Exclusive Interview: Chris Ball Leaves UCI

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Exclusive Interview: Chris Ball Leaves UCI
By sspomer
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Chris Ball as Technical Delegate for UCI gravity events. A respected man among riders, he's filled with integrity and a love for mountain biking and has decided to set his sights outside of the UCI. <b>Interview and photographs by Sven Martin</b>
<a href="http://twitter.com/ballersays" target="_blank"><b><font color="#ffff00">Follow Chris on Twitter</font></b></a>
<b>Vital would like to thank Chris for his hard work while at the UCI. The last 5 years of World Cup Downhill racing have been incredible, and you're a big reason for that!</b>
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Chris Ball has left his position as the UCI Technical Delegate for gravity disciplines after 5 years of service. The liaison between riders, organizers, media and the governing body, Chris has ensured that World Cups venues and courses have been safe, consistent and exciting for both riders and spectators alike. With a heart for Enduro racing, Chris was helping spearhead a movement for a UCI-sanctioned Enduro series. While progress was made, ultimately the UCI did not move forward with the discipline and as a result, Chris knew the time had come to move on and focus his efforts elsewhere. Interview and photographs by Sven Martin
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View replies to: Exclusive Interview: Chris Ball Leaves UCI

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shawnca7
12 years ago
I'm excited for the rise of Enduro. I don't quite have the skills or balls for full on DH, and I don't quite have the legs or lungs for full on XC, but if you mix the two I'm right there. Enduro really is for the rest of us.
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iceman2058
12 years ago
C'mon Chris, you can come clean now, you've left....it was really YOU who covered up the Lance Armstrong mess, wasn't it?



On the more serious note, as a fan of the DH Worldcup, the sport has definitely been headed the right direction for the last few years as far as course selection and those issues go. Just take a venue like Hafjell for example....had the internet up in arms over the "bike-parked-out" aspect, whereas it actually turned out to be both a rider and a spectator instant favorite. Let's hope this legacy can live on now...
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Andrzej_Skrzypczak
12 years ago
It's high time they woke up! They remove one of the most exciting events like 4X from the World Cup and introduce C R O S S C O U N T R Y (!!!!!) Eliminator which actually is Cross T O W N Eliminator! Are there any reasonable people left there after Chris's leaving???
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bturman
12 years ago
Very interesting. Can't wait to see more of the new developments Chris speaks of.

Chris, cheers for your hard work in getting the sport to progress, despite the mess you were in.
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twigme
12 years ago
Can Red Bull take over and make its own race series already? UCI is not helping us....
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Stiksandstones
12 years ago
Well said and a good outlook on the future. Thanks CB for all you did and are attempting to do...Such a massive blow to the UCI to have this guy gone.
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Scott_Townes
12 years ago
I cannot wait for the day when the UCI is replaced... they're really good at holding sports back and straight up killing them...
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