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@headshot: too little pressure in the front tyre was the issue, but luckily nothing is cracked haha

@Hockerz: If anything Sam probably does less marketing than most of his competitors with their Social covered in hashtags. At the end of the day though, all of the riders for factory teams are employed as marketers as most teams are businesses.

Yes good on Anton too, the Kiwi boys are making history this year, they are different types of athlete but both turning themselves inside out to get a decent result this season for everybody. But really? Enjoying the fact that Sam came off and hurt himself? You are obviously making a statement about a 5min moment that Sam had earlier this year, but at least he wasn't wishing anyone hurt. And Mathias Fluckiger is just on Social saying a particular rider is disrespectful and aggressive... you want to wish him a bit of injury karma too?

Plenty of the top riders have come out in support of XCC.... and the top riders are the top riders in both styles. As for demanding a cancelation of 6 XC MTB races a year, that have the potential to be live and available to watch worldwide, well I say bring on more as there are hardly enough as it is. The way to bring more sponsorship into XC MTB is more media exposure for their brands. What fan is going to say give us less XC MTB races to watch? and for those that don't want to watch, well there is always the off button.

If you look at who is in the top 10 of the Mens XCC and then the XCO, you would notice they are very similar - so good mtbkers are good mtbkrs regardless, it is just another facet of racing, well rounded as you say. The top technical mtbkers just happen to be good at speed and tactics as well. So it is not draining points away from the top riders - if anything it is cushioning the blow if a top rider has a DNF for no fault of their own, and keeps them still in the hunt - which I am sure everyone wants