Claudio's Course Preview - Val di Sole World Cup 2017

Aug 23, 2017
by Red Bull Bike  


It's the last course preview of the 2017 UCI MTB World Cup and Claudio is going out with a bang... well more like a crash! Joined by Ed Masters, who was drafted in last minute and had to be roused from bed with his mechanic to make it to the top of the track in time. Claudio gives him a quick lowdown of the course changes while they ride the gondola up but despite his knowledge of the new track it's still Claudio who comes a cropper.



MENTIONS: @redbullbike



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Member since Jun 28, 2012
634 articles

116 Comments
  • 96 1
 Claudio leaving Edd hanging the on the high five and fist bump at the end Jeremy Corbyn eat heart out haha
  • 35 4
 "..had to be roused from bed with his mechanic to make it to the top"

Dude was in bed with his mechanic?
  • 16 0
 How aaron and gwin and troy...good one...see you friday!
  • 11 0
 @NYShred: it's called bonding, look it up
  • 85 4
 Claudio deserves a Red Bull helmet.
  • 7 2
 Oh hell yes he does !!!
  • 38 1
 And a chest mount gimble.
  • 1 1
 @Myfianceemademedoit: he had one for a while there earlier this year or last year i thought
  • 2 0
 Claudio used to be a Red Bull rider.
  • 9 1
 I believe their product is poison for my body, especially when I mix it with booze; but I honestly justify asking for it because I like who they sponsor....
  • 1 0
 @nuttypoolog Same here. Could buy the cheap energy drink, or could buy Red Bull and contribute to awesome WC DH coverage.
  • 1 0
 @Myfianceemademedoit: ^^^^ this
  • 62 3
 I´m sure Aaron Minnaar, Greg Gwin and Troy Brosnan get a good night`s sleep.
  • 68 2
 Can't wait to watch Aaron and Gwin battle it out at MSA this weekend!
  • 2 1
 @MTBrent: same here, haven't beenthis excited for a WC in years.
  • 10 0
 I think Gwin is one of the only people that can beat Gwin ...
  • 43 1
 STAY ON YOUR BIKE CLAUDIO!!!
  • 36 0
 Tabarnak....
  • 10 0
 C'est évident haha
  • 4 0
 @OliChando: avec l'accent !
  • 1 0
 @fracasnoxteam: Non, sans l'accent français SVP! Wink
  • 26 0
 heard some new words. gagaw, wham, zipeshel, gameshemmfff.
  • 18 0
 "Ignore the pain and keep going". Thanks Claudio, I'm now getting this tatted on my forehead.
  • 24 2
 or maybe not, is your forehead after all.
  • 4 0
 @JoseBravo: I see what you did there!
  • 2 0
 @JoseBravo: "No Regerts"
  • 13 0
 "Watch my line if you want to win" as in, make sure to take another one! Big Grin
  • 10 0
 "Joined by Ed Masters, who was drafted in last minute and had to be roused from bed with his mechanic..."

Is Ed's mechanic hawt?
  • 8 1
 He was aroused in the bed with his mechanic?????
  • 1 0
 @JoseBravo: Is that a dropper post, or are you just happy to see me?
  • 11 0
 Naaasty stuff. I couldn't ride down there... Big Grin
  • 8 9
 There are some bomb holes and G-outs down there that you better practice some cat landings on your hands and feet from 2 meters or something. Otherwise you will be ironed into your bike. And perhaps get some really hard tune for your suspension... that aside of skills...
  • 1 0
 Time out!
We all need to know: Do you do cat-Landings?
  • 6 2
 @only after meth
  • 16 9
 1.Seeing this place in person I can tell you that GoPro flattens out the reality a lot, both in terms of terrain pitch and size of things these guys ride on. 2.Eddie sponsered by Leatt, rides without neck brace... hmmm... 3.Claudio crashed in the good spot, that is right before the steepest section with fridge size rocks.
  • 5 0
 I was there last year and for me the trickiest and the steepest part of the track is exactly where Claudio crashed. Out of the woods situation was only when i was out of the woods literally (maybe 10 percent of the whole track) ;p
  • 7 6
 @AdamOdh: I didn't ride it, just walked along. That bit is insane. Even the fastest dudes were coming into it slowly. When Minnaar takes it easy, you know you are for a fun ride... I think only Troy and Gwin looked like fk it let's go!
  • 8 0
 I raced this track at last years masters worlds..you begin with hate..but you totally fall in love after 3 runs..black snake is THE dh track..
  • 8 4
 I don't get the no Leatt trend. I've noticed at Whistler the last couple years fewer and fewer people wearing them. I love mine, and feel like it saved me from a pretty bad injury. I don't even notice it anymore, in fact it feels really weird to ride without it.
  • 4 0
 @WAKIdesigns: Couldn't agree more. One day after Worlds I heard when Minnaar says that the Track is too dangerous in his opinion. Thats why Im so excited to see this battle
  • 3 0
 How about Eddie with no gloves
  • 3 2
 @Rucker10: recent studies have suggested that they transfer the force of an impact through your spine causing damage rather than your head/neck deflecting the energy or something along those lines
  • 8 0
 @doe222: the entire idea is to protect the cervical section of your spine; a thoracic or lumbar area breakage are orders of magnitude better than anything in the C1-7 area. I'd really like to see those studies, because as far as I've been able to tell, neck braces excel at preventing damage in that area.
  • 9 2
 @doe222: I don't really have enough faith in humanity to believe that the current trend of not wearing neck braces is due to "studies." It is more likely that a handful of iconic mountain bike celebrities have chosen to eschew them and they (people) are simply going the way of the lemming.
  • 1 1
 @WAKIdesigns: leatt makes other products as well.
  • 1 0
 @fattyreryder: must be a kiwi thing. Blenki is the same.
  • 2 0
 @Rucker10: it's very existence may also not be down to studies...
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: You may be right. There's not a lot of published numbers on the subject. Part of that is because the groups that keep and watch statistics on spinal cord injury don't publish them. Having said that though, at least Chris Leatt has an actual MD, and when he presents a product or an idea it's held up with the weight of research done in his test facility. The guy employs doctor's previously from the Mayo clinic and a bunch of other universities/hospitals. If I were presented with a counter point written by someone that had even made half that attempt I'd listen, but so far the counter-arguments I've seen against Leatt's are written by keyboard warriors with no pedigree in medical science.
  • 3 2
 @Rucker10: I personally couldn't care less. You wonder why people are ditching these, well, exactly because of what you wrote. Due to lack of further research pros sponsored by neck brace makers are ditching these. As pros stop using them, people lose interest. That is the exact reason why I think pro roadies are fkng a*sholes about disc brakes. It may not help them, hell, on a flat race, they'd be fine with foot brakes... but the issue is the amateurs, they benefit greatly from switch to disc brakes. But they don't trust these new brakes because of opinions of twats like Chris Froom and other Team Sky cinderellas more sensitive than a post graduate from Women Studies at UBC. I am open for receiving the news that neck braces save lives or keep humans from becoming vegetables, but they just aren't coming... it makes sense, it does, but it also limits people's head movement. I crash all the time when wearing upper body armor other than back protector, whatever is limiting movement of my arms, fks up with my head while riding. Not sure how Leatt brace would work for me, i checked Alpine stars toilet seat with my TLD D2 and it does limit the movement range a lot

Cheers!
  • 2 1
 @WAKIdesigns: To me it seems crazy to discount it out of hand because there's not a lot of articles people can Google about it or whatever. There's nobody in industry that's obligated to conduct that research, and nobody is going to do it for free. The same reason why NASA or MIT hasn't done a research paper on whether or not 5.10's actually provide more grip than a pair of skater flats. 5.10 however took the time to make them, and they present some evidence, and sell a product, then over the course of several years they get a lot of positive feedback from consumer's that yes, they provide extra grip on flat pedals and for rock climbing. Going back to 2011 there exists countless examples of personal testimony from people claiming that their (ehem) toilet seat saved them from some catastrophic spinal injury.
  • 5 1
 @Rucker10: You are comparing apples to oranges. Wait, no. Watermelons to peas. A completely non emotional experience of putting two different shoes on a pedal, which can happen few times a week volountarily (I can go to a shop right now and do it) VS being deeply shaken by near paralysis/near death experience that NOBODY is willing to try. Trying if shoes fit VS jumping on your head to see if neck brace works? Bring me a 100 of second type of people and we can talk. Please... people say stupid shit after they've hit the ground hard enough to get hospitalized for weeks. I've heard a dude saying MIPS saved him from irreversible brain damage. People who were with him said he barely hit the tree, he just shat his pants while riding at it death gripping the bars with his feet by his ears and balls on the stem. There is no fkng way a random dude will determine that neck brace saved his life. And if he was told that by the people in emergency room, please... this is isn't Greys Anatomy where interns are smarter than a professor of medicine. Dude couldn't recognize that my finger is displaced by looking at a XRay, I had to fight for gettting someone to fix it for me. Sorry, neck brace, this or that helmet saved my life are sea monster stories.

Also, I am not against neck braces or saying they are a BS - not sure if you noticed that...
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: I get what you're saying man. I guess ultimately my point is if you're worried about hurting your spine or neck, a neck brace is a viable option. The same if you're worried about your hands: gloves, or knee's: knee pads. If you're not worried about that stuff, that's also fine. I don't think people would base their kit options on what Gwin is wearing this year, or ratboy (last year was the year of the red chest protector's at Whistler.)
  • 1 0
 @Rucker10: I get it. BTW chest/back protector like the one that Ratboy and Lacondeguy wear is actually on my wish list. Intried the one from Leatt (ironically) and it is awesome, not restricting movement at all.
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: That's funny you say that, as I'd also like one. As of yet nobody seems to make an "extra-tall+beer belly consideration" option.
  • 5 0
 @Rucker10: nothing beats a group of slightly fatter 45-50 year olds in full body armor and sunglasses instead of goggles. Some wear detachable chin helmets or way too small fullfaces making their cheeks pop out like breasts from a cleavage. Body armor on top of a tight underlayer and no jersey. If you get on lift with one he will be dying to tell you that he as an old motocross rider. He may even ride in "old guys rule" cotton T-shirt. Then they do dead sailors all day long. In Sweden we call them DH-Gubbe or prular DH-Gubbar.

Take care mate! I'd buy neck brace if only for the fact that it looks fkng cool. But right now, the budget is empty. Have to buy my daughter a bike Big Grin
  • 1 0
 I have spent hours reading physician reports and opinions regarding neck braces and freeriding. No legitimate studies have been done, and studies conducted by a company (such as Leatt) can not be trusted. Don't care how reputable the company, that study will be biased. Conclusion that I gathered was that neck braces protect from certain cervical (neck) spinal cord injuries, but make you prone to others. Without going into detail, the body's natural response split-seconds before a crash is to turn the head/neck into a position that will best protect itself. Neck braces inhibit this, as you have limited range of motion with a neck brace. Also, your collar bone is much more likely to go snap when wearing a neck brace. However, neck braces do stabilize certain parts of your c-spine that prevent fatal injury. My conclusion is that it is not worth wearing something that definitely increases your risk of collar bone fracture, without any proven benefit of decreasing risk of cervical cord injury. Would be interesting but difficult to study.
  • 1 0
 @Rucker10: I don't buy the appeal to authority argument for proving anything about neck braces. I work for a medical device company and have observed constant disputes about the merits of various products. Simply selling a product and being an MD is no guarantee that it works as described.

Instead, I'd prefer to see an independent study. Such studies may exist but I haven't seen any.

This is of particular interest to me because I've had spinal injuries and also have severe kyphosis of the neck. It does a 90 degree turn, making me hunch backed with my head forward of my shoulders. Should people like me wear a brace? Hard to say.
  • 9 0
 that hurt to watch. he was in pure desperation mode right before the crash then that huge rock jumped up and CRUNCH.
  • 9 0
 BEST ONE YET
  • 7 0
 I dunno if it beats Peaty going off course for a beer last year, but this is the best so far for 2017 for sure.
  • 4 1
 @tbmaddux: I think I am biased but any of the ones with Peaty in were my favourites. The one with him and Rob Warner in was great too!
  • 2 0
 @Paul7189: haha yeah "THIS IS TRIALS"
  • 1 0
 @Paul7189: Nothing beats Warners uncensored preview of Champery track in wet with Peatys bike. Its on youtube is anyone is interested
  • 1 0
 @winko: agreed, funny how a flashback of memory came as soon as I read you mentioning it. Fricking hilarious.
  • 4 0
 Maybe it's not the place,but what's up with world cup level racers from Italy these past years? A country with some of the best tracks in the world,and with a history of world cup winners (Bonazzi,Herin) hasn't put up a single contender for the podium in years.
  • 5 5
 They are too lazy
  • 6 0
 recently the girls are rocking...Veronika Widmann, Eleonora Farina and Alia Marcellini are there. They all just miss that epsilon of luck / skill to reach podium. In the boys field the guys are stead around the 30/20. could be better, could be worse. that is alto worth noticing that yes, the sport is widespread but it doesn't receive a lot of support and almosto NO TV TIME a part from last year, when it was broadcast on the state tv sports channel i think, but not the entire race. Seems like we italians are waaay stronger in enduro competitions. That said, it's years i'm wayting to cheer my pizza comrades on the DH track and i have to admit that recently the girls have given me some satisfaction

ps way too many possible jokes on that last sentence...
  • 4 1
 @Bruccio: nah we suck in enduro competitions too (I mean in international races), never understood why though, there are plenty of great places to ride... Maybe we're really too lazy
  • 8 0
 The Swiss Snake....haha
  • 1 0
 Yes!! Loved that Gar tar cah wah snake falling
  • 3 0
 Best Claudio of 2017 for sure. Love the mid-crash commentary--modulating the yawps and grunts with each impact. Not sure what he means at 4:50 when he says the inside line "worked"--seems like Ed pulls away. Ed does a good job of keeping an eye on Claudio the whole time and pacing it right (when Claudio stays on the bike). How do they pick the rider for these?
  • 2 0
 Such a rough course, the footage of him going over that drop on the crash, wow!! on the jumps you can see his shadow which shows you really how long in the air they are! CRAZY
  • 4 0
 so...loris was right. brapbrapbrapahtahtahtahtahhtatatatatatathuhuhuhuhuuhaktaktaktakatk and turn...
  • 1 0
 He was completely nuts after the crash. And what a crash that was. I loved his finish line quote: "I wonder how Aaron and Gwin and..." Maybe the best preview this year. Great ride, Claudio
  • 2 0
 This course gets two thumbs up from this guy. It's like Val di Sole took Mont. Saint Anne's raw and rough nature as a personal insult and challenge.
  • 1 0
 whatch my line... "aaaah" then another "ah" and the third one was the last one on bike !! ;-)

"houston .. we have a problem" tssssh we lost our magical Claudio

you are the king Claudio , we love you
  • 2 0
 My fave thing about the UCI! Claudio!,
  • 1 0
 Always a hard charger !!! And to commentate well riding thanks Claudio ????.
  • 1 0
 Claudio, I really enjoyed watching these previews all year long. Great job man!!!!
  • 2 0
 I find myself grinning during all these course previews.
  • 2 0
 They probably blipped out a good old: Osti d'caliss!
  • 1 0
 Only a french canadian would think about censuring a fucking church word. Wake up frogs
  • 3 2
 Callin it now: Gwinnter is coming. podium will be1) gwinn 2) troy 3) dhart 4) bruni 5) minnaar
  • 1 0
 Haha claudio was getting his places an people mixed up, must of been a good run! BLACK SNAKE MOAN!
  • 3 4
 "They put rocks in there to make it smoother".
Is that what the rocks are for? Oh! We must be getting our rocks from the wrong place, cause our are sharp and pointy!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Claudio! Sick riding....
  • 2 1
 Kermit the frog cant hang with Eddie Masters!
  • 2 0
 ra ra ra roots Big Grin
  • 1 0
 What are the current standings in the world cup?
  • 2 0
 daaaamn claudio hahaa
  • 1 0
 Love Claudio!! i always crash when i film anything!
  • 1 0
 Best crash live comment in first person ever!
  • 2 1
 Why is Claudio's rear brake lever angled way lower than the front brake?
  • 1 0
 Wow Claudio got rekt this week. XD
  • 1 0
 definitely the best track of the year....
  • 1 0
 Hahaha Claudio sounds like Randy Marsh having a shit when he crashes.
  • 1 0
 Am I the only one who wants to see a bike check on Claudios bike?
  • 1 0
 always entertaining!! thanks!
  • 2 0
 VOTE FOR CLAUDIO !!!
  • 1 0
 Left him hangin Smile
  • 1 1
 That was a slam, he'll be a bit sore. Fairplay tho';
  • 1 0
 The Swiss Snake!
  • 2 0
 No One wants to see that!
  • 1 0
 Was that a Gam9ler?
  • 1 0
 Claudio for President!!!
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