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edhayetc
- Member since Feb 11, 2015
- Male / 48
-
Monmouth , United Kingdom - 28 Followers
- 0 Trailforks Points
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edhayetc edspratt's article
Jun 19, 2026 at 4:08
Jun 19, 2026
Results: Elite Q1 Qualifying at the 2026 Lenzerheide DH World Cup
Jackson, Luca, Asa and Max all in Q2! Good luck to anyone else battling it out in there!!
edhayetc pinkbikeoriginals's article
Jun 17, 2026 at 1:28
Jun 17, 2026
Is It Selfish to Want to Watch Your Heroes? Ben Cathro Tackles the World Cup's Deadliest Rule
I think that at least some coverage of qualifying is the answer, with full coverage of course being the ultimate solution.
I feel that any kind of token or protection system will once again make it a two tier race series, and I think it's a lot better for becoming a more level playing field.
I was very sceptical about all the changes when they first came along, like many fans I think, but apart from the lack of qualifying coverage I don't think I'd change a thing now (of course getting to watch it for free or a reasonable amount would be nice!).
The World Cup series has always been about the most consistent rider, unlike the boom or bust World Champs, and I just think the current format is even more tailored towards rewarding a consistent rider, and we need to adjust to that, as do the riders. It's now far from inconceivable to imagine the series winner having never won a single race, and I don't think that's a bad thing. I think it's fair to say that any racer at this level wants to win a race, but maybe a smart rider dialling it back a touch is the key to winning the overall? It's fine margins I know, but that in itself could result in fewer crashes and injuries...meaning less of our favourite riders then being missing from the action?
I guess you've then got the question though of what is more important to a racer, and a team for that matter? Is it a World Cup race win? Or is it a series title? Maybe you'll have the 'young guns' desperate to get that race win, and all the kudos etc that comes with it, and then once they've got one under their belt they'll then 'settle down' a bit and focus on consistency and the overall title?
Whatever the case, I think don't think there will ever be a format that pleases everyone, someone is always going to miss out on finals. Keeping as level a playing field as possible is the most important thing to me...well alongside broadcasting the qualifying!
edhayetc edspratt's article
Jun 12, 2026 at 8:12
Jun 12, 2026
Results: Elite Q2 Qualifying at the Leogang DH World Cup
@IsaacWislon82: I reckon the relatively simple answer/what would make it brilliant for us fans, is if they simply streamed the qualifying. Then I reckon it would be fine to leave everything else as is. If qualifying wasn't behind a paywall then it would also massively increase exposure for the brands forking out all the money to support racers...some of whom we never get to even really see as it stands.
edhayetc edspratt's article
Jun 12, 2026 at 8:09
Jun 12, 2026
Results: Elite Q2 Qualifying at the Leogang DH World Cup
@Neil6: I get what you mean, but track conditions can change so much between Q1 and Q2 that you could easily equally argue that to base it just on time wouldn't be fair.
edhayetc edspratt's article
Jun 12, 2026 at 5:02
Jun 12, 2026
Results: Elite Q1 Qualifying at the Leogang DH World Cup
@edspratt: I totally get that, especially as I wrote for Dirt for over a decade, I just felt your comment came across more snarky than positive (and I also know it's easy to take written online comments in multiple ways, some of which aren't the way the author intended). I guess I just feel he deserves more praise for what he's created for us.
edhayetc edspratt's article
Jun 12, 2026 at 4:41
Jun 12, 2026
Results: Elite Q1 Qualifying at the Leogang DH World Cup
@c-radicallis: I might have been reading into his comment wrong, but I felt the whole 'real people who have put time and effort in' comment to be a really unnecessary dig. From where I stand this guy has put in a load of effort himself to help create something to improve the lack of qualifying coverage shit show for us fans, and for that alone he should be praised. I think what he has done is ace! And this is coming from someone who used to be paid to cover/write about these races.
edhayetc edspratt's article
Jun 12, 2026 at 4:09
Jun 12, 2026
Results: Elite Q1 Qualifying at the Leogang DH World Cup
@mi-bike: I reckon he should just scrape through by the looks of it.
edhayetc edspratt's article
Jun 12, 2026 at 3:56
Jun 12, 2026
Results: Elite Q1 Qualifying at the Leogang DH World Cup
Looks like a lot of big names will be fighting it out again in Q2. And hats off to Brosnan for a result like that after the slam he took.
edhayetc mattbeer's article
Mar 5, 2026 at 4:43
Mar 5, 2026
Atherton Bikes Launch New 3D-Printed Titanium Cranks
So they make frames with a BSA bottom bracket and then offer cranks with only 29 or 30mm axles...DUB with BSA means b/b's that last five minutes. Why no 24mm option? Then you've got a world of b/b's that last to choose from, and many are cheap as chips in comparison.

