I am sure this is yet another sign of me being old, but what were peoples thoughts on the XC course? To me; it seemed to be a bit too technical, and almost seemed like it was begging for highlight reel/ social media attention. Seemed to be very little in the way of technical climbing features, and more in terms of “send it” downhill features. I know that is part of the game in modern XC, but I also have to say that if courses go that way at a local level, you are going to have a lot less people coming out for an XC race.
Mathieu Van der Poel seen nodding in agreement.
For me I thought it was an exciting race that certainly stressed bike handling skills.
I thought it looked artificial, like they were riding in an amusement park, which I guess in some sense is what the course was.
Seems crazy the lack of communication that led to MVdP’s crash.
Not sure about a lack of communition was the cause of the crash, as I am sure they all had a chance to recon the course.
From what I saw it looked like he didn’t commit fully, got off balance and then the back of the bike came over the top.
From what I saw it looked like he didn’t commit fully, got off balance and then the back of the bike came over the top.
I disagree. He sent his front wheel straight down as he went over the lip - exactly what you’d do to make quick contact with a ramp. This isn’t a MTB n00b.
I have no idea how, given all the articles, etc. But I believe him when he says he expected a ramp.
If I had to speculate, I’d say he was just going off muscle memory from practice runs and completely blew it.
Yes, there are some pictures with a ramp in place during training runs.
Check his instagram. he says it was in place on last pre-ride
I am sure this is yet another sign of me being old, but what were peoples thoughts on the XC course? To me; it seemed to be a bit too technical, and almost seemed like it was begging for highlight reel/ social media attention. Seemed to be very little in the way of technical climbing features, and more in terms of “send it” downhill features. I know that is part of the game in modern XC, but I also have to say that if courses go that way at a local level, you are going to have a lot less people coming out for an XC race.
Completely disagree on all aspects.
- Not too technical for many riders, nor for any rider at this level.
- XC is changing because the riders are changing. Frankly, I believe courses like this would increase ridership, with the caveat that the features are appropriate for the local-level rider or continue B-lines for ride-arounds.
I’d race this course in a heartbeat.
MvDP crashed not because of lack of skill, but because a ramp that was located there during pre-ride was removed for the race. I assume he felt the ramp route was faster than sending it.
From what I saw it looked like he didn’t commit fully, got off balance and then the back of the bike came over the top.
I disagree. He sent his front wheel straight down as he went over the lip - exactly what you’d do to make quick contact with a ramp. This isn’t a MTB n00b.
I have no idea how, given all the articles, etc. But I believe him when he says he expected a ramp.
If I had to speculate, I’d say he was just going off muscle memory from practice runs and completely blew it.
It seems as if everyone else was not expecting a ramp, they were launching less steep angles and clearing down to the landing spot below.
So why didn’t he get the memo that everyone else seemed to have gotten?
I am sure this is yet another sign of me being old, but what were peoples thoughts on the XC course? To me; it seemed to be a bit too technical, and almost seemed like it was begging for highlight reel/ social media attention. Seemed to be very little in the way of technical climbing features, and more in terms of “send it” downhill features. I know that is part of the game in modern XC, but I also have to say that if courses go that way at a local level, you are going to have a lot less people coming out for an XC race.
Completely disagree on all aspects.
- Not too technical for many riders, nor for any rider at this level.
- XC is changing because the riders are changing. Frankly, I believe courses like this would increase ridership, with the caveat that the features are appropriate for the local-level rider or continue B-lines for ride-arounds.
I’d race this course in a heartbeat.
MvDP crashed not because of lack of skill, but because a ramp that was located there during pre-ride was removed for the race. I assume he felt the ramp route was faster than sending it.
Not sure I would race it, but certainly would love to ride it.
Hey, I’m old, too. But … I thought it was a very demanding “Olympic level” course. The crash was preventable from what I read, as the athletes were told the ramp would be removed for the race.
What I didn’t like was the commentary. Listening to Bobke I had the feeling that he knew the winner ahead of time (Tape delayed?). Don’t appreciate that sort of false knowledge about a sport he’s not fully immersed in (From what I’ve seen). The real race was for the bronze medal, and that was given a ridiculously small amount of attention.
Great race. Was shocked that Nino Schurter couldn’t hang onto 3rd … but he’s had an amazing run.
From what I saw it looked like he didn’t commit fully, got off balance and then the back of the bike came over the top.
I disagree. He sent his front wheel straight down as he went over the lip - exactly what you’d do to make quick contact with a ramp. This isn’t a MTB n00b.
I have no idea how, given all the articles, etc. But I believe him when he says he expected a ramp.
If I had to speculate, I’d say he was just going off muscle memory from practice runs and completely blew it.
It seems as if everyone else was not expecting a ramp, they were launching less steep angles and clearing down to the landing spot below.
So why didn’t he get the memo that everyone else seemed to have gotten?
It was apparently talked about amongst the team beforehand and someone told him it was removed for the test event in 2019, which I assume he wasn’t at. But no one clarified that it wouldn’t be there during this race and he just assumed it was going to be there because it had been during the reconnaissance lap.
So why didn’t he get the memo that everyone else seemed to have gotten?
It sounds like he did from all the reports from coaches, staff. Hence my speculation that he just slipped up and went off muscle memory. And after that fact kind of got got caught in a fib about not knowing. The Dutch are famous for brutal honesty, so the staff was having none of it.
Lessons were learned.
The only relief is that at least it wasn’t some athlete where this was their only shot after a lifetime of preparation. This will end up as a minor footnote among MdVP’s accomplishments.
Completely disagree on all aspects.
- Not too technical for many riders, nor for any rider at this level.
- XC is changing because the riders are changing. Frankly, I believe courses like this would increase ridership, with the caveat that the features are appropriate for the local-level rider or continue B-lines for ride-arounds.
Also “gravel” is now providing space for less technical grinds. So there’s something for everyone.
Hopefully it’ll all be mutually re-enforcing with gravel sparking interest in road races and MTB. MdVP and Pidcock give the middle finger to the hyper-specialization among professionals that dominated the 90’s and oughts. Hopefully amateurs follow suit.
Completely disagree on all aspects.
- Not too technical for many riders, nor for any rider at this level.
- XC is changing because the riders are changing. Frankly, I believe courses like this would increase ridership, with the caveat that the features are appropriate for the local-level rider or continue B-lines for ride-arounds.
Also “gravel” is now providing space for less technical grinds. So there’s something for everyone.
Hopefully it’ll all be mutually re-enforcing with gravel sparking interest in road races and MTB. MdVP and Pidcock give the middle finger to the hyper-specialization among professionals that dominated the 90’s and oughts. Hopefully amateurs follow suit.
I wish i could, but having started at 33, i’m just too old to learn how to do even the basics correctly, nevermind the more advanced stuff. Still can’t ride twisty singletracks well. So frustrating.
Maybe it would have been different, had i started at 23.
I will say that I don’t think it was too technical because of the crash. Honestly that section did not look that difficult, especially if given the opportunity to test it with a ramp before hand.
Maybe it is just as someone else said, that it seemed a fit forced. From what I saw (and I agree the coverage was bad) it did not seem like any of the technical sections really separated people, the way they do at some of the world cup courses.
I wish i could, but having started at 33, i’m just too old to learn how to do even the basics correctly, nevermind the more advanced stuff. Still can’t ride twisty singletracks well. So frustrating.
Maybe it would have been different, had i started at 23.
I hear you, brother. It’s been slow-going for me. Like 18 months ago I pledged that I was going to use COVID to solo-ride MTB routes and be able to send it hardcore in 2021. Didn’t turn out that way. I’m maybe on the moderately advanced side of gravel riders, can manual over small logs, etc. Nowhere near full send. Part of the problem was the solo part, given the opportunity to rail a rock garden, I’d always think, “If I impale my torso on an exposed root, how am I doing to handle that?” My answer to myself was never very satisfying.
I just wish i could quarter-ass a manual or a real bunny hop; not even a half-assed one is required to make me happy. I even bought firewood for practice purposes, but those muscle memories and hard to form, and bad habits don’t go away easily. Oh well.
The combination of physiological and dexterity at the elite level is quite impressive.
Not sure about a lack of communition was the cause of the crash, as I am sure they all had a chance to recon the course.
Communication…a Dutch theme this Olympics.
A Dutch teammate told him the ramp would be removed before the race.
I was having a coffee downtown the other day and this little kid rips around a corner on mtb and does a manual for at least a block. I have major skill envy and major lack of skill.
One thing that strikes me about MvdP and Pidcock is they came from cross and are dominating other disciplines, while nobody comes from the road or MTB and does anything notable in cross (or road or MTB respectively). Alaphilippe and Pogacar both won CX national titles and I believe Sagan was a junior world champ. Seems like it’s the swimming of cycling.