La Bresse World Cup - Gwin and Moseley qualify fastest!
Photos by Colin Meagher and Fraser Britton
In what has become almost expected, Aaron Gwin has qualified fastest at La Bresse. He's followed by Steve Smith, Gee Atherton,and Steve Peat, all over two seconds back. Brook MacDonald has been a regular fixture in the top 10 this year however he flatted and finished 195th, but as a top 20 rider he still gets to race tomorrow. In the women's qualifying it was no surprise with Tracy Moseley qualifying first ahead of Floriane Pugin two seconds back, and then Sabrina Jonnier at six seconds back. Rachel Atherton crashed in practice and chose to sit out qualifying, she's in the top 20 so she's protected and will race tomorrow in the final.
![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.]()
![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.]()
![Peaty s won here before. And his last race showed that Sheffield Steel is by no means ready to retire.]()
![photo]()
![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.]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
![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.]()
![Gee Atherton is another racer who s struggled with bad luck this season. But the sheer grit he exhibits as well as his power and technical prowess will likely see the G-Man stepping back onto the box.]()
![Sabrina Jonnier s tailbone injury has continued to plague her. Originally injured in February Sabo has most definitely had a off year. But the time off to heal up since Windham could very well see her return to form. And a home crowd will definitely be pushing a motivated Jonnier.]()
![Danny Hart is most definitely a threat to derail other riders dreams of glory he performs well under pressure and his ability to both see lines and his willingness to take chances make him damn near a lock for podium.]()
38738 DHI ME Results Qualifying Round
38738 DHI WE Results Qualifying Round
In what has become almost expected, Aaron Gwin has qualified fastest at La Bresse. He's followed by Steve Smith, Gee Atherton,and Steve Peat, all over two seconds back. Brook MacDonald has been a regular fixture in the top 10 this year however he flatted and finished 195th, but as a top 20 rider he still gets to race tomorrow. In the women's qualifying it was no surprise with Tracy Moseley qualifying first ahead of Floriane Pugin two seconds back, and then Sabrina Jonnier at six seconds back. Rachel Atherton crashed in practice and chose to sit out qualifying, she's in the top 20 so she's protected and will race tomorrow in the final.
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.
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.13th in qualifying.
Peaty's won here before. And his last race showed that 'Sheffield Steel' is by no means ready to retire. 4th in qualifying.
Blenki heads into the last section of track full speed during timed training on Friday. If you can carry speed into this last few tight corners you can absolutely fly into the finish steeps.
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 flatted in qualies but will race tomorrow.
Young guns? What young guns. Greg Minnaar is worried about only one thing: winning. 5th in qualies
Eliot Jackson was one of the first riders go get a bit wild on his way into the second steep section, double up the rocks hidden in the grass and pinning it into the rocky corner.
Aaron Gwin was the other rider absolutely pinning it into this section, he skipped across eveything on the way in, and dropped into the middle line here, avoiding most of the chunder and holes. Whatever he did on track it worked, qualifying fastest by 2 seconds.
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.
Gee Atherton is another racer who's struggled with bad luck this season. But the sheer grit he exhibits as well as his power and technical prowess will likely see the G-Man stepping back onto the box. 3rd in qualifying, can he keep it together in the final?
Sabrina Jonnier's tailbone injury has continued to plague her. Originally injured in February, Sabo has most definitely had a "off" year. But the time off to heal up since Windham could very well see her return to form. And a "home" crowd will definitely be pushing a motivated Jonnier. 3rd in qualifying but 6 seconds back on a short track...
Danny Hart is most definitely a threat to derail other riders dreams of glory; he performs well under pressure and his ability to both see lines and his willingness to take chances make him damn near a lock for podium. 10th in qualifying
38738 DHI ME Results Qualifying Round
38738 DHI WE Results Qualifying Round
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That being said, Go Stevie Smith! End Gwins streak!!!
That's aaaallllll Gwin right there
Hell...I think webbe has my vote from all this discussion...at that level, i just can't picture someone talking any thing to get considerable advantage at Downhill scene...perhaps in some way it can be use something to help on the strenght of arms...and somewhat the legs....but definitively this is your freaking skills and performance of the bike itself as a combo...and the Session have being proven since long ago that is the real deal bike, it just needed the right rider....or what? you'r going to say now that Semenuk, McCaul, Moseley, Leov and Mulaly are into something too...?!!!....If we were off discussing road cycling/XC...then, yes, I would definitively reserve my comments here...but in this...I just don't buy it...
Utterly classless and tasteless actions. These kind of accusations are disgraceful and are LITERALLY based on absolutely nothing other than people angered an American is doing well. No one involved with the WC ever suggested anything of the sort or even joked about it, all these accusations came from people like deeds and you.
Also, go Peaty.
I'd REALLY lay of the anti-faith remarks.
TYVM
- some people just operate on another level!
the only stuff gwin will be taking is a hight intake of carbs, protein, and possibly creatine (it's not a drug, it's a natural supplement), but i just think it's his sheer determination, any of the brits that read Dirt Mag this month will find an interview in there, he's so chill, but so determined and focused! props to the dude!
And nothing wrong with being wary of doping? Why then has no one here even brought it up or accused other pro riders UNTIL Gwin started winning, and why is he the ONLY one being accused? Just all of a sudden people here are "concerned" and "worried", despite years of no one making a peep about it, yeah right. He is far from my favorite rider right now, but even I can see the BS from a mile away.
And yes, that will probably come across as abrasive, but I'm genuinely pissed about this garbage being perpetuated here and anyone else who genuinely loves the sport and all the riders should be as well.
i don't believe it at all! gwins been training hard! maybe harder than the rest, and like elcielo said he has some of the best crew to help him do it!
personally i doubt doping will ever be introduced in downhill.
I think the anti-American comments are bullshit too, but the fact is, it's a very small minority that have suggested Gwin be tested solely because he's American. Whenever someone goes on a winning steak like he has, particualrly now, when times are tighter than ever it's bound to remind people of similar feats performed by athletes who were doping. People suggest that he be tested because he's the one putting 5 second gaps between himself and second place. When this kind of thing happens in sport it means that an athlete has some kind of leg up on the competition, whether it be training, gear, confidance, raw talent or something shadier.
Nobody wants to see biking go down the path that many sports have, and this kind of domination by one rider simply brings that idea to mind. It's hardly fair to Gwin, but assuming he's not doping (and I truly doubt he is) he won't mind proving that he doesn't need a banned substnace to dominate.
"but assuming he's not doping (and I truly doubt he is) he won't mind proving that he doesn't need a banned substnace to dominate."
I've seen a lot of people say it. And he HAS done everything they asked of him testing wise and nothing came up. So he didn't mind proving he was clean at all, because he's done it multiple times throughout the season.
The fact is the vast majority of these accusations only surfaced because gwin was winning and he was American. Like I said, when Gee was killing it no one even thought to bring up the fact he could be doping, any time ANY rider has done amazing no one made a peep. All of a sudden though people are getting out their pitchforks and torches because of the nationality of a rider. How you can't see this...I don't understand.
I'm not making excuses for anyone, as I realize that many of these people would never accuse a rider of thier own nationality.
I could repeat my points in an effort to change your mind and get through what appears to me to be a bit of a 'world is out to get us' mentality, but until now I feel like this has avoided descending into an argument, and I'd rather it stopped before it did. cyrix, I should mention what you said is undeniably very valid, I just feel like from your point of view the problem seems much larger than from mine (which is fair enough), or in my opinion than it is in reality.
If you really feel like I'm out to lunch, go ahead and PM me. (Wouldn't want to clutter up poor Kenny's dash
It's not a "'world is out to get us' mentality" when people actually say these things with relative frequency. Maybe if no one actually said anything like what I had posted, yes. But a ton of people have said those things. And what's worse is they get upvoted for it when it's complete propaganda.
Maybe I'm just a rare breed of person who appreciates all the riders and roots for them all to absolutely murder a track. I think I would go ape shit if say Dan Atherton, Peaty, Brosnan, or Smith won a round. I personally am capable of not giving a shit where the riders are from because they all have unique personalities that I find interesting and nearly all of them ride with a fire in them that I can't possibly recreate. It's a sad day for the sport when you feel like the odd man out for liking all the riders while a significant amount of people here argue about nationalities being important. f*ck that noise and f*ck those people who think where you're from is what defines you as a person.
1. America already has a bad rep. so ignorant folk will look down on any American regardless of who that person actually is and to them I say, f*ck off then ignore them because they cannot be fans of the sport if they hate an accomplished rider for their nationality.
2. I'm stoked to even feel this way because the last time that people could attempt to bad mouth a winning American in DH was when I didn't even care about the DH circuit.
In the end, I feel your pain but it's going to be expected amongst SOME younger/ignorant/hating fans of the sport but even that is also a sign that it's expanding and creating more spectators. Only the ones that matter know to look beyond a person's nationality
Oh and Kenny, Here's another notification! Hahaha! Just kidding, this is my last post here.
Gwin you got this!
btw: RIP Warriors...
It just goes to show you who the real fans of the sport are.
Unless he crashes there is no doubt where he will be on the podium come sunday.
As far as I'm concerned this is about biking, who gives a shit where the riders come from? all I want to see is a show of skill, talent and determination.
MTB isn't a spectators sport unlike most other sports, I for one will be watching all of the techniques and incorporating them into my own riding style.
Let the best riders out there on the day win!
Blah blah blah...
We know they're badass!
USA USA USA!!!
cyrix...you speak the truth. CG = Legend.