
 headie!
  • 1 0
 Pretty good pics !
  • 1 0
 Screw the TSA!
  • 1 3
 what is that coating on the stanchions on steve smith's boxxer?
  • 2 0
 DLC - Diamond Like Coating







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