UCI grant Discovery WC rights from 2023 to 2030

veefour
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7/30/2024 10:31am
owl-x wrote:

If the Olympics can go remote with surfing, why not DH?

My understanding is that cycling disciplines only get so many spots and the summer games are fully allocated. That's why the UCI came up with the joke that is snow biking, as that can have a spot in the winter games.

Personally the current situation suits me fine. DH already has enough problems without the IOC getting involved.

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mfoga
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7/30/2024 4:02pm

Yeah didnt they have to drop some track events for BMX to get added.   The question is where does freestyle fit in this.  

sspomer
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8/21/2024 6:49am

good find! here is the youtube description w/ topics etc

Since 2022, he is at the front to lead the future of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series with WBD Sports.

I had the chance to sit with Chris during the World Cup in Les Gets in July and ask him all the questions that i wanted to ask him, and probably some of yours.

In this episode, expect to hear about:
- The future of enduro racing and the difficult compromise between keeping the sport core and bringing coverage on it.
- What to expect from the first Enduro World Championships in Val di Fassa.
- His thoughts about Snowbike world Championships, Urban downhill and about a potential world championship in this discipline too.
- How he sees the future format of downhill racing, and its effects on the riders and teams, from grassroots to elite
- His thoughts on the protesting of slopestyle riders about prize money and how dowhnill and Eduro racers could benefit from it.

And much more.

---
Chapters

00:02:10 How to keep Enduro alive?
00:03:02 Visibility of the sport
00:11:31 The complex compromise between being core and being visible
00:13:14 EDR World Champs
00:16:44 Format of the Enduro World Championships
00:19:14 Urban Downhill World champs coming?
00:21:33 His vision on Urban Downhill racing
00:22:37 Changes in the regulation of downhill?
00:25:49 Secondary circuit?
00:28:22 Secondary downhill series comming?
00:30:56 Slopestyle protest and Prize Money in DH

---

My name is Antoine Taillefer and I am a huge fan of mountain biking.
i used to race Downhill and Megavalanche races while being a journalist for bike magazines.

I am now a content creator and consultant in the bike industry

and On En Roue Libre Podcast, i had guests like Cedric Gracia, Loic Bruni, his mechanic Jack Roure, Olivier Bossard, Yoann Barelli, all in french.

Today, you are hearing my very first english speaking episode, and I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation, even if my french accent and the way i put my sentenses may be a bit itchy to your ears.

Expect to see more of these podcasts in the future as the world of mountainbiking if full of living legends.
I can’t wait to discuss with them and to share their stories with you.

So to all of you who are listening to this, i want to say a big Thank you!

2
veefour
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8/21/2024 6:52am Edited Date/Time 8/21/2024 6:55am
jonkranked wrote:

haven't watched, is his transformation into Gollum complete?

Well I for one wish there was some kind of ring he could wear that would cause him to permanently disappear from the sport.

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gibbon
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8/21/2024 7:23am Edited Date/Time 8/21/2024 7:46am
jonkranked wrote:

haven't watched, is his transformation into Gollum complete?

To be honest he's closer to Saruman.

Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.

Bullet points.
1. Confirms that they want Wc to be Elite only.
2. Says it's not their job to support a pathway to actually becoming elite.
3. Their goal is 'growth' to 'increase value'.......but only in casual viewership and value to themselves
4. The path to this is 'simplifying' the sport ie making courses shorter, shorter broadcasts.
5. That everyone needs to stop complaining.

Wb are not in this for shit and giggles.
They are here to make money.
It's value is solely based on how many people watch it.
To make it watchable to the 'public' means sacrificing a lot of what 'we' value about it.....and they are 100% ok with that.

Fave quote
"regulation changes to steer xc,dh and enduro into simple formats we can delivery to big audiences..............(catches himself)....er in a good way"
 

18
All-MTN-MTB
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8/21/2024 7:54am
jonkranked wrote:

haven't watched, is his transformation into Gollum complete?

gibbon wrote:
To be honest he's closer to Saruman.Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.Bullet points.1. Confirms that they want Wc to be...

To be honest he's closer to Saruman.

Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.

Bullet points.
1. Confirms that they want Wc to be Elite only.
2. Says it's not their job to support a pathway to actually becoming elite.
3. Their goal is 'growth' to 'increase value'.......but only in casual viewership and value to themselves
4. The path to this is 'simplifying' the sport ie making courses shorter, shorter broadcasts.
5. That everyone needs to stop complaining.

Wb are not in this for shit and giggles.
They are here to make money.
It's value is solely based on how many people watch it.
To make it watchable to the 'public' means sacrificing a lot of what 'we' value about it.....and they are 100% ok with that.

Fave quote
"regulation changes to steer xc,dh and enduro into simple formats we can delivery to big audiences..............(catches himself)....er in a good way"
 

Definitely disappointing to hear and seems very short sighted. I wish they would sell the gravity disciplines off as XC seems like the only format where they could accomplish those goals and not kill the sport. Maybe a new series separate from the UCI and Warner Bros could sprout from the ashes? It feels pointless to have the series governed by the UCI if it’s not an Olympic discipline. 

5
jonkranked
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8/21/2024 8:14am
Definitely disappointing to hear and seems very short sighted. I wish they would sell the gravity disciplines off as XC seems like the only format where...

Definitely disappointing to hear and seems very short sighted. I wish they would sell the gravity disciplines off as XC seems like the only format where they could accomplish those goals and not kill the sport. Maybe a new series separate from the UCI and Warner Bros could sprout from the ashes? It feels pointless to have the series governed by the UCI if it’s not an Olympic discipline. 

disappointing but not surprising unfortunately.

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jonkranked
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8/21/2024 8:20am
gibbon wrote:
To be honest he's closer to Saruman.Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.Bullet points.1. Confirms that they want Wc to be...

To be honest he's closer to Saruman.

Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.

Bullet points.
1. Confirms that they want Wc to be Elite only.
2. Says it's not their job to support a pathway to actually becoming elite.
3. Their goal is 'growth' to 'increase value'.......but only in casual viewership and value to themselves
4. The path to this is 'simplifying' the sport ie making courses shorter, shorter broadcasts.
5. That everyone needs to stop complaining.

Wb are not in this for shit and giggles.
They are here to make money.
It's value is solely based on how many people watch it.
To make it watchable to the 'public' means sacrificing a lot of what 'we' value about it.....and they are 100% ok with that.

Fave quote
"regulation changes to steer xc,dh and enduro into simple formats we can delivery to big audiences..............(catches himself)....er in a good way"
 

on #2 - if they don't, they're shooting themselves in the foot. 

4
gibbon
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8/21/2024 8:22am Edited Date/Time 8/21/2024 10:10am

Another quote about feeder series

" I firmly believe we have to do that (catches himself again)........err I mean when I say we I mean we as a community ........not we as Warner Brothers"


He talks about the lower football leagues as an example......The premiership give between £500,000 and £5million to every club in the lower divisions. 
WB want other people to do all the legwork and then they get to keep all the money.
 

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jonkranked
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8/21/2024 8:24am
gibbon wrote:
Another quote about feeder series" I firmly believe we have to do that (catches himself again)........err I mean when I say we I mean we as...

Another quote about feeder series

" I firmly believe we have to do that (catches himself again)........err I mean when I say we I mean we as a community ........not we as Warner Brothers"


He talks about the lower football leagues as an example......The premiership give between £500,000 and £5million to every club in the lower divisions. 
WB want other people to do all the legwork and then they get to keep all the money.
 

based on these quotes alone i get the impression he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. 

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gibbon
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8/21/2024 8:28am
jonkranked wrote:

based on these quotes alone i get the impression he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. 

The usual 'wall of positive noise' seems to have slipped somewhat.
Whether they are freudian slips or he now feels secure enough in his ownership to just not give two fux is up for debate.

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KooktheWolf
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8/21/2024 8:45am

Sounds increasingly like after 30 years, WC DH as we loved it will be over... I for one don't care to watch a curated liste of "elite" teams race each other and pretend their are the best in the world haha. I never pay for sports, but I surely won't even try to watch now.

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bulletbass man
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8/21/2024 6:51pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2024 6:52pm

I got approximately 10 minutes into the interview before having to turn it off.  Once he took accidentally credit for e-bike sales and backed off immediately from the words that came out of his mouth a few seconds ago I just had to quit.

Chris ball is a bullshitter and an idiot.  Whatever wierd reality his mind is in is so beyond bizarre it’s really hard to even try to make sense of it.  And that’s just taking him at his word.  He contradicts himself constantly.  Honestly I really hoped to get some insight that I could disagree with but could respect.  But holy shit I simply do not understand how a large and powerful organization like the uci and a huge and world shaping organization like discovery can partner with that guy.

 

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owl-x
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8/21/2024 7:25pm

I want to gouge the guy’s eyes out with my thumbs 

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owl-x
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8/21/2024 7:26pm

metaphorically speaking

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Primoz
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8/21/2024 9:25pm
jonkranked wrote:

haven't watched, is his transformation into Gollum complete?

gibbon wrote:
To be honest he's closer to Saruman.Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.Bullet points.1. Confirms that they want Wc to be...

To be honest he's closer to Saruman.

Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.

Bullet points.
1. Confirms that they want Wc to be Elite only.
2. Says it's not their job to support a pathway to actually becoming elite.
3. Their goal is 'growth' to 'increase value'.......but only in casual viewership and value to themselves
4. The path to this is 'simplifying' the sport ie making courses shorter, shorter broadcasts.
5. That everyone needs to stop complaining.

Wb are not in this for shit and giggles.
They are here to make money.
It's value is solely based on how many people watch it.
To make it watchable to the 'public' means sacrificing a lot of what 'we' value about it.....and they are 100% ok with that.

Fave quote
"regulation changes to steer xc,dh and enduro into simple formats we can delivery to big audiences..............(catches himself)....er in a good way"
 

Definitely disappointing to hear and seems very short sighted. I wish they would sell the gravity disciplines off as XC seems like the only format where...

Definitely disappointing to hear and seems very short sighted. I wish they would sell the gravity disciplines off as XC seems like the only format where they could accomplish those goals and not kill the sport. Maybe a new series separate from the UCI and Warner Bros could sprout from the ashes? It feels pointless to have the series governed by the UCI if it’s not an Olympic discipline. 

DH1? 

1
Aye
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8/22/2024 1:06am
gibbon wrote:
To be honest he's closer to Saruman.Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.Bullet points.1. Confirms that they want Wc to be...

To be honest he's closer to Saruman.

Good interview. The closest Ball has got to any form of honesty.

Bullet points.
1. Confirms that they want Wc to be Elite only.
2. Says it's not their job to support a pathway to actually becoming elite.
3. Their goal is 'growth' to 'increase value'.......but only in casual viewership and value to themselves
4. The path to this is 'simplifying' the sport ie making courses shorter, shorter broadcasts.
5. That everyone needs to stop complaining.

Wb are not in this for shit and giggles.
They are here to make money.
It's value is solely based on how many people watch it.
To make it watchable to the 'public' means sacrificing a lot of what 'we' value about it.....and they are 100% ok with that.

Fave quote
"regulation changes to steer xc,dh and enduro into simple formats we can delivery to big audiences..............(catches himself)....er in a good way"
 

Definitely disappointing to hear and seems very short sighted. I wish they would sell the gravity disciplines off as XC seems like the only format where...

Definitely disappointing to hear and seems very short sighted. I wish they would sell the gravity disciplines off as XC seems like the only format where they could accomplish those goals and not kill the sport. Maybe a new series separate from the UCI and Warner Bros could sprout from the ashes? It feels pointless to have the series governed by the UCI if it’s not an Olympic discipline. 

Primoz wrote:

DH1? 

An unofficial feeder/regional series covered by Red Bull?

Curve Ball - Chris Ball/WB decide to cover Urban DH to scupper Red Bull. After the UCI decide(?) to sanction it. 

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adude
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8/22/2024 1:17am
I got approximately 10 minutes into the interview before having to turn it off.  Once he took accidentally credit for e-bike sales and backed off immediately...

I got approximately 10 minutes into the interview before having to turn it off.  Once he took accidentally credit for e-bike sales and backed off immediately from the words that came out of his mouth a few seconds ago I just had to quit.

Chris ball is a bullshitter and an idiot.  Whatever wierd reality his mind is in is so beyond bizarre it’s really hard to even try to make sense of it.  And that’s just taking him at his word.  He contradicts himself constantly.  Honestly I really hoped to get some insight that I could disagree with but could respect.  But holy shit I simply do not understand how a large and powerful organization like the uci and a huge and world shaping organization like discovery can partner with that guy.

 

Which makes him the perfect fit for whatever the F role he is playing in this fiasco. Spineless POS.

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gibbon
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8/22/2024 1:26am
Aye wrote:
An unofficial feeder/regional series covered by Red Bull?Curve Ball - Chris Ball/WB decide to cover Urban DH to scupper Red Bull. After the UCI decide(?) to...

An unofficial feeder/regional series covered by Red Bull?

Curve Ball - Chris Ball/WB decide to cover Urban DH to scupper Red Bull. After the UCI decide(?) to sanction it. 

He kept talking about Gravel racing too, like they own that too now.

1
8/22/2024 1:47am

He lost view of what is good for the sport versus what is good for the WB stakeholders. I'm also always baffled when anybody claims DH is too long and complicated when few of the most popular sports are baseball and football, even the most popular cycling event is the fucking endless hours long Tour de France...It's also pretty insulting for the viewers who would be too dumb to understand an offroad time trial. Everybody wants to compare DH with Formula 1 but have you ever watched a Grand Prix without falling asleep on the couch? 
I see zero evidence that his plan will work but I don't even agree with his "analysis" that MTB would need an exponential growth and to reach a hypothetical non-endemic large viewership thru a pay-per-view TV program..
That's a lot of wrong assessments and unrealistic goals.
The only silver lining I see is that this mess might help different regions of the world to develop their local "feeder" series.

9
8/22/2024 2:36am

Don't understand the hate of world cups being elite only. It is the pinnacle of the sport, where your place has to be earned. Are there any other sports where there non-elite participants and a huge field in line for qualifications? No. 

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veefour
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8/22/2024 3:07am Edited Date/Time 8/22/2024 3:10am
baronKanon wrote:
Don't understand the hate of world cups being elite only. It is the pinnacle of the sport, where your place has to be earned. Are there...

Don't understand the hate of world cups being elite only. It is the pinnacle of the sport, where your place has to be earned. Are there any other sports where there non-elite participants and a huge field in line for qualifications? No. 

Define elite. If a privateer qualifies to race in the elite category doesn't that make them an elite rider? If they get down the track faster than someone with a factory ride haven't they earned the right to race? There are numerous team riders that rarely qualify for finals.

12
8/22/2024 3:35am
veefour wrote:
Define elite. If a privateer qualifies to race in the elite category doesn't that make them an elite rider? If they get down the track faster...

Define elite. If a privateer qualifies to race in the elite category doesn't that make them an elite rider? If they get down the track faster than someone with a factory ride haven't they earned the right to race? There are numerous team riders that rarely qualify for finals.

Exactly. 

1
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gibbon
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8/22/2024 4:46am
baronKanon wrote:
Don't understand the hate of world cups being elite only. It is the pinnacle of the sport, where your place has to be earned. Are there...

Don't understand the hate of world cups being elite only. It is the pinnacle of the sport, where your place has to be earned. Are there any other sports where there non-elite participants and a huge field in line for qualifications? No. 

You get a AMA licence, turn up to Anaheim1. Put in a top 40 practice lap time and you get to race a qualifier. Get a top 10 in that and boom.......You are racing in a Supercross final.

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Wipperman_95
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8/22/2024 6:11am

Having DH, Enduro & XC all under one Promoter needs looking at. I'm not sure it works.......Ski-ing is an example; you don't see Downhill Alpine in the same venue as XC, do you? They are under the FIS banner, but run separately.......

 

And Enduro seems to have been trashed to fit into the new deal; get it back to what it should be; a multi day event similar to WRC, or EnduroGP in motorsport. Start the event with one live stage on the Friday evening, and end the event on Sunday afternoon with the same stage live. Everything else is recorded for a highlights show; similar to the Power Stage in WRC.

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WhatsUpCountry
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8/22/2024 9:44am
He lost view of what is good for the sport versus what is good for the WB stakeholders. I'm also always baffled when anybody claims DH...

He lost view of what is good for the sport versus what is good for the WB stakeholders. I'm also always baffled when anybody claims DH is too long and complicated when few of the most popular sports are baseball and football, even the most popular cycling event is the fucking endless hours long Tour de France...It's also pretty insulting for the viewers who would be too dumb to understand an offroad time trial. Everybody wants to compare DH with Formula 1 but have you ever watched a Grand Prix without falling asleep on the couch? 
I see zero evidence that his plan will work but I don't even agree with his "analysis" that MTB would need an exponential growth and to reach a hypothetical non-endemic large viewership thru a pay-per-view TV program..
That's a lot of wrong assessments and unrealistic goals.
The only silver lining I see is that this mess might help different regions of the world to develop their local "feeder" series.

My F1 hot take is that the broadcast is great because it lines up perfectly for taking mid-race naps between the start / pit stops / finish.

What I can't wrap my head around is that they're trying to grow the sport but still going on subscription streaming services. Like in the US if I wanted to watch worlds, which would be the #1 race a normie would tune into, I have to subscribe to flow sports which isn't happening. They're trying to have their cake and eat it too.

Make it free to watch and sell airtime to advertisers, a model that worked in broadcast TV forever. I hate commercials as much as the next guy but you can't gatekeep with subscription fees and expect the audience to grow.

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LookinForIt
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8/22/2024 1:07pm
My F1 hot take is that the broadcast is great because it lines up perfectly for taking mid-race naps between the start / pit stops /...

My F1 hot take is that the broadcast is great because it lines up perfectly for taking mid-race naps between the start / pit stops / finish.

What I can't wrap my head around is that they're trying to grow the sport but still going on subscription streaming services. Like in the US if I wanted to watch worlds, which would be the #1 race a normie would tune into, I have to subscribe to flow sports which isn't happening. They're trying to have their cake and eat it too.

Make it free to watch and sell airtime to advertisers, a model that worked in broadcast TV forever. I hate commercials as much as the next guy but you can't gatekeep with subscription fees and expect the audience to grow.

The thing that annoyed me the most about this whole deal was how it felt like a bad business decision to immediately go behind a paywall.

 

It makes so much more sense to give the new product for free for a year or three to keep people engaged or bring in new people, and then you make it a paid thing.

 

I find it so frustrating when companies don't just ruin things I like, but ruin it poorly. Like at least if you're going to ruin it, ruin it right. The only reason they can ruin it poorly is the massive inertia of a company like Discovery Sad

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MJN
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8/22/2024 1:29pm

Might be a controversial opinion but I think he probably has the right intentions of wanting to grow the sport across all disciplines but he's limited on what he can actually do when WB are wanting to squeeze everything cent out of the lemon they can and then discard it and move on to the next one. WB don't see MTB as a sport/lifestyle like we do and only see it as a resource to make money. The worst part about it as they are not looking at it as a renewable resource, rather a finite resource. As much as we think he could make the changes necessary to better the sport, I believe he is just a puppet for the WB directors and is towing the line of the direction they want to push it for themselves. 

3

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