World Cup Racers Share Frustration as Points System Offers No Ranking Points for Semi-Finals
Ahead of the return of World Cup racing after its summer break, riders are being vocal about organisational issues that have seen Adam Brayton forced to miss the racing due to a lack of points as no ranking points are offered for semi-finals.
After the UCI decided to change the XC World Champs start order at the last-minute this week has brought up more problems for the UCI and the ESO.
The latest problem plaguing the 2023 race season is the news that no ranking points are being given to riders who qualify and race in the semi-finals. The most prominent casualty of this strange oversight is Adam Brayton who currently sits 55th in the overall series standings but only has 18 UCI ranking points. While the semi-finals offer riders series points for their position no UCI individual ranking points are offered. Even though a rider in the semi-finals has been inside the top 60 fastest riders that weekend and been given live broadcast time they are apparently not worthy of ranking points.
The 2023 rules state that a rider must have at least 40 points in the UCI DHI individual rankings to enter a World Cup event. A rider who features on one of the fee-paying teams can still enter without the required ranking points. It is worth adding here that while Adam Brayton currently only has 18 UCI ranking points, he was able to secure two top-40 race finishes so far this season.
Current UCI World Cup entry requirements.
Following Adam Brayton's announcement on social media many riders have jumped to his defence with the suggestion that these rules are only making things harder for privateer racers to succeed.
Wyn Masters' always insightful track walk video from Andorra saw a few of the top riders share their thoughts on the points issues and more ahead of this week's racing, we have included some quotes below.
 | Yeah shame the silly points system that this new organisation have got going has ruled him out of action this week but hopefully he will be back. |
| The racing is getting stressful man, like with the semis and the finals it's just, I dunno I'm starting to fall out of love with it... It's (semi-finals) basically a race run and you get 31st and you don't even make finals it's dog shit. It really is, it's dog shit. I think I dunno, we will see how it goes. Downhill might be dead. Nah I can't say that but I dunno I think it's just going to become very niche. It's going to be 30 guys and yeah like it's not going to be something you do anymore, you just watch it. When I saw that (the news about Adam Brayton) the other day I was just like I'm over it. Why should someone who has made semis every go not have enough points to race a world cup, it just doesn't make any sense. It doesn't add up at all. I don't know what is going on, you guys need to sort your shit out. Big time. |
| Prize money needs to improve. It's tragic, tragic I tell you... We could improve things, still getting ripped off in the meantime. |
| A lot of people would come to watch Adam ride because he is like a fan favorite, a mad dog and just a good guy. He has been in the World Cup forever and he has been qualifying at the races this year and he can't even start... Someone is making some weird decisions... Sort it out. |
| Try and clear somethings up. People asking how I managed to do the first few rounds this year… Your points last 12 months from the date you receive them. Last year i scored enough to race this year. I was aware I needed more later on in the year. After scoring “points” in semis I thought I had enough to continue racing the rest of the season… Two weeks ago I got an email saying I couldn’t be entered for Valnord etc and that’s when I was Informed semi-finals points don’t count I went to France to get points but unfortunately got a flat... At the end of the day this falls on me, I should have checked my points after those World Cups and I’d have seen they hadn’t been added but these points would have counted last year for said results. I had no reason to check. Pretty much every pro has messaged me saying they didn’t know the points had changed either. (Makes me feel a bit better) I’ve learned two things, semi points are pointless and I need to go on the points chase.. I’ve also applied for a GB jersey if a place becomes available. Fingers crossed. I’m taking it on the chin and bash on. |
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Stop watching Drive to Survive and trying to make DH F1, it is a different sport with different motives. Its clear they want to slowly disincentivize the mid and lower pack riders, thus slowly transitioning them out, keeping the top 30 as fan favorites. I think the plan here was that all the lower riders would start racing national rounds, thus building the national series up and having a grassroots system. However by forcing this starting at the highest level its blowing the system apart and ruining it for everyone. Maybe in 5 years DH will be huge with our own Netflix series, but at what expense? We are a different sport than F1, so lets stop trying to make it something its not
Dang, Kerr called it. Riders were given a chance of having their union and most gave up on it, they didn't want to put in the extra effort to make sure BS like this doesn't happen. This is what happens when you sit back and hope for the best. Maybe the riders will start to participate and realize how important a rider-run union is. Complaining in vlogs won't change anything. Organizations like the UCI have been pulling this crap forever, regardless of the sport. Its up to the participants, the racers, to keep them in check through an active union. Or you can just give up and quit like Kade seems to be hinting at..... I guess it depends on how much you love the racing aspect of the sport.
Current drivers who come from quote ordinary backgrounds include Alonso, Ocon and Hamilton.
There’s a reason most of these guys get smoked when they try to Indy or other race series in retirement or when they don’t have a ride.
It’s a constructor sport. F1 is very cool. But it’s been entirely sponsor driven long before it had big tv production.
Eso is puttting the cart before the horse. Greatly degrading its talent pool and fan base. Half the current top 20 didn’t start their careers in the top 20. And you have a lot of race winners and guys with big fanbases who aren’t consistently in the top 30 or top 20 still on the scene bringing them views.
There is one issue: The first step in the process you hint at is to identify the nations that have a legit national - series - and make them official feeders. Next, identify the countries that do not have a national series - fund them and help get them financers - and formally make them feeders.
After that, there needs to be flexibility. For example, it would be illogical for the U.S. and Costa Rica to have the same number of official feeders. The US might need two, while Costa Rica or say Columbia only need 1.
That's where you start. You start with founding principles. What the structure is set, then you can start to change the lives of those that put their health on the line.
It just seems to me like the thoughts around the exec table are incredibly short sighted and are going to end up being jig saw pieces that don't comport.
(I am not trying to draw equivalence between the top DH riders and a bunch of ultra rich c**ts, it's not the former's fault they're saddled with the UCI)
www.pinkbike.com/news/ask-me-anything-with-chris-ball.html#commenttop
The riders are the show, without them there is no race. Its their series, not the UCI's. So yes, the riders have the power, thus the responsibility to make sure their series is held in an acceptable manner. Sitting back and bitching on vlogs or social media and crossing your fingers will not change anything.
f*ck you Chris Ball.
To have the strength to fight 6G in a corner thousands of time every race is almost beyond human.
They are short and slim just like jockeys to fit in the car.
They are up there with road cyclists in terms of giving over they're entire body and lifestyle to devotion to the sport.
Indy is miles behind F1. Roman Grosjean said it himself this week that indy is 30 years behind. He was a likeable yet extremely average finisher in 10 years of F1 and has gone on to have a pretty decent indy career.
But quickly looking at Adam's points he's only gained pts at 2 races this year, a Portugal DH and the UK Champs even though he's been racing the British series that strangely doesn't seem to award any UCI points.
I've heard on some of the podcasts that it's tricky for the UK riders now because of Brexit, Visa and how much they can travel so that plays into what races they can go to put the points are there if you choose the right events. Happens in olympics alot, while some athletes are focused and the big spot light events others crush it at B events and get there needed amount of quali pts. Hell the electrician that put a light in our spare better room the other day has 55 uci points for podiuming 3 times in a week at the Dunbar series.
But Crankworx falls under UCI as well. Most likely for insurance but it also awards need UCi points for WC's
Number one goal should be to make the UCI irrelevant
Growing the sport means bringing in people who are not exactly like yall. There isn’t some untapped pool of PB commenters who just haven’t bought a bike and a lift pass yet and are waiting on a slightly better WC broadcast to lay down their dollars. Different people are going to be different (—scary!!)
Public, legal, and (oh the horror) green and blue trails have more to do with DH’s future than all this fanservice in mtb media. Adding cycling to primary school phys ed. Prioritizing fun in people’s early experiences with racing. The riders who are core, who are my progression first, gimmee gimmee gimmee, you’re your own worst enemies. Not helping privateer WC racers all that well either
"It really was a dream for us all as a family to do something different. For us to get out of the slums.
"Well, not the slums, but to get out of somewhere and do something. We all set our goals very, very high but we did it as a team."
Yup, it sounds like he's pretending to be a poor kid, alright.
@bikes-arent-real: If you're on a UCI registered team you have no need to worry about UCI points. How many points do you think the likes of Brook MacDonald has? I'd wager less than 40, but he gets to ride as he's on a team. Kade probably has a low total too - where's he been finishing all year? But Kade is with Trek, so he gets a free start thanks to that. The people that should be reading the rules are the privateers, like Brayton. It does always seem funny to me that people don't read the rules of the sport that they compete in. To get my NZ Motorsport race licence you have to pass an exam on the rules, so you have to learn the rules cover to cover, and the rules book is not thin - think Stephen Kings It book thickness for reference. As a mountain bike racer (when I was younger and faster), I read all the rules, and knew what I had to do if I wanted into a series. You can't, and shouldn't, live life waiting to be told what's what. The information is there if you bother looking.
In addition to disincentivizing mid and lower pack riders with the new points system, the added fees/costs are knee-capping up-and coming riders who need time on the circuit to develop and grow. It took legends like Gee, Peaty, Hill, and others several years to learn how to put it all together before they finally got on a podium. With some of the new points changes and fees, they're putting the ability to race at the Elite level farther out of reach for those who show potential.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
The good thing about downhill is that its a relatively small sport and it seems to me that the current riders actually would have a lot of negotiating power if they would unionize. Problem is that those people are competitiors and I'm sure they hate each other's guts behind closed doors. Also American culture influence made the "union" word almost like a taboo, and I'm sure UCI is doing the divide et impera too. So making a union would be hard, but I'm sure it would payoff in the end.
I reserve the right to take my place on the downvote podium if I've missed a pun/joke/troll in this.
The flipside is downhill is a small sport in the global UCI scheme and they don't necessarily have to put up with the potential of a rider's union. They should, but they might not have to. If they called the riders' bluff the rider's union would then have to find a way to organize their own series or risk freeriding around for the next few years.
At the same time I do agree that unionizing would be hard to pull off. UCI is huge, powerful and very well connected politically, and the world would be better of without that cancer. Surely you have to start somewhere, but I don't know the answer to that.
Out of all the quotes in the article, not one person was speaking of a solution, or had any outright anger. (Yes, these are not full quotes, I know context can be a thing). Rider's saying "sort it out". Who are you saying this to? The UCI? Riders are just a ragtag bunch of rando cyclists in the big pool of the UCI, pretty sure no one at the UCI is reading this and typing up panicked memos to take action. And when Mr. Brayton is saying stuff like "I’ve also applied for a GB jersey if a place becomes available", "Fingers crossed", and "I’m taking it on the chin and bash on", that sounds like I'll do the best I can for me...not "one for all and all for one".
Even as a non-race fan I hope the riders can find a way to gain traction on several issues (pun intended), but at this point it looks like it'll be hard to get back in front of this snowball.
> But when you say "riders and teams aren't making money and it wouldn't be a huge loss if they quite", you've handed a lot of negotiating leverage to the UCI. You admit you're not a big deal, then say the people with the money (teams) could quit....and the riders? Yeah, mega f*cked
I think you got it the other way around. If the riders had a lot to lose, that would give a bigger leverage to UCI. Many don't have a lot to lose. Riders as a _group_ actually have value though (viewership/fans/etc) so collectively they can take it to someone else.
So that would be a win for them, and a lose for UCI. At least in downhill, I'm not that certain that they could easily replace top 40 or so riders without wounding their future prospects. At least the riders can get a place at the negotiating table.
I'm not too optimistic about it because of reasons I've mentioned earlier, but at least it might force UCI to talk to the riders instead of not giving shit about them.
Is that power enough, that's a different discussion. Also sponsors are usually behind the riders, as long as it suits them.
Courses designed/built by Dan Atherton (maybe a couple not quite as hardline as Hardline) as well as some existing locations not used by the UCI (Pila would be great).
Free to view.
Red Bull assist with resource for spinal/head injuries.
Decent prize money
Good coverage of juniors and womens races.
Crucially; Rob Warner on the commentary.
Make this happen.
Red Bull Bike youtube account seemed to agree during one of the urban DH live streams earlier this year.
#1 team walked away with $8.5 million, split between 6 people.
Imagine if the top 20 in downhill shared a 19 million prize pool....it would be life changing to a lot of these guys....very few are paying the bills on downhill biking alone
Our sport is held hostage by a broadcasting company who puts pressure onto the sanctioning body to re-shape DH racing into a format which maximizes the profits of the broadcasting company. Disgusting.
Absolutely. I think that was a given as soon as they took over. I don't think they would have bought the broadcasting rights otherwise. Pity Red Bull couldn't continue as they were, but it's in the hands of the Cartels now.
Glad I'm not there though, I'm on a team but a small one and still sounds/looks complicated with the stupid pit situation. As for this ridiculous points situation, it's completely unreal. I hope they get it sorted out asap, I'm sure Adam's not the only one affected by it. They need to come up with a point allocation and then retrospectively award them to all riders who've quali'd 31st - 60th, and actually if anyone's been pushed down by a protected rider, he needs to get at least a point too. Same for the women if they are also not scoring points, which I assume they are not if they quali 11th-15th. I mean come on... you can be 15th best woman in the World and not gain ranking points. What the hell.
What have we gained? Finals behind a paywall. Semi finals that no one asked for. Production values down. A points system that screws riders...
I love this sport. Why mess with it? We had a good thing going.
You'd have to be off your head to think this year's coverage and rule changes are an improvement... But I knew that when I saw you referring to riders like Adam Brayton as "wannabes". You haven't got a clue.
While we're talking "facts", Adam Brayton has been one of the best riders from the UK for a long time. He's also been on the world cup podium. All without being on one of the big teams. "Not quite good enough"? Again, you're showing how clueless you are.
Anyway, I've probably fed the troll enough. Take a look at your down votes, give your head a wobble and have a lie down mate.
assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/6qYIYIddcAPjN248n7tVDI/89a7e092c1b99d839a738027c8eec63d/UCI_MTB_Rules_-_Part_IV_-_ENG.pdf
They're killing the sport we love, giving their punter mates the prime commentary jobs and counting money while top riders nurse serious spinal and head injuries for absolutely sod all cash.
Chris Ball is to downhill what Elon Musk is to Twitter - only difference is Redbull could easily start another platform and we'd all stop watching the dire ESO series.
Due respect, but based on my union experience, Mr. Brayton's response and phrasing does not evoke "I have a plan for us to make this situation better for all". He's not the guy.
I reserve the right to take my place on the downvote podium if I've missed a pun/joke/troll in this.
Kade does have a free ride as he's a member of the UCI registered Trek team, but you are correct in that he's primarily a speed and style rider, an event exclusive to crankworks, but it does translate well enough in media presence to warrant his place in the DH team. Because of this, Kade doesn't have his whole career tied up with the DH, which does detract from him being the ideal spokesperson, but at this stage his honesty and passion is what's required to give the directors of UCI and ESO both barrels.
Ad Brayton is one of the best supported privateers, but I imagine his sponsorship contracts are possibly KPI'd on his appearance / top 60 places at WC events. Those contracts are unlikely to have been hammered out in the short window between the final rules being released and the season starting. He's admitted that he didn't keep himself abreast of the updated rules, but even if he did, I doubt there would have been much opportunity to renegotiate his contracts.
At any rate, I hope the riders can come out the other side of either this small points issue or what could be the bigger UCI snowball and keep their livelihoods progressing. As for the UCI changing things simply to make it better for the riders, not as much hope.
I'm not the only one who thought the interpretation of the available viewing data was pretty skewed.
When I say back them up I mean defend their actions. No contradiction in that.
I get people will create dumb conspiracy theories but PB is shilling hardcore here. I mean even listening to the podcast you can hear the PB guys knee jerk reaction is "all complaints are wrong, the industry is correct" but here you get 2 articles where they try to defend the UCI. Badly at that. I get that once you are in the industry you see the other side and understand it. I worked as a small time bike journo for a while but this is not what PB is doing
RB wasn't all sunshine and rainbows but that's a pointless statement. RB was BETTER and RB didn't screw riders this hard. What matters is this is COMPARATIVELY WORSE. I won't even mention their viewing stats kinda pretending it's not bad or good for the sport since that's the worst data based article I've seen in a while and I work with data daily.
Look at people like Andreas Kolb who used to get either a DNQ or around 40th place early in his career. Benoit Coulanges used to be on a small team and also used to have much lower results. So do you want to stop this pipeline so we no longer have stories like this and the only top30 riders are people who got factory suport straight from the juniors.
Also did you ride with someone who tried to qualify for the world cup under the old 80/60 rider system? I'm 100% sure they are MUCH faster than you. They are elite racers and athletes not "wannabe racers". You have no clue what you are talking about. Even the top80 field was competitive AF. National champions from smaller countries used to frequently not qualify.
Dude. RB didn't push for a smaller finals field. RB had better commentators and in feed graphics. RB was easier to access. Better extra materials outside of the main race feed. So this is what I mean when I say RB was better.
As it stands anyone who has 40 points can enter the race. There are lots of racers at the race who are on small teams or are privateers who have earnt the points
Red Bull Bike youtube account seems to agree as well when I asked during one of the urban DH races earlier this year
In the recent article on viewership, everyone got caught up in comparing the numbers for this year versus last. But the thing that jumped out at me is that nowhere close to a meaningful number of people watch the sport. So there seems to be precious little economic value in the entertainment aspect of the sport.
Which means "professional racers" are marketers and, outside of a handful of people, aren't going to make very much money. In American football, all that money to pay players those huge salaries isn't coming from Nike, Russel, etc. It's coming from the entertainment value, because a ton of people watch the sport. And since privateers don't sell bikes, from an economic perspective there's no incentive to make things work for them (which sucks).
I don't disagree that I greatly preferred last year to this year, and I'm never going to pay for these subscriptions until they get things better sorted. But I think a lot of people's dissatisfaction is born of unrealistic expectations.
If you want to make a for the sake of the sport argument, we have a label for that: amateur sports.
Imagine if the guy on the number 55 plate didnt take part in the world championship XC!!!
This is such a piddly cock up that needs sorted and the rider needs compensated now.
On the plus side, he missed getting drenched yesterday on track walk.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/national/story/2023-08-12/tom-pidcock-pauline-ferrand-prevot-win-mountain-bike-world-titles-in-scotland
Regs here: www.uci.org/regulations/3MyLDDrwJCJJ0BGGOFzOat
The ranking points are calculated over a rolling 52 weeks, if you look at Adam's he's got more than enough at the beginning of the season but then as the weeks roll by the points from the previous year drop off and the 'new' points he is expecting from the semi's never appear.
So in June he had enough, by August enough had dropped off (and not been replaced) that meant he dropped under the 40 limit.
assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/6qYIYIddcAPjN248n7tVDI/0537c489c50ee75d80d7948610c3a02a/UCI_MTB_Rules_-_Part_IV_-_ENG_-_V05.2023.pdf
4.11.013 on page 56:
In the qualifying, semi-final and final rounds, riders are awarded UCI World Cup standing points as per the scale in article 4.11.020. However, in the last round of the UCI World Cup season, no standing points for the qualifying or semi-final rounds will be given. The standing and UCI points will be awarded to the riders according to their position in the final only, as per points scale in article 4.11.020.
UCI points will be awarded to the qualifying rounds and final.
No UCI World Cup points are awarded during the juniors qualifying rounds.
In the footnote for ANNEX 3 - UCI MTB DHI points on Page 95 there's this line (typo is in the official doc): ** For the final round, no world cup points will be awared for the qualifying round, those world cup points will be given to the final instead.
A rider who has qualified for every top 60 has been declined entry to this round, even though he has shown through performance that he is within the to 60 in the world on a consistent and undeniable basis.
When running a test we go on results... The results show beyond doubt that Adam is a top 60 rider.
Many riders who are not as good as Adam took to B practice today.
Simply put, there is a lack of a common sense approach within the sport and this example is a very good case of how the sport is unfair (regardless of the rules) and has put someone at a disadvantage, not based on results, performances and ability, but based on an interpretation of the rules or lack of knowledge of the rules. This demonstrates without doubt that the rules are not for for purpose. Unfortunately amongst riders and racers this will tarnish the sport and be something that can be recalled as a dark moment for downhill for many years to come, potentially decades to come. When the current management look at their legacy, this and other screw ups are their legacy. They couldn't even define clearly to riders if they could jump the new pads or not and then what counted as crossing a pad. These are all clear signs of incompetence which need to be resolved.
If the standing and ranking points are one and the same then semi final points should count - says it there, for all but the final round.
As I mention above if it’s in the rules, and clear, Ad Brayton has nothing to moan about, but, unless there is a whole different set of regs I’ve not found yet, ie a ‘how do race classes/points convert to ranking points’ then it remains a mystery as to how the UCI can change the rules without publishing them on their regs page. But it’s the UCI, useless.
“UCI points will be awarded to the qualifying rounds and final.”
The more I try to figure it out the less I know haha.
I don’t know how to make it a hyperlink from my phone
I get that wee Harry can turn up to a race with a limited field and get ranking points to get a WC entry, folk have done that to get into elite for years. Harry is never gonna get into the top 60 but he has paid his money to get the points required. There is then old faithful, let's call him Fred who hasn't raced due to injury who can pitch up just for practice as he rides for a team, with no intention of racing.
There is then a third rider, let's call him Adam (the other guys names were changed), he has qualified for each works cup, but Adam works and has other commitments, let's call them a family etc, but he is elite by merit and qualified for every top 60, poor Adam hasn't put enough money into the big bosses pocket so Adam is left out!
So we have...
Harry who is there but not gonna qualify under fair conditions, he might as Adam isn't there taking a qualification spot.
Fred who pays for a team and is allowed to pitch up just for practice with no intention of racing
Adam who is good enough but has a family and hasn't paid the bosses enough money so doesn't get a race.
Think I have it now, the sport is diluted and the field not as strong as it could be to service the better off over the fastest riders.
The rules kinda make sense, just the awarding or weighting of points might be a little screwed up.
Simple rule... If you have qualified for top 60 in the last rolling year you have a guaranteed entry as you have proven yourself capable of qualifying, regardless of how many other races you have travelled too to get your points
Paid to defend the indefensible during the day and going for laps halfway up New York New York after work on his Discovery bought Santa Cruz e-bike.
He gets back, eagerly checks Strava and sighs when he realises he’ll never be as fast as the Ulster Mic Butcher Rick McLaughlin…
The fact that a world champion can't enter a World Cup race because he hasn't got enough points is mind blowing to me,and another nail on the downhill racing coffin.
If qualifying at the world cups isn't enough to prove your right to be there, what is?
A privateer, like Adam Brayton requires 40 points to gain entry to a World Cup race. He was personally caught out because he mistakenly believed he would be awarded UCI ranking points for the Semifinals he raced in over the last two rounds. Given the current UCI rulebook does have a table showing he’s awarded points for placing up to 60th which is in keeping with previous years then he can probably be forgiven for that mistake! The UCI ranking points only last 1 year. He found himself in this position mid-season as points from previous year are removed coupled with not being awarded any for his semifinal placing.
It's not that he's not good enough. BUT... there's plenty of pro team riders in the mix that certainly are not good enough! If your name is down on a pro team, you don’t require any points to race in the World Cup. So, if you have the cash to set up a pro team you can effectively race a WORLD cup having no prior racing experience or results! Cash is King!
Also, as far as I've seen none of the riders knew about these changes. On top of that, Adam is self-supported at the world cups. If he was on a factory team he wouldn't have to worry about points, the rule change is anti-privateer
assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/6qYIYIddcAPjN248n7tVDI/89a7e092c1b99d839a738027c8eec63d/UCI_MTB_Rules_-_Part_IV_-_ENG.pdf
I found them after 20 seconds on google
Boykott them all!
N.B i found it hard to even find the overall standings the uci website is a warren. DH doesn’t come far up their agenda. Also I don’t really get a cycling federation that is prompting ebike racing???
www.uci.org/race-hub/2023-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup-xco-xcc-dhi-pal-arinsal-and/2DlKaSEqLJEeYhPKsuzn23
Here's an actual link to the current UCI points table!
www.uci.org/discipline/mountain-bike/4LArSj7CKcytMrGEDtKwkb?tab=rankings
You have to go through several pages to find the first riders below the WC cutoff score. First on the list is Harry Molloy with 39 pts, but as he's on a trade team gets the golden ticket to ride. Next up is Bryan Pfeiffer with an equal score. Even if he went and did an ixs race or whichever C1 took his fancy (the last French cup was a few weeks ago and loaded with foreign riders looking to grab some UCI points) he'd have to get his hands on one of the three French national shirts up for grabs, but as he's 26 years old, the French federation may well give him a hard pass and take a younger rider looking for race experience. That's going to be common practice in a nation with lots of high standard privateers.
I don't mind paying for content - this is not content, it's total garbage.
Don't support it. Let it implode. How to treat pro riders.
Outta curiousity did you watch / like that race and did you see the ride from the local privateer Marcus Goguen? Probably one of the best DH runs I've ever witnessed (minus how do you actually compare some of these winning runs) but - that's easily the sickest track and I guess I'm just all worked up.
But - maybe so. I'm a doubter and I think there are probably another 27 considerations here. Mostly I'm just done w/ World Cup, after following it since (damn when did it start???) I'll check the Vital vids & PB coverage but - its a joke now. I don't care anymore. Crank is fun and wild and captures the spiriti of biking right now. I'm following that now - sponsors or not. That shit at Whistler was a race for the ages. Nothing I've seen this year w/ Discovery is close (though hey, Jax & Jordan have come out swinging and that's been good)
This is nonsense, did the UCI give a justification for this change? Like obviously we are seeing the negative reported here, what was the benefit- because I can't even fathom?
Again, without evidence we can’t speculate as to whether it is Mr Ball or not but he is becoming the epicentre for the negativity in the comments by his own accord.
The UCI has took a s**t in its hands and clapped, right in front of everyone with this rule.
No disrespect to the other riders!
And I forgot to say since no 1 else has cared to mention it f*ck uci! Lol
www.uci.org/discipline/mountain-bike/4LArSj7CKcytMrGEDtKwkb?tab=rankings
30 Inn it for the money lane,
I couldn’t give a toss road,
County dream killershire,
Lalaland
Someone commented 40 points can be had by getting 6th in Nationals... The problem with that is that top 6 in Nationals is incredibly hard in Elites.. For example, outside of top 6 this year were Ethan Craik, Jordan Williams, Greg Williamson... Pretty tough to get in the top 6 for sure.. Entry by picking up UCI points from IXS races may be a better way forward for some potentially, but i'll admit i don't know the scoring system in UCI terms for IXS races.
I do wonder and haven' seen it mentioned yet, what the criteria is for the UCI Elite team. What boxes/finances need to be ticked to make it to that and could 3-4 of the Privateers somehow club togehter their resources and make 'pro team' to circumvent the ruling ? Obviously different sponsors would make that complex, but depending on price/rules may be somewhat possible ?
First, union members pay dues which support a structure, which includes lawyers who know contract law and other relevant information. The UCI wins here because the riders don't have the money. The companies may or may not afford it, but may not see it as worth it. Also, the riders are too busy trying to win and/or stay relevant in a sport which requires 24/7 commitment.
Second, unions take a large number of job actions other than full-blown strikes to show their strength. The UCI and ESO imposed everything on the riders. They are probably paying close attention to the amount of push back or rider complaints, but view it as a small percentage of actual riders. There is no real pressure for them to change.
The media model is closer to other niche sports like Ironman Triathlon. These sports also have more than one governing body. As much as people on here want to compare the sport to F1 or Supercross, it doesn't compare on the business side of things. A union that can't or won't take significant job actions has no power. A fanbase that won't pay to watch isn't helping. A well organized riders union can use subscriber/viewing numbers to argue for their side. However, many "real fans" of the sport refuse to subscribe. The changes next year will be very interesting to watch.
By introducing semis, but not giving points for them, UCI are deliberately making life difficult for anyone not on an elite team.
4.11.013 In the qualifying, semi-final and final rounds, riders are awarded UCI World Cup
standing points as per the scale in article 4.11.020. However, in the last round of the
UCI World Cup season, no standing points for the qualifying or semi-final rounds will
be given. The standing and UCI points will be awarded to the riders according to their
position in the final only, as per points scale in article 4.11.020.
UCI points will be awarded to the qualifying rounds and final.
No UCI World Cup points are awarded during the juniors qualifying rounds.
And they are very careful to put 'UCI Standing Points', not 'UCI Ranking Points', I may have missed the ranking points elsewhere...