World Championships DH Track Walk Slideshow

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<b>So many races are organized to please governing bodies or UCI officials. Here the staff do what is best for the riders and try to create the most enjoyable race for both industry and athlete. Knut welcomes us with beers.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>What nature thinks of bike park sections on a DH track?</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>From fissure to freeway. The Hafjell crew has prepped this course fantastically.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>There were some bold lines being called in this section by Sam Hill. What you and I see as tombstones, Sam sees as lips and landings.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Slipping on stumps will be the least of worries this weekend. It looks like it will be dry and fast all week long. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>The course builders left a note for GEE on "his" tree. He became familiar with this piece of timber in his final's run last year. #G-SPOT</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Shane, Sam Hill's MX racing friend, makes it clear where his allegiances lie.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>World Champs brings out the extra bit of patriotism from the riders. Not that we ever doubted that Aaron Gwin bleeds red, white and blue. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>The media hipsters and their mirror-less "pit cameras" were literally falling over each other to get all the new frame scoops. Matt DeLorme and D-Pott.<br> #doesyourcamerahavealeatherstrapbro</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Masters Worlds was held here a week and a half ago. It was a lot wetter than what we will see this week with riders slipping and sliding off the track.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>We have this photo of Colin Bailey's tool kit in the PIT BITS gallery and Vital member Tyler Hansen summed it up best with his comment, "any mechanic's orgasm." We agree.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Dazed and confused. Pinkbike since 1998. It's been a great season helping these noobs learn what an f-stop is while letting them know that bow-legged turnbars are actually the opposite of good style. We kid because we love.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Overheard - "Shocks? Pffft, kids are such pussies today. Back in my day we rode down on wooden wheels carved from the spikes of gnarwhals!" Welcome to Norway.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Jared Rando, Aussie team coach, imparts his wisdom to riders both young and old in a track suit that LL Cool J would be proud to wear.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>The tip of the iceberg in the long, deadly rock garden. Soil? What soil.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Martin Maes will be racing here for his first time. In fact it's his second DH race this year after winning his first ever World Cup in Ft. William this year. Lots of expectations for this young talented Belgium Enduro racer on Atherton Racing. If the Belgian cycling federation would call Vital member fabdemaere back, that'd be great, too.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>There is some Irish luck to be had in the rock garden. You just have to know where to go to find it. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Jill Kintner eyes up the fast, grassy turn into the speed trap.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Danny can handle the World Champs pressure fine. It's the pressure of gordo picking him for Vital OTB that is weighing heavily overhead.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Never hurts to see again. Luca Shaw's custom-painted TLD D3.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Rivals can still be friends. Track walk today with a few of the women's favorites.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>1's and 2's all over the place. Josh Bryceland has to relinquish his number one plate to teammate Greg Minnaar this weekend. Greg won't let it go permanently very easily, however.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Jy Eske Day.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>No, not the Norwegian off-spring of Kurt Sorge.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>The hills here may not be massive, but they sure are pretty.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Stay tuned for the the pressure-filled action from Norway all week!</b> -Duncan Philpott
Hafjell, Norway, is electric right now. As the 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships commence, the rider-favorite downhill track is combed over by competitors in search of a gold medal finish. The race organizers had some serious weather-related hurdles to overcome but have prepared a raceway worthy of a World Championship. Dig into the downhill course with Sven Martin and Duncan Philpott. It's the last track walk slideshow of 2014.

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5 comments

View replies to: World Championships DH Track Walk Slideshow

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Pininator
10 years ago
Oh, man...this is going to be something. I think I have a better chance of predicting whether or not Gee will re-acquaint himself with that tree than I do who will win.
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Pininator
10 years ago
You're probably right, but there are at least a half-dozen other riders more than capable. Bruni, Blenkinsop, Mac Donald, Simmonds and Mulally to name several.

For the record, I'm predicting Gee will NOT hit the tree this year.
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