Video: World Cup Protected Rider & Start Lists Explained

 @RichardJBos: Kinda yeah. I've always been a fan of the old running order. For example a few times Gwin (my favorite to watch) screwed up in a quali run and we didn't get to see him race but I didn't mind. It was better and more suspenseful to watch them rip down in order and it was easier to know who was running and when and also how those times hold up against the fastest quali run. Overall I think its just easier/more organized to keep up with for the viewer. Plus if one of those protected riders go down first, they have a lot of shots of them in the hot seat reacting to people getting close to their time which is really fun to watch.

 PSA PSA PSA!


I just wanted to reply to Karpiel073 so more people would see it. Cathro is the man. His riding technique/line choice analysis is in another dimension to anyone else. Subscribe to his YT channel if you haven't already but more importantly let's get behind him to be Claudio's replacement for course preview ride and get Redbull to allow him to do longer vids. He really should be on staff doing vids for them.

Anyone on Pinkbike know the best way to make this happen?

 @jclnv: i can so get behind cathro for course preview. and more video content. love his super nerd pro level insight. he'd actually make a great co-announcer for that matter.

 Thoughts:
1. Having some protected riders is good, but should be based on 2018 ranking.
2. Having *permanently* protected riders (based on last year's ranking) is bad.
3. Fastest qualifiers should be last down the hill in all cases (protected or not).
4. Having only 5 non-protected riders on the live stream (8 this time due to non-starts) is an insult.

 @jclnv: yep i am way over Claudio yelling at the guys to slowdown

 And yet, he came in 10th place and given 6 minutes for showing each rider's run, the high fiving, leaderboards and replay of highlights, means he was shown at exactly the time he should have been. Its as if the UCI was psychic!

 @jclnv: id definetly get behind this idea!

 @scott-townes: Fair enough, I see your point and I agree that the new rules definitely need work. At the same time, I'm just happy to see DH on a regular basis

 @jclnv: yes let's have Cathro take on the course previews and more of his analysis.

 Everyone I introduced before loved the fastest rider goes last formula. Great drama when there's weather. I'm not even going to try this year. Talk about teams trying to game the system and the UCI caving. This is pathetic.

 If these rules were in place back in the day, in Champery, Sam Hill's "greatest downhill run in history" would have resulted in a win, with probably the biggest winning margin in history... rather than 3rd. Food for thought.

 @joel4: Actually what you pointed out would be still be true with the rule in place last year. Adding points to qualies seemed to take care of the "gaming the system" that happened before points were added. This new rule this year is simply there to protect the top 20 if they have a crash or a mechanical in qualies.

 The only thing is that the "Top 20" ain't the top 20 anymore.

 @Thustlewhumber: oooo

 @Thustlewhumber: Yep. A few riders from last year that "bridesmaid" every week get to be in the buildup/winddown of this years finales even if they're not the hottest riders of the moment.

 Not someone...someONES. All of the big teams that say "we keep this DH ship afloat with OUR investment" want their riders on the broadcast and put their power and influence to work.

People with money on the line don't get that us average joes are salivating over a guy we may have raced with once being in the final 80 cut, getting a dry course and then suddenly getting his chance to grab the sponsor he's always needed by being in the top 20 qualifiers and maybe...just maybe...snagging a bigger deal next year.

We aren't in the old world of people only getting exposure and sponsorship by a couple big core companies and a few mom and pops picking up the scraps. There are dozens of companies chomping at the bit to get on that live feed and now 50% of the air time they had a shot at is GONE!

If Vegas put odds on a small to medium sized company getting on the live feed last year versus this year, the percentage difference would be shocking.
@Ben Cathro great job

 Fayolle wasn't just lucky. He's a good racer, qualified well too that race. But protecting riders based on last years' result doesn't make sense. The only (defendable) reason to protect riders is that if riders are in a good position for the overall, they still get to race even if they mess up their qualifiers. Last seasons' position doesn't matter for this years' overall so just don't drag any of that into this year.

Now I rarely watch a live feed but I understand it is important these days. I suppose now that they have this many cameras available, have clear cut the hill (think of Leogang) and they're using the internet as medium instead of regular tv, it would be only a matter of time before you can pick the riders you want to see and watch their full run. As it is now, it appears like they're still using the internet medium as if it were a regular tv show.

 @vinay: I used Neko last year as an example of how this can play out poorly for someone.
He started the season outside the 2017 starting top 20 I believe (could be wrong) but coming off injury onto a new team.
He qualified 11th round 1, so he'd be outside the top 20 still for live feed. Finished 7th.

Round 2, qualified 16th, so 7th in Overall points (that math is easy), but still outside top 20 for live feed. Finished 7th.


Round 3, he's obviously ranked in the top 10 in current points, but with 2018 rules, he qualifies 25th & this STILL outside the top 20 for live feed. Finishes 36th. Don't know what math happens at that point, but that result would then keep him outside top 20 for round 4 UNLESS he qualifies top 10.

When you follow it all the way down the tree (again, I'm winging this but Seb from Roots & Rain could pull data and give exact answers, his awesome 2017 season start may have never made it to the live feed?

But with last year playing out the way it did, his 11th & 16th place qualifying earned him a live feed slot & his 2 strong 7th place finishes puts him into the protected top 20 even with the less optimal round 3 result...which all make perfect sense.
Still trying to figure out how sponsors would sign off on this format.

 @vinay: I hear you and there is a merit to that - but IMO there is one reason for linear format - it is not so easy to make live commentary when there are two riders on the track at the same time. Yes - you could use two of them, but that would also mean either transmitting with the delay or watching the replay later - not sure many people would the the latter - and with the former you get leaks and lost suspense.

 He should know, but uci should put out a list every race.

 @fussylou: they do/did. it's right on the quali start list which every team gets so they know when their riders runs starts. it's a huge P right next to the rider name - you really can't miss it. it's even available to the public prior to quali's. you think this info is kept secret from the teams but available online to the rest of the world? chronorace.blob.core.windows.net/webresources/20180602_dh/fwil_dhi_me_startlist_qr.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,-40,842

 Underneath the vid it gives credit, which is a link to Bens page.

 @Johnny-W: when you say "by Pinkbike Staff"
that distinctly implies "an original idea or piece of media content generated by a staff member of Pinkbike" & should not mean "copied link and put content authors name underneath it".

 @bizutch: It doesn't imply that at all, that's your interpretation of it, there is lots of content on PB taken from various sources, which makes a united place for general MTB news, that's actually the general idea of the site. Clearly it's a vid of Ben Cartho from his YT channel, which gives Ben more exposure, more than likely PB would have asked his permission to post up the vid, he is also given credit underneath. A lot of people will now see this vid who may not follow Ben on his YT channel. The fact you have an issue with this is quite frankly bizarre.

 Cathro did a great job. I don't envy him the task at all

 god lord cathro delivers pure and independent coverage and insight views for interested mtbers. keep him away from the RB Media House bullshit marketing machine

 @chainzuck: im not saying he should do anything different. It'd just be good for him not to have to rely on donations to get to the WCs.

 @glasvagas: Let's get that goFundMe going so we can keep Cathro pure. He is a wonderful content creator and seems a genuinely good person, he deserves the support.

 @LoganKM1982: Cathro’s on Patreon.