@TobiasHandcock: Alas, they’re not… As far as sport is concerned, there is little interest in sports other than football and road cycling in the French media… So with the exception of the specialised press, these riders’ results will remain largely unnoticed. When Pinturault won the overall and GS crystal globes in ski racing back in March, hardly anyone noticed. A crying shame and a sad state of affairs.
Yeah, well, maybe they should race in only three locations next year - that would almost guarantee “surprises” in the last race…
I really like the way Vali rides, but she didn’t bring it together this year anywhere besides Snowshoe - and walks away with the overall.
And Bruni’s 4 Worlds titles show that he is the guy to perfectly put it all into that one final run - but personally I feel that should maybe not be the way to win overall.
@FuzzyL: The only way to win the overall is to have the most points by the end of the season. That's it. Sometimes it's a sh*t show up until the very end, sometimes someone runs away with it. Your assessment that Vali didn't "bring it together anywhere besides Snowshoe" is BS because that includes a 2nd place & a 3rd place. Myriam had crashes. Vali had crashes. That's racing. But Vali had a better overall season and that's why she is the women's World Cup Overall winner. If anything, this season shows that Vali has the mental fortitude to comeback and overcome, which, in my opinion, is more impressive than starting out strong but not being able to finish it.
@FuzzyL: yeah but why change the rules for the last stage? No points for qualification but 250 for the run. The last run become way more important. With a constant rule the woman overall would not be the same.
@FuzzyL: Myriam was in the position she was in BECAUSE Vali crashed twice at the start of the season. One of those she would have won if she kept it upright. Their seasons were more than comparable due to the fact they both had 2 crashes. Taking that in to account, Vali gained more points. Being ahead coming in to Snowshoe and looking like the likely overall winner doesnt mean its yours or you deserve it more. 2 crashes each and 1 gained more points so they win.
@fautquecaswing: My point exactly. It was like they wanted as much as possible to depend on that one last run. Understandable from a suspense point of view, but not what I expect to be the criteria for overall.
@MTBcrash: yep but once again most qualies worth 50 and one worths 0, most races worth 200 and the last one worth 250. It is good for drama but not for fair-play (at least in my opinion).
@fautquecaswing: same for everyone. Maybe not ideal but it isn't unfair, they all started the season knowing how the points would be allocated. I feel sorry for Myriam too but it wasn't inherently unfair, on her or anyone else.
@mccarthyp: I don’t think anybody says it is “unfair”. In the end, everybody knows what’s at stake and have to bring their run down.
But these where replies to a post that said, DH is awesome, because we now have surprise overall world cup winners - and there I beg to differ.
If the circumstances only allow for five different venues, than that’s the way it is. Not sure, if it’s a good idea to run that last one twice, but whatever.
But, at least to me, that does indeed favor riders like Bruni who are especially good in an environment where it all comes down to that one run.
In DH we already have an event for that type of rider with the Worlds.
The World Cup overall, I think, should be more about consistency, about being able to ride well all year, and do equally well on as many different tracks as possible.
If someone walks away with the overall it will never be “undeserved”. But that kind of unpredictability should not be a main criteria for the design of the overall in the future, if you ask me.
@FuzzyL: I have many times commented on the unique nature of the world champs and the one run pressure. Having said that, we had two races in Snowshoe purely because of Covid. And ultimately it was still the aggregate of a season's results.
@Rayfound: that is exactly the point. She felt even more but still won, only thanks to a different rule on the last race. So the last race is more important. Why ? For drama, not for any sport-based reason.
was very saddened by Loris, he has lost the World Cup for two years in a row. Someday he will have to win, although today it has been seen that he could not bear the pressure.
Greetings
@stylishskier: if you watch the men’s and women’s races it seems that quite a few of the Fox riders had trouble at Snowshoe. The forks were transmitting far more shock and vibration through to the riders which was evident when watching their arms vibrate/shake like mad in the rock gardens. Not sure if this was Loris’ issue because he seemed exhausted but this could have taken a toll on hi over the double header. I couldn’t help but think they would have been better off with a dual crown Fox 36 on this course instead of the mega stiff 40. The riders on Rockshox and Ohlins seemed to be in far better control.
@bogey: i had the same impression. Looked like many fox forks didnt use full travel or were set up pretty hard? Counter example would be loics Öhlins which seemed to use full travel and seemed to hug the ground. Plus: i guess loic hit his lines in the rock garden veeeeery precisely.
Loris definitely seemed off. Like one of those days where you just don't feel in control on the bike and little mistakes really add up. Too much pressure. Crazy how good Loic is under massive pressure.
We had the race on at our bike shop and I saw at the end of Pompon's run they were filming Vali Holl just looking totally stunned. It was pretty crazy, she just could not believe that she'd won the race and the overall - then Pompon came into the finish area and looked equally stunned, but not in as much of a good way. I think they were both just like "how did that change so quickly"
I agree and I think Pompon is an incredible rider, absolutely talented, committed and insanely fast as was evident from the split times. It looked like a small mistake, perhaps under pressure, she was trying to get every pedal stroke out of that straight and went slightly wide onto the gravel as she turned. Vali's change in mindset has undoubtedly helped her though, she was making similarly small but significant mistakes early on in the season but seemed to relax into a season she probably thought she would never win. I think the two of them along with Marine Cabirou and Camille Balanche will provide an incredibly exciting season next year. The high attrition rate of the Snowshoe double round was a bit of an upset, I didn't enjoy watching some of the rock section carnage, the racing was fantastic and the riders did an amazing job but it felt a bit artificial; forcing tired riders into some brutally painful mistakes. Why not just end with Rampage and let BK take the overall win?
What a race!!! Mind blown.... you never know what is going to unfold on race day !!!
Sik Mik.. what a career!! They way you have represented your family , Country and the mtb community is a true testimony to who you are as a person !! Seeing your boys come out to greet you after your final run was very emotional.. 2 boys super proud of their Dad!! Hold your head high and be proud of what you have achieved both on the track and most of all off the track!! You have inspired countless numbers of kids and adults across the globe to get on a bike and have fun. Well done Mik.. Stellar career and a absolute true Gentleman of the sport !!
Side note.. camaraderie/mateship amongst these athletes is the icing on the cake of a great sport !!
Here at snowshoe and what a race it was. Loudest cheers at the finish by far were for Troy. Would have been great for him to get the win again but bruni's strength and conditioning are clearly second to none. He's so composed from top to bottom and is always in the hunt. Race was exciting to the last rider!
@danstonQ: I agree with you 100% bro, this had nothing to do with no lucky-underwear. Very unfortunate series of events for Commencal either way, though.
Absolute mental event. Thought Pompon would win both Snowshoe races and was I evah wrong. And the men’s - Daprela still with a chance of winning, Reece’s (un)luck, an on form Suarez, Brosnan, Iles, and Super Bruni back. They all brought the heat today!
Pene ruling the key section almost to the end. Big things coming for him I reckon. Kinda gutted for Reece - where would he have finished if not Les Gets and a couple of technicals?
Not 1, but 2 French washouts in the last 30 seconds of track giving Valli the title. Marine's last corner slip, the difference between Myriam winning the overall by 4 points and 0.28s.
Snowshoe and French drama go hand-in-hand.
it is hard to judge from outside but when you saw the overall standings before the weekend Commencal team gave more than 100%. Maybe you can ride it smarter to secure the overall.
This might be an unpopular opinion but here goes: I think we need to do more for the safety of the riders. I'm certain that the casualty rate in our sport among the top is worse than any other sport in the world, even motorcross. Since the riders are not going to go any slower regardless of courses or bikes, the only feasible thing that can be implemented is safety attire - compulsory neck, spine brace, and "suit" esp around the trunk, pelvis and femur. It has to be compulsory. No one is complaining in F1 now are they.
Otherwise it's only matter of time that one gets permanently disabled or killed in the middle of the race.
Incorrect, they will go slower due to course changes. Limiting man-made/"manicured" sections and adding corners would slow them down. It's not possible to go as fast through a section if there are 3 corners instead of 1 or 2 all other things equal. Crashing is going to happen no matter what and the riders are autonomous humans who can be responsible for the risk they are willing to expose themselves to. No need to mandate anything. I would prefer more corners and rougher tracks for my spectating pleasure, but as for safety I expect the riders to know their limits and choose what they consider worth the risk.
Amazing race and year. Brutal too. DH is like some rollerball/roman gladiator shit. We need more races per season but I'm not sure how many would survive.
Damn' froggies
I really like the way Vali rides, but she didn’t bring it together this year anywhere besides Snowshoe - and walks away with the overall.
And Bruni’s 4 Worlds titles show that he is the guy to perfectly put it all into that one final run - but personally I feel that should maybe not be the way to win overall.
But these where replies to a post that said, DH is awesome, because we now have surprise overall world cup winners - and there I beg to differ.
If the circumstances only allow for five different venues, than that’s the way it is. Not sure, if it’s a good idea to run that last one twice, but whatever.
But, at least to me, that does indeed favor riders like Bruni who are especially good in an environment where it all comes down to that one run.
In DH we already have an event for that type of rider with the Worlds.
The World Cup overall, I think, should be more about consistency, about being able to ride well all year, and do equally well on as many different tracks as possible.
If someone walks away with the overall it will never be “undeserved”. But that kind of unpredictability should not be a main criteria for the design of the overall in the future, if you ask me.
Not sure if this was Loris’ issue because he seemed exhausted but this could have taken a toll on hi over the double header.
I couldn’t help but think they would have been better off with a dual crown Fox 36 on this course instead of the mega stiff 40. The riders on Rockshox and Ohlins seemed to be in far better control.
Regardless, watch the videos of Fox vs RS riders carefully and the difference is obvious.
Counter example would be loics Öhlins which seemed to use full travel and seemed to hug the ground.
Plus:
i guess loic hit his lines in the rock garden veeeeery precisely.
It looked like a small mistake, perhaps under pressure, she was trying to get every pedal stroke out of that straight and went slightly wide onto the gravel as she turned.
Vali's change in mindset has undoubtedly helped her though, she was making similarly small but significant mistakes early on in the season but seemed to relax into a season she probably thought she would never win.
I think the two of them along with Marine Cabirou and Camille Balanche will provide an incredibly exciting season next year.
The high attrition rate of the Snowshoe double round was a bit of an upset, I didn't enjoy watching some of the rock section carnage, the racing was fantastic and the riders did an amazing job but it felt a bit artificial; forcing tired riders into some brutally painful mistakes. Why not just end with Rampage and let BK take the overall win?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=soYrn1IfeBo&list=RDsoYrn1IfeBo&start_radio=1
Sik Mik.. what a career!! They way you have represented your family , Country and the mtb community is a true testimony to who you are as a person !!
Seeing your boys come out to greet you after your final run was very emotional.. 2 boys super proud of their Dad!!
Hold your head high and be proud of what you have achieved both on the track and most of all off the track!!
You have inspired countless numbers of kids and adults across the globe to get on a bike and have fun.
Well done Mik.. Stellar career and a absolute true Gentleman of the sport !!
Side note.. camaraderie/mateship amongst these athletes is the icing on the cake of a great sport !!
I agree with you 100% bro, this had nothing to do with no lucky-underwear. Very unfortunate series of events for Commencal either way, though.
Surprised to see a chain drop on a high idler bike.
(I'm aware this year was a freebie if you were on a team)
Maybe you can ride it smarter to secure the overall.
Otherwise it's only matter of time that one gets permanently disabled or killed in the middle of the race.
Great seasons by all!
Down with the patriarchy!