Do DH racers dope?

[Juan Speeder]

Simple question.

It seems like the same drugs that short distance track & field athletes would use, would also be applicable to DH, yet nobody has ever tests positive.

What gives?

I guess if you guys want to watch clean cycling, you're watching the wrong discipline.

 

[Clausfarre]

DH = downhill? As in skiing? Am I at all close?

 

[proffate]

does this look like the face of a doper?

does this?

These guys barely look like athletes. If they are on something it's pain killers or performance-detracting drugs.

 

[Bosco10]

^^DH = Dead Head

 

[biopass]

These guys barely look like athletes. If they are on something it's pain killers or performance-detracting drugs.

Or something to calm their nerves.

 

[sittingbison]

...If they are on something it's pain killers or performance-detracting drugs.

Or something to calm their nerves.

Camberwell Carrot

 

[RedheadDane]

Okay, I'm not even sure what that is...

But, if there is a drug that helps your performance in the sport then, sure, someone out there is likely using it...

 

[Winterfold]

They are using PEDs in direct relation to the amount of times you need to turn the pedals to win a DH race.

 

[Juan Speeder]

As expected, nothing but a bunch of dummies in this forum.

Carry on.

 

[Winterfold]

you are suggesting DH riders dont dope, and people are agreeing with you?

there may be a small difference of opinion where you think they may benefit from dope, and some of us do not, as DH is skill and balls more than being able to turn pedals with lots of power, even on 'pedally' DH runs.

 

[jam pants]

Yeah, those DH racers, never training!

Clearly, that's a guy who smokes an eighth a day and never leaves the couch.

Look up the training videos of Gwin, the Athertons, Justin Leov (retired now), Minnaar and others., then tell me that these are the dope-smoking bruhs of the early '90s (hell, even in the early 90s there were some fit dudes crossing over from BMX).

As for doping, stimulants come to mind. I've wondered for a while if some of the "recovery" concoctions DHers are prone to using ride a fine line regarding PED abuse.

 

[sittingbison]

As expected, nothing but a bunch of dummies in this forum.

Carry on.

no problemo. Enjoy your holiday

 

[DirtyWorks]

Look up the training videos of Gwin, the Athertons, Justin Leov (retired now), Minnaar and others., then tell me that these are the dope-smoking bruhs of the early '90s (hell, even in the early 90s there were some fit dudes crossing over from BMX).

As for doping, stimulants come to mind. I've wondered for a while if some of the "recovery" concoctions DHers are prone to using ride a fine line regarding PED abuse.

I second most of this. Railing a descent is tiring and any drug that improves endurance and recovery will bring an advantage. The other drug that would be different than endurance athletes would be something to lower anxiety and therefore stay off the brakes.

 

[happychappy]

The majority of top Downhill racers "training" would be by definition endurance. There aren't many that can afford to train on courses with gondolas constantly.
They will ride all day, sprinting down then pushing back up the hill as quickly as possible. Every single day. As someone else said earlier, the days of pot-smoking bros is well and truly over, these guys are out and out Elite athletes. Like All professional athletes they will need an Elite drug program to maintain that level of training/recovery.

And that's ignoring how ridiculously hard riding downhill is in a single run - they don't just coast, they sprint at every opportunity.

 

[King Boonen]

Downhill racing is massively tiring. Any point where you can pedal is a sprint, anyone in the UK who watches the cycle show (don't, it's bobbins) will note that Gee Atherton tops the list in the sprint challenge (at least he did last time I watched it).

Will drugs help? Yes. Are they as prevelant? I doubt it. Downhillers come from a different background although that is changing and drugs are probably the difference between first and fourth rather than contract and no contract.