bman33

@eurojuice: A proper title sponsor is great and will definitely bring needed attention. However, how much of that $$ goes to the riders? I would be very interested in seeing a breakdown of payouts of the last say 8 years for the World Cups. From my understanding and experience, the pros sponsors themselves pay them, not the UCI. Are the payouts going up? If Mercedes is putting real money in, will UCI reduce the lavish fees and accommodation requirements they demand of a resort/venue? I know a few folks in the resort business here in Colorado and the consensus is the UCI 'cost' for hosting a WC race is laughable. Resorts/venues here don't really need exposure, snow season brings in the $$. Any summer income is just gravy and can even run a a loss often. I have listened to Martin's interview twice. Very insightful and loads of respect to what he has built over the years. However, UCI has a proven track record of neglecting cycling disciplines that are not road racing while over regulating or removing the true spirit of an discipline once they come on board. A recent example: Much has been said of the logistics of a DH race for example (track prep, camera /live, feeds, grandstands, video screens) and then in the same breath they axed 4X /Slalom because is was too difficult? The entire course can be seen with half the cameras, every race has fans lining the course and a fan favorite. Most of us here are not discounting the complexities of putting on a race, a series or governance (promoters usually do the event-specific grunt work BTW). However, UCI looks at MTB as a step child. The largest perception is EWS created it's own product, developed a market and created the value, UCI is coming in to leech off of it. Rant over

Was thinking the same thing. Sure he has endless bins of parts he can use depending on the occasion.

Kirt was kind enough to tow my friend Ryan and I through Crab Apple Hits a few years ago in Whistler right before he got the Niner deal. I was 42 and stoked! He did it on a trail bike. Can't thank him enough....super rad guy. Thanks Kirt! Keep sending it!

Did read the article or just jump to SJW comment section after watching the video?

Clowns are very suspicious and sketchy. Careful out guys/gals

^^ This! This needs to be a regular series, each rider picks another rider to lampoon. All in good fun of course

@gramboh: yes....my ankles hurt watching that one

@dhx42: I will agree with your point on the IOC, the opinion of many is it's more toxic than beneficial for most participant based sports. That said, the USA BMX scene appears to be less healthy than it was prior to it's introduction to the Olympics. As I mention above, I am not taking away from Martin or his accomplishments. He podcast is very insightful. I believe what many are asking is why does the EWS need the UCI's 'assistance' in order to execute doping testing? The UCI was laughably turning their heads to doping for decades even up to and during the Lance drama. There has to be a solution without succumbing to repressive UCI oversight. The UCI definitely has a horrible track record at the grassroots level. I see it here in the US and several friends I have in the UK echo our woes. True Pinkbike forum can be a bitch fest. However, there have been many attempts over the years to show UCI how grassroots efforts should be approached, but they dismiss or at best receive the suggestions only to revise them into regressive tactics. At the elite level it isn't a secret the amount of money the UCI demands for a WC event. That isn't even including the lavish accommodations required for the bureaucrats shuttled to each event. This is the reason many promoters and/or ski resorts scoff at hosting a WC race. The cost vastly outweigh the benefits. The UCI prices the events as if they are World Series or NFL game. I understand this sounds overly negative or 'whining'. However, I have been around, raced MTB and BMX since the early 90's (yes I am old) and with a few exceptions see nothing beneficial at the local/national level from the UCI. As a long time spectator of the WC scene, my view is similar with regards to the UCI.

I have ridden all those sections and I feel fairly fast for 40+ old guy, can place well in local DH races against the young guys. However, the speed he hits those sections is NUTS!!!!! Remi is rad

@T1mb0: I will also point to Matt Hoffman's experience and interview on the UCI https://digbmx.com/dig-this/why-we-need-to-keep-the-uci-out-of-bmx