Day One Photo Epic: Rock Steady - EWS Northstar 2019
Photo Epic presented by ODI
Another hot and dusty day in Northstar started with an unorthodox schedule that saw riders practice stage four in the morning before racing stages one and two in the afternoon. Something different for riders, as they would have to change their mindset from the morning to the afternoon, but that offered a chance to spread the racing out a bit and enabled some time for recovery - and it avoided the hottest hours of the day, which at this altitude, was a very welcome opportunity.
For the women, it would be Isabeau Courdurier who would take back to back stage wins to set up a commanding lead before Sunday's final four stages. Behind her would be Noga Korem who placed 2nd on each of the stages and ended the day just 11 seconds back. That's a lot of time to make up on these short stages, but should Isabeau make any kind of mistake (like she did in Whistler) it will be costly. Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau sits in 3rd another 12 seconds down on Noga's time, but only four seconds ahead of Ines Thoma, who is looking to steal the final podium spot.
In the men's race, it would be Richie Rude who would smoke the field by seven seconds on stage one with Martin Mae's and Sam Hill in tow. But on Stage two Sam Hill would return the favor to take back 6 seconds from Rude. Setting up what will hopefully be a close battle on Sunday as Richie only holds down a scant one second lead with four stages still to play for. Behind them, there are a few names we don't always see in and around the top ten, namely Mitch Ropelato who currently sits 3rd and Cody Kelley who is currently 9th. In the battle for the podium positions Martin Maes ended the day just off the pace but only one second off of Ropelato, so you can be sure he will be on the hunt tomorrow. The biggest news of the day, however, wasn't good, as Eddie Masters went down hard on stage two and is out with what looks to be a broken wrist. Sadly, we may not see Eddie again at either a World Cup or an EWS this season.
The man who stands to capitalize the most, however, is Sam Hill. He now has one less man to chase down for the championship. That man is Florian Nicolai, who is having a disaster of a weekend and currently sits 19th. Should Sam keep on his current late-season form and Florian not able to match his early season pace, it is very likely that we may see Sam Hill take his 3rd world title in a row after all things are said and done in Zermatt next month.
Ready to rock
The morning saw riders practice stage four before heading back up the mountain to race stages one & two.
When your pants look like this Ten seconds into your first practice run of the day you know things are rowdy.
After a practice session in the morning, the mechanics were busy getting bikes prepped for the two race stages in the afternoon.
Some last-minute stage notes for ALN after practice, before heading up to kick off the weekend's first two stages.
Isabeau trying to relax between practice and the first race stages of the weekend.
Shawn Neer battled the dust into 13th.
Dust was still thickm even at 30-second intervals. Luckily, the top men and women get a full minute between riders.
Theo Galy slipping and sliding on stage one.
ALN currently sits in third. Can she put it to Noga tomorrow?
Cody Kelley loves the dust and currently sits 9th.
Matt Walker now sits 8th.
Ruts were deep dust was flying here in Tahoe.
Florian Nicolai is struggling with the dust and sits 19th. He is very much in danger of losing his overall lead in the series to Sam Hill.
Flat pedal destruction is the reason Sam Hill has the number one plate.
Richie Rude crushed everyone on stage ne, but Sam Hill returned the favor on stage two.
Martin Maes started the day in 2nd, but ended it in 4th, just a few seconds back.
Hill was on a mission on stage two, taking seven seconds back from Richie Rude.
Pedro Burns will be looking to pick up the pace tomorrow. The conditions suit the young Chilean.
Second on both stages and 2nd overall after day one for Noga Korem.
Rae Morrison on the rocks in the early morning practice on stage four.
Two stage wins and a healthy lead for Isabeau going into day two.
Morgane Charre 5th and just six seconds away from the podium with four stages still to go.
Kasper Wolley 3rd in U21
Katy Winton is outside the top five and some work to do if she wants to get on the podium.
Dimitri Tordo started the day off rowdy with a full-on rodeo ride down stage four in practice. He now sits in 15th.
What a day for Mitch Ropelato. He feels right at home sliding around in the dust and currently is 3rd.
Joe Nation is still finding his way back after injury. He sits in 37th after day one.
Duncan Nason loves the dry conditions and is leading the U21 race.
Mckay Vezina, just off the top ten pace in 11th.
Adrien Dailly is adapting well to the moon dust and rounds out the top five.
Jesse Melamed currently sits in 7th.
Antoine Vidal sits in second place in junior men.
Robin Wallner blasts the big rock garden on stage two.
Kevin Miquel is out of his element, but is holding strong in 6th.
Miranda Miller sits in eighth place after day one.
Noga Korem, firmly in second.
Lewis Buchanan was getting loose in practice, so it's no surprise that his race runs were equally entertaining.
Elliot Heap had little problem sliding in the dust today. He sits in tenth after day one.
Sadly, Eddie Masters is out of action after a big crash on Stage two. It sounds like a broken wrist and possibly the end to his season.
A confident Richie Rude leads after day one, but just barely. Sam Hill is hot on his heels, only one second off the pace.
Randy fuels up with a ham and cheese, not a dirty burger.
Ya need something to wash all that dust down.
Loose and rough. With four stages to go, we are sure to see more carnage.
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at least those cheaper domestic brews have less glyphosates in them, in a test done between domestic craft beer and domestic less expensive lagers/pilsners. primarily because the cheaper brews include rice or corn in the fermentation. Barely grown in the US has more "round-up" used on it than corn or rice. So I drink the cheaper domestics for one demensional flavor and them having less glyphosate content. Why pay more for a domestic craft beer made with only barely grain, but with more " round-up" in each glass?
1. You have it completely backwards, Coors, Miller, Bud, Corona, Heineken, etc had ~30ppb vs 0-12ppb for Peak Organic, New Belgium, Sam Adams, etc. Cheap macro lager has MORE glyphosate.
Source: uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/WEB_CAP_Glyphosate-pesticide-beer-and-wine_REPORT_022619.pdf?_ga=2.33097086.1581849178.1551185850-857148262.1551185850
2. That's arguably not even a meaningful difference, and it's totally meaningless compared to your actual food intake... EPA requirements range from 100-300000 ppb (0.1-300 ppm). Hope you grow all your own food, bro, and that you don't live anywhere near a non-organic farm.
3. You're worried about 10 parts per BILLION of glyphosate in a product that contains 50000000 ppb of poisonous alcohol and loads of empty calories, both of which will almost definitely have stronger health implications.
4. Would love to see a source on that barley vs rice vs corn claim... corn/maize is one of the few crops that has been engineered 'roundup-ready'. It's designed for use with glyphosate and that particular GMO is widely used.
There's nothing wrong with liking cheap beer - I've been homebrewing for >10 years and still love me some Coors on occasion. There *IS* something wrong with spreading scientifically illiterate horseshit, and completely reversing the conclusions of a study to suit your own biases. Stop it.