1. Cecile and Isabeau are the queens of consistency.
While Cecile has been utterly dominant, Isabeau is still in touch for the overall. With a slew of 2nd place finishes, she's only 250 points back; and, with 400 points for a win in the women's series, Cecile needs to stay sharp to take the overall.
2. Sam is running away with the men's race.
With Wallner pulling out of the last round, Sam has extended his lead. Oton is still a threat, but his results are volatile—he's only been on the podium once this year. Sitting in 3rd, Maes has been on the podium 4 times this year, but missed the Colombia round and faces an uphill battle in the overall.
3. The DH folks are smashing it.
The "Enduro Specialists" I've expected to start owning this discipline, haven't. Yet, anyway. Eddie Masters took 3rd, Blenki took 15th. And with Cecile taking 2 World Cup DH podiums this year, it's clear that the stages being ridden on the EWS are incredibly high level.
4. Eddie Masters is having a very good year.
Coming off a top-10 World Cup DH in Vallnord, he added his 2nd EWS podium in La Thuile. Also, he carried a water bottle in his pocket all race.
5. Jesse Melamed is back.
With a 4th place this weekend he's clearly recovered from his broken collarbone, and is a legitimate podium threat going into his home turf in Whistler, BC.
6. Tire brands that aren't Maxxis or Schwalbe are winning EWS races.
Enduro is likely the best litmus test for reliability, so it's noteworthy that Michelin (under Sam) and Hutchinson (under Cecile) are leading the series. It's probably been two decades since those two brands were at the pointy end of the MTB pack under Nico and Anne-Caro.
Other oddities:• In each Top 20 overall there are only 2 British men, but 5 British women.
• Only 30% of riders in the Men's and Women's Top 5 Overall are on 29ers: Damien Oton, Cecile Ravanel, and 5'2" Katy Winton.
• 90% of riders in the Men's & Womens Top 5 Overall are on carbon bikes. Cecile is the exception to the rule.
What did we miss? What stood out to you this during this weekend's race?
Previously:•
Video Highlights: EWS La Thuile 2018•
Photo Epic: Race Day 2 - EWS La Thuile 2018•
Final Results: EWS La Thuile 2018•
Photo Epic: Race Day 1 - EWS La Thuile 2018•
Day 1 Results: EWS La Thuile 2018•
Photo Report: Practice Day - EWS La Thuile 2018•
Bike Checks & Tech From The Pits•
The Essential Guide to EWS La Thuile 2018
Mentions: @EnduroWorldSeries
www.xxcycle.com/marques/michelin/images/large/dh32.jpg
image.ceneostatic.pl/data/products/47927501/i-schwalbe-magic-mary-27-5-x-2-35-sg-vsc-tl-e-zwijana.jpg
www.pinkbike.com/photo/16136082
An image is worth a thousand words.
www.cheapbikeparts360.com/products/michelin-dh32-at-26-tire
"Gravity Shield" 3x33 TPI casing
"Gravity Shield" 3x60 TPII casing
DH32 www.cheapbikeparts360.com/products/michelin-dh32-at-26-tire
Sam DH22 www.pinkbike.com/photo/16136082
For best results print both pictures and put them next to each other.
* No, I am not "26 for life" idiot, I simply ride a bike which is not broken and still rides well.
New Michelin has a series of 3 blocks in its repeating tread pattern, which is like the Magic Mary and not the DH 32. The new Michelin also has a far more regular/singular cornering knob, which is more like the Magic Mary and not the DH 32.
maybe Sam didn't get the memo
Comp 16 = Highroller
Comp 32 = Minion DHF
Comp 24 = Minion DHR
Michelin was the premier tire manufacturer back in the day. The new Sam Hill tire looks a lot like the old Comp 32 with a bit of Magic Mary. It would be a stretch to accuse Michelin of copying another manufacturer since Michelin pioneered the most popular patterns used today nearly 20 years ago! Know your history.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheng_Shin_Rubber
www.instagram.com/p/BSf9GjKhSEm/?taken-by=wakidesigns
*disclaimer I am being a dick to Keit since he's been growing a cyst in his anus over my posts since some time. I am trying to pop it.
Ok, these are quite different tyres and similarity is only in the untrained eye. Even though they may look similar to some people, butcher has side knobs which are narrower by almost a half in the riding direction and are only slightly longer. Their angular shape serves absolutely no purpose, it's a "design". Firthermore they have no sips paralellel to riding direction. That makes them evidently worse at cornering than Minion DHF because they squirm. Because they do squirm a lot they let go abruptly thus they are not as predictable. So you end up with tyre that has less definite cornering grip and additionally breaks off without warning. Pre 2018 hard rubber compounds for Control and Grip did not help it either. I have owned almost every single iteration of Minion DHF (old 1plies in 50a, 60a, EXO, old DH in super tacky, later 3C DH compound, EXO MaxxGrip, currently DD Maxxgrip) and Butchers GRID and Control. The only thing BUtcher does better is it rolls faster.
G5 and DHR2 are extremely similar, but G5 is cheaper. G5 has a bit more on off feel but feels more solid to me when leaned over. I have owned BOTH (DHR2 in Maxx Terra EXO). I still own G5s.
Minion DHF and G4 are identical in feel. No shit. I am however aware of my past and remember good old times when I thought that Nobby Nic has lots of grip or Gazzaloddi was a great tyre. Not to mention how fond I was of DHR1 on the rear. You know, If you can't ride you may think that Hans Dampf is a good Enduro tyre.
Do you want me to continue? Magic Mary and Shorty? Thorough comparison of semi slicks Minion SS EXO, Rock Razor SS, SG and Slaughter GRID? Great Aggressor vs shitty Ardent? HR and HR2?
Some XC Tyres?
Maybe you aren't going fast enough? my only butcher complaint is that they wear out quickly. I like how you say evidently. it means you are just guessing.
man just stop making stuff up. I know its the internet, but come one dude!
WAKIdesigns says:
I like you, we are very similar, however just like me you fall short with your assumptions as soon as you elaborate them further. Data shortage. I just wanted to prove to you that you cannot hurt me more than I can hurt myself. Race me? Uneducated? Trumpian? Coward? Honestly? Do people actually get intimidated when you speak to them this way or you just haven't tried it in real life? You talk like a 16 year old looking for a fight. Do you know how many "discussions" like that I have had? What the hell do you think you're doing here? Trying to outsmart a fool in his own game? You can try to get on your high horse all you want. Many many tried, I am just typing sht online, I don't give a flying f*ck what people like you think of me, I am just entertaining myself. Maybe because I got more friends than enemies by putting a stick into an anthill... journos, engineers from bike companies, sales reps, mechanics and racers on WCup race. and I will care about you?
You took a wrong turn man.
Oh and no hard feelings... honestly, you're just another pissed off dude. I can understand that. Make this a better day for yourself and ignore me.
Name calling , trying to put people down ,. I know better, you know nothing.
He needs to stop typing and go out and help his fellow Swedes with the fires.
@makripper really? I mean really? So you decided to skip any information value in what I just wrote and focused on calling someone who frequently posts parts of “bury the hatchet” PM a twat? Huh you got serious and righteous man, do you wear a v-neck pullover now? Golf? Did they get you to play Polo? Do you wear their shirts? Runout of weed?
Oh sorry, really, I thought that if a dummy like me can get it, anyone can get it. Now you genuinely made me feel smart about myself. Thank you.
I wish i could pull of a v-neck! damn, maybe one day
In all seriousness Michelin should just start remaking the Comp 16, 24 and 32 in modern sizes and modern compounds and casings and they would take over the tyre market again.
Enduro is about going 90% over the race. Consistent speed and staying smooth on tracks you might not have even ridden or got one run on.
Yeah they're both about going downhill, but the puzzle pieces needed to win each event are unique.
I've never ridden flats, but I'd venture to guess one reason someone (in a racing context) would prefer them is the ease of getting your foot back ON and hooked to the pedal, allowing you to approach sections/your flow a bit differently.
Obv the approach to weight distribution and riding in general is different on flats vs clips, which for people like Sam is probably what keeps him on them...
I dno, I've never understood flats cause I've never used em for dh
After many years (I've been mountain biking for 27 years now) and riding both flats and clips extensively, I'm back full time on flat pedals. Long pins and good shoes are key, yes. I ride more smoothly, faster and more confidently on flats. I do think that for me there's a mental aspect of being on flats and knowing I can dab and correct a slide more easily without having to unclip.
Some of the kids I coach have been fast to get on to clips and I've been trying to get them back to ride flat pedals for enduro stuff to get them to focus on some of the more nuanced techniques in mountain biking.
Either way, I think with the steep, loose, technical trails that are being thrown at these guys, opting to go back to flat pedals is something I'd be considering.
Having said that, Jesse and Yoann and other BC locals have no issue riding BC gnar clipped in. But maybe when racing something unknown is different.
Skillset not flats.
And Indeed Cécile Ravanel is too! It would have been so great to have Tracy Moseley, Anne Caroline and her competing together.
I ride a 27.5 before I get shot down in a hail of fire.
I'll stick with Michelin over those two manufacturers.
- for example are 30% of all riders on 29ers, and 70% on 27.5?
- are 90% of all riders on carbon frames?
These might not be that odd after all.
Change back to 27.5 is clear with the tracks getting harder than some DH tracks the riders are switching from bikes like Hightower LT to Nomad and Co with more travel to cope with it.
Things we learned too! It's cool to run a rear mud guard again, at least when you are Sam Hill!
And that it doesn't slow you down when you are having children like Sam and Yoann do!
www.pinkbike.com/photo/16149232
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhahahhahahahhahaaaaaa!
That says it all.
As had already been pointed out many riders teams don't have a viable 29er to race and Rob Wallner who dropped out of this race would've been top 5 on his 29er, skewing the stat. How many raced on 26? That says it all.
What's your point?
Then there's carbon's use in handle bars and cranks, which I think is downright irresponsible and dangerous.
Bravo to Commencal for being a large-ish manufacturer that has thought about this sensibly.
#saynotoplastic
Read the article.
"Read the article", to the guy who has written the article... HAHAHA
You made my day!