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Isn't it strange? The Les Gets World Cup DH course probably has fewer technical features than any other track on the circuit, yet it's one of the most exciting and one of the most punishing. Top it off with a flat, wooden Napolean-Dynamite-style ramp in the middle of a grass hill and you get one of the most exciting displays of bike-riding courage we've seen all year at the #lesgetslongjump.
Rachel Atherton and Matteo Iniguez are out with plenty of others going down hard. That sucks. Bruce Klein jumped 86-feet with others easily in the 80-foot range. That doesn't suck. Isn't it strange what really makes for a great downhill race? It's not always the tech. It's not always the gnar. This week, it's speed and spirit mixed up in explosions of grass-filled roost and head-slapping, ski-slope-flat-landings.
Finally, a big shout out goes to Boris because the long jump contest came from his twisted, smoke-filled head and we love him for it, even if we gave Sven more credit than he deserved : ) Sven, Boris and Dan deliver heaping helpings of two wheeled action from France. Time to feast.
Finn in 20 years? A Huge thanks to @maddogboris (the man behind the mask) for being the top of the brain-trust pyramid behind the #lesgetslongjump. What a show among shows this week! -Sven Martin
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Bruce Klein really wanted to win this thing. He pushed back up, asked how far he had to jump and just did it. Jake Newell, the official huck measurer in the audio. YEAH BRUCE!! @maddogboris
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Judge Jake Newell using goal-line technology to double check Bruce Klein's win. -Dan Hearn
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These 2 have witnessed more DH History than the Top 10 riders combined (we think). @maddogboris
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See if you can spot Bruce Klein. That tiny speck is him... still nowhere near the ground. Unbelievable! -Dan Hearn
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Finn Iles sending big in the long jump contest and very nearly taking the win. -Dan Hearn
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It takes a lot to make Finn back down but feeling bike and body flex under the landing of the long jump was enough to make him forgo another attempt. -Dan Hearn
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Yes its possible to send this jump to the moon. Bernard Kerr nearly won it with this jump. @maddogboris
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Different perspective to show how far 25+m can look like. Kade Edwards defo sent it big time. @maddogboris
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That's not how you land an 80-foot jump at 40mph. @maddogboris
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Rachel Atherton impressed everybody at the long jump session. Get well soon Rachel : ( @maddogboris
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Troy has won the last two Crankworx's here. That will surely give him a bit of an edge this weekend. Fastest in timed training and one to watch according to Loris and Luca in the latest Outspoken episode. -Sven Martin
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Another blinding day for Troy Brosnan. Not many runs but clearly making them count. Top spot in timed training. -Dan Hearn
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Marine Cabirou with victory in her sights. Not even shocking she was two seconds faster than any other woman today. Speed tucks in golf course conditions. -Sven Martin
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Devastating end of the race and possibly the season for Rachel Atherton today. Landing heavy on the final finish line step down drop to flat. A ruptured Achilles is the suspected injury. She flies home tomorrow to have it checked out further. -Sven Martin
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Sadly, last week's winner, Matteo Iniguez broke his fifth metacarple and is also out this weekend. He hopes to be back in time for Worlds. -Sven Martin
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It sucks that Matteo Iniguez is injured - he's one of the most charismatic juniors on the circuit. Flo Payet here decorates his helmet in the lift queue. -Dan Hearn
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Yeah grass corners can be slippery AF. @maddogboris
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Paula Zibasa not quite at one with the track yet. -Dan Hearn
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An alarming number of riders ended up in this tree! -Dan Hearn
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The riders thought the course gods might cut them a break after the Andorran dust but alas, Les Gets is home to some very loose braking zones as well. -Dan Hearn
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Dirt to tarmac to dirt. This slippery transition is just waiting to catch out tired riders. -Dan Hearn
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David Trummer carving through the momentum of a good race just a few days ago. -Sven Martin
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Dylan Levesque another fast Frenchie goes third fastest today. -Sven Martin
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Reunited on the sidelines for some trackside rehab and spectating. Three of the best women downhillers are sidelined in Les Gets. Brutal. -Sven Martin
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Greg Minnaar should do well this weekend. Fast and wide-open usually suits him. -Sven Martin
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A stoked Brendan Fairclough finishes timed training in 9th aboard a new production Scott Gambler. The important thing to remember here is that we might get to see Sven with no eyebrows. -Dan Hearn
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The Australian crew must like this track. 5 in the top 13 elite men, and 2nd place for Luke Meier-Smith in juniors. His riding might be almost as loose as his number place placement. -Dan Hearn
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Trail bike guys make a return after Leogang. Sending the gaps with no worries. -Sven Martin
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Sik Mick Hannah railing to 4th in timed training. -Dan Hearn
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Mick Hannah was on a hot one in timed training and took 4th spot.-Dan Hearn
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Flo Payet has the greatest wingspan of the entire World Cup field which helped him glide into the top five. -Sven Martin
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Tracey Hannah, second in timed training and looking confident on the Les Gets slopes. -Dan Hearn
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Finn wasn't happy with his riding today (other than his longest leap), but it looks A+ to me. -Sven Martin
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Not sure if Finn Iles can go straight off a drop. While racing wasn't that fun, the long jump was. @maddogboris
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Even though he chooses a scooter over a skateboard, Reece Wilson is not afraid to go big. Surprising really :-) -Sven Martin
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7th in timed training for Mike Jones who looked quick all day. It's time to knock a few digits off the 37 plate. -Dan Hearn
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Danny loves me. -Sven Martin
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The Madison Saracen team check out some Gopro footage together. Line changes are possible right up to race runs, so constant reviewing keeps options open and helps riders to memorize the track. They didn't get Danny's flip-off on film though. -Dan Hearn
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Jacob Dickson sliding around the top corners. -Sven Martin
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Clean, sharp Kade Edwards, far removed from his hardtail jibbing of yesterday. -Sven Martin
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Eddie Masters getting the hang of his DH bike again. Get it.... hang..... Nevermind. -Sven Martin
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Tracey alone in a football field of grass with no tape in sight -Sven Martin
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Kaos wasn't stoked about missing the Long Jump contest so made his air-dominance known in B practice. -Dan Hearn
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Loic sending it to Sunday on the Boom Boom Huck Jam Ski jump. -Sven Martin
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Sideways is forward. -Sven Martin
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Mille in a Hafjell-like meadow during training today. -Sven Martin
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Gee Atherton pushing the limits and dangling a foot just to be on the safe side. -Sven Martin
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Loving the track, laughing one minute and then tears and phone call home to book specialists the next. Downhill racing is a tough and cruel sport. -Sven Martin
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Foot up, sliding and drifting by one of the loosest Kiwis. George Brannigan. -Sven Martin
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Dean Lucas keeping the foot up around the loose, dry corners on the new Scott Gambler that was launched today. -Sven Martin
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A bit of head banging from Loris after landing an 80 foot jump. No biggie. @maddogboris
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Emilie Siegenthaler speeding down the grass piste on the upper reaches of the track. -Sven Martin
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Remi Gauvin getting up to speed on the big bike. Don't forget this Enduro specialist podiumed at Port Angeles earlier this year. -Sven Martin
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Brendan Fairclough on the brand new Scott Gambler. @maddogboris
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Loris Vergier enjoying the lift ride. Is he wearing his goggles so we cant see if he s checking out the female fans next to the track or the lines of the other riders? @maddogboris
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Thibaut Daprela testing out the limits to get ready for finals. @maddogboris
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Amaury Pierron seems to like the track and is looking forward to racing in front of his home crowd. @maddogboris
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Blenki + Fast + Grass Turn = Untouchable style @maddogboris
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Second fastest rider on the hill today...Loic Bruni! @maddogboris
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Pre-training snack prepared by Amaury Pierron. @maddogboris
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Vali Höll isnt actually fully recovered but her speed doesn't show that at all. @maddogboris
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It's always helpful to have a good crew of mechanics working on your bike. @maddogboris
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If Eddie Masters can race enduro, Remi Gauvin can race downhill. His goal is to race World Champs in his home country of Canada in a few weeks. @maddogboris
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Flowers and views for breakfast. @maddogboris
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Remi Thirion full throttle as always! @maddogboris
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The slowest lift the world...@maddogboris
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Just ride in qualifying like you ride in training and it should be easy for you to end up in the Top 60, dude. @maddogboris
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Keath Valentine has been doing this stuff for 17 years. Doesn't he look stoked? @maddogboris
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Kye A'Hern was flying today. Will he finally be back on the top spot? @maddogboris
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Nina Hoffmann this time with her shoes where they belong! @maddogboris
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How low can you go? Mitch Ropelato railing the famous berms that have been here since the glory days of Les Gets World Cups. -Dan Hearn
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Miranda Miller thought she would stop by for a return to World Cup DH from the enduro scene. -Dan Hearn
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Speed and style from Remi Thirion today. -Dan Hearn
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It was hard to pass up a glance across to Mont Blanc on the way to the track. -Dan Hearn
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The A-practice squad make their way up the super slow top chairlift for training this morning. -Dan Hearn
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