Leogang World Cup 2011 - Day 2 Timed Training
Photos by Colin Meagher
![Fond memories of the 11 pounds of mud roughly five kg for the metric minded that were caking Gee Atherton s bike after the Maribor 2010 DH have had Stevie Bell Gee s wrench getting a bit obsessive at finding ways to keep mud from packing up Gee s Commencal frame when conditions are sticky.]()
![Crashed out hard Time to make an appointment with Martin the Masseur. Short of a broken limb the man is genuinely gifted at getting battered racers put back together in time for a qualifying or race run.]()
![The Anthill crew unloading the gear trackside.]()
![The queue formed up in a hurry for early AM runs on the track...]()
![Sweet looking roost...]()
![Eliot Jackson looks to be another diamond in the rough for Yeti Cycles. Keep an eye on this kid.]()
![Shaun O Connor the other half of the Yeti Factory DH team is another rider to keep an eye on.]()
![More young guns. Plate number 160 was Mark Scott s World Cup debut number last week at Fort William. The new number 59. That s climbing the ladder quickly.]()
![Gee and Dan tag teaming line choices. Gee went outside Dan went inside. Notes are compared on the ride back up.]()
![Not one of the fastest but definitely one of the smoothest. Antonio Ferreiro.]()
![Achtung Most of the course side electric fencing was turned off to avoid repeats of last year s shocking experiences.]()
![Danny Hart was riding out of his mind today. The kid will likely podium again.]()
![Hey Ian how about some hazard pay Someone forgot their plastic baggies a much needed accessory in this type of shooting...]()
![Three Dog Night sang that one was the loneliest number. Course side here at Leogang it would have to be 272 - the last rider on the starting list. Qualifying the men will take nearly 3 hours.]()
![Brendan Fairclough doing his homework. The top 80 riders get a closed 90 minute practice. Running plate number 81 means Brendog is off that select list. Hopefully we ll see him back up to speed after this race.]()
![Rachel Atherton looking for the path of least resistance in the woods.]()
![Greg Minnaar keeping it low on the wall ride.]()
![Race courses evolve as riders punish them. Leogang has a whopping 172 men on the start sheet and 42 women. To say that the track has evolved after 8 hours of having the stuffing knocked out of it would be an understatement. Ruaridh Cunningham and Mark Scott heading up to assess the damage.]()
![Hammering man part deux. A major bomb hole in the lower woods gets a bit of a bridge anchored in place to keep things safe. With a rubber mat]()
![As DH practice wound up in came the rain.]()
20110610 LEOG DHI ME Results Timed Training20110610 LEOG DHI WE Results Timed Training
Fond memories of the 11 pounds of mud (roughly five kg for the metric minded) that were caking Gee Atherton's bike after the Maribor 2010 DH have had Stevie Bell, Gee's wrench, getting a bit obsessive at finding ways to keep mud from packing up Gee's Commencal frame when conditions are sticky.
Crashed out hard? Time to make an appointment with Martin the Masseur. Short of a broken limb, the man is genuinely gifted at getting battered racers put back together in time for a qualifying or race run.
The Anthill crew unloading the gear trackside.
The queue formed up in a hurry for early AM runs on the track...
Sweet looking roost...
Eliot Jackson looks to be another diamond in the rough for Yeti Cycles. Keep an eye on this kid.
Shaun O'Connor, the other half of the Yeti Factory DH team, is another rider to keep an eye on.
More young guns. Plate number 160 was Mark Scott's World Cup debut number last week at Fort William. The new number? 59. That's climbing the ladder quickly.
Gee and Dan tag teaming line choices. Gee went outside, Dan went inside. Notes are compared on the ride back up.
Not one of the fastest, but definitely one of the smoothest. Antonio Ferreiro.
Achtung! Most of the course side electric fencing was turned off to avoid repeats of last year's shocking experiences.
Danny Hart was riding out of his mind today. The kid will likely podium again.
Someone forgot their plastic baggies, a much needed accessory in this type of shooting...
Three Dog Night sang that one was the loneliest number. Course side here at Leogang, it would have to be #272 - the last rider on the starting list. Qualifying the men will take nearly 3 hours.
Brendan Fairclough doing his homework. The top 80 riders get a closed 90 minute practice. Running plate number 81 means Brendog is off that select list. Hopefully, we'll see him back up to speed after this race.
Rachel Atherton looking for the path of least resistance in the woods.
Greg Minnaar, keeping it low on the wall ride.
Race courses evolve as riders punish them. Leogang has a whopping 272 men on the start sheet, and 42 women. To say that the track has evolved after 8 hours of having the stuffing knocked out of it would be an understatement. Ruaridh Cunningham and Mark Scott heading up to assess the damage.
Hammering man part, deux. A major bomb hole in the lower woods gets a bit of a bridge anchored in place to keep things safe. With a rubber mat?
As DH practice wound up, in came the rain.
20110610 LEOG DHI ME Results Timed Training20110610 LEOG DHI WE Results Timed Training
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24 Comments
- 15 0
jaketinnelly
(Jun 10, 2011 at 21:48)
Pretty cool seeing Barel and Gracia right up the top
- 2 0
northernstorm
(Jun 10, 2011 at 21:22)
Great pics Colin! And an awesome coverage of Leogang so far, thanks Ian. And the fourth picture, the closest bike, is that Norco's new prototype? It looks like it.
- 1 0
samuelity
(Jun 10, 2011 at 21:50)
wow great pictures
- 5 0
IanHylands
(Jun 10, 2011 at 22:32)
yeah it does look like it doesn't it, about what I'd expect for the Dirt Norco Team...
- 1 1
swearmouth
(Jun 10, 2011 at 23:39)
Yeah. The thing that confirmed that for me was the seatpost support+integrated clamp.
- 2 0
BeastlyBrant
(Jun 11, 2011 at 7:13)
i really like the colours on that norco proto, havent seen a scheme like that in a long time
- 1 0
swearmouth
(Jun 11, 2011 at 16:59)
what is it with people and neg-propping me? And yeah, I saw a couple today at whistler and they were super sick looking.
- 3 0
duncanp
(Jun 10, 2011 at 22:49)
tape looks like it might just be hiding p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/109/photos/21171/s780_IMG_8842.jpg
- 1 0
DirtyDee
(Jun 11, 2011 at 1:20)
Yeah, think your right. Obviously they are the pros but i thought messing with the linkage like that would cause too much flex and put extra sideways forces through the shock and bushings?
- 2 0
bigburd
(Jun 11, 2011 at 2:55)
It only gotta last one run though I guess , factory team benefits !
- 1 0
bunkey
(Jun 11, 2011 at 5:14)
Gee will no doubt be getting new bearings for his race run, as will most teams - A bit of extra sideways strain isn't really an issue.
- 2 0
takamine206
(Jun 10, 2011 at 23:23)
Need some more women riders!
- 1 0
snook
(Jun 11, 2011 at 0:19)
I'm sure Mark Scott has raced a world cup before Fort William last week, I saw him practicing there in 2010.
- 1 0
sngltrkmnd
(Jun 11, 2011 at 0:22)
Great pics, good insights. This still looks like an awesome track - I'd love to give it a go.
- 2 3
r8mac24
(Jun 11, 2011 at 2:12)
gwin or minnaars track imo. looks to smooth and peadally for most of it. dont get me wrong the woods are steep and technical, this should be gee's playground, but no need for a v-10 on this terrian.
- 3 0
webbe
(Jun 11, 2011 at 3:38)
No need for a v10? Were you not watching when Peaty won the world champs in Australia on probably the flattest DH track ever raced at World level... He was on a V10. Having said that, those flat sections do look quite bad, think the track overall looks pretty sick though, loving the super tech, steep sections.
- 2 0
goulldy
(Jun 11, 2011 at 5:05)
V10s didn't exactly hold the syndicate back at Petermarizburg either... Both Greg and Peaty in the top 5 and I think the syndicate were leading the team comp when they left South Africa!
And the carbon V-10s do step down to a moderate 8.5 inch travel setting!
- 2 0
WAKIdesigns
(Jun 11, 2011 at 10:56)
Buahaha, what do U suggest?! That they should jump on a Heckler?! Or maybe change the contract before tommorrow and ride for Trek just to win the race as if it mattered at all which DH bike on which track they ride... Ugh...yaaarp!
- 1 0
pperini
(Jun 11, 2011 at 14:16)
naaa..better a Nomad))) V10 brother! V10!!!
- 1 0
WAKIdesigns
(Jun 12, 2011 at 9:22)
Heckler or Bullit would add some vintage badass factor to it...
- 1 0
crividh
(Jun 11, 2011 at 1:36)
Keep a eye open on Danny Hart this year.
- 2 3
hexhamstu
(Jun 11, 2011 at 4:07)
Yeah good tip! I wasn't aware that he was any good.
- 1 1
I-SmacK-I
(Jun 11, 2011 at 5:43)
No need for such negativity man
- 1 0
CaarsoN
(Jun 12, 2011 at 23:31)
mean clips!
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