The 2020 UCI MTB Downhill World Cup will conclude on the lush, green slopes above the picturesque town of Lousa. This Portuguese venue will host the World's elite DH riders for the first time and the setting for the final two races of the season could not be better.
The 2,5km long track includes everything needed for a world class downhill spectacle - from fast open sections, tight berms & loose loam to insanely steep sections full of roots, flat out pedalling sections and jump lines.
@CM999: Not like he needs to though! when's he won worlds multiple times, has a stack of world cup wins and has more podiums than most of the current top 20 would dream of having.
@NicolasVouilloz: High praise from the legend himself! Not that Gee needs it though, as you say he has proved himself. Also one of the toughest guys ever to race, think of the gnarly crashes he has recovered from over the years.
@cmitchell: oxygen starvation? Hit the top of the drop a bit further left, enjoy being off course above the tape briefly, test your ankles in a hard sketchy landing, and get lots of social media engagement from your hospital bed.
@cmitchell: also he's not sure what it is because the ramp is a chickenline which is useless at speed, gives a misleading idea of course direction, and could have been removed for a race at this level....
@ceecee: you aren’t legit from st. Kitts are you? I lived there and don’t remember much of an MTB culture! If it’s growing there then we know our sport has really made it!
@ceecee: chicken lines HAVE to be there in case someone comes with a flat, injured, or just with not speed enough to clear the main line for whatever reason
@GnarAZ: I take the Fifth. Where current location is as confused with nationality as props with votes, it seems justifiable. Also I'm not bright enough to select flaglessness, and it's a nice shade of red. Did you have a view of two oceans when you were there? Mazal tov!
Need a race without it. Dont want to be telling people which line is the fastest when there is a choice, kinda removes the choice part!
After the race... yes please.
@betsie: you do realize the big teams like specialized and Commencal have timers along the track that tells them what lines are the fastest for their specific riders. I'm sure very few riders actually watch cathro before the race, if anything its just the small guys who I don't mind if he helps out
@grundletroll: I am sure riders watch ghost camps before the race or ask Ben in person.
Teams have timers, yes, not everywhere on a new track though and the massive difference is their data isnt shared to everyone.
Negative prop all you like, but as a racer and someone who used to tape tracks, putting in line choice that remains a choice is where the sport should be, if not go back to old school tight taped single line tracks.
@betsie: It's not like his timing was in any way scientific. It's mostly for popularity because line analysis and comparison is interesting. 10 different riders will ride the same line with 10 different times too. Also their pace won't be the same. Someone goes faster in the practice and someone slower.
Gee killing it on the course preview, so composed and calm. Almost like he is standing around!!!! (future media guy??) His course previews are the best!!!
Just here to say again, Gee's track previews are absolutely amazing. I hope Red Bull or someone continues to send him for these after he's done racing!
I can not say enough how amazing I think Gee is at doing these....blows my freakin' mind! How anyone can ride the courses like he does while also giving the amazing color commentary he gives is simply beyond me. Red Bull, great job doing whatever you did to get Gee in this position!
Gee is utterly gob smacking at this commentary/preview but let's not start talking too early of him stopping racing! I'd love to see him at EWS and I'm not one of those who sees that as a sort of retirement for downhillers. Besides that, he's still competitive anyway.
What are the rules on gapping corners? Having seen these guys do it on instagram at places like morzine theres a corner at the top that looks like they could gap to straight line. It would mean flying over a taped off section. If wheels don't touch the ground inside the tape is it allowable?
I’m not sure if the exact rules but I don’t think it’s allowed. I remember it coming up in the comments here a few years ago and I think someone came up with the rule showing it would be legal.
Something kept feeling weird then I realized it was the tree leaves on the ground. My brain thinks of leaves on the ground as after downhill race season riding. If only I had lungs like Gee, talking the whole way down, I'd be gasping for air!
Anyone else surprised by how many inside lines he took? I feel like cathrovision has really taught me how important exit speed is, and that the slower yet shorter inside line is rarely the winning choice.
He did one for the Maribor a few weeks ago. Not sure why he didn't do one for World Champs. Maybe since he wasn't racing? But I didn't see that anyone did an "official" one on Redbull so maybe because the track was such a mess they didn't have someone go out?
IMO having tracks that are not necessarily mega gnar but just hard to go fast on is what DH needs going forward. Forcing them to huck into things that you're guaranteed not to walk away from if you crash just isn't worth it.
Funny when the riders talk it up as a sick DH track and the keyboard warriors say its shit. @DHsender4life bet your the guy with one of those 'cool' Squampton stickers on your bumper lol
The track is harder than it looks, and for reference, the fox test track is just do the right of it. there is lost's of rocks to be had there, just on other part of the hill. there used to be a race track (don't know if they reopen it )that was where the maxxis cup was held, it had a proper gully rock garden, remember as a junior watching gee flying past.
Also one of the toughest guys ever to race, think of the gnarly crashes he has recovered from over the years.
“...little hip up the bank and then...not sure what this is...”
Waiting for Cathrovision intensifies.
Teams have timers, yes, not everywhere on a new track though and the massive difference is their data isnt shared to everyone.
Negative prop all you like, but as a racer and someone who used to tape tracks, putting in line choice that remains a choice is where the sport should be, if not go back to old school tight taped single line tracks.
His course previews are the best!!!
there is lost's of rocks to be had there, just on other part of the hill.
there used to be a race track (don't know if they reopen it )that was where the maxxis cup was held, it had a proper gully rock garden, remember as a junior watching gee flying past.