🔴 FREE, LIVE RACING & RACE TALK 🔴 Leogang World Cup Downhill

I'm sorry it got ruined for you, that sucks.

I've learned that the only way to avoid spoilers is to stay off the internet almost entirely.

When I do watch the races I watch them in the order they happened as the commentators often refer back to the previous events which will spoil those too...

The new format requires even more vigilance when it comes to avoiding spoilers. More racing in more websites. 
 

GCN app is dialed, I trust it now. I’m watching everything on there. I don’t even need my partner to navigate to the replays. An improvement over Red Bull tv in that sense—they’d have “Gwin’s Winning Run” right next to the race replay…

of course avoiding vital and pb until I’ve watched…and putting my phone on do not disturb (and maybe even blocking my friend Scott for the morning)

I thought this week's broadcast was a huge improvement from last weeks. First off track coverage was much better, even for the semi's. I thought they did an excellent job of showing different angles of certain sections to keep things interesting. The commentary was quirky yet effective at getting my blood pumping throughout the broadcast. The drone shots were also much improved and unlike the previous poster, I enjoyed the birdie shots mixed in of the upper section of track. 

It was also during the finals that I realized one of the values of the Qual/Semi/Final format, Obviously it is one more layer of filtering in terms of sending riders home, but it also acts to filter the starting order such that it seems like each subsequent run is within contention. Last year's finals and this years semi's are comparable in that you have fast racers mixed throughout the order. A misstep in quals pushes someone with top 5 pace down the order. Then in the subsequent race the rider is back on their pace and commands the hot seat for quite some time. It seems this year in the Final is more dramatic because each rider starts in green. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but so far it is working in their favor. 

I don't know if it's the change in broadcasting (and no more Warner), the new schedule/format, or changes in my personal life but I haven't watched a minute of either of the first 2 races.  This is the first time since college and the Freecaster days that I haven't watched a race, even a replay.  I don't know what exactly the UCI and Discovery's game plan is to grow the sport and it's viewership but I'm finding myself "tuned out".  Is anyone else feeling this way?  

Not to disrupt the conversation about the broadcast, but here is the post-race WynTV

Exactly, I can't get the GCN app for my TV and I'm not really interested watching 2 hours of racing on my phone/laptop.  The semi's is OK but it seems like it's only the last minute of their run which is usually just motorway or non-technical sections of track.  Got me feeling meh about the whole thing.  Keep the pirate youtube stream links coming.

In terms of growing the viewership it is a brutal error to make the semi's free and finals behind the paywall. Simply due to the spacing of the riders the finals allows for better coverage. Not only more angles and coverage, but slow-mo replays in between riders.

Yeah, the super zoomed in was terrible, again. Also the whole top section was super zoomed out, looked like it was filmed from low earth orbit. Kinda a cool perspective to see a couple times, but annoying cause all details were lost. Camera locations were poorly chosen: compare the roots section (pre motorway) as filmed by Lawlor to how it was filmed for the broadcast. Raw's showed the lines and riders so much better. This round the broadcast was a little better, but it's still a ways south of adequate imo. 

Responding to a couple posts here recently and adding some additional... 
-Can't get GCN+ on your TV? That sounds like a TV problem? Between myself and a few friends, GNC+ app super easy/readily available for TV. 
-Haven't watched any racing this year and saying it's because of GCN/Warner not being there? If you haven't watched any racing, then it can't be GCN's fault (bad coverage, lack of Warner). Sounds like you're in a different space in life (as you said). Very easy to watch the racing and while the coverage lacks in some facets, it's still good (better in some ways, worse in others) and 100x better than Freecaster (which you watched). 

-The drone footage from 1,000 feet in the sky (or even above about 100ft) makes the sport look terrible and slow. Should only be used for filler/artful shots. Makes the racers look they're out for a Saturday stroll on a smooth trail. 
-Camera placements could have been better in some sections for sure, but not terrible. 
-I think next year you will see shorter courses and maybe a few more cameras, which would mean less of the 1,000ft elevation drone shots to cover the upper zone.  
-We need someone like Fabien Barrel in the booth who actually can talk more to technique/line choice, etc. Cedric is good hype man, but not really giving a ton of 'real'/'good' info. 
-Rick and Cedric's job is even harder than the Red Bull days as they know have to talk during semis too. 
-Semi-finals coverage is so rushed, it was kind of pointless to watch the runs, it's almost more of a recap (albeit a 2+ hour recap). This is the nature of trying to show 60 riders on 3min+ long courses. 
-I think by next year, with the shorter courses, all of these races will be decided by super close times. Think 2:30min total length courses with top 20 being within a few seconds of each other. This might be their goal. Would be a much better TV package, that's for sure. I could also see them cutting down the finals to 25 riders max. Showing whole (2:30min) runs, and then having replays, interviews, intro/outtro that's still a 2 hour broadcast. 

 

Coverage was a lot better this week.  Commentary was night and day better.  Jrs and semis coverage (other than end of jr mens) was way better and easier to follow.  Finals looked just a bit more polished as well.

still got a ways to go.  But if they can take steps forward like that every week by the end of the season things should be pretty good.

 Vali 1,1,1 for a massive 400 points haul.  But with a rough first round sits well behind cami.  If she can repeat that type of performance at vds she can erase a huge points gap into the break even if cami performs well.

rachel does damage control with a third with some big mistakes.  Does she come to vds or go home to train for ft William?  She still has a strong chance for the overall.  Vds is gnarly but she knows it well.  Think she may skip just to keep the pressure off.  Seems to be enjoying it.  But worlds fastest mum is the best story in the sport right now.

Myriam can really shake things up when she gets back.  As can Nina if she puts it together.  The pressure to perform on anyone trying to gather points for the overall will be massive when they start taking precious points.  
 

loic and cami are proving consistency is king.  Both could easily never win a final and win overalls if they continue to perform week to week in semis and finals.  On the flip race wins will be the deciding factor in a really close round.

cami and loic have shown the reward for consistency.   
 

with semi finals I think it’s a good idea to remove points for qualifying.  Reduce risk away from raceday for the top racers.  Simply seed semis by current rank and reseed by result for finals.  The amount of points available for the first few spots could be a big difference maker by the end of the season but it’s extremely difficult to cover 

Matt Walker won the overall without winning a race that first Covid season, did he not? Hearing that a few times this week, saying it’d be some horrible end of DH…

the super high drone shots definitely suck. All the vlogs and Vital Raw (and imitators) show the the track to be so gnarly—the drone satellite shots are insulting. But, yeah, full run coverage, sure…

they need to get in the mix. The commentators. Mics in crowds, riders in the booth, a rising tide lifts all boats let’s do this! Getting better but we need more!

Schroeder, are you doing post race podcasts with Dak again this season? 

Yeah the first podcast not working was a nice kick in the gut, but we had another good convo this week and touched on highlights from Lenzerheide, the new format/broadcast, and then jumped into Leogang. The plan is to do post-World Cup podcasts all season, plus some additional events like Rampage and Hardline. Should be fun, and hope everyone enjoys! 

Looking forward to the commentary this season. I hope that some of the feedback around coverage and formatting gets through to Discovery.

 I’d like to add to the shorts reward- count me in for another $20 to the next rider who races finals in shorts, and another $20 for also using flat pedals!

I'll kick in $20 for the shorts bounty too, I think that gets it to $80? (Schroeder, Tanner, Losifer, me @$20 each?)

I like where this is going haha might be time to start a gofundme or something similar

I might make it an extra $20 if it's Dak...

Rider Mike, you highlighted one of the main commentating challenges this new format presents.  So many runs to commentate on the broadcast...  Both sets of Juniors, Semi Finals, then Finals!

It is going to take some masterful commentating to call that many race runs and keep it interesting.  Rick/Cedric also have less timing info to use without the key sectors or the virtual straight to add intrigue to the race runs.  Red Bull used to periodically update the current standings between riders and remind the viewers who was in the current top 10 and miss that. 

I'm as Super Fan as it gets for DH racing and have watched every junior final, elite semi and elite final and it has been rather exhausting so far to keep up with, lol.  I agree with comments in this thread regarding the semi broadcast and how it doesn't really do justice to the sport with the tight intervals between the riders..  

Curious how the new format is in-person (Bruni and Finn said better for spectators). Road tripping to Val di Sole this weekend and if all goes well will be able to heckle at semis and finals Saturday. 

Looks like it might be a wet/mud race there which will be insane (rode the track in the dry and it's no f-ing joke). 

Vallnord thread incoming? Anyone know if they've done anything about that sketchy bridge before the finish line?