Inside The Tape: Line Choice & Gwin's 29er from La Bresse DH World Cup 2018

Aug 24, 2018
by Pinkbike Originals  

Ben Cathro is back with insight into key line choices the riders will be making this week. It's wet out there with some nasty crashes!



MENTIONS: @pinkbikeoriginals


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99 Comments
  • 202 1
 Suggestion for next season: don't change a thing. Do it just like this.
You're doing champs I hope!
  • 22 0
 Just open the valve past 3 mins red bull. Otherwise... We're good!
  • 37 0
 Don’t change a thing and someone pay him a proper wage so he doesn’t stop!
  • 35 0
 The discussions with PinkBike had better be just about the finer details that always hold up negotiations as to lose Cathro would be a real shame. The whole down-to-earth style with nothing to distract like fancy graphics and my pet hate of music to 'make it more exciting' is just great to watch. It these kind of videos that add to the fun of watching the main feed come raceday. Geeky insight for the hardcore fans that also appeals to the casual viewer is a very hard trick to pull off but Ben has nailed it.
  • 14 0
 Agreed. 100%. He is also kid friendly. I can now get my nephews addicted to pinkbike and redbull As well as riding. . @DaMilkyBarKid:
  • 13 0
 Cathro and Warner commentary.
  • 17 3
 @fartymarty: and remove the no booze claus from Warners contract. Lets go back to the Freecastor days of commentating. "Its pissing harder than a two c*nted cow on a flat rock". Then Ben could explain the finer details of this two c*nted cow. Win-win.
  • 2 0
 Flippin fantastic!
  • 8 0
 The one thing I would add:
Have Cathro do the course pre-run instead of Fabio, it would add more insight and even more time for him to voice over/comment on track quality and cheeky pro-lines! Also open the up the 3 minute rule for Cathrovision and let him run loose.
  • 8 0
 CathroVision is hate and love scenario. The spectators love it but I doubt the racers love it though, look at Gwin's expression.
  • 1 0
 @gcrider: never thought about it... you are right !
  • 2 0
 @chyu: we shouldn't care about racers POV..
  • 1 0
 @Lagr1980: After the race is fine but before the race is controversial though.
  • 2 0
 Cathro = Class!

Loving this.
  • 6 1
 @chyu: you sure teams dont have their own dedicated 'cathro' watching other racers lines? The only difference really is, he is showing us too.
  • 58 0
 Love these videos! Its so amazing how from far away things look like every rider is more or less taking the same line, but when Ben breaks it down, there is so much variation even in such a short amount of track. No wonder times are so close, with fractions of a second being exchanged every few meters of track! More please!
  • 51 0
 From somebody who doesn't usually care about the mountainbike obsession with numbers, Ben makes it simple, clear and exposes the mystique of downhill to us mere armchair enthusiasts. Sign him up for next year please PB ( plus he seems mostly immune to the Bro / dude pish that a lot of Bike media pundits revel in ).
  • 14 0
 As an armchair enthusiast, I agree. Even better, I have gotten to be a better rider from watching these. They helped me see the tracks in a different way, how to think strategically about looking at the shape of the trail and linking lines together. I hope they keep them up next season and make them even more in depth!
  • 10 0
 It's because he's not a bro/ dude he's one ey the beys
  • 20 0
 Are you watching this Danny? Somebody in the pits tell Dave to tell Danny. Better get on the Coulange Wiggle!
  • 13 0
 Wonder how many riders are studying this and rethinking line choice..
  • 3 5
 @beast-from-the-east: If i have to make an estimated guess,not a single one.My point here is that last week i saw Sick Mick doing a course preview at crankworx,he mostly saw 2 lines.I was thinking the whole time,how much lines would Cathro see at the same spot?Second tought,who's competing at the highest level?No hate on Cathro,but i'm sure there are more things to win a worldcup then linechoice.Us mortals can learn a lot of this,but the guys who already made it? I don't think so.
  • 2 0
 The content from #CathroVision would be annoying for a guy like Sam Hill or other creative riders (Coulanges)? Razz
  • 6 0
 @AdamOdh: It's one thing to "see" the lines Sam Hill takes. It's completely different to "race" the lines Sam Hill takes. One does not simply ride Sam Hill lines.
  • 2 0
 Adam Braxton said of Fort William, I'm not doing any creative lines. I'm not even looking. I'm just going to send it down the main line and send it hard. Still, in these side by sides, the stopwatch does not lie.
  • 2 0
 @NoskillNotalent: naw dude all racers talk about is lines and if they’re friendly which is fastest. Not saying any riders watch this but line choice isn’t something that even the fastest guys are constantly trying to figure out.
  • 16 0
 Hi Ben, can't wait for next year. I would love to see you get into some depth on rider technique, because we see all these different lines, but what riding styles take different kinds of lines. Do some riders always take inside lines no matter what, are some guys more skilled at tight cornering but maybe not as ballsy so they don't rail corners as fast. Some riders are lighter and smoother and some a aggressive and smash through rough stuff. How do different body types, height and mass = different riding style. I love watching the different riding styles and seeing the variations between them, It seems some guys go better n different tracks so It would be awesome to see you get into that a bit more. Also who is crashing the most in practices throughout the season, who is taking the most risks and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. Who is riding conservatively and not taking to much risks but still getting good results and improving. So many different aspects to cover. Lastly, thank you for your work this season, you have made WC's so much more exciting for us all this year!
  • 4 0
 These are great ideas for videos that can be made by re-watching footage in the off season season.
  • 2 0
 +1 for technique / style comparisons
  • 16 1
 next year Cathro vision / Pibike / Red Bull suggestion #1 Course Preview : Ben chase cam rider/while commentating #2 Inside The Tape: Line Choice !!!
  • 6 0
 Yes #1 no on #2, I’m loving the onboard commentary from Gee, maybe a slowed down edited / segment from Ben
  • 2 1
 Would be nice to have both Cathro an Claudio on their bikes! INSIDE THE CC
  • 4 0
 I would like to see Ben do some rider technique videos during the off season. Something to break up that winter depression.
#KeepCathrobusythewholeyear
  • 4 0
 I’d like Ben to read me a bedtime fact sheet of dh from the 90s through until today , I’d quite hapipily sip a cuppa to that .. aaah Ben!! I LOVE YOU BEN ... why dont you return my calls , letters or underwear Ben????
  • 17 1
 split video analysis on how and where races are won post race would be alright also
  • 1 0
 This
  • 14 0
 Cathrovision is the best Pinkbike, great technical info & he's fun to watch. Wyn TV is also good for the laugh factor, keep em both going!
  • 8 0
 In all my years of riding and racing Mountain bikes (28 years) never have I seen such a down to earth engaging commentary and breakdown of downhill tracks. Right through the season Ben nails it. Keep it up!!!!
  • 7 1
 Lots of talk about GWin on the big wheels. He seemed pretty candid in his preference, especially long term and when not racing. That's pretty cool. It'd be interesting to hear him talk about the pros-cons and how he does things differently.
  • 5 0
 sounded like he thought the 27.5 bike would be better for this tighter track.
  • 2 0
 @SeanC1: yeah exactly. That what was cool was that it seemed pretty unflitered and not manufacturer/marketing speak. More. Important is id like to hear about the adjustments and the process he is going through and why long term he thinks it's best.
  • 1 0
 @Svinyard: let's not forget the time he said "the suspension felt great" on the chainless Specialized Demo!
  • 1 0
 he was Talking out of his head about moto

my Yamaha YZ250F's wheels/tyres are 27 Inch, so 2 Inches SMALLER than a 29er
  • 1 0
 @vhdh666: Yeah, but tires on a moto are much larger sidewalls/tread knobs and my guess is he is also factoring in the stability feel that motos have due to wheels and higher weight.
  • 6 0
 Fantastic work this season Cathro. 2 suggestions for next year 1, Get Redbull to contract you as Claudios replacement for the track preview. 2, Do some detailed analysis on the times of different riders that take exactly the same line. It is clearly not just line choice that wins races. Lets see more of a breakdown of riders technique and tactics when they are riding the same line.
  • 3 0
 How many places do you think he can be at one time? Haha
  • 9 2
 Gwin, Gwin, you're the man. If you can't do it you're still the man!!
  • 5 0
 Gwin is the man, but Maes is an animal !! Go beast, kick ass !!
  • 3 0
 @frix182: Maes showing Luca how cornering is done in EWS...
  • 1 1
 I TOLD U MOTHERF*CKERS !!!
MAEEES DAMN BADAAASS
soo stocked !!!
  • 3 0
 Great stuff. Getting better each time. Keep it up. Maybe after drawing each line in arrows you could show them overlayed in different colour arrows s or different colour translucent bands of colour to help stupid people like me. It would look pretty pro, Bro.
  • 6 0
 Seriously checked PB like 7 times today hoping to see this.
  • 8 0
 THE WIGGLE!!!
  • 3 0
 Awesome sauce, thanks Ben!! These videos really put the track(s) into perspective for me. Super stoked for Aaron as well. I know we are going to see some next level riding once he gets dialed in on his new bike.
  • 3 0
 Just sauce, no ketchup
  • 1 0
 Only way to make these videos better would be to see this line analysis shot from the same camera angles we see on the live feed of the race. Its so awesome to see these lines in depth but then we don't get to see the riders hit it at race speed when it matters.
  • 5 0
 So much for all the "there is just one line in La Bresse" talk.
  • 3 0
 This is so well done. One of the latest and greatest things to happen to World Cup DH. Big props to Ben Cathro for doing it his way.
  • 2 0
 For me Cathrovision is the best media content to watch Downhill, whether on his own youtube channel or here. Maybe he could also do it at some EWS races. Maybehe could explain some tech of the bike in a easy way.
  • 1 0
 Kathro is killing it the big fella????... Line choice is def going to pinch you(or lose you) some time here and there. I'm sure having a decent set of ???? never goes astray either??
Cathro.... ?In your spare time can you let us know who is grabbing a fist full of brake and who is not ??
???? Big fella
  • 1 0
 Hi Ben, The morocco media style rider overlay could be an excellent feature for next year and may make for more accurate timing comparisons. I realise this is probably very tricky as I would guess you have to repeat the exact same shots a feat not possible without extremely professional camera set-ups. Just a thought, I'm sure Pinkbike have the budget. Cheers
  • 1 0
 Opening the magical world of downhill mountain biking to those that have never been on the other side. This is really what the sport is about "inside the tape" fine margins that make marginal differences. Taking the risks that grab you a fraction, or playing safe with perhaps more flow.... Ben's insight and delivery is perfect and much preferred to that of the old timers lack of insight on red bull tv. This is now my favourite bit about WC race weekends, outside of the race in mute! Lets extend to World champs!
  • 3 0
 Never mind PED’s, teams will be sliding Ben a stack o paper to not film sections or maybe a fee per second saved
  • 1 0
 Next year - Cathro and Warner commentary, these previews keep the same, add in some technique bits. Cathro to get stuck into Enduro - ride round previews, chat to competitors, get some lines and technique chatted.
  • 3 0
 The Giriaffe is Killing it!
  • 3 0
 If i had a team i would pay Cathro for the faster lines!!!Winwin
  • 4 0
 I like these vids
  • 1 0
 Great series BC & PB! It really adds something to watching the race as well as better understanding how good these guys and gals really are.
  • 3 0
 Pinkbike you should give us more cathro. Loads more!
  • 2 0
 Maes => Not on a DH bike since Fort William and up with the big guns here...
  • 2 0
 every race I come to pinkbike specifically for cathrovision & inside the tape content.
  • 2 0
 Love the video. Keep them coming.
  • 1 0
 These videos might serve the purpose of normalizing overall times. Is this good or bad?
  • 1 0
 Interesting that he named it the Coulanges wiggle...but was he the first to hit that line?
  • 1 0
 Keep up the great content is all I say! Even my girlfriend finds it interesting!
  • 2 0
 Pinkbike should send him to Finale
  • 1 0
 yesyesyes!
  • 1 0
 Everythings is faster when you do a cheeky wiggle, goes without saying, doesn't it?
  • 1 0
 The day we can program a robot faster then a human to pilot a dh bike .... will never come!
  • 1 0
 awsome analysis also nicely tech track with loam and Rain! propper WC shtty weather! Smile
  • 1 0
 these videos have become my favorite next to movies for your monday!! awesome
  • 1 0
 When will we see "Ben Cathro, the movie". 90 minutes of analysis of pro DH and maybe EWS riders. ????
  • 2 0
 Cathro is the boss!
  • 1 0
 Great stuff! Keep doing this. I love it Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Stoked he got a new hat
  • 1 0
 Love this stuff. Cathro rules!
  • 1 1
 Exposing all the secret lines. Surprised no one has gotten all butthurt about it. Oh wait, Gwin did, haha.
  • 1 0
 Awesome. Didn’t know that racing mtb is so technical.
  • 1 1
 So good! Don't change a thing! Especially the fluffly bunny slipper ????????
  • 1 1
 I meant !!!" Not ?? ???? Fluffly flying bunny slippers!!!!
  • 1 0
 Cathro makes the practice more interesting than the race itself
  • 1 0
 Cathro, your maths isn't correct! it was a full 1.10 seconds hahaha
  • 1 0
 These have been awesome to watch! Keep 'em coming, please!
  • 1 0
 Gwin pulls off the royal "we" even better than The Dude.
  • 1 0
 more more more!
  • 1 0
 I meant !!!!! Not ????
  • 1 0
 More of these please!
  • 2 4
 Ben Deakin for course preview and Cathro inside the tape.







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