Only 22% of Enduro Racers Think Penalties are Fair & Consistently Applied - Pinkbike's State of the Sport Survey
Welcome to the 2023 Pinkbike State of the Sport Survey. This anonymous survey is designed to help shed light on key issues affecting the professional field and elite competition. We surveyed the best riders in the world to hear their thoughts, ideas, concerns, and criticisms on mountain biking as we go into 2023, all in an anonymous format. To read the introduction to the survey click here, and to see all the other currently published SOTS articles click here.
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The Pinkbike survey has revealed that 49% of EWS racers feel that penalties are not fairly and consistently applied.
Worryingly a further 29% of riders feel neutral on this topic leaving only 22% of racers surveyed finding that the current organisation tackle rules breaches consistently and fairly. The data paints a difficult picture, with racers apparently not having confidence in the organizers that any matter will be handled correctly by the respective authority. In this case, since 2019, the UCI and ITA (International Testing Agency).
As part of the survey, riders who currently find racing as a whole unfair were asked to leave a comment on why they that way. The response from riders has included allegations that there can be elements of favoritism.
Other respondents have suggested that some riders are getting extra track time compared to the rest of the field. There are also comments suggesting some elite riders are conducting unauthorized shuttling of stages and generally bending the rules. Also, very concerningly, there is also a perception amongst some that there hasn't been strong enough punishment for riders caught doping.
It is worth pointing out that while our data represents riders that don't feel rule breaches are being handled to their full extent, there is a general consensus of 65% of riders that the racing is overall fair. This however is notably less than XC or downhill, which both have around 90% of riders feeling that the racing is fair and honest.
When asked if they'd like to leave a comment to represent their views on issues of fairness and sporting integrity, several riders did note that they felt that the lack of consistency was troubling, with particular instances noted of riders pre-riding courses, course cutting, favoritism, illegal assistance on transition stages and lurid accusations of doping. It's hard to say for sure to what extent these comments should be taken at face value, and we'll hopefully be able to delve into the issue further, as well as explore the other trends from the survey, with stakeholders at the elite level of enduro, in the coming weeks.
The Pinkbike survey has revealed that 49% of EWS racers feel that penalties are not fairly and consistently applied.
Worryingly a further 29% of riders feel neutral on this topic leaving only 22% of racers surveyed finding that the current organisation tackle rules breaches consistently and fairly. The data paints a difficult picture, with racers apparently not having confidence in the organizers that any matter will be handled correctly by the respective authority. In this case, since 2019, the UCI and ITA (International Testing Agency).
As part of the survey, riders who currently find racing as a whole unfair were asked to leave a comment on why they that way. The response from riders has included allegations that there can be elements of favoritism.
Other respondents have suggested that some riders are getting extra track time compared to the rest of the field. There are also comments suggesting some elite riders are conducting unauthorized shuttling of stages and generally bending the rules. Also, very concerningly, there is also a perception amongst some that there hasn't been strong enough punishment for riders caught doping.
It is worth pointing out that while our data represents riders that don't feel rule breaches are being handled to their full extent, there is a general consensus of 65% of riders that the racing is overall fair. This however is notably less than XC or downhill, which both have around 90% of riders feeling that the racing is fair and honest.
When asked if they'd like to leave a comment to represent their views on issues of fairness and sporting integrity, several riders did note that they felt that the lack of consistency was troubling, with particular instances noted of riders pre-riding courses, course cutting, favoritism, illegal assistance on transition stages and lurid accusations of doping. It's hard to say for sure to what extent these comments should be taken at face value, and we'll hopefully be able to delve into the issue further, as well as explore the other trends from the survey, with stakeholders at the elite level of enduro, in the coming weeks.
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to paraphase a classic saying....the cheating will continue until morals improve.
Why not hide a load of those camouflage game cameras around the place? Keep the locations secret, but let riders know that they exist on the course. Review the footage after the race, perhaps with respect to some form of confidential reporting system?
Anyone caught shuttling is banned from the remainder of the series, and the footage of them cheating is released...
Surely the embarrassment of being caught AND irritation of destroying your whole season should be enough to deter offenders?
- Beacon has to be worn non-stop from announcement of track until end of event, prevents illegal riding of tracks.
- Unannounced checks of beacon/rider.
- Reporting system, to figure out the riders who officials must have a closer look at.
- Career ending fines (as Swiss we know a thing or two about this from our traffic fines
I know the beacon thing is a bit orvellian, but hey - they all use Instagram etc. and have no problem sharing their whole life with Meta et.al.
anyways, modeling anything after the european propensity for draconian and tyrannical measures of control, isn't the way the logical world does anything. You could say, what you are suggesting is.....Orwellian.
I own a enduro bike, ride enduro (when I'm in the mountains at least) but I couldn't tell you who was last year' winner in the EWS...
Not biased or being too specific about which of these are considered more egregious forms of cheating, just pointing out that there are different classes of banned substances. I know this has already been cordially discussed by all the smart PBers in the 2019 articles/comments.
Not sassing as I don't know exactly what the AFLD and WADA rules at the time dictated, but I believe riders that have tested positive for banned substances were relegated suspensions based on the AFLD/WADA guidelines/rules.
2023 is looking like the climax year of EWS hate, with ESO taking over and ruining World Cup racing. How was Chris Ball allowed to do this so easily without resistance??
If they can't figure out a way to make the EWS coverage entertaining this year, just make Enduro amateur and force the Enduro racers to race world cup dh if they want to make a living riding bikes.
Absolutely bring on the supermod class.
That was probably the best example of what you are looking for, plus we got a great look behind the curtain as to how it all happened.
I'm not just throwing shade here. History was made in that era. In more ways than one.
Plus, Steroids, Peptides(BPC 157) and SARMs(TB500) for injury recovery put you way ahead of the game should one cop a serious owie.
To race two high-intensity races on one day means you will be tired in the second race, no matter whom you are. The ones that will rise to the top will be those most recovered, and fatigued riders skills will not always save them.
There is a buried incentive in the semis to push hard - not only the near equal points for winning, but 7th place and lower get more points in the semi than in the final. The lads and ladettes will be pushing on Sunday morning.
All this adds up to looking for "help" for some people.
FIFA, IOC, UCI,... Why would we expect ESO to be any different or that they wouldn't being handed additional power and responsibility despite these allegations?
But since the UK riders are only really at the sharp end in the women's field - are they pointing the finger at Hattie, Ella or Bex?
Sure, without witnesses it can be tough to prove, but a rider stacking up a pattern of protests from a variety of different competitors certainly is going to deliver a reputation that would be discouraging of unfair play.
Overall in my experience, the majority of sailing competitors are honest and don't knowingly break the rules. The system works for the most part.
Not everyone is going to avoid riding those trails in advance in the spirit of the competition.
- did the alleged cheaters, dopers and privileged athletes participate in the survey?
- If so, what were their answers?
- how does this all affect the results? : - D
-Nate Diaz