Day 1 - 2013 World Champs - South Africa
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 African dance show during the opening ceremony. |
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| While the pits are coming to life today, there life of a different sort behind the pits; where volunteers and security camp out for the weekend. It's an unusual vibe here in South Africa. |
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| A stark departure from the flash of the other World Cup venues here in Pietermaritzburg. Most teams are in these plain white tents set up by the venue. Feels more like a level playing field this way. |
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| Who knew titanium springs came in paper bags from Ace Hardware? |
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| While most of us have fancy team, media and tech passes, FOX's Darren Garrison looks like he had his made at Kinkos. If they have those here. |
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| Devinci's Gabe Fox and Gianluca Vernassa get some pre-Worlds jitters out with a bit of pit fisticuffs. |
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| The stage is set, and as of now, it's dry and dusty. There are going to be some unique bike set ups for this course. Will it come down to weight, fitness, or a combination of both? We will know the answer in five days. |
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| Muahahahahahaaahaaaa! |
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| Deep in the jungle of South Africa Pinkbike has found a new species of track walker.. compared to here to the common Homo sapiens.. |
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| Once thought extinct.. we have documented two females thought to originate from somewhere deep in Canada.. |
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| Micayla Gatto and Casey Brown. Casey's barefoot track walk influence has caught on and her experiment found that the track holds about 1% moisture in the dirt. |
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| Stevie's pink glasses match perfectly with his ironic hipster stash. |
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| Justin Leov is taking on a sort of coach role at Worlds giving the TWR boys help in picking lines and strategy for race day. |
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| Dust, dust and more dust. With a slight chance of rain only forecast for Friday be prepared for thing to be loose and wild. |
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| South African walking sticks are a must to fight off snakes, lions and whatever else hides in the bush. |
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| Aye mate! Can ya spot the landing ? |
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| Suns out guns out. Blazing hot spring weather down here, although it is a better option than rain. Any rain means the course will turn into virtually a mudslide. |
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| You would think after doing course walks for so many years you would remember to not wear sandals.. Sam Hill and the Nukeproof guys sliding their way down the course. |
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| Rocky Roads.. Gee checking out the last bit of rock. |
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| Shuttlin' up |
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| Pretty sleepy day here in PMB. Short Junior practice and track walk. |
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| Mark Wallace |
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| In true Kiwi fashion, Wyn Masters gets out and slays a lap of the XC course in flip flops and a hat with Blinky close behind. |
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| The first couple days have been pretty slow at PMB. Track walk took place today, and practice has been for juniors only up to this point. The big dogs have certainly had some down time and are chomping at the bit to get out on the track. |
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| Getting the final touches on Ragot's World Champs bike. |
Today was all about checking out the course and getting settled into things in South Africa. Stay tuned for updates all week as racing gets underway.
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take that all you "trendsters" on 27.5
www.daniel-ursprung.ch/Orig/durres_autobahn.jpg
UCI section 10.1.2:
Elite downhill men category is required to don the proper attire for track walks, which includes flat pedal shoes, mid cuff black socks (dress socks are acceptable given their similarity), black shorts, bright color t-shirt with team logo, huge sunglasses, Monster/RedBull hat two sizes too big (MUST cover the top part and only the top part of your ears), 12 ounce plastic water bottle manufactured only by Arrowhead or Crystal Geyser. Any violation of these rules will result in a five minute penalty or deduction of World Cup points at the UCI's discretion.
really....all of it.
about 8$...
seriously...i dont see anyone else win this, maybe Stevie since he is on such a roll, nothing can touch him. BUt on this course?! ...J.Graves FTW.
Dont get me wrong, my heart says get it Stevie,...it's yours bro!
2) Atherton
3) Minaar
4) Hannah
5) Gwin
2) Hart
3) Peat
4) Fairclough
5) Bryceland
There are a bunch of other Canadians, but they aren't at the same level.
Mik's been strong on the pedals all season, Gee has the bike and is hungry for a big win after the 'drought'. Minnaar is in his back garden but Smith is just that younger and more determined (IMO) and Gwin has been getting stronger. All split by less than 4 seconds at the line.
Only a little biased, go Aussies!
Fatass.