Pinkbike Awards - DH Race of the Year 2014
"A phenomenal downhill season from the off, snowballed into one of the most dramatic on record, with each round bringing its own set of signature thrills and spills. It makes sense then that the last three stops for the racing circus were rated finest by the PB panel- Windham with its incredible crowd atmosphere and deadly tight race times, Meribel with it's 100% au-natural track and red hot season finale and last, but not least, Hafjell World Champs; the ultimate 2014 farewell party. We can have only one winner so now's the time to pick a favourite. In the end we had to go with the race that gripped us hardest, the longest and left us just shy of emotionally crippled... near crying into the arms of a loved one or at the first convincing donkey appeal that cropped up on TV. You know, the race that no man or troll will go forgetting in a hurry..." - Nathan Hughes
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DH Race of the Year
UCI World Championships, Hafjell, Norway
What can we say about the 2014 champs? It was truly the race that had it all. It had the basics; an exciting track, solid organization, fine weather and decent crowds. Then it had, shall we say 'defining moments' that were positively out of this world and rendered us a collective of babbling messes; riders, media and viewers at home alike. Why? Because things got wilder than one of those American frat parties with the red plastic cups where somebody ends up expelled for twerking and doing shots of de-icer mixed with sick on the internet. Atherton held on at warp with a steady head to stomp gold, Mulally almost did the unthinkable, Hill had his surprise eject in the green on the rocks and as for Bryceland, well that's all water under the bridge now. Elsewhere Manon trumped Rachel by the width of a Welsh pony tail, while Vergier and Molloy tasted the rainbow for the very first time in what was, overall, one hell of a spectacle.
How did it get so crazy? Surely it was a case of scores to settle and 'all or nothing' stakes at season's end, on one of the most fierce and unforgiving tracks on the circuit. Whatever the case, we feel sure Hafjell World Champs was one of those solid gold classics our fine mountain bike community will never forget and probably refuse to stop referencing, much to the annoyance of the new generation of future times. 'Son, you don't know nothing till you go sit down and watch the World Champs in Norway from back in the glory days' etc etc. Bam Hill, you've been told.
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UCI World Championships, Hafjell, Norway
What can we say about the 2014 champs? It was truly the race that had it all. It had the basics; an exciting track, solid organization, fine weather and decent crowds. Then it had, shall we say 'defining moments' that were positively out of this world and rendered us a collective of babbling messes; riders, media and viewers at home alike. Why? Because things got wilder than one of those American frat parties with the red plastic cups where somebody ends up expelled for twerking and doing shots of de-icer mixed with sick on the internet. Atherton held on at warp with a steady head to stomp gold, Mulally almost did the unthinkable, Hill had his surprise eject in the green on the rocks and as for Bryceland, well that's all water under the bridge now. Elsewhere Manon trumped Rachel by the width of a Welsh pony tail, while Vergier and Molloy tasted the rainbow for the very first time in what was, overall, one hell of a spectacle.
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How did it get so crazy? Surely it was a case of scores to settle and 'all or nothing' stakes at season's end, on one of the most fierce and unforgiving tracks on the circuit. Whatever the case, we feel sure Hafjell World Champs was one of those solid gold classics our fine mountain bike community will never forget and probably refuse to stop referencing, much to the annoyance of the new generation of future times. 'Son, you don't know nothing till you go sit down and watch the World Champs in Norway from back in the glory days' etc etc. Bam Hill, you've been told.
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 UCI World Champs, Hafjell, Norway is your DH Race of the Year 2014, on Pinkbike. |
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but looking back on Champs it was bloody good so I am in agreement
more French alp circuits are required - - or Austrian -
ps: GET RID OF THAT SHITE TRACK - you have been on the circuit too long already and you know who you are
yes I would like to see it hit as many parts of the world as possible, I wasn't trying to say base it in the alps/mostly Europe, what I should have said was more tracks like the alps, raw DH rocky fast, scary tracks, that is what these boys and girls need to push them, meribel, val dis ere? (where tracy broke her femur), etc have been great additions imo
I disagree. Pedaling should be mandatory in all cycling events (including DH). The problem lays with the tracks not being burly enough for 8 inch bikes to be required (and trail bikes are much more capable now). IMO, DH should embody everything cycling, only pointed down a dirt hill. Steep techy gnar, big jumps, crazy high speeds and even sprint segments should ALL be in a DH track. DH racers are athletes and should be tested as such. If they don't need to pedal it shouldn't be called a bike race. It's a luge.
Make a rule for only allowing dual crown and/or gnar-up the tracks a bit more.
but this year,s race was really exciting, maybe cos of the changes. sik mik's runways incredible...I thought he had it for sure.
anyway...lots of pedalling there. maybe it's just me?!!
Just because the Everest is the highest mountain on Earth, doesn’t mean it is capable of hosting a dh race.
Just because your local track has 1000 riders per day, doesn’t mean it is capable of hosting a dh race.
You need skilled people in order to organize a race. Also, you need infrastructure and you need money behind everything and everybody, because nobody works for free, even though you probably ride your bike for free.
So, if you didn’t notice yet, races will definitely "materialize" in places where you can find:
1 – skilled people
2 – infrastructure
3 - $$$
We are shocked and appalled, outraged and err... something.
(not really)
I still struggle with the fact it's held in PMB ... surely something sick can be purpose built in St Laurie's pass etc.
The geography of Africa is incredibly ancient. Anything steep was eroded down 100,000 years ago. Kilimanjaro isn't the only 7000er that you can walk up without cause.
the worldcup winner is the rider that has been the best throughout the season despite the track and weather. I think its good to have different kinds of track in the wc. It very booring to watch football . The stadium they play in is the same all over the world. All the tracks in the wc have pluss's and minus and i think that is good. New tracks now and then is good for the development of the sport. I dont know, but after all its a bike race and bikes have pedals
Organizing a world cup is a massive pain in the ass financially and logistically. Yes, the UCI is a bunch of rich corrupt a*sholes, but when it comes to organizing world cups, they barely make any money. There's just way more to it than some cameras, yellow tape, drunk Warner, a start gate and "Mr. Tissot" counting down.
I happen to like PMB as it's different and if done right is extremely fast in sections
Have a good day/night