ALL THINGS LOSINJ, CROATIA WORLD CUP

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Losinj, Croatia
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Downhill
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sspomer
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sspomer
Edited Date/Time 10/14/2019 11:36pm

Time to talk Croatia, the first World Cup DH race of 2018. I'll add links here to all the pertinent goods from the week.



RACE DAY SLIDESHOW
WINNING BIKE - Aaron Gwin's YT TUES
FINAL RESULTS - HECK YES, #USDH!!
G-OUT PROJECT - DH Bike Casing & Carnage!
G-OUT PROJECT #2 from Qualifying Day

Bikes / Product
BOS Data Acquisition on Brendog's Prototype Gambler
Amaury Pierron's Commencal Supreme DH 29
Prototype GT DH Bike
Finn Iles' Specialized Demo
Miranda Miller's Specialized Demo
Prototype Transition TR11 29er?
Loic Bruni's Specialized Demo
FOX suspension behind-the-scenes
Gaetan Vige's Prototype Scott Gambler
Adam Brayton's Scott Gambler (Non-prototype)
Bruce Klein's Commencal Supreme DH 29
Sam Blenkinsop's Norco Aurum 29er
Aaron Gwin's YT TUES #SICKTERGNAR
Prototype Polygon DH Bike
Greg Minnaar's Data Acq Kit
Connor Fearon's Prototype Kona 27 & 29
Fresh Intense M29 Paint
Scott Gambler Prototype with Sharpie Treatment #SOSICK
Santa Cruz Syndicate Tire Inserts - Spin Shield
Marcelo's Giant Glory with DVO Goods
Propain / Dirt Bikes with New Vee Tires
Prototype Pivot 29er
Atherton Racing Trek Sessions
NS Bikes 29er DH Prototype

Results
***QUALIFYING RESULTS - Brook Fastest!
TIMED TRAINING RESULTS
Elite Men's Qualifying Start List, 140 riders (pdf)
Elite Women's Qualifying Start List, 26 riders (pdf)
Junior Men's Qualifying Start List, 43 riders (pdf)
Junior Women's Seeding Start List, 9 riders (pdf)

Photos
***QUALIFYING SLIDESHOW***
***TIMED TRAINING SLIDESHOW***
***TRACK WALK SLIDESHOW***
Croatia World Cup DH Course Photos - It looks worse than the POV videos. How is any tire or wheel going to survive this at race pace?!

Videos / Interviews
Post-Race Rider Interviews - Gwin, Brook and More
***LINE ANALYSIS VIDEO***
***Super Sick Slowmo Video***
Claudio Caluori Interview with Sven Martin
Gwin, Mick, Wyn and more discuss the DH Track
Official Croatia Event Preview Video
POV - Angel Suarez
Vali Holl and Austrian Team Training
POV - Sam Pilgrim on DH E-Bike
Building the Losinj World Cup DH Track
Loic, Finn & Miranda Scope Out Croatia

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Big Bird
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Big Bird 4/18/2018 8:20am
4/18/2018 8:20am
I'm just gonna insert the stupid 'Murican joke here...

First they were gonna race in Lozenge. Now I hear it's called Lotion. Those Croatians sure like their product.

Please continue...
sspomer
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sspomer 4/19/2018 9:33am
4/19/2018 9:33am
i've added a bunch of stuff in the first post. makes it easy to see the bikes and stuff. so much rad stuff with a ton more coming in, too!
sspomer
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sspomer 4/19/2018 10:40am
4/19/2018 10:40am
Claudio got hurt during POV filming. We hope he's all good : (

sspomer
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sspomer 4/20/2018 5:00am
4/20/2018 5:00am Edited Date/Time 4/20/2018 8:22am
(UPDATE) - Loic posted on Instagram that he's hoping to be healed up and riding on Saturday!

(updated) We've got word that loic bruni broke his arm or dislocated his elbow during his first run today. he took the ambulance down the hill but was able to walk to the ambulance under his own power. more news as we get it. #gutted


sspomer
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sspomer 4/20/2018 5:26am
4/20/2018 5:26am
atherton racing trackwalk video
SRube
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SRube 4/20/2018 5:59am
4/20/2018 5:59am
There goes my fantasy dh season, shit Bruni..healing vibes
sspomer
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sspomer 4/20/2018 7:08am
4/20/2018 7:08am
dirt has some rad vids already!

Motodave15
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Motodave15 4/20/2018 7:49am
4/20/2018 7:49am
Soo bumed for loic..heal up soon... on the selfish side of me.. Had to emergency rebuild my fantasy team over at pinkbike lol
Shawn_Trudell 4/20/2018 11:04am
4/20/2018 11:04am
All the people out there that commented about their fantasy roster being ruined deserve a kick in the nuts.
sspomer
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sspomer 4/20/2018 6:24pm
4/20/2018 6:24pm
minnaar helmet cam w/ some crazy 360 stuff going on
cpinkhouse
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cpinkhouse 4/23/2018 8:17am
4/23/2018 8:17am
At the end of the RBTV broadcast Claudio said something like, "Don't ask me how Gwin pulls these wins out, because my answer might get me in trouble..."
Is there beef there? Murmurs about doping? YT bending rules? The crowd was noticeably quiet when Gwin crossed the finish line, I thought... What don't I know?
Anybody have insight into his comment??
Motodave15
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Motodave15 4/23/2018 8:44am
4/23/2018 8:44am
cpinkhouse wrote:
At the end of the RBTV broadcast Claudio said something like, "Don't ask me how Gwin pulls these wins out, because my answer might get me...
At the end of the RBTV broadcast Claudio said something like, "Don't ask me how Gwin pulls these wins out, because my answer might get me in trouble..."
Is there beef there? Murmurs about doping? YT bending rules? The crowd was noticeably quiet when Gwin crossed the finish line, I thought... What don't I know?
Anybody have insight into his comment??
Idk my guess is that he's just full of gnar.

I don't see YT bending the rules at all... after watching GWIN do the downhill race in Fontana CA im convinced hes just that damn good.
jeff.brines
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jeff.brines 4/23/2018 8:47am
4/23/2018 8:47am Edited Date/Time 4/23/2018 8:48am
I didn't notice anythinig persay.

Have to remember, both commentators are European, they are in Europe.

We had more Americans in the top 10-15 than...ever? They didn't really get too excited about this (as one would expect) or even mention it (from what I remember).

My point is simple - Gwin is a US born steal cut bread racer. He's not a character the way Josh was, the way Peaty was, the way Palmer was, something Warner clearly has an affinity toward. Something Claudio probably can't stand because his boys keep getting beat Wink and he's from the other side of the pond. Its almost like watching Tiger in his prime. The entire field is chasing one dude over and over.

As far as doping goes, I don't think there is anything Gwin could take in the first place to even help him this side of a stimulant (Bubba Stewart anyone?) and even that doesn't remotely seem like his thing.

He's good. Really really good. He's more dialed in everyway, and probably makes more sacrifices than all the other guys. Talent + Grit = Gwin.

Not the first time a professional well put together American being really really good at something made the euros a bit miffed. Wink
JCL
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JCL 4/23/2018 8:57am
4/23/2018 8:57am Edited Date/Time 4/23/2018 8:58am
There's been talk that Gwin and Rude have been on the juice for years. Who knows?

I'm no fan but I think he rode really smart yesterday to not flat. Probably his most impressive win IMO. Minnaar seemed to be doing the same before he flatted but maybe he was gambling with pressure a little more.

Stoked for Luca Shaw. Seems like a nice kid.
GA902
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GA902 4/23/2018 9:04am
4/23/2018 9:04am
jeff.brines wrote:
I didn't notice anythinig persay. Have to remember, both commentators are European, they are in Europe. We had more Americans in the top 10-15 than...ever? They...
I didn't notice anythinig persay.

Have to remember, both commentators are European, they are in Europe.

We had more Americans in the top 10-15 than...ever? They didn't really get too excited about this (as one would expect) or even mention it (from what I remember).

My point is simple - Gwin is a US born steal cut bread racer. He's not a character the way Josh was, the way Peaty was, the way Palmer was, something Warner clearly has an affinity toward. Something Claudio probably can't stand because his boys keep getting beat Wink and he's from the other side of the pond. Its almost like watching Tiger in his prime. The entire field is chasing one dude over and over.

As far as doping goes, I don't think there is anything Gwin could take in the first place to even help him this side of a stimulant (Bubba Stewart anyone?) and even that doesn't remotely seem like his thing.

He's good. Really really good. He's more dialed in everyway, and probably makes more sacrifices than all the other guys. Talent + Grit = Gwin.

Not the first time a professional well put together American being really really good at something made the euros a bit miffed. Wink
Stewart wasn't taking anything illegal, he just didn't fill out his TUE which is why he got popped along with Cade Clason who sent his in but was never approved
jeff.brines
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jeff.brines 4/23/2018 9:46am
4/23/2018 9:46am
JCL wrote:
There's been talk that Gwin and Rude have been on the juice for years. Who knows? I'm no fan but I think he rode really smart...
There's been talk that Gwin and Rude have been on the juice for years. Who knows?

I'm no fan but I think he rode really smart yesterday to not flat. Probably his most impressive win IMO. Minnaar seemed to be doing the same before he flatted but maybe he was gambling with pressure a little more.

Stoked for Luca Shaw. Seems like a nice kid.
I do bet if Rude had his testosterone levels checked they'd be crazy high, but I would bet a lot of money that's just his genetic makeup. There is a reason he was called the manchild when he was still barely a legal adult. He is built like a linebacker, just happened to find mountain biking.

Gwin posts a lot of his training online. He's strong for sure, but nothing about what he's doing suggests he's doping at all. Its very realistic.

I think it comes down to the age old "haters gonna hate". I know it'd be a bummer for me to realize I might need to put down the frosty beverage, watch what I eat to a crazy degree, put more time into training the not-fun way as well as spending more time doing timed DH runs than ever before. Objectively learning what is fast. What is not. Sure does make it out to be a job eh?

All of that takes the whimsical "I just ride my bike for a living" out of it. Nobody can rely on just being talented, alone, its not enough.

...but that is the level things are at. Its pretty amazing.
Oz_Taylor
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Oz_Taylor 4/23/2018 10:11am
4/23/2018 10:11am Edited Date/Time 4/23/2018 10:16am
jeff.brines wrote:
I didn't notice anythinig persay. Have to remember, both commentators are European, they are in Europe. We had more Americans in the top 10-15 than...ever? They...
I didn't notice anythinig persay.

Have to remember, both commentators are European, they are in Europe.

We had more Americans in the top 10-15 than...ever? They didn't really get too excited about this (as one would expect) or even mention it (from what I remember).

My point is simple - Gwin is a US born steal cut bread racer. He's not a character the way Josh was, the way Peaty was, the way Palmer was, something Warner clearly has an affinity toward. Something Claudio probably can't stand because his boys keep getting beat Wink and he's from the other side of the pond. Its almost like watching Tiger in his prime. The entire field is chasing one dude over and over.

As far as doping goes, I don't think there is anything Gwin could take in the first place to even help him this side of a stimulant (Bubba Stewart anyone?) and even that doesn't remotely seem like his thing.

He's good. Really really good. He's more dialed in everyway, and probably makes more sacrifices than all the other guys. Talent + Grit = Gwin.

Not the first time a professional well put together American being really really good at something made the euros a bit miffed. Wink
I certainly didn’t hear any negativity towards the US riders. Rob was absolutely stoked for Gwin and he, along with the rest of mountain bike fans and fellow competitors, are simply left scratching our heads after he wins. Any lack of excitement from the commentators is probably related Gwin’s tidy riding style on the bike and professional persona off the bike. He’s so consistent there’s not a lot to shout about...unless you are American of course ;-)

I did hear the Claudio comment and wondered what he was referring to. Maybe he knows something we don’t, or maybe he just spat out some words. His language skills can be pretty average at times.

As for the doping rumours, well I don’t see how being on the juice would help you win without a chain, or win mont st Anne in the wet, or give you consistency year after year in any condition. In my opinion those results were pure racecraft and talent. However the truth always comes out so if something funny is going on, we find out sooner or later.

Edited to add that Rob mentioned several times that there were US riders on the podium and in the hot seat. He said it was the return of US riders at the top of the sport and that it is good to see riders up there from the country that invented mountain biking. He went on about young riders following in Gwins footsteps etc. I suggest you watch the replay.

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