The results are in from the test event in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics next year and it shows the dominance of the Swiss team once again as they secure Gold medal positions in both Elite races. In the Men's it would be Nino Schurter who would take the top step at the end of the weekend with Frenchman Victor Koretzky following the previous Olympic champion closely. Third place would go to Luca Braidot who has had a great season this year.
In the Elite Women's race, it's a Swiss one-two with Jolanda Neff finally securing a big race win in 2019 and Sina Frei proving she is going to be a big threat at Olympics in second place. After taking a win in Vallnord Anne Terpstra has been upsetting the top riders all year and a third-place at this weekend's test event ensure she is a name to remember for next year.
Elite Men
1st. Nino Schurter
2nd. Victor Koretzky
3rd. Luca Braidot
Elite Women
1st. Jolanda Neff
2nd. Sina Frei
3rd. Anne Terpstra
.
That said, f*ck the IOC and their corruption and lies.
Jolanda dominated a field which was decimated by injuries, both occurring in practice and during the race.
The men's race was a lot closer, with the lead changing hands on the first 4 laps between Avancini, Schurter, Bradot, and Koretzky. Nino started to attack in the last 2 laps but the others probably expected it. Nino-san (what the Japanese fans are calling him) led by a few bike lengths while sprinting to the finish.
Was also looking for news as to why Jenny did not start. Nothing on her Instagram account since the 25th of Sept.
There's a post of her doing a track walk in Tokyo but that was a year ago.
???
From the reports it was not good. Wet, slippery and lots of wrecks. Numerous trips to the hospital.
forums.mtbr.com/xc-racing-training/ready-steady-tokyo-tokyo-2020-test-event-1116969.html
Also, from his report riders where breaking out the Elbow and Knee Pads while they were sessioning various parts of the track.
First the knuckle heads running bike industry want women to buy and ride bikes, then they make the biggest mtb event a turn off. Geniuses.
Btw orribile track, good for “broad audience” who never raced or ridden a bike. Dumb sensationalism to dumb down people.
Also I wouldn't say it's about comfort or shedding heat. It's simply about what's optimal and complies with the rules.
And the most important thing is that for these guys the pads would be most useful during training, because in the race they know the lines, have practiced them and the probability of them crashing is not as big usually I would say.
But all this discussion is related to your comment, "I wonder how the enduro dudes survive the heat then." You really can't see the difference between the two? Of course XC racers could 'survive' wearing pads, the point is that they don't do it because they'd go slower, and going fast is kind of important in their sport.
Enduro racers go fast downhill, where pads don't slow you down, and protect you from higher crash risk+gnarlier terrain. Going uphill in pads and a full-face might suck, but it's fine since you aren't going 100% anyway, and you'd rather go a bit slower and sweat a bit more than DNF because you smashed your knee.
So what exactly is your point?
It may be unthinkable nowadays but there used to be discussions about whether racers were required to wear helmets. At least in road cycling, despite some serious accidents and injuries. And of course with the head being one of the bigger "radiators" of body heat, it may have indeed been an issue. But I ride my mtb with helmet and commute without and to me it feels like even that doesn't matter that much. So yeah, if that's my experience with the head, I wonder how much of an issue it really is with the knees.
My original question in an earlier post of course was provided the currently available pads are unacceptably restrictive for top level XC racing, can't the brands release something even more slim/light/unrestrictive so that the pros outweigh the cons. Some people here responded they are already there but considering racers aren't wearing them yet still are getting injured to the point that it compromises or ends their race, it seems like the balance point for them is somewhere else.