Video: Rachel Atherton Targeting Lousa Comeback From Achilles Injury

 Devonians are a tough breed

 probably oatmeal

 Porridge makes you go fast...

 Salt

 @Danmcdan: somerset/wiltshire

 @woah-buddy: Wessex good enough

 I think you might have forgotten to mention next year's overall winner, CABIROU!

 Did you mean Myriam "Pompon" Nicole?

www.redbull.com/us-en/athlete/myriam-nicole

 @tempest3070: Love the down votes for @tempest3070 you guys are just upset because he is right!

 Don't forget Vali Hoell is an elite this year!

 I agree. I think the standing if everyone is on top form has been #1 Rach, #2 Pompon, #3 Tahnee, #4 Tracey, #5 Marine.
Rach is going to have to build race speed back up from the injury over the first few races of the season. Myriam is well recovered by now and very consistent. Tahnee has the ability to be on the top step in a square fight, but has been finding her risk/reward line over the last few seasons. Hannah and Cabirou are of a similar level and it's always anyone's guess as to which comes out on top, and there's a few usually just behind them like Siegenthaler who pull something special out of the bag every now and then.
The women's competition isn't as wild-card as the mens, but there are fierce battles race after race that are a joy to watch. And then there's the excitement of where Vali, Anna, and Millie will fit in... bring on the 2020 season

 @Boosting: That's where I think the standing have been, but that's my opinion based on observations from the last couple of seasons.
You're right that time and injury will have taken their tolls on the older riders, and the energy and fearlessness of youth is on the side of the younger women, but experience and the ability to manage nerves, expectations, and the general pressures of racing will also be a factor in the results. I think the new blood will be great competition for the established riders, and it seems in the video that Rach is excited for the challenge, and I'd guess the future of the sport.

 This year is gonna be hard for Cabirou, Tracey and the few others that got a taste of podiums when they will have to fight with Myriam, Tahnee and hopefully Rachel once she is back to strength.

 @Balgaroth: not to forget vali holl

 @Balgaroth: wait and see if Marine step up like she did the last years she could equal and beat Thannée or Myriam.
What she does on jumps is phenomenal, she miss just a little overall speed.

 @Clem-mk: My feeling all last season was that Tracey and Marine were only fighting for the top stop like they used to for the 3rd/4th spot but since the 3 usual contenders for the win were gone that lower rank fight made it to the news. I hope for Marine I am wrong as having 2 French athletes on the top of the sport would be great but I am rather sceptical. Few more weeks to see what's up

 Reading your comments gets me so excited for 2020 women's DH WC. Bring it on!!!

 @Boosting: Oh yeah, this will be a sick season.. I hope they all stay healthy!

 For the few Vali fanboys who down-voted me here are some facts:
- Vali would have placed 6th in Elite W at World Champs, with 2 of the 3 main top contenders
- Vali would have placed 3rd in Elite W in Snowshoe, without the 3 main top contenders
- Vali would have won in Elite W in Lenzerheid, without the 3 main top contenders
- Let's skip Val di Sole as results are all over the shop
- Vali would have won in Elite W in Les Gets, without the 3 main top contenders
- Vali would have placed 4th in Elite W in Valnord, with 1 of the 3 main top contenders
- Vali would have won in Elite W in Lenzerheid, without the 3 main top contenders
- Vali would have placed 3rd in Elite W in Leogang, without the 3 main top contenders

Conclusion: she got roosted when Myriam and Tahnee came back to the WC. Now if noothing goes wrong and she keeps progressing she is most likely the new Rachel of the years to come but she will need to increase her speed still. She is young and technically should still progress technically and physically but nothing is done and I doubt she will be a serious troublemaker this season for the top spot. Maybe in 1 or 2 season once she i sdone with school, race full time and got stronger.

 @Balgaroth: u need 2 get a friggin life

 @mi-bike: I do once I leave work, meanwhile I clearly have too much time on my hand lol

 Big fan of Rach and wish her the best but this seems like a pretty aggressive timeline given how she looks mobility and strength wise on her instagram. I have seen she is doing some smooth/flow track rolling on her trail bike. Obviously she will take her doctor's medical advice, would just be awful to see her reinjure herself pushing to come back too soon.

 @gramboh: She's sandbagging - dont trust social media!

 A few friends met the Athertons while training in Spain last week,Rachel was ridding slow,still healing but on the bike... Both were very friendly and happy to ride with normal riders. This people is made from another mold,true professionals athletes.

 I thought she was getting married to Vali for a second... For real tho, I hope she takes all the time she needs so it doesn't happen again.

 @LaurensVR: getting married again or getting injured again?

 @Scottybike36: Yes

 @Flavaine: that was hilarious!

 What? I haven't even asked her yet!!

 The one you meet as the bar is chucking out...

 I think it's fair to say she's already a superwoman, no further proof needed

 Not really, I suffered a complete rupture several years ago. It was surgically repaired. Two weeks in a plaster cast followed by ten more in an air cast. Another month with a wedge in my shoe. I was back on my bike within six months. Now that said, the recovery is painful as the tendon has to stretch to get back to full range. When fully healed it is unlikely to cause her any problems because the amount of scar tissue around the repair makes it quite strong. On a side note a lot of my therapy was on a stationary bike so I was able to work on my fitness a little.

 @platnum: I ruptured mine a week after Rach. 6 1/2 months ago. I am in the gym every day building the calf up and the muscles around it (atrophy occurs in the quad, glute etc). I still cannot lift my body weight off the ground with my right calf. I’m sure she has similar issues. It’s the eccentric movements that are a bitch ( drops) and fatigue. I do know what I talking about. I doubt most are 100% at a year post injury.

 @beirge294: I'm completely agree. I ruptured my achilles in April and Im just now getting back to aggressive trail riding with no drops. If she can do it (and she's more likely than me, I'll admit), that's pretty awesome. The hardest part for me has been mental, wonder where her mind will he with that. I stopped at the bottom of my first real climb wondering if I was going to rerupture with the first hard pedal stroke. I think Maribor is much more realistic a goal. Good luck to her though.

 She would probably wear some kind of ankle support, but yeah, an injury like that can take a while to heal.

 @beirge294: that is true, it’s been years now and my one calf is still noticeably smaller than the other. I’m resigned to the fact it will likely always be that way. Atrophy in my quad wasn’t too much of an issue because I was focused on doing what I could to avoid that. Lots of leg lifts, a lot of walking after a while after I’d been in my air cast for a while. A lot of work in the pool as well, I think that helped a lot. I was easily 100% in a year. Keep working, you’ll get there. Good luck. And yes the pain is normal.

 I thought the same thing. KD sitting out an entire season, will be over 18 months before he is back on the court playing again (albeit there is a $30M+ contract at play here too, and bball is much more calf/achilles intensive). Surprised, but lets hope it works out!