Male Gravity Racer of the Year 2014
"And so it must be... From the five legendary athletes nominated; Jared Graves, Sam Hill, Josh Bryceland, Gee Atherton and Fabien Barel we are forced to procure just a single victor to step up to the throne as the new king of the Gravity World. Let us now discover who shall take their position upon the high thread-count, royal cushioning, and begin to remold the butt groove of last year's winner, Stevie Smith, in favor of their own. Pinkbike's 2014 male gravity racer of the year is crowned today.
It was never going to be an easy contest to judge, particularly as our downhill and enduro heroes didn't get to cross swords directly on a race track, but in the end it was the panel's feeling that one rider had the kind of year to rule them all... set to be remembered well and truly as their own. Highs, lows, black jerseys and black eyes all mixed in together... it really was the Year of the Rat."
- Nathan Hughes
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Male Gravity Racer of the Year 2014
As the season played out for Bryceland, we witnessed second place in the Cairns jungle bested under the lofty peaks of Leogang, as he took to the top step in his first ever victory. Another near perfect performance in Quebexico was followed by an all-out blitzing, Stateside and by the time Meribel came around, the grand master of 'keeping it real' just had to hold on tight and pilot the ratmobile ahead of the big 'S' boys to wrap up one hell of a formidable lesson in bike riding. Back on home soil, strong outings at the BDS and the stomping of the National Champs title made for some sweet icing on the cake, particularly when we consider just how many of the top 20 fly Her Majesty's red white and blue. Results aside though, what we have in Josh Bryceland is really far more than any timing system can convey and something phenomenally rare at the top of any sport. We have an athlete high on life, no motives besides simply enjoying the ride and ultimately, a little piece of the reason we got into bikes in the first place, still plain to see.
No one but the great Ratty Skidson will do as our Male Gravity Racer of the Year 2014. Congratulations Josh.
It was never going to be an easy contest to judge, particularly as our downhill and enduro heroes didn't get to cross swords directly on a race track, but in the end it was the panel's feeling that one rider had the kind of year to rule them all... set to be remembered well and truly as their own. Highs, lows, black jerseys and black eyes all mixed in together... it really was the Year of the Rat."
- Nathan Hughes
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| Josh Bryceland A bridge too far, it may have been, but that one Scandinavian plywood box with a handrail was the only thing that could stop Josh Bryceland from storming the 2014 double crown and claiming the champs to match the overall title of the World Cup. To see the clock tick from gold to silver in front of a helpless, mal-positioned limb on the end of a man in agony, was a shocking end to an almighty race and a mightier season. It was a sight you could even have described as 'tragic'... if it wasn't the Ratboy we were talking about. Not one to make a song and dance of anything, or even so much as appear vaguely disappointed at the prospect of a missed rainbow jersey and broken foot, there really seems to be nothing that can douse the flame of perpetual 'stoke' beneath Bryceland's dark flowing locks. Asked the night before finals in Meribel what his approach would be, no one was surprised to hear more of his famed 'focus by having fun' ethos... afterall "at the end of the day we're racing bikes down a hill, it's all fun and games!" He would prepare to "go flat out and try to win the f*ker!" | Season Highlights • 2nd - Shimano BDS #1 Antur Stiniog • 4th - Shimano BDS #2 Fort William • 4th - Shimano BDS #3 Ae Forest • 4th - Shimano BDS #4 Llangollen • 1st - Borderline Events - UK National Champs 2014 Innerleithen • 2nd - UCI World Cup #2 Cairns • 1st - UCI World Cup #4 Leogang • 2nd - UCI World Cup #5 Mont-Sainte-Anne • 1st - UCI World Cup #6 Windham • 3rd - UCI World Cup #7 Meribel • 2nd World Championships 2014 Hafjell Bike Park |
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As the season played out for Bryceland, we witnessed second place in the Cairns jungle bested under the lofty peaks of Leogang, as he took to the top step in his first ever victory. Another near perfect performance in Quebexico was followed by an all-out blitzing, Stateside and by the time Meribel came around, the grand master of 'keeping it real' just had to hold on tight and pilot the ratmobile ahead of the big 'S' boys to wrap up one hell of a formidable lesson in bike riding. Back on home soil, strong outings at the BDS and the stomping of the National Champs title made for some sweet icing on the cake, particularly when we consider just how many of the top 20 fly Her Majesty's red white and blue. Results aside though, what we have in Josh Bryceland is really far more than any timing system can convey and something phenomenally rare at the top of any sport. We have an athlete high on life, no motives besides simply enjoying the ride and ultimately, a little piece of the reason we got into bikes in the first place, still plain to see.
No one but the great Ratty Skidson will do as our Male Gravity Racer of the Year 2014. Congratulations Josh.
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 'The Ratboy' is your 2014 Male Gravity Racer of the Year, on Pinkbike. |
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Sam Hill is the king!!
F**** the rest!!
He also got carried away a little bit and started shredding the top part of the track ( as if you wouldn't ) but the whoops brought him unstuck.
Agreed he should have had a lid on at least but come on
Well deserved! #YearOfTheRat
"I’d never hit that bottom jump quick, I totally overlooked it. So that was the first time I’d come out of the woods and then pedalled, and then not braked to do a whip… what a muppet".
That quote to me discounts all those arguments about bad luck, or deserving the win. Preparation is and practice are all part of being a great racer and winning races and Ratboy never took that part of the course seriously during practice, instead chosing to show off during his practice runs (I love that about him BTW). That's his own fault. He did not deserve to win that race because he didn't properly prepare and take practice seriously. People get on Gee about being so serious but I doubt you'd ever see him not have every part of a course dialed at full speed before race day. And because of that he won the race. Same goes for many of the other top riders like Minnar, Gwin, etc.
Makes perfect sense, right?