UCI World Championships Mont Saint Anne - What they are running - Part 2

Sep 5, 2010 at 7:18
by Tyler Maine  
After reading all the comments from our last stats article, I went out again and broke down some of the stats and added a few new ones. This time I was able to talk to 55 of the world's top pros (Racers polled list inside), and got some great info on the specific tires being run at Mont Saint Anne, what armor is worn (Knee, Elbow, Neck Brace), wheels on the race bikes, rotor sizes, 9, 10 or modified cassettes, who is single and ready to mingle, who has an energy drink sponsor, and just how many of the top pros run their bikes tubeless or do they run tubes?

All stats inside,Here is the list of race bikes that were polled:

Rachel Atherton, Gee Atherton, Bryn Atkinson, Jill Kintner, Wyn Masters, Brendan Fairclough, Sam Hill, Troy Brosnan (Junior Expert), Micayla Gatto, Thomas Vanderham, Sabrina Jonnier, Greg Minnaar, Steve Peat, Tyler Immer, Aaron Gwin, Mitch Delfs, Kyle Strait, Duncan Riffle, Danny Hart, Filip Polc, Brook MacDonald, Luke Strobel, Stevie Smith, Ryan Vanderham, Andrew Neethling, Justin Leov, Ben Reid, Shaun O'Connor, Logan Binggeli, Robin Wallner, Rob Fraser, Hans Lambert, Brad Benedict, Andrew Mitchell, Dean Tennant, Ruaridh Cunningham, Chris Kovarik, Nick Beers, Matthew Simmonds, Sam Blenkinsop, Jacquie Harmony, Miranda Miller, Petra Bernhard, Tracy Moseley, Emmeline Ragot, Rebecca McQueen, Anne Laplante, Marc Beaumont, Fabien Pedemanaud, Damien Spagnolo, Markolf Berchtold, Walace Miranda, Julien Camellini, Takuya Aoki, and Fionn Griffiths.


photo
Here is Shawn Palmer's 1998 World Championship DH Bike that was put together for Mont Saint Anne back in the back.


What tires are the pros running here at MSA?

Fronts:
Maxxis Highroller 2.5 3C - 14%
Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 3C x 42%
Maxxis Minion DHF 2.7 3C - 7%
Specialized Butcher 2.5 - 7%
Specialized Clutch 2.5 - 2%
Specialized Chunder 2.5 - 2%
Schwalbe Muddy Mary 2.5 - 5%
Schwalbe Muddy Mary 2.35 - 9%
Schwalbe Big Betty 2.35 - 4%
Schwalbe Dirty Dan 2.35 - 2%
Hutchinson Barracuda 2.5 - 2%
WTB Dissent 2.5 - 2%
Kenda Excavator 2.5 - 2%


Rears:
Maxxis Highroller 2.5 3C - 23%
Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 3C - 40%
Specialized Butcher 2.5 - 7%
Specialized Clutch 2.5 - 2%
Specialized Chunder 2.5 - 2%
Schwalbe Muddy Mary 2.5 - 4%
Schwalbe Muddy Mary 2.35 - 10%
Schwalbe Big Betty 2.35 - 2%
Schwalbe Wicked Will 2.5 - 2%
Schwalbe Dirty Dan 2.35 - 2%
Hutchinson Barracuda 2.5 - 2%
WTB Dissent 2.5 - 2%
Kenda Excavator 2.5 - 2%


What will they swap to if it absolutely pours rain?

Maxxis Wet Scream - Cut Down - 42%
Maxxis Wet Scream - Full Size - 10%
Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 3C - 4%
Maxxis Highroller 2.5 3C - 7%
Schwalbe Dirty Dan - Cut Down - 13%
Schwalbe Dirty Dan - Full Size - 10%
Specialized Storm - 10%
Hutchinson Rhino - 2%
Kenda Telonix 2.4 - 2%


What amount of armor are they running for this World Championship race?

Knees Only - 36%
Knees & Elbows - 13%
Knees, Elbows and Leatt Brace - 5%
Knees, Elbows and Upper Suit - 4%
Knees, Upper Suit & Leatt Brace - 4%
Knees, Upper Suit - 20%
Knees & Leatt Brace - 14%
Knees & Alpinestar Brace - 4%


What brand of wheel set are they sporting on their race bikes?

SAINT - 6%
SAINT w/ Stans Rims - 2%
SAINT w/ Mavic Rims - 4%
Crankbrothers Opium - 4%
Fulcrum - 4%
DT Swiss FR2050 - 5%
DT Swiss EX1750 - 4%
DT Swiss 340 w/ Mavic Rim - 4%
DT Swiss 440 w/ FR600 Rim - 6%
Mavic Deemax Ultimate - 20%
Mavic Crossline - 2%
Chris King w/ Edge Rims - 4%
Cole Massif - 4%
Bontrager - 7%
Sun Ringle A.D.D. Lite - 6%
American Classic - 2%
Easton Havoc - 2%
Easton Havoc 2011 - 2%
Transition Hub w/ Mavic Rim - 2%
AtomLab PimpLite - 2%
Hadley Hub w/ DT FR600 Rim - 2%
Markolf Wheels - 2%
Alex A-Class - 4%


What size are the rotors (Front / Rear)?

203 / 203 - 67%
203 / 185 - 16%
203 / 160 - 4%
185 / 185 - 13%


9 speed, 10 speed or modified cassettes?

9 Speed - 76%
10 speed - 15%
6 speed w/ 9T Small - 5%
7 speed - 4%


What percentage of the racers polled are single, married, dating or not telling?

Single - 42%
In a Relationship - 48%
Married - 6%
Not Telling - 4%


What percentage have an energy drink sponsor and what drinks are supporting the riders?

None - 64%
Monster - 9%
Red Bull - 9%
Rock Star - 2%
High5 - 6%
Want - 2%
AMP - 2%
Alberta Beer - 2%
Burn - 2%
Borsao - 2%


The big question is - what percentage of riders run tubes versus those rocking tubeless set ups?

Tubes x 93%
Tubeless - 7%

Honorable mentions go to Brad Benedict and Miranda Miller for seeking outside of the bike industry sponsors in the form of Bravo and Slide Condoms respectively. Brad is seeking product testers if any ladies are interested at this time. Good luck in the off season Brad!

photo
Shaun Palmer's 1999 World Cup Bike - The Evolution Continues


Author Info:
brule avatar

Member since Mar 27, 2001
3,581 articles
Must Read This Week
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
49879 views
Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
47819 views
Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
46238 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
41592 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 2
39503 views
Spotted: Frameworks Racing DH Bike with Electronic Fox Shock & Unreleased Enve Rims
39171 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
38700 views
Even More Randoms - Sea Otter 2024
36570 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

70 Comments
  • 18 1
 Maxxis has alway's been the tire of choice for the racers
  • 6 4
 sheeeez, old speccys are mint
  • 5 0
 I'm impressed the Highroller still rates so high in tire selection considering how "old" it is. So versatile. Does anyone know how long that tread has been on the scene? That's one well engineered tire for it to have not become obsolete like so many others out there.
  • 3 0
 highrollers are just the faster rolling tire
  • 2 0
 the high roller was pretty much identical copy of one of the old Michelin tyres, comp dh16 (i think)

maxxis just placed them selves perfectly in the market to take what Michelin had managed and sell more.
  • 2 0
 haha, love how the Chris King headsets from those bikes are probably still mint! Smile
  • 2 0
 PALMER is the Shit
  • 1 0
 I used to ride a high roller on the back Minion on the front.....now both minions, I was pretty sure they weren't producing the high rollers anymore? or am I wrong?
  • 2 0
 I just wish Maxxis would make a tyre that's half way between the Minion DHF and a Wet scream then I could leave it on all year round riding in the UK
  • 1 0
 bigburd its called a swamp thing (or similar, like my favourite rainking)
  • 1 0
 nah mate Smile swamp things I find to be barely better then DHF minions in the wet stuff I ride in , half way between a swamp thing and a wetscream would be perfection to me.
some thing like the rainking you mentioned is what i'm on about , mean looking tyre .
  • 1 0
 well i said swamp thing because its a well known tyre, but a rainking is better imo. better longer lasting compound, but still softer, and faster rolling.
  • 12 0
 Interesting stats! I find the tubes vs. tubeless info surprising at first, but I guess they can get away with it. I've also heard that most run lightweight tubes as well. I'm guessing running tubes allows much easier tire swapping if conditions change, as well as no chance of burping air when they are cornering at 30 G's!
  • 1 0
 I wonder if all of the tubeless are UST or if there are any stans/ghetto out there...UST is pretty easy to change, and I bet you are right about burping, those guys rip.
  • 1 0
 I believe the TUbeless set ups were all on Deemax wheels with Maxxis and Schwalbe tires.
  • 2 0
 It would be nice to know what kind of suspension setup pros use? Singlepivot or VPP/other?
Though it would be kinda mess since 90% of current single pivots have weird names for single extra link for different shock leverage while wheelpath is still the same...
  • 2 0
 just look at what frame they're using and check the frame's pivot tup
I'll start, Commencal is a single pivot, Trek is a floating pivot,I think it's called ABP, Evil is the Delta link, the V10 is VPP, Giant has the Maestro Suspension I believe, Specialized is the FSR suspension ,right? Lapierre is the Pendbox system
  • 1 0
 And how many of those are actually single pivot and which have virtual pivot points?
Horst should be counted as?
  • 1 0
 pretty sure none of those are singlepivot (except commencal ^^)
  • 2 0
 Want more stats man... for other things. this is really interesting stuff. Eye opener. And it will really help me decide what to consider when i spend my money buying bike parts etc.
  • 3 0
 NEX POLL.. what type underwear are the ladies rockin? thong or briefs? LOL.......
  • 5 0
 Thong would obviously keep the weight down... But briefs would probably be more practical (less chafing!) and offer significantly more protection in the event of a crash*

*Or the event that Cedric Gracia mistakes you for one of the members of the Swedish Bikini Team.
  • 3 0
 So, of 50+ riders polled.. Continental tires should therefore make the list at 4% with Gee and Rachel riding them.... right?
  • 3 0
 This is world champs and you can read into it how you want. Riders are here to do a one day race, winner takes all.
  • 11 0
 Sharpied Maxxis...
  • 3 1
 :O lies




www.pinkbike.com/photo/3542318
  • 1 0
 lol, ive never seen the athertons actually racing with their continental tyres their always riding high rollers.
  • 4 0
 Good point about the Conti's.... I saw the Athertons and even Schleymeister as being sponsored by them. For ne, I never could get more than a months life from them, and not full confidence. maybe this black chili and some new treads are better?

but I gotta say, the last few weeks I did my own experiment. Home trail, about 2000ft downhill, no one catches me, mainly been wet this year (rain rain and more rain).... Had Schwalbes f/b all year. skittish on the back, and terrible in the wet. Buddy told me to run Minion F f/b. Put those on and talk about turning it up to 11. then last week I put on my old kenda's from last year, for a weeks worth.... better than the shwalbes... put on the schwalbes. One run, the Minions are back on. Back to 11. Its gonna be hard to build a better tire than that. Wet or dry... except the big mud.

thats just me geeking out... but sharing it.

ride on.
  • 1 1
 I could be wrong, but Gee never won Fort Bill on Maxxis in 2009, but was riding them in 2010 to the win.
  • 2 0
 You have to love stats.
How about....

11% of riders were riding Specialized tyres.
50% of winners were on Specialized tyres. (100% of mens winners).
  • 2 0
 The butcher is basically a minion rip-off....
  • 2 1
 And chunder is a bad copy of the high roller.
  • 3 0
 those bikes look like tanks
  • 3 0
 ahaha that last little note
  • 3 0
 check out my m1. airbrushing bikes is so awesome. makes them look awesome
  • 1 0
 i will never go back to maxxis after discovering the kenda nevegals! you save 40% and u have a tire with treads for more then a month!
  • 1 0
 can i just say if they included the athertons where are the continental tyres ?? are they cheating the sponsors again ? and kenda is the biggest pile of ass in the world
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know what the major advantage is with running a maxxis DHF 3C in the rear instead of a maxxis DHR 3C?...is the DHR a slower or less grippy tire?
  • 1 0
 The drawback outweight the positives when it comes to racing. The DHR is a great tire, but for racing, it is a little wider in profile to its front counterpart, and is slower rolling with its bigger knobs. Great for FR, not so great for DH race.
  • 1 0
 ok, cause ive been noticing for the last couple years alote of racers using that setup..locals and WC's..i had been using the DHF and DHR for a couple years now and this morn placed a new order for tires 2 DHF's..im somewhat new too racing so looking fwrd to see how it feels next race.
  • 2 0
 dose anyone race with an air shock yet?
  • 3 1
 aren't the GT Fury's running Vivids?
  • 1 1
 i might be wrong..
  • 4 1
 i heard that santa cruz syndicate wanted to race air shocks this season, but the riders hated it so went back to coil haha
  • 1 1
 really?
  • 1 0
 I have this frame in original colour and sticks, for salve, spec dh team fsr 2001 year
  • 2 0
 SO few TUBELESS. also go WANT athletes.
  • 14 1
 Twice as fast and twice as smooth as me. If I hit the chunder that they go through as fast as them I'd double pinch so fast that the tube in my Camelbac would also get punctured!
  • 2 0
 Well...Atleast you can see where the bighit originated from Smile
  • 2 0
 So true!

And look at thie first pic, look at the size of the chainring!! :O
  • 3 0
 I know!! Looks like it belongs on a road bike lol
  • 2 0
 lol no one uses continental tires??
  • 1 0
 and the athertons are sponsered by them and are included in the poll!
  • 1 0
 I love the stats,surprised at how many riders don't use tube less and a leatt brace.
  • 1 0
 What is cut down?? When you cut a bit of the tire "design" ?
  • 5 0
 Cut down usually refers to a tire that has been modified to roll faster by removing some it's center knobs. Most of the true mud tires are very aggressive in this regard and by trimming the center section you can improve rolling speed. It could also refer to modifying a tire with more sipes (sp?) or trimming the transition knobs so it handles differently or clears mud better.
  • 1 0
 Thank you, it was really helpful!
  • 2 1
 Another question - what size tires are people running?
  • 1 0
 It is listed beside the tire type.
  • 4 0
 Now I feel like an idiot Big Grin
  • 2 0
 no problem jim... we are all friends here.... how many times a week are you drinking, jim? 6, 7? haha. just kidding.
  • 1 0
 dam, those look beasty!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 MORE PROOF THAT MAXXIS OWNS!!!! ride or die
  • 1 0
 these stats are really interesting
  • 1 0
 Alberta Beer FTW! Is this actual beer? I actually have no clue.
  • 1 0
 Fuck i wish i still had my Palmer replica that bike was fucking awesome!
  • 1 0
 too bad for sure. I've had some beautys in my time, trouble is they have to make way for a new headturner. Wish I could keep a stable.
  • 1 0
 i have the same shock they have on that specialized
  • 1 0
 really? No Industry 9 wheelsets??
  • 1 0
 interesting stuff







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.034536
Mobile Version of Website