Pit News - Lourdes DH World Cup 2016

Apr 8, 2016
by Paul Aston  
The pits here in Lourdes are bristling with new bikes, patiently and diligently being assembled for practice by team mechanics. Ensuring that every nut and bolt is exactly where it should be, this is serious business, but that didn't stop us sticking our noses in for a snoop about to see what's new and happening.

Specialized Gravity Team

Combining the world champs rainbow stripes with a stained glass themed graphics as an ode to this religious capital, Loic's new 'Lourdes edition' S-Works Demo is gathering its fair share of attention here in the pits. With a full SRAM livery and a custom rocker, what else has Jack Roure, Loic's mechanic, got up his sleeve?

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
With RockShox team riders switching between air and coil Vivid units it will be interesting to see who opts for what spring type come race day.
Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
The S-Works Demo has already proved its worth here in Lourdes before... All eyes will be on Loic this weekend and for good reason.

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016


Rose Racing Project Prototyp's

No, that's not a typo. The Rose Racing Project pits are housing 'Prototyp' bikes for the whole team. It looks to be a welcomed big-wheeled update of their 'The Unchained' DH bike. It's also great to see another brand up their involvement in racing too.

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
What's the difference between a 'prototype' and a 'prototyp'?

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
Sporting a full SRAM drivetrain, Guide brakes, SR Suntour's RUX forks, RockShox Vivid coil shock, Schwalbe Magic Mary tyres and a Spank wheelset and cockpit - these machines are ready for action. It will be interesting to see tyre choices over the coming days.


YT Mob

The newly formed YT Mob with Aaron Gwin might have been the biggest team news leading into this year's races, but that's only part of what this new team represents. If he does what we all know he can, his YT Tues CF will most certainly have the smallest price tag of any bike on the podium.

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
Can Aaron Gwin repeat his performance here from last year? If he does, oh boy...

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
We didn't expect to see a YT factory team at a World Cup downhill event until 2017 at the earliest, yet here we are. Roll on Sunday!

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
Secrets, hmmm, secrets. There's a lot of people that would like to have a flick through this booklet...


Gstaad-Scott

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
Updated graphics and colours for the factory Gstaad-Scott Gamblers - these boys had the pace here last year and we all know that seeing a Gambler on a World Cup podium is long over due...

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
Brendan's signature 'Deathgrip' grips from DMR - after a cracking result here last year, what can Brendog do this year?


Transition/FMD

Tahnee Seagrave's FMD Team has moved from Devinci frames to Transition for 2016. After a hard off-season at her new home in Wales, we could see the youngster come of age and stamp her arrival within the elite ranks of the sport. She came close last year. Very close!

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
It's great to see this iconic brand back in the World Cup mix and there's every chance that a Transition will grace a podium or two this year.


Mondraker

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
When it comes to pit space, MS Mondraker are in a league of their own.

No major changes at the Mondraker Space Station, except Innes Graham is out and Bristolian speedster, Laurie Greenland, is in.


Santa Cruz Syndicate

Thanks to the UCI relaxing the rules on team clothing, the Syndicate is now an official trade team again with all three riders rocking the clothing of their choice - expect more wardrobe changes than you shake a stick at. Here, Doug Hatfield is putting the finishing touches to Brycelands's bike. Will we see the Rat return to the dominating pace he had in 2014?

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
New colours, same riders. After Greg's form last year, a healthy Rat Boy and with Peaty making this season his last, this could be another wild one for the Syndicate.


Cube Global Squad

The Cube Global Squad is a whole new addition to the circuit in 2016. Riding for a team instead of living out the back of a tiny Transit, we should see Matt Walker's results work their way up the sheet this season.

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
New team, new bikes and a new season. We're stoked to finally see Cube getting into the mix of World Cup DH racing. Welcome to the party!


GT

It's not only the rider's that have been switching teams over the off-season, it's the mechanics too. The most difficult thing, however, will be telling which team will involve the most post-race beer consumption? Roll on Sunday...

Lourdes DH World Cup 2016
Expert mechanic, climber and Sheffield lad, Tom Duncan, has moved on from the Syndicate and Peaty and is now throwing spanners under the GT tent for Sam Dale and Wyn Masters.

MENTIONS: @Specialized / @SCOTT-Sports / @YTIndustries / @GTBicycles / @cubebikesofficial / @TransitionBikeCompany


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech


Author Info:
astonmtb avatar

Member since Aug 23, 2009
486 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Kona Bicycles' Parent Company Appoints New CFO, Intends to Sell Brand
64732 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
47067 views
Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
44962 views
Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
44663 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
39865 views
Randoms Round 1 - Sea Otter 2024
38298 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
38188 views
Spotted: Frameworks Racing DH Bike with Electronic Fox Shock & Unreleased Enve Rims
37355 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

100 Comments
  • 251 4
 Aaron Gwin racing in Lourdes without a rear shock? Damn that takes more balls than not having a chain or tyre.
  • 132 1
 From what I've heard the coils are all too soft for him, he might build a steel bar in there.
  • 21 52
flag poah (Apr 8, 2016 at 2:44) (Below Threshold)
 see how he gets on with a cracked stay lol
  • 36 3
 Well, that's a shock which World has not seen yet.
  • 31 0
 I heard Aaron Gwin was testing plutonium, but it was too inconsistent
  • 22 2
 Not even a fork is necessary.
  • 22 0
 No shock and fork so he will probably hover over everything.
  • 35 2
 It takes some tough choices to have the cheapest bike on the podium. Especially if you have to beat GT to it.
  • 41 0
 Wonder how Gwin's sponsors feel that he can win races with out their equipment on his bike
  • 20 39
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 8, 2016 at 4:09) (Below Threshold)
 Is this the comment thread for Deliberately Unofficial Gwin Hate Rally?
  • 10 3
 @WAKIdesigns: hate ???
That's a bit harsh mate.
  • 12 4
 @WAKIdesigns: I don't think so. It is more about respect for what he's proven to be capable of on a damaged bike.
  • 17 36
flag WAKIdesigns (Apr 8, 2016 at 4:17) (Below Threshold)
 nah Smile i know it's cool, just trolling and catching fish...
  • 4 7
 GWintastic
  • 9 0
 He has weird grips on his bike. Or is this some kind of grip protection for travelling?
  • 1 0
 @Pr0Sasch: Aren't these foam grips like ESI?
  • 4 0
 @Pr0Sasch: I think I saw them last year at a WC, Yeah I think they are for keeping it clean/protected in transit and in the pits.
  • 2 0
 @daweil: I heard the bar was going to be Ti. More compliance or something. Annoed to match the frame of course.
  • 5 0
 @Roostinit: i thought this was a joke at first.... gwins new sponser? lol www.pinkbike.com/video/440931
  • 2 0
 Holly shit this is being exciting ! can´t wait for the storm!
  • 3 0
 @Waldon83:
The front cover of Aaron Gwin's Restricted Data mentioned Atomic Energy Act.
  • 2 0
 You guys think I'm joking?
Aaron Gwin IS science.
I heard that he can make two negative magnets stick together, and that his date of birth is e=mc2
  • 2 1
 Loic's paint job is one of the best I've ever seen! What happens to letting the riders have more say on what they want their bike to look and mix it up every race (Polygon not that I would buy one are exactly the same as last year, YAWN), I know manufacturers may want them to ride the same colour bikes as what us minions can by in the shops but we all know that their bikes and components won't be in our grubby mits for at least another year or so.
  • 103 2
 Loic's demo is a thing of beauty
  • 34 2
 Yep that is one of the best paint schemes I have seen
  • 4 1
 + 1 Thats a sweet looking ride
  • 7 1
 agree.. best looking demo so far IMHO
  • 41 5
 All those bikes look so amazing. Something happened in the industry. Lorics bike, holy moly... Best paint job ever in my books. If I had as much money as Jay Leno I'd buy all those bikes to put into my garage. And that V10 in silver arrow style. Wowzrerz
  • 5 0
 That bike wouldn't be out of place at the Worlds (as his surprise bike).
  • 36 1
 The difference between a prototype and a Prototyp is, that 'Prototyp' is the german word. I admit this was no easy guess talking about a german company.
  • 17 3
 Who would have thought that there are other languages out there, in this vast world, besides english?
  • 26 0
 Stoke levels are off the chain.
  • 32 0
 Oh, so they're at Gwin levels?
  • 3 0
 @MTBrent: that's the joke.
  • 20 0
 Prototyp = Rose = German
Just say'n
  • 9 1
 Prototyp is Prototype in Polish as well. I smell some Polish engineering there... Mhmmm...
  • 52 1
 How dare you point out that there are other languages besides English in the world... Next you'll be saying there is not only one god.
  • 23 1
 @headshot: there's only one true god #NicolasCage #onetruegod
  • 2 0
 Prototyp = prototype in czech
...their fem. rider is czech...
...just sayn´ Wink
  • 13 0
 I could just scroll and scroll and scroll when the Pitbits/Techbits post come up at world cup. I think we all have a nerdy side, and seeing those bikes, hearing about the mechanic's mods and maybe learning a thing or two about new ways to setup your own bike just makes me feel so grateful for the amazing coverage and level of detail that these boys at Pinkbike manage to get out to us.
Don't get me wrong, I love Dirt Mag, but ever since Parkin Bros left for Redbull and they changed the format of the website.. Pinkbike has just whacked it out the park with the quality AND quantity of their tech related posts.

Keep up the good work boys!! Big Grin
  • 15 2
 " his YT Tues CF will most certainly have the smallest price tag of any bike on the podium""
isnt that price normal? why do u think its expencive?

maybe all the other's are Overpriced....
  • 4 0
 Yeah.. And also I doubt the Rose downhillers are/will be more expensive
  • 17 1
 @daweil: but I doubt they will come anywhere near the podium...
  • 2 0
 @tabletop84: gotta agree there
  • 4 9
flag neologisticzand (Apr 8, 2016 at 6:34) (Below Threshold)
 They are making a joke that parts of his bike always falls off, thus making it less expensive than it was at the start of the race.
  • 6 0
 @neologisticzand: no they actually are not....
  • 13 0
 GO RAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 13 4
 If Gwin dominates on a YT and it becomes the no. 1 selling brand.

Will the other manufacturers cut their prices?
  • 6 4
 YT makes more off of each bike than the other manufacturers do that sell them through shops. So it's not about other manufacturers lowering price, it's about the direct to consumer with higher profits program that YT is doing. Cutting out the shop profits and making more themselves.
  • 7 1
 This line of thinking is just hilarious. First, you know how far YT has to go to do that? Second, you do realize that the majority of people who buy mountain bikes and ride have no idea who Gwin is right
  • 7 0
 but are they metric-enabled frames though?
racing rigs and already outdated
  • 7 1
 I love that they racing production spec Tues frames - Its the GT3RS of bikes
  • 3 0
 I'll take one with hand-cranked windows, please.
  • 4 0
 Why does Gwin's Fox Secret manual say something about "Defined in the Atomic Energy Act" Is he employing some secret nuclear tech we don't know about?
  • 5 0
 I'd love to take a look in there if I couldn't get to sleep.
  • 4 0
 Because that's legitimately a US Government Secret classification cover sheet they snagged somewhere.
  • 4 1
 haha stole that cover page from somewhere else...I noticed that too since I see those a lot at my work ;-)
  • 1 0
 @tim-from-pa: The first rule of Fight Club....
  • 4 2
 Ah Pinkbike you forgot to mention that Brendon and Neko's gambler have a new carbon rear triangle and that they increased their top tubes by 15mm. Vitalmtb one upped you there and also getting the Claudio preview first. Of course, you are still wife number one for me, err I mean site number one...
  • 6 1
 That Demo got me jaw-dropping... What a beauty!!
  • 3 0
 yes, new cube team, more bike variations, welcome!

nice looking black stanchions rux forks also... but where's marzocchi?
  • 2 0
 its a shame marzocchi are not on any bikes, I guess fox wont allow it as they bought them out, it would be good to let fox sponsored riders have a choice of which brand to ride though
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know why the mechanics take apart the forks like that? Where they leave the crowns on the bike and just pull the stanchions through, is it easier to service like that?
  • 2 0
 .you don't have to take the headset apart each time you take the forks off. No faff having bars hanging down by the cables.
  • 2 0
 The UCI kit rule wasn't exactly fair. The Specialized and Scott teams never wore the same kits!!
  • 1 0
 those ODI grips though on gwins Tues... not sure if they're just covers but if they actually incorporated some color logo's into the rubber i love it, very motocross-esque
  • 2 0
 really nice to see logan peat got a job in the GT factory team as a mechanic
  • 1 0
 people could read thru that secret fox book all they want. it still wont make them as ballsy and talented as a rider as gwin is...
  • 3 0
 "i'm excited"
  • 2 0
 More fox this year, really need to try them out
  • 2 0
 1. Gwin 2. Mike Jones 3. Brendog
  • 1 0
 Brosnan, Fearon, Hill. Any combo you want. I seriously put it to you they will exceed points as you have proposed.
  • 1 0
 @gonzoracing: let's see
  • 1 0
 no
  • 2 0
 Prototyp = prototype in German!
  • 2 0
 Magic mary is everywhere !
  • 2 0
 Well up for seeing a YT on the top spot. Crack on Mr Gwin.
  • 2 0
 What's going on with the Demos blue springs? Bit messy if you ask me.
  • 1 0
 Obviously the best way to keep some documents secret is to print them out and write SECRET in big letters on the cover.
  • 1 0
 by the look of it gwin is riding Shockless? first tireless, then chainless, now this, the mans gone mad!
  • 6 6
 Trek should of been included here. Definitely a team of high interest this year!
  • 1 0
 What brakes is Bruni using!?!
  • 2 0
 I think it looks like a Guide lever with a Code caliper.
  • 2 0
 Is Wyn racing?
  • 2 0
 He said hopefully when I asked him on FB the other day. So yeah hopefully he is.
  • 4 3
 A little bit of wee came out when i saw that Demo
  • 1 1
 So Gee has now contradicted himself in an interview. His Sesh is indeed a custom geo newly moulded frame.
  • 1 0
 How does one put brand new GT frames on cement?
  • 1 0
 obviously a Prototyp is a bike Prototype that has not been finished yet!!
  • 1 0
 I'm going to have a panic attack.
  • 1 0
 Fox suspension is looking popular
  • 1 0
 Mmmmmm secrets
  • 1 0
 loic's bike so nice
  • 2 4
 Santa Cruz's Doug Hatfield is looking at that bike and thinking "What the hell has Josh done to this thing?"
  • 1 4
 GWIN WIN will be the proof that it's the man not the bike
  • 4 3
 Because what? YT is not as good as V10? Remember SC boasting about their frames being beatifully finished and empty even on the inside? Go revisit that Canyon Sender carbon article where they presented a sample frame with cut outs... GWin on YT can rather prove that many manufacturers are full of crap.
  • 3 3
 @WAKIdesigns: gwinner actually went on the record to say the yt has the exact geometry he wanted specialised to put on the demo but they wouldn't do it. It's the perfect bike for him. I hope he wins, with Mike Jones second and Brendog third
  • 4 0
 @jaame: That's not what Gwinn said. He said that the YT has the same geometry that he helped develop into the Demo. Just out of the box, the YT had the same geo as his Specialized race bike.
  • 4 1
 @dualsuspensiondave: ahem.... 'Literally, every change that I wanted to make to my last bike, geometry wise, was where their bike was now. I kind of had a laugh at that.' Aaron Gwin
www.pinkbike.com/news/its-yt-industries-exclusive-gwin-interview-2016.html
  • 1 0
 @garcmol: Exactly. He had to work with Specialized to make the geo changes where the YT was already that way out of the box. Bike manufacturers don't deny racers like Gwinn, changes to their bikes. They pay them for helping with development, and it's the job of a factory pro to do so.







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.051812
Mobile Version of Website