No, YOU First - La Bresse World Cup DH Track Walk

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The last round of the 2018 UCI World Cup Downhill series lands in La Bresse, France. Some 8 years ago, the World Cup circus competed in La Bresse but on a different portion of the mountainside. This new course features plenty of tricky, variable terrain with some big man-made jumps. The course is short which means every move counts. Riders are excited to get this one in the books as they look onward to World Champs just a couple weeks away. Weather for Saturday's race is looking questionable at this point, so racers are working on their game-day strategies.

You can view the slideshow as normal with audio attached to respective photos or you can play all of the audio interviews from our podcast channel with this player.

What's up guys? Is it really that steep? @maddogboris

Riders spent a lot of time checking this section out. Will anyone double down to the bottom past the center ledge? We sure hope so. Instagram's future depends on it. -Dan Hearn

Exiting the woods before the grass piste to the finish. There is an option to gap the whole section but will anybody risk it? -Sven Martin

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Wizard?

Nope, just Laurie Greenland, who didn't take his finals run in MSA after hurting his ankle in practice. A little staff for assistance today harnesses the power. -Dan Hearn

Greg Minnaar is a tough nut to crack. You never know when he is serious or joking. He lets his riding do the talking and its the last tune up before World Champs. -Sven Martin

Stupid is as stupid does. Two grumpy old men found in the Santa Cruz Pits, both who have just recently made very dubious on-bike choices and both paying the price dearly. -Sven Martin

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Jason "Marshy" Marsh, the mechanic of Greg Minnaar, usually does track walk to know what is going on and be ready for tire choice decisions. @maddogboris

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"Fresh" from his 19th birthday celebrations in Whistler, Finn Iles is stoked at how the loamy sections are looking! -Dan Hearn

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Missing the win on more than one occasion by just a couple of seconds, Danny Hart has gone all sleek for maximum aero gains. -Dan Hearn

Man, Bernard is the only one who makes me jealous with his hats. #smokerscross @maddogboris

In classic French fashion, the lower corners snake their way down the grassy hillside. Amaury in audio. -Dan Hearn

Brook and Mike Jones checking out how straight they can take the line through this gully. -Dan Hearn

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The mixed track with old and new bits has some interesting line options, so the riders have a lot to think about. @maddogboris

Is Troy thinking about how wide he can ride his handlebars through this trees? @maddogboris

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It's going to be a bit shifty, these weather conditions. High heat and humidity results in afternoon thunder showers. Then temperatures drop heavily on Saturday with a proper front moving through. Rain game? -Sven Martin

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Hot and sweaty set-up day with maximum jet lagged from a full pull in Whistler. Nonstop for the Polygon crew. -Sven Martin

Martin Maes fresh off a big EWS win in Whistler, showing up to get some DH warm-up laps before World Champs which he also racing. He plans to take it easy with two more EWS races left to go. -Sven Martin

Maes, kapowzah! @maddogboris

Loic on his pit commuter. The accommodations are spread all over a few valleys here outside La Bresse. -Sven Martin

Wyn on the 29er and Martin on the 27.5 he raced in Ft William. By just changing two small components on this frame you can run either wheel size. -Sven Martin

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Peaty won here in 2009. He was on a tear that year also winning Andorra and World Champs. He doles out the advice to the racers this year here in La Bresse. -Sven Martin

Happy hour at the end of every day no matter what the hour in the GT pits -Sven Martin

Appropriate footwear for today's conditions. Rain came down at the end of the day. -Sven Martin

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In DH racing every millisecond counts and so hence every millimeter. PA on Loris' bike. -Sven Martin

Out with the old. It's all about 49's in the pits these days. -Sven Martin

Grant Sides with Giant has a full bag of tricks. -Sven Martin

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What would you do if this went missing? -Sven Martin

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Luca is no longer the only guy in the Syndicate pits without some World Champs stripes. -Sven Martin

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It's hammer time for the Women's overall. Rachel needs to finish top five this weekend to take the overall. -Sven Martin

When the World Cup overall leader pulls this face, you know the track is probably quite gnarly. -Dan Hearn

Team Rumours starts...... Now. -Sven Martin

Any guesses who's knee that is? Imagine if someone like Peaty would have tatts to all his injuries! @maddogboris

Trek Factory Racing truck ready for his last WC of the Season. Gee in audio @maddogboris

Gwin's all about the 49, too. @maddogboris

Busy mechanics in each pits working on beaten-up bikes from Whistler. @maddogboris

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Tahnee is getting ready for the off-season #vanlife! If someone wants to sell their van, drop her a message. @maddogboris

Loic is focused and ready for another Podium...this time on homesoil. @maddogboris

When the WhistlerJetlag hits you hard. @maddogboris

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Going up in Labresse means getting a good show at the jump line. @maddogboris

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Amercian Dreamteam Aaron Gwin with his mechanic and friend, John Hall. @maddogboris

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Busy track walk start at 1pm...not 9pm, 11pm or something. @maddogboris

Is that your stoked or scared look Connor Fearon? @maddogboris

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Interesting foodwear for track walk. @maddogboris

Mhm bus stop around one of the jumps to reduce the speed? @maddogboris

Two of Vital's favorites! Pretty sure Kade and Wyn will throw some shapes on the jumps. @maddogboris

How will you scrub down the finish jump? @maddogboris

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Nice place for Sven to rest his weary ribs while shooting fisheye? @maddogboris

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#svensuflumeofdoomandnapping -Dan Hearn

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Which line is faster, Charlie Hatton? Staying full speed on old track or use the opportunity to go high early and cut in before the turn? #SamHillwouldlovethetrack @maddogboris

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One of the fresh and nearly unridden sections of the track. @maddogboris

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Jacob Dickson back on the track after skipping Canadian Open Finals in Whistler last weekend. He took 2nd in Garbanzo! @maddogboris

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Vali Höll on her last track walk of her first world Cup Season. If she wins here this weekend, she'll be 7 for 7. @maddogboris

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If you've been on Instagram recently, you might have noticed someone is annoyed that the double-decker Shimano truck ruined their balcony view. -Dan Hearn

Fresh berms, but with a second line that bypasses most of them. It will be interesting to see where riders go tomorrow. -Dan Hearn

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The off-camber landing to this drop will catch riders out, just like it did today in track walk. -Dan Hearn

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Team Intense sticking in pack formation for maximum line choice coverage. -Dan Hearn

Fresh-cut goodness. Awesome! -Dan Hearn

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These fresh cut roots may look innocent but riders are sure they will become nasty in no time. -Dan Hearn

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Life of a social media addict. Despite the pressure of podiums and victories this year, when you have a rider as decorated as Peaty helping with line choice, you can take it easy on track walk. Kids. Pffft. -Dan Hearn