Big Wheelin' - Lourdes DH World Cup 2017 - Qualifying Photo Epic
Under sunny skies and on one of the best tracks on the circuit, the racing finally kicked off here in Lourdes and marked the official start of the 2017 World Cup Series. Just as predicted, the day was packed with action, a little drama, and all kinds of excitement. While yesterday's timed training session helps to give a rough idea of where people might shake out, it's not until the clock ticks for real and ever precious World Cup series points are on the line until we really get to see how everyone stacks up. And in every category, there were more than a few surprises.
First up were the junior men, where reigning champ Finn Iles was looking all but unbeatable. But as they say, "looks can be deceiving," and it would actually be Matt Walker who would grab the top spot ahead of Kaos Seagrave who put down an amazing time to grab his best ever result. Finn, of course, is still in the mix, but at 1.6 seconds down on such a short track, it's not going to come easy. Newcomer Kade Edwards would take 4th in his first ever World Cup, and showed that the next generation to come through the ranks will be as competitive as ever.
In the women's, race we saw some of the closest racing in what feels like ages, with the top five separated by less than five seconds and the top three just two seconds apart. Even more impressive is who wasn't at the top of the list. Pre-race favorite and unbeaten for nearly two years, Rachel Atherton was knocked back a spot by Tahnee Seagrave. Tahnee had the speed all of 2016 and was definitely the heir apparent to Rachel's throne, but injury upon injury kept knocking her back each time she got close. With a solid off-season to train and heal up, Tahnee is finally living up to her potential and wants nothing more than to leave her mark on 2017. Third through fifth would be made up of Manon Carpenter, Tracey Hannah and Myriam Nicole. All of whom, are within striking distance of the top time.
For the men, it wasn't just an issue of who, but also of what. Sure, the usual suspects were up front and the current Word Cup and World Champs finished a few spots back, but the real news was which bikes took top honors. There's been rumbling all off-season about the development of 29ers and lots of talk about how they are faster, etc. Of course, there has been equally as much trash talk being thrown right back at all the hype. Today was judgment day so to speak, and the big wheels let the stopwatch do all the talking. Not only did Loris Vergier pilot the big wheeled V10 to the fastest time, his teammate Luca Shaw would come third to make a Bruni Sandwich out of Loic, who managed to slip his little wheels in between. The fastest men of 2016, Danny Hart and Aaron Gwin would round out the top five, just ahead of Greg Minnaar and his 29er.
While the big wheels proved they can put down some pace and run at the top of the field, they certainly didn't prove to be the be-all end-all that some rumors had made them out to be. In fact, the qualifying round in Lourdes produced some of the tightest times we have seen on the circuit with the top five separated by a mere 1.3 seconds, and the entire top 10 all within three seconds. With tomorrow being the true day of reckoning, we are guaranteed to be in for one heck of a show.
Another cold morning at the top of the track as the Women and Juniors dropped in at 8am.
Crash pads waiting to catch the unwary.
The track has been getting drier, looser and blown out. If the rain comes in as forecast it is anyone's game.
Hmmm... Whose helmet could this be.
Kaos Seagrave had his best result ever in the junior race to slot into 2nd place just about one second off the top time.
Matt Walker took the top spot in Juniors ahead of Kaos Seagrave and Finn Iles.
Finn Iles was looking unbeatable in practice, but as they say, looks can be deceiving. He would qualify third just 1.6 back.
5.9 seconds back and time for these kinds of shapes on his qualie run... Kade Edwards brings home the goods. The Atherton's know how to pick them.
Manon Carpenter is back on form after an up and down 2016 and has set herself up to be a threat in tomorrow's final.
In her first WC qualifying on the Specialized Gravity Republic Miranda ended up in 8th.
Emilie Siegenthaler is sitting in 5th but has a lot of work to do if she wants to catch the top ladies.
This section took Tracey Hannah out on a winning run a few years back, but she had no troubles today en route to a 4th in qualifying. With the top five women all within four seconds of each other, we are in for one super competitive final.
A modest 5th this afternoon for Myriam Nicole, but still less than 5 seconds back, does she have more to wow the fans in the big show on this savage course?
Tahnee has been saying all off-season that she wants to beat Rachel Atherton and end the winning streak, and today she got one step closer to that goal.
Chasing for the win is not something Rachel Atherton is used to doing, but that's exactly what she'll have to do if she wants to be on top tomorrow.
Rachel Atherton will ride second to last down the hill for the first time since Tahnee last caught her out for qualifying, back in Lenzerheide last season.
Tahnee Seagrave starting the year as she means to go on... tomorrow's a big day. Second at all the splits to Atherton, but picking up the pace on the final section to come out on top, can she pull out a quicker top half and make her 1.3 second advantage safe for finals?
Danny looked like he meant business on the morning warm up.
Loic Bruni has always been fast here, and today he came 2nd just behind Loris Vergier.
How tight was it in the men's race? Well, Troy Brosnan was only 1.8 seconds back but that was only good enough to put him in 7th position.
Vergier's intentions were clear from the first run this morning, gapping the biggest and cleanest through this rock transfer.
Big wheels represent... Greg Minnaar backed up his young teammate's top performances with a 6th place qualie, just 1.4 seconds behind.
Gutierrez getting low in the first turn.
Remi Thirion at warp speed near the top of the track.
Big wheels doing it with authority under Loris Vergier today.
Mick Hannah tucking and hucking to flat.
Not a mistake, just a creative and relatively insane, media-vest buzzing line from Bernard Kerr.
A solid day for Dean Lucas despite a south- roaming knee pad during his qualie run... One of many riders who have the potential for a big result tomorrow.
One last sideways practice run for the Syndicate lads before dropping a 29-inch bomb on the field for qualies.
The Superbruni propaganda begins... it seems Loic's made the move from Pope to kids chocolate promoter in the space of a year.
The ever-cheerful Super-Bruni, featuring T-Rex arm. Second today for France's favourite.
A good day for Brook who slotted into a top ten starting position for tomorrow.
Danny exploding through one of the top rock gardens, 4th place 0.6 back... Hart is well and truly in the hunt.
Another of last year's standout riders, Adam Brayton, had a rough day to finish just inside the top 30.
Not the start Connor Fearon was looking for in 32nd.
Not his greatest showing for qualies, but giant roots and boulders are just the kind of terrain where Greenland can put the hurt into all the big names.
Luca Shaw put down his best quail run ever to take third, making it a 1,3,6 day for the new big wheeled V10.
Reunited teammates Neko Mullaly and Aaron Gwin talk lines on Aaron's only practice run of the day.
The only other rider in recent memory who seems to like to ride so little and still pull out the top results is Sam Hill. Gwin rode just 3 laps yesterday and only one disjointed run with Mullaly this morning before arriving in 5th place for qualies. How does he do it?
Thomas Estaque is one of the many young French riders who are knocking on the door of the top 10 right now.
Joe Smith had a massive crash and had to pull off track with what looked like an injured shoulder. Let's hope it's not too serious and that he will be back out amongst it at the next round.
Another day of smashing rocks by the riders and another day of building wheels by the mechanics.
Tracey Hannah still has a badly injured ankle sustained last month in New Zealand, but that isn't stopping her from fighting at the front of the pack. 4th today and just 18 out of the lead.
Tahnee with a well deserved post race massage. She is all smiles and confidence heading into tomorrow's final.
Amaury Pierron congratulates his friend Loris Vergier on a job well done.
What a day for the boys running the super-size set-up...but can they tip the DH world on its head with a repeat in the finals?
A slow start to Danny's run and still only less than a second back, consecutive win number 5 is still well within reach.
Luckily for those who had disappointing results today, we are in Lourdes, a place where all kinds of miracles have been known to happen.
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Ok, now have at it
I think it already paid itself off. Even though this is just qualifying, it's on WC.
It showed there's nothing wrong with the 29ers being used in DH and with more r&d they could be consistent winning machines. Straight lining tech stuffs instead of weaving around them. Weaving could be fun on trail but not during a race where seconds counts.
And for sure it's doesn't offer a whole different level of playing field like a moto with more horsepower that some dh doomsdayers made it to be.
It's works more in a geometry way, imho. It affects a bike's angle of attack and roll over, similar to head angle degree and reach figures. Offers high speed stability just like wheelbase figures and etc.
"Big wheels keep on turnin',
Pinkbikers keep on squirmin',
roll'n, roll'n,
roll'n on the 9ers!"
29" makes sense for DH, yes big wheels corner like poop, but every year bikes get slacker, also hurting their cornering prowess. If you can make up for the lack of cornering agility with straight line speed, and maybe rolling speed in the rocky corners, it can work just fine. The downside is stand over, my 29" trailbike flat out wouldn't work for me at 6'1" without a dropper post, add another 3-4" of suspension travel and things are going to get weird, especially for shorter riders. Exciting times we live in, that's what I say.
When you buy a car do they call the wheel size they chose for the car "technology"?
I hope to god you don't work for a motorsports team either. Poor bastards don't stand a chance. "It rains why change the tyre they are all the same colour"
Settle down, no need for this sir shit. I'm not saying you are stupid. I'm not saying you are uneducated. I'm just saying bicycle engineering isn't your forte, but it is mine. You jumped on thread, had a pop and you've bought absolutely nothing to it. And in fact you are just going through the thread repeating yourself. We get it. You don't like big wheels. Personally I've spent the last few months on kinematics and FMEA for a 29" compatible frame. Sure felt like engineering what with all the numbers.
Thanks!!
#29aintgay
I wouldn't expect other brands to follow suite without their own 6'3" riders.
Listen to the interview with Greg's mechanic. I believe he says they are 32mm internal and they are running a 2.5 WT tire. At that moment they were on shorty's but that may change if it dries out.
Does anyone know if Gee the only one who has a Session 29er? Is Rachel on 27.5 or 29? What about Kade Edwards?
Haven't seen a pick yet
And they say that lourdes is a rechnical track but all I see is wide corners, no tights switchbacks.. just straight lines with steep sections in it!
m.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/All-Things-Fort-William-World-Cup-2017,9704#post_30076