After Sam Hill took on Hot Lap challenge he was close but couldn't quite knock Remi Gauvin off the top step. Check out this POV comparisson to see where they made up time!
The Track
The trail used is called Credit Line. This was chosen as we consider it to be a pretty complete mountain bike trail that tests various riders' skills.
@mkotowski1: I have to agree that Remi must have bit of intel on Creditline. So props to Hill for riding maybe blind (?) or a couple runs and being INSANELY fast!
@mkotowski1: Agreed if these are Remi’s Local trails then he has a clear advantage over Hill. Not by much though. Sam still rules. Ridiculous speed from both of them.
@Dethphist: I second this. Or some weird build like a 26/650b, 69er, Chromag hardtail challenge or a Y2K DH bike challenge? So much potential with this Hot Lap segment! I like it. Good job PB!
That trail changed SO much since Remi did his run on it, timing it is completely irrelevant now.Not to take away anything from Remi but CreditLine is much...much slower now than it was last year
At the 7 sec mark it shows that Remi knows the track when he flys over the boulder because he knows the line on the other side and Sam has to slow down going up it so he can see the line choice as he comes over the Boulder.
This is a bit of a long shot, and might get a bit of backlash for mentioning a roadie, but Peter Sagan is meant to be pretty handy on a mountain bike??
@cool3: True, he started his career in cycle cross and cross country and pinned it with junior MTB world champion title in 2008 before moving into road racing. He's sensational on road bike and still can ride mountain bike fast but surely can't compete with these downhill freaks. Actually he doesn't need to, guy is too valuable for this.
I imagine someone like Sagan or Schurter won't risk their fairly good paycheck going balls out on MTB even if they could post good numbers. Not just that, but the upper body strength necessary to really manhandle the bike for the length of time in such a show probably isn't in Sagan, or Schurter's training regime.
There is practically no-one in EWS or WCDH who would challenge Sagan on the road or Schurter at XCO. It's not about skill, it's about training.
I think one of the few who might be a good all-arounder would be someone like Van Der Poel, who still races all disciplines with fairly good success.
@PHeller: I bet Nino would be a couple of seconds slower if that. Do five runs and combine the time and he'd be well up. It's not about training, it's about being genetically gifted. Not saying that Hill or Remi aren't, they're very talented, (especially Hill obviously) but Nino is a different ball game altogether.
5.5w/k in an 90min XCO race? Put him on a trainer and that's easily over 6w/kg. That's pretty much World Tour road level. Add to the fact that he's fast as hell on descents and you've got someone who's simply not normal.
@PHeller: Having ridden some of Nino's trails around Massa Marittima and compared times, I can guarantee he would smoke 99% of PB users on enduro-style trails - what people don't realise is how big some of the XC guys in person (sure some of the road racers lack muscle, but not for modern XCO). Whereas I would be less sure about someone liek Van der Peol, he's more in the road-racer mould.
Right from the start, the video of Sam Hill is just smoother through all the tech sections. He seems to be using less energy than the other person. At least that’s what I see.
I dono, Sam had a slow start and was ~1.5s behind which he caught up and got ahead around halfway in the gnar gnar, then lost out again in the lower flatter bit. Faster overall is faster overall, but Sam really turned up the heat when it got really hairy.
When remi sprinted up the road at the end and said that's where the Strava segment finishes just shows he has a proper trail advantage. Remi takes it but hill got close with one practice run under his belt..
WOW Watch that was like how I feel when tryin too go fast, one eye is watching the track at a diffrernt speed from the other eye, yes I should probably get my eyes tested but dont race much any more so not really that important?
There should be a hot lap challenge held on the same day in the same conditions on the same track with professional timing and multiple divisions for men and women. You could even put tape along the course and invite spectators.
Awesome, looking forward to having 20-50 riders on the leaderboard!
@pinkbike can we have some indication when riders change lead in the head to head videos? Something like the virtual straight or just a dot changing from left to right?
Theres not womens hot laps for the same reason no one cares about the WNBA. Given a choice I'd rather watch the better, faster, stronger athlete. If you dont like it take it up with genetics.
@gnarnaimo: oh man, sam hill is a great rider but remi is no slouch either. it is insane how many fanboys jump out of the bushes and claim to have the proof that this was unfair and remi got an advantage. then if the argument of fanboy nr.1 proofs incorrect fanboy nr.2 has his go and uses the opposite of argument nr.1 .
I have to agree that Remi must have bit of intel on Creditline. So props to Hill for riding maybe blind (?) or a couple runs and being INSANELY fast!
I mean, unless they're ACTUALLY alot slower...
Sorry, Im just visiting from planet LogicX and Im trying to understand Earths new found customs, despite reality.
Sorry just recovering from a keyboard induced repetitive strain injury at the moment I’ll have to take a rain check.
I'd love to see this happen, though I get the feeling riders sponsors might get in the way.
5.5w/k in an 90min XCO race? Put him on a trainer and that's easily over 6w/kg. That's pretty much World Tour road level. Add to the fact that he's fast as hell on descents and you've got someone who's simply not normal.
@pinkbike can we have some indication when riders change lead in the head to head videos?
Something like the virtual straight or just a dot changing from left to right?
What prep had Remi had prior to his lap?
-torretto
I want to see Sam Hill #teachmehowtodougie
Never heard of him . Up until now that is ha ha .