UCI MTB World Cup (All forms!)

[Brullnux]

Very well deserved for Ferrand Prevot... very glad she was able to finally get her Olympic gold.

 

[postmanhat]

Not always been the biggest fan of PFP, but her ability to focus on the big events is incredible. Lovely to see Rissveds pick up another Olympic medal.

 

[JR1012]

Impressive ride by Maxwell and Blanka Vas.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Pretty much the perfect race from PFP. Pieterse and Lecomte were very unlucky. The latter might have been caught by those behind anyway, but still a huge shame for her to crash out like that. I was dreaming of a Stigger medal early on, but that dream didn't last long.

Frei already had some kind of issue shortly after the start, so the Swiss didn't get much out of swapping her in.

 

[OJRvE]

So happy for Rissveds!

Btw, swedish announcers panicked mid race when they thought Rissveds told the tech team she a flat but she was just informing the Americans of Battens misfortune so they would be ready to help immediately.

 

[Bolder]

So happy for Rissveds!

Btw, swedish announcers panicked mid race when they thought Rissveds told the tech team she a flat but she was just informing the Americans of Battens misfortune so they would be ready to help immediately.

The two of them had a nice moment at the finish. Fun race, really a shame for Puck but it added drama. In that case maybe a bike change could be permitted in the future.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Fantastic show by the women. PFP looked completely great on the bike, cool, composed and strong. Rock solid performance and well deserved! Excellent also by Batten and Rissved.

 

[jmdirt]

Congrats PFP! Domination for GOLD!
Big race for Batten to overcome a flat and still get silver!
Good to see J Riss back on the box!

Good to read that Lecomte is doing OK. Getting knocked out is serious though even if her coach said that its "not serious".

Anyone who claims that the Olympic races aren't important to most riders (read road threads) needs to watch PFP at the medal ceremony!

IMO, Puck/her fed protesting Batten's ride through the feed/tech zone on the last lap smells bad. At that point Puck was almost 30 seconds behind HB. I don't see a rule that says that rider can not go through the f/t zone without stopping and/or feeding. There is this:
"4.2.038 The feed/technical assistance zones must be wide and long enough to allow the passing of riders not stopping in the zone." Plus, what if a rider goes into the f/t zone with the intent of grabbing a bottle, but realizes that their competition didn't pull in too so they change their plan and keep racing?

 

[jmdirt]

Why can’t they just change bikes instead of changing wheels? Otherwise she could still be in contention. A shame for her silver medal, nothing now.

Rule:
4.2.046 Authorized technical assistance during a race consists of repairs to or the replacement of any part of the bicycle other than the frame. Bike changes are not permitted and the rider must cross the finish line with the same handlebar number plate that he had at the start.

HB blaster her rear wheel (with flat) and still won silver.

Some people would argue that mountain bike racers should still have to fix their own 'issues'.

 

[Escarabajo]

I read this, but I wasn't sure why She was protesting. Is there a rule in MBR that prohibits racing through a feed zone? because they do it a lot in road racing in my country. LOL.

 

[Ripper]

Congrats PFP! Domination for GOLD!
Big race for Batten to overcome a flat and still get silver!
Good to see J Riss back on the box!

Good to read that Lecomte is doing OK. Getting knocked out is serious though even if her coach said that its "not serious".

Anyone who claims that the Olympic races aren't important to most riders (read road threads) needs to watch PFP at the medal ceremony!

IMO, Puck/her fed protesting Batten's ride through the feed/tech zone on the last lap smells bad. At that point Puck was almost 30 seconds behind HB. I don't see a rule that says that rider can not go through the f/t zone without stopping and/or feeding. There is this:
"4.2.038 The feed/technical assistance zones must be wide and long enough to allow the passing of riders not stopping in the zone." Plus, what if a rider goes into the f/t zone with the intent of grabbing a bottle, but realizes that their competition didn't pull in too so they change their plan and keep racing?

I don't believe they actually were protesting, I think they went to check the review of the incident. Some of this was lost in translation (I think)

 

[Ripper]

I read this, but I wasn't sure why She was protesting. Is there a rule in MBR that prohibits racing through a feed zone? because they do it a lot in road racing in my country. LOL.

She did not actually file a protest. But yes, technically it is against the rules, somewhat like you cannot ride a cx bike into the pits and not change bikes/shoes/something. What is not clear is what the repercussion generally is. I believe the Dutch coach even added he did not think Puck would have wanted to win a medal that way.

 

[jmdirt]

I read this, but I wasn't sure why She was protesting. Is there a rule in MBR that prohibits racing through a feed zone? because they do it a lot in road racing in my country. LOL.

I looked at the UCI rulebook and couldn't find anything prohibiting racing through the f/t zone.

 

[jmdirt]

She did not actually file a protest. But yes, technically it is against the rules, somewhat like you cannot ride a cx bike into the pits and not change bikes/shoes/something. What is not clear is what the repercussion generally is. I believe the Dutch coach even added he did not think Puck would have wanted to win a medal that way.

I can not find such a rule.

F/t zones start on page 18 of the UCI rulebook:

Regulations

Rules & Official documents of the UCI

www.uci.org

 

[Oldermanish]

She did not actually file a protest. But yes, technically it is against the rules, somewhat like you cannot ride a cx bike into the pits and not change bikes/shoes/something. What is not clear is what the repercussion generally is. I believe the Dutch coach even added he did not think Puck would have wanted to win a medal that way.

It seems more like the Dutch federation had medal incentives for staff. Most riders wouldn't protest something that inconsequential unless it was F1. They all stretch the rules and look to cut each other's throats. MTB is just the opposite and should stay that way.

 

[Sciatic]

Congrats PFP! Domination for GOLD!
Big race for Batten to overcome a flat and still get silver!
Good to see J Riss back on the box!

Good to read that Lecomte is doing OK. Getting knocked out is serious though even if her coach said that its "not serious".

Anyone who claims that the Olympic races aren't important to most riders (read road threads) needs to watch PFP at the medal ceremony!

IMO, Puck/her fed protesting Batten's ride through the feed/tech zone on the last lap smells bad. At that point Puck was almost 30 seconds behind HB. I don't see a rule that says that rider can not go through the f/t zone without stopping and/or feeding. There is this:
"4.2.038 The feed/technical assistance zones must be wide and long enough to allow the passing of riders not stopping in the zone." Plus, what if a rider goes into the f/t zone with the intent of grabbing a bottle, but realizes that their competition didn't pull in too so they change their plan and keep racing?

Great points

 

[Axel Hangleck]

She did not actually file a protest. But yes, technically it is against the rules, somewhat like you cannot ride a cx bike into the pits and not change bikes/shoes/something. What is not clear is what the repercussion generally is. I believe the Dutch coach even added he did not think Puck would have wanted to win a medal that way.

They handed Batten a 500chf penalty.......so she must have broken a rule.

 

[hlj3]

i m total mtb noobie but recently followed it a bit, what you guys think if someone like pogacar would randomly do a mtb race against some top competition, could his fitness compensate the lack of skills to be amongst the best?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I'll admit to never normally watching this (I probably should, I watch all the cyclocross I can and enjoy it, and there are enormous similarities)

I was expecting to see Fem van Empel...

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

i m total mtb noobie but recently followed it a bit, what you guys think if someone like pogacar would randomly do a mtb race against some top competition, could his fitness compensate the lack of skills to be amongst the best?

No

 

[Coffeeplanter]

i m total mtb noobie but recently followed it a bit, what you guys think if someone like pogacar would randomly do a mtb race against some top competition, could his fitness compensate the lack of skills to be amongst the best?

Absolutely not. There have been videos emerging of Pogacar doing CX in Slovenia, and he makes Lars van der Haar look like a master of technique. He would struggle heavily on an XCO course. I have no doubt if he wanted to he could, but he would need time to adjust. His is best bet would probably be Lenzerheide to unleash the uphill watt bombs, but he has no chance of winning or podiuming anything in a one off, even if gifted a start on first row.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'll admit to never normally watching this (I probably should, I watch all the cyclocross I can and enjoy it, and there are enormous similarities)

I was expecting to see Fem van Empel...

FVE cut her MTB campaign short last year when it became obvious she wasn't going to get one of the Dutch spots, which then allowed her to fully prepare for the CX season. Visma don't seem to be too interested in having their riders compete in MTB either.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

My magic 8 ball spoke to me this morning and told me we're getting a podium of Pidders, Nino and Koretzky. First of all, my magic 8 ball is always wrong, secondly this is a rather boring prediction.

 

[RedheadDane]

Huh? The first lap didn't count?
Why?

 

[Brullnux]

i m total mtb noobie but recently followed it a bit, what you guys think if someone like pogacar would randomly do a mtb race against some top competition, could his fitness compensate the lack of skills to be amongst the best?

No way. The guys who also do XC at a top level will definitely also do extremely well (though Van der Poel wasn't absolutely dominant). The issue is the technical skills don't just add speed downhill, but protect it uphill. Pogacar could well be putting out ~10% more w/kg uphill and still getting gapped on the climbs. Besides, the fitness gap is to people like Pidcock, who is probably the third or fourth best road rider on a course like Amstel, so they're no scrubs.