Video: Course Preview with Gee Atherton - Les Gets World Cup DH 2019

92 Comments

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laubry (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:35)

Great preview as always, Gee is doing a fantastic job and I would really wish him a good result! Also only like 1,5 seconds of this awkward bar to chin camera, so maybe get rid of it completely for the next preview??

aps62 (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:17)

Haha, very well said

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Clarkeh (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:33)

It's a very useless angle, not sure why they like putting it in.

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browner (Jul 11, 2019 at 16:04)

@Clarkeh: ...the brands written on his shirt. This gets mentioned every race.

Dustfarter (Jul 11, 2019 at 16:37)

Agreed. Just cause you shot it you don't have to use it...it's still a shit shot.

mtbswindler (Jul 11, 2019 at 16:45)

@browner: does it get mentioned every race that they should just do that shot right at the beginning and end? ONLY?

Joelrider (Jul 11, 2019 at 19:55)

@browner: Could be usefull to see the the repeat of is reaction at the end going full "French Linning"

Riyadh (Jul 12, 2019 at 0:49)

As always agreed, I miss Claudios perspective tho. Maybe Gee could something similar and chase someone down the mountain so that we can see the line the front rider is going for.

Evolution13 (Jul 12, 2019 at 3:53)

Maybe only use the selfie perspective before and after the race run where it actually makes sense (and still shows sponsors)?

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Phill-R (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:51)

The biggest French Line of them all for Les Gets!!

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Deep-Friar (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:22)

How brown do you think the course martial's pants are at 2:28?

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suspended-flesh FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:28)

Court Marshall?

Javiero (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:45)

Course Marshal**

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CRAFTY-P (Jul 11, 2019 at 17:29)

Of course, Marsha.

nickkk (Jul 12, 2019 at 0:54)

@CRAFTY-P: Marsha's married now?

mtnfox37 (Jul 12, 2019 at 8:39)

@nickkk: why is everything about Marsha... Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

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ImAManCheetah88 (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:23)

It's like Les Get couldn't be arsed sorting out the break bumps in the bike park so they used the open turf areas.

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IllestT (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:58)

Why would they sort out the braking bumps in the bike park?
Pleny of Brits go back there again and again like zombies no matter how nailed the tracks get, how much it rains, how big the lift queues are, how expensive the lift passes are, how much of a sausage fest it is. And why? I honestly don't know

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aps62 (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:21)

@IllestT: where should I go for a mountain bike holiday that isn’t a sausage fest?!

Matt115lamb (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:29)

@IllestT: them french sausages give u the rumbles

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Dropthedebt (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:33)

@aps62: Whistler has a better ratio

paulskibum FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:44)

@IllestT: I spent a summer in Les Gets in 2006 working for a guiding company - the braking bumps were horrific and if they did decide to fix them they hid a digger on track behind a tree with no warning signs to see how good your brakes were.

At the time it was the best lift assisted riding in Europe and the PdS as a whole is still probably right up there but Chatel trumped Les Gets years before I lived there for riding and continues to do so.

Whistler probably just pips both.....good job I live there now.

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shrockie (Jul 11, 2019 at 16:07)

@aps62: Whistler, for sure.. Guaranteed to see at least 4 bachelorette parties roaming around on a Saturday in August... also, a week before crankworx is Wanderlust yoga festival.. we coincidentally go doing wanderlust weekend every year now. =)

Muckal (Jul 11, 2019 at 21:36)

@IllestT: i was in PDS 2 weeks ago, not in Les Gets though, but Morzine, Avoriaz and Chatel. Tracks were fine (you may wanna try something else than blue and Red) and Lift Ticket was 18Euros a day for a 6-day-pass. What's expensive here?

IllestT (Jul 11, 2019 at 21:57)

@aps62: maybe one of the 100's of other bike parks littered across the Alps? There's even plenty of options just inside France.
The options are endless, but apparently Brits only know of one: the PdS.
Every year, again and again...

kiksy FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 22:54)

@IllestT: it's easy to get to, easy to organise accommodation, the area is absolutely massive and most importantly, there's tons and tons of incredible riding outside of the bike parks.

willyheff (Jul 11, 2019 at 23:57)

@Muckal: I was going to say the same thing about the lift pass.
You can get from Morzine all the way over to Chatel on the one pass that costs like, €120 for 6 days!
You get to stay in BPW only, using a truck or van as uplifts, for ONE DAY at £47!
Braking bumps there may be, but expensive it is not.

colincolin (Jul 11, 2019 at 23:59)

@Muckal: I agree. Probably 100+ trails for 18€ a day. And the quality of the trails is sick as well.

ImAManCheetah88 (Jul 12, 2019 at 5:05)

On the subject, is anyone around the area from the 22nd August to lift closing on the 8th? Just bought my flights. Would love to of gona somewhere new this year but due to that fact that I dont drive and im a bit skint this year, PDS it it. I am on my own so looking to buddy up and up fro trips to other parks in the region if anyone is driving.

Zoef (Jul 12, 2019 at 5:19)

What a piss poor track!!! They can't organize their bike park and it seems impossible to design a proper world cup DH track. It does not surprice me....I have not been since 2010 and will never go again.

SuperXav FL (Jul 12, 2019 at 7:36)

@kiksy: yeah, we dont say the opposite... we just say that you seem to think this is the only place in France like that... in fact there are plenty!

Muckal (Jul 12, 2019 at 8:33)

@SuperXav: feel free to give recommendations.

klarahenny (Jul 12, 2019 at 13:48)

@aps62: Norway m8!!

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joedave (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:26)

Cool!! G is human too. Lol going off the track.

Makes it look SO easy. Barely out of breath at the end too... I wouldn’t be able to talk by turn two, I’d be too hypoxic. Hahaha

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Franzzz (Jul 11, 2019 at 18:16)

That british french line was priceless. Thanks Gee even if you didn`t do it on purpose. You owe some new pants to that poor marshall by the way

tim-from-pa FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 17:08)

if its dry the course will be running just above 3 minutes, hopefully we'll be able to see most of everybody's runs without missing anything "important"

Muckal (Jul 11, 2019 at 21:37)

Lol...

mi-bike (Jul 12, 2019 at 6:53)

This didn’t age well

adrock-whistler (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:17)

Solid choice for a thumbnail image.

shrockie (Jul 11, 2019 at 16:10)

got my click! Was surprised to see G went off course. Not as surprised as that marshal was though!

DuelingBanjos (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:18)

Dh super G

tinkstaylor (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:56)

Just throwing it out there: is that a World Cup standard track?

60% open piste

15 3

nozes (Jul 11, 2019 at 16:10)

I'm all for super technical tracks, but I'm loving this full speed,open piste, fly away jumps type of track. It has a old school vibe, with new school type of riding. Plus, the dry slippery dirt is not making it easy for anybody, as we can see.

kiksy FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 22:57)

Wide slalom piste runs are great I think. They aren't smooth and have unexpected lumps and car exhausts. You can really see peoples technique and I think it's interesting. What I find dull is watching a load of straight jumps being squashed and berms.

rollingdip (Jul 12, 2019 at 8:17)

Based on the struggles on Cathrovision - it's plenty technical for a WC track. Just a different flavor of technical.

n8dawg82 FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:18)

Brings new light to the term "turf" war. That's a lot of grass...

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slayerdegnar (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:25)

More grass there than a Phish concert in Colorado.

aljoburr FL (Jul 12, 2019 at 2:37)

Seems like should just have start & finish then just ride any line in between as marked coarse is way harder to stay on track, will be even harder if get some rain?

arrowheadrush (Jul 12, 2019 at 11:04)

"another road gap, pretty chill" yea i totally know where you're coming from Gee

R1ch106 (Jul 11, 2019 at 16:00)

Did cannock chase today that was dusty as hell I can tell you, right had my hands full, keeping it rubber side up, ha ????

scotttherider FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:56)

This should be an awesome race. Loved the shortcut! That course marshal was like....oh shit I’m gonna die!!!!

A-mexican-squid (Jul 11, 2019 at 18:51)

great track and love Gee. just amazing how de can talk and ride so well

slowlow (Jul 12, 2019 at 8:19)

so casual...”oh a road gap” lol

mark20040 (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:16)

Gee used his brakes 4 times.....I maybe would have used them 5 or 6......

10 1

Linkpin (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:22)

I would’ve used them 56 times

disruptiveone FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:23)

before the first corner? :-)

49 1

laubry (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:00)

Me on the other hand would actually only use them once. Top to bottom...

ibeaver (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:20)

13:50... gee's got some time to make up some where... haha

disruptiveone FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:21)

Interesting section where he blew through the tape

woofer2609 (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:45)

Gonna be GD carnage on the grass if it rains.

lognar (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:18)

By race day it will be dirt

suspended-flesh FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:25)

@lognar: Who will speak for the hundreds of thousands of slaughtered blades of grass?

johnnyboy11000 (Jul 12, 2019 at 0:12)

@endlessblockades: *Hans Moleman voice* me

AnimationNathan (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:42)

Holy! Some spots in this preview (which is great btw) are insane.

beeboo (Jul 11, 2019 at 20:15)

What a gnarly track. Full of bomb holes and lots of high speed sections

Streamstagram (Jul 12, 2019 at 0:00)

Awesome track. This years favourite.

FRKA (Jul 12, 2019 at 1:41)

There will be some epic slides if it rains on race day.

brownierice (Jul 12, 2019 at 2:44)

Love the random bush in the middle of the track

GDPipsqueak (Jul 12, 2019 at 4:13)

Gee is the new Claudio.

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EWSTassie (Jul 12, 2019 at 1:20)

This track is such a let down compared to Vallnord, the whole field will be within 1 second of each other. I wanna see some aero bikes, full disc (TT style) wheels perhaps - is that allowed?

Jrtf (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:32)

iam still convinced they add the commentary afterwards surely talking that calmly whilst at those speeds on those tracks? or maybe ism just that focused on staying on my bike and not dying I can't see how they could talk

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millsr4 (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:55)

It's the latter... Did you see Marcelo's course preview from last week? He can't talk and ride like Gee can, not many people can I'm guessing which is why they keep having him do these previews now that Claudio can't.

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paulskibum FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:38)

@millsr4: To be fair Marcelo has a language barrier to deal with as well - focus your brain on riding and converting your thoughts to a second language would be a bigger challenge. When Gee does this in French I will be impressed - joking obvs.

knapton FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 17:35)

like a third of the track is flat turn open ski run. Should make some great entertainment on the live broadcast.... Seriously, how is this a world cup track

nick1957 (Jul 12, 2019 at 1:02)

It's called flow . We all love flow

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muyguapa (Jul 11, 2019 at 18:23)

Apart from pleasing sponsors, why would any rider choose a DH bike over an Enduro bike for a course like this? It's like the fire road courses of the 90s. I can really see why Sam Hill left for Enduro.

sngltrkmnd (Jul 11, 2019 at 19:04)

Steep AF. I'd want the support of a proper DH fork, and the geo/wheelbase to go with it.

rrsport (Jul 11, 2019 at 19:45)

Watch the footage. Bikes are bottoming out several times on this course. Riders definitely appreciate the travel on a dh bike

andydhteam (Jul 11, 2019 at 20:24)

Have your even watched videos of this course?? There is some massive hits on it

nvranka (Jul 11, 2019 at 21:21)

You’re clueless haha...it’s a seriously burly track at speed.

muyguapa (Jul 12, 2019 at 4:33)

@nvranka: Do you think "Enduro" tracks aren't ridden at speed on tracks that are burly-er than this?

nvranka (Jul 12, 2019 at 8:05)

watch the vital raw footage and tell me an enduro bike can be pushed like that.

This isn’t an EWS vs DH argument, they’re both sweet and have their place...

Some enduro tracks have gnarlier sections than some dh tracks and vice versa.

Doesn’t change the fact that you want a different weapon for each discipline, generally.

There are parts of enduro tracks that could be ridden faster on a dh bike and there are parts of dh tracks that could be ridden faster on an enduro bike.

It’s a stupid argument.

muyguapa (Jul 12, 2019 at 16:11)

@nvranka: and yet, here you are, arguing with a total stranger. i asked a simple enough question, but you decided to reply with name-calling. the only advantage i can think of with choosing a dh bike( with the advancement of suspension tech these days ) is the stiffer dual crown fork, which could easily be fitted to most enduro bikes( which would also pedal more efficiently than their dh counterparts ).
you said it yourself, "There are parts of enduro tracks that could be ridden faster on a dh bike and there are parts of dh tracks that could be ridden faster on an enduro bike." and for a track like this, I think an enduro would make more sense.

nvranka (Jul 12, 2019 at 17:25)

@muyguapa: I said this was a stupid argument, and it is.

Also, your comment makes no sense given this is one of the fastest tracks of the circuit with no pedally sections. There are also no tight janky awkward slow bits where a more maneuverable enduro bike may shine.

You sure you aren’t thinking of cairns or petermeritzberg? Pretty sure those have been raced on an enduro by someone.

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carbonbootprint (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:36)

What a snooze fest of a course.

millsr4 (Jul 11, 2019 at 14:58)

The fastest course on the circuit that all the riders seem to like is a snooze?! You must know something they don't...

Jvhowube FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:27)

There might be some giant crashes when people wash out on the grass. And it'll be cool to see max speeds from these riders. But I'm more interested in seeing how fast they go on technical trails, not fairways. Ah well, should still be good fun.

jaydawg69 FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:28)

going to make for some good racing!

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fakiko (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:26)

Atherton ! Strong guys ,good name BUT !!!! dont win nothing realy serious

paulskibum FL (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:39)

What?!

millsr4 (Jul 11, 2019 at 15:52)

You must be new to following WCDH...

Medacus (Jul 12, 2019 at 3:16)

Whaaaaaaat? He's won more than 99.9% of the field