Saw an interview with him and Rob Warner on Redbull TV last night, and he was throwing some serious shade at GT and the Bike he has been on. Basically said that he has been doing everything he can on his part to train and be fit but the bike just never felt like it was there. If he feels like everything is clicking now he could have a hell of the season. But whatever happens it looks to be an exciting start to the season.
@WhatAboutBob: ACC has done well in EWS and DH but never dabbled in XC, has she? She has proven to be proficient on the BMX (olympics 200 but I don't whether she ever did any DS or 4X. I do trust that if she ever participated, she should have done well. That said, even comparing a rider to ACC does say something.
She would most likely win the world title first time out. She is just that much better then any other woman out there in downhill. If they timed the uphills also she would get killed but since its pretty much a bunch of mini dh races.
miniDH races.... well enduro races actually are longer DH races.... not at the same level of jumping.... an enduro stage could last up to 15 minutes, even when others can last 2 minutes... so It is harder for your body than racing DH....the fact is that enduro tracks could be longer but never harder ????????
@leopaul: I seriously doubt she lacks endurance, have you seen how many road miles the Athertons put in in the off season? She seems to me the type of person that if she decides that her primary focus will be EWS, then she will crush it.
@PauRexs: I think she would do very well, and would not be surprised if she won the title first time out. I mean if she just went out right now and switched to EWS it might be tough because she trained for DH this year. But given an off-season of training for EWS to get her endurance up, I would not be surprised if she won the whole thing, mich like Sam Hill did. High level DH riders that have crossed over have generally had a lot of success.
Another element is the amount of practice. WCDH athletes memorize every grain of sand and blade of grass and dial in their lines to perfection. Miss one pedal stroke and they lose. I wonder if Rachel is a meticulous memorizer or if she’s a destroying beast like Hill.
It’s much easier to build endurance than to build skill. That’s why ex downhillers, not XCers dominate EWS. With access to Red Bull coaches and facilities Rachel would turn into EWS killer within one winter. It doesn’t mean she would demolish Cecile straight away but please bear in mind that Cecile was behind Caro and was outclassed by Tracy Moseley in the same way she outclasses the rest of the girls right now.
@sino428: I have some real feedback... So I know she is not on the endurance hard trainning and sufering at all... She is just very skilled and prepares just enought to easly win in DH. EWS is suffering and many others things... Then she can not finish a local enduro race someone said... We have to respect that some Dh racers what they like is just going down without pedaling too much in a controled enviorment... that s it.
@PauRexs: I think it’s ridiculous to think that Rachel couldn’t finish a local enduro race. She of course could, she just chose not to because she didn’t want to. She said she doesn’t like pedaling. It doesn’t mean that she couldn’t do it if she wanted too.
@WAKIdesigns: As much as people like to talk about EWS as some kind of all mountain discipline, at the end of the day it’s still a downhill race. They aren’t timing the uphills so the ‘race’ is still happening on the downhills.
I also think the endurance thing is even a bit overblown when it comes to riders on that level. Top DH riders have great endurance. They train hard, ride long distances on the road bikes, etc.
Even when you compare a typical race it’s probably not as different as people think due to the lack of practice allowed in EWS. Take a typical DH race weekend. These riders have a practice day full of runs, timed training, practice runs on qualifying day before their run, then more practice before they hit a race run on Sunday. Considering the EWS is largely just race runs with limited practice, the amount of actual riding probably isn’t all the different.
@PauRexs: unfortunately I do know what I am talking about and have friends that race the ews but I should go into a little more detail by what I mean. Rachel would need to commit to the training for an EWS and not just a week of training but a whole year at least. I am not saying it will happen over night but she does have all the skills. Endurance is easier to build as you get older. After all It only took one year of serious training and changing of his diet for Bradley Wiggins to go from a track cyclist to winning the Tour de France.
I think this what Ravanel is doing, she’s saying “look, Im at the top of my game and I want a challenge, either you come to me or I’ll come to you.” EWS isnt drawing the female riders from WCDH like the mens field with Hill, and many EWS riders were successful former downhillers but if Ravanel does well in WCDH she’ll be the first EWS racer to challenge the WCDH women.
Because of UCI's lame new rules, Aaron Gwin will be the last down the hill and Brook will be the 19th from last down the hill (a few top twenty guys from last year are not racing).
@harrybrottman: He was finishing top 10 last year before he got injured. He's doing huge things for DH racing in the eastern US. Meanwhile you are trolling on pinkbike. You're talking out your ass mate.
@harrybrottman: Think before you speak. Neko has done a whole lot more for the sport than most Pros. During the off season, he has been doing serious work helping build a Windrock Bike park TN, while also organizing a race series in the South East. This is after helping put Bailey MTB park on the map too. While he has had a lot of help, he's definitely one of the more proactive racers and is giving back in ways that most riders aren't.
@Fahhhmed: Oh whelp. Wish they covered the whole of the action at every race. At least, I can watch tomorrows race. Thanks for the reply, I'll stop wasting time searching for a link.
Yea but everybody knows who Brendon is, his pictures will still turn up online from this weekend, people want to ride his signature grips and pedals etc etc.
Not the fastest racer but looks great on the bike and can hold his own at rampage etc (how many DHers do that now?) - if I was a bike company he would me onmy list of people to sign.
*pokes wasps nest and runs*
I also think the endurance thing is even a bit overblown when it comes to riders on that level. Top DH riders have great endurance. They train hard, ride long distances on the road bikes, etc.
Even when you compare a typical race it’s probably not as different as people think due to the lack of practice allowed in EWS. Take a typical DH race weekend. These riders have a practice day full of runs, timed training, practice runs on qualifying day before their run, then more practice before they hit a race run on Sunday. Considering the EWS is largely just race runs with limited practice, the amount of actual riding probably isn’t all the different.
Put him on my team and not even a phone call to say he was not going to show up?
Well went for Blenki in stead, but still got some points yay!
Not the fastest racer but looks great on the bike and can hold his own at rampage etc (how many DHers do that now?) - if I was a bike company he would me onmy list of people to sign.