Cedric Gracia 2006???

atrokz · Mar 17, 2006

seen the new Gracia ad? looks like the same dude to me.

dropmachine · Mar 17, 2006

I think it was Tomac who once said that Cedric would be damn dangerous if "he was ever serious."

The commencal deal I think will ground him a bit. That guy is just amazing, watching him ride really is a treat. I can't think of anyone that just looks so comfortable, and like they are having so much fun. He is hands down my favorite rider out there, along with Simmons and Rennie.

To me, it always seemed like Cannondale was in the DH game simply because it made financial sense. They never struck me as a company that really understood what the DH and 4x scene was all about. Look at what they did to poor lopes, effectively ruining his DH career.

You know that Commencal is in it for the love. Thier history, and thier bikes, scream race.

Personally I can't wait to see what he can do on that bike. The Dropmachine team is really excited to be on the bikes too, as it means we get to poach pit space at MT St Anne with them, and Crankworx too! Hanign with those guys and picking thier brains...man thats gonna be just killer.

FCLinder · Mar 17, 2006

He will always have his Play Boy attitude. He is very gifted when it comes to riding. Back when he raced for Sunn he was probly the most grounded I have every remembered him being. Cannodale always let him be free " much like Shawn Palmer was". Now that he has a new ride things may change. You never know with him, that is why everyone likes him so much.

dhbuilder · Mar 17, 2006

no stick hatin here man.

wouldn't it be great to see him on top of podium after podium.
our sport needs guys like him. talent + personality.
not just another racerboy clone.

we'll see.

Kevin · Mar 17, 2006

Yeah really good interview, shows a lot about Gracia that a lot of people probably didnt know. And then some things everyone knew...
I think Max can motivate him enough to stay away from being a drunkass playboy. I think he has the capability and attitude to do it but its gonna be really hard (maybee a little too hard) to beat a guy like Hill, Peat or Minnaar.
But who knows, with a team like Commencal I think things will be on a whole other level then with Cannondale.
Should be an interesting season once again.

Cant Climb · Mar 17, 2006

That article in Dirt was awesome. I have a whole new view of the guy now......his brain is definitely all over the map. Seems to have a serious case of ADD,has all kinds of thoughts in head. Most of them seem pretty well thought out when he goes to execute them and others just sound like day dreaming......almost babbling. Like the apartment building with 12 units each one representing a different country.....not sure that the smartest way to spend real estate money. Sounds more like a giant piece of art......

Anyway, i wish they would have shown some of the furniture he made and his artwork....that would show some of his other talents, show how his head really works...

I think the results are going to bear out this year what a hunk of junk he was riding the last few years.......i thinking he will do better and others on the bike are going to be struggle-city.

Also liked the Vanessa Quin interview........she was honest as hell.

blt2ride · Mar 17, 2006

Some of Cedric's comments on his Website led me to believe that he was kind of burned out with Cannondale. He was with Cannondale a long time, and I'm sure he needed a change. I think he will be a bit more motivated this season to get some race results; I predict more podiums for Cedric this season, as well.

dropmachine · Mar 17, 2006

You see burnt out, I see fed up.

Sounds like CDale told him what he was going to ride, rather then asking for his input. Just what I got from it anyways.

CBJ · Mar 17, 2006

Why should he want to slow down except he doesn't like that life style anymore.

OGRipper · Mar 17, 2006

He is probably my favorite pro to watch and he is a threat in any gravity race. He consistently stands out from the pack and gets himself and his sponsors good coverage in the media even when he doesn't win. But will he be as popular or get as much media coverage if he cleans up his act and starts acting seriously, yet doesn't score lots of wins?

vibiker · Mar 17, 2006

dropmachine.com said:
Look at what they did to poor lopes, effectively ruining his DH career.

Could you provide a little history lesson here? I'm not sure what happened. Thx.

dropmachine · Mar 17, 2006

I think Stik could do much better then me.

Basically as I know it, Lopes was (and still is) a freakin pinner on the course, and was top 5 back in the mongoose days. He goes over to Cannondale, and boom, all of a sudden top 50. Most of it had to do with Cannondale being themselves, and forcing him to ride these terrible tanks with ridiculous crap going on all over the place. Bsically, they took him off a winning bike (M1) and stuck him on stuff that would fail constantly, didnt work right, and was all impossible to run.

So, he decided to ride 4x exclusively, probably figuring that its pretty hard to **** up a hardtail (but they tried) and that he'd be fine.

As far as I know, thats the story. As I said, Stik can lay in the real deal.

FCLinder · Mar 17, 2006

I remember when Missy G was on a Crack-N-Dale. I remember her in the pits yelling at her manager over how bad their old DH fork was "F"ing up way to much and she wanted to ride on a Boxxer.

xy9ine · Mar 17, 2006

dropmachine.com said:
...forcing him to ride these terrible tanks with ridiculous crap going on all over the place.

speaking of which (random segway), there was one of these on ebay recently (what DO those extra chains do? the chain still looks like it runs off the standard right hand chanring):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7225538735

and back on track: lopes' recent win at the crankworx dh (beating peat, rennie, kovarik, etc) suggests he's still got the skills to be a dh contender.

ChrisKring · Mar 17, 2006

Cedric is always entertaining and fast. He is in a similar situation as Travis Pastrana in being as much of an entertainer as a racer. Love to watch him race. And yes, I think Cedric is always trying 110% even if it does look like he is screwing off.

sirbikealot · Mar 17, 2006

stiksandstones said:
I think another CG factor is that Girard is running the program there and he will be able to find a nice balance between 'party Cedric' and 'serious Cedric'. Girard coached my wife her last 2 seasons and he has an ability to create desire in a rider as well as get you fit.

I think this is the most importanted part of his "NEW" career direction, Girard is running a top notch program with AC, Cedric and Saladini.

Cedric has hit the gym all winter, put on some muscle and lookin forward to "Racing" to win, he is not going to have to worry about his mechanics (yes he's hard to work with and didn't get along with some of the c-dales boys) and having proper parts in stock at races (yes I was in the booth beside him 2 yrs ago at MSA when he crached his swingarm and they didn't have any with them, they had to drive into Quebec City and take one of a dealers bike, which meant his day of trainging was done)and most importantly he is going to have a bike under him which "WANTS" his input, he lives 20 minutes down the road from Commencal's HQ in Andorra so you can't tell me he won't be over there all the time with revisions and ideas.
Commencal didn't sign a 5 yr program with him for his antics, Racing and Performance is the #1 driving force behind Commencal bikes and they will use his input to continue that direction.
Max has been working with Cedric since his BMX days when he was 11yr old, so he and Girard will make sure racing is priority one.

(but hey after all that it doesn't hurt either that he's quite the character)

sanjuro · Mar 17, 2006

thanks for the 411.

intensified · Mar 17, 2006

As much as I would like to see a champ. season,I don't think changing teams will do the trick , but I hope I am wrong... he puts it on the line when he rides.

DylanDeanDesign · Mar 17, 2006

stiksandstones said:
But back on subject...

I think another CG factor is that Girard is running the program there and he will be able to find a nice balance between 'party Cedric' and 'serious Cedric'. Girard coached my wife her last 2 seasons and he has an ability to create desire in a rider as well as get you fit.

exactly... if/when Girard finds the optimal balance between "party" & "serious" Cedric.... he'll be on fire! it'll definately be hard, there's a lot of serious competition out there -- Minnaar, Peaty, Hill, etc. but i think if he get's to his "true" form...he'll be mixing it up w/ all of them (including a ton of wins).

I've had a ton of discussions w/ him recently trying to key in on what his plans are for this season (as well as the future) in terms of racing , what he things of his new team, & other plans he has. Mainly i've been talking to him since I've just started to work with him (as well as a few other racers) this year as an "agent" for sponsorship outside of the mtb industry.

I firmly believe he will have a "breakout" season in either '06 or '07. He's really digging his bikes & honestly can't stop talking about them. if you ask him about one thing on his frame, he'll talk about every single detail of the bike. From previous discussions w/ him while he was on C-dale... he's been rather professional (to me at least) about talking about the bikes. His likes & dislikes...but he's mentioned disadvantages he's had w/ the dh bike & his style of riding...& why he's not beating guys like Peaty, Fabien, Minnaar, etc.. I think that now he's on a bike he truly can "be one with"...he'll be tearing it up again.

I know he won't ever give up his "party" cedric lifestyle...& i for one am glad he doesn't...as he is one of the few personalities this sport actually has...& therefore is extremely marketable. but i definatly think we'll be seeing him back in the mix for top podium!

DHS · Mar 17, 2006

that cannondale on ebay is fake. there was only 2 or 3 of those and cannondale has them. i also miss the dual shock one too.

vitox · Mar 17, 2006

DHS said:
that cannondale on ebay is fake. there was only 2 or 3 of those and cannondale has them. i also miss the dual shock one too.

dont look fake to me at least

snoopz666 · Mar 18, 2006

DylanDeanDesign said:
From previous discussions w/ him while he was on C-dale... he's been rather professional (to me at least) about talking about the bikes. His likes & dislikes...but he's mentioned disadvantages he's had w/ the dh bike & his style of riding...& why he's not beating guys like Peaty, Fabien, Minnaar, etc.. I think that now he's on a bike he truly can "be one with"...he'll be tearing it up again.

I wonder how much of the "Gracia" he actually designed. was it a bike he actually had a big part in or just a bike they built and slapped his name on it? Also what kind of disadvatages did the bike have to his riding style....?

wysiwyg · Mar 18, 2006

does he have tourrettes?

JohnnyBoyDH · Mar 18, 2006

I always think of the first time I saw Cedric race. I think it was the '95 WC at Ste Anne. We were all at the chalet at the top in line for practice runs and I look up and there is Cedric (still a Junior) coming down 3 flights of wet stairs while doing a one handed no footed manual Then in the race he blew his rear tire and still styled it up huge over a rock double and the rear wheel exploded on the landing near the end of the course. Couldn't believe how rad that dude was....and he was what...17 back then (sidebar: then he was piss drunk, half naked dancing on top of the pop machine outside the bar that night)? I think that with some new focus, fresh bike and with Max and Stephan in the mix, he will be podium hunting more.

Akula_7 · Mar 19, 2006

stiksandstones said:
Was not as honest as she could have been, but that's getting personal, so I will leave it at that.

I'm intrigued by that comment Stik, it is not like you to say so much and so little at the same time! Please enlighten me? I think VQ was very honest in her article, but hey lets not get personal here!!! :rolleyes:

Go on...go mad tell us what you really think of the 2004 World Champ?

These boards need some Draaaaaaama.

caballero · Mar 19, 2006

yeah an interesting interview (but also some stupid answers in it -> startgate training,....)

in 4X one of the most stylish riders has no longer a stupid looking bike

the meta4x looks great.....i think he will be stronger than ever in 4x this year (DH will be more difficult)

sayndesyn · Mar 19, 2006

I was impressed with how Cedric sat back and learned as much about the business end as he could from Lopes. It takes a smart/motivated rider/businessman to really make a living in the sport these days.

Cedric Gracia 2006???

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