[RaID]

So at the first national series round in adelaide was taken out by Graves
Hill didnt qualify after ripping off his derailleur hanger on a rock.

A nasty rock in chute was the culprit, all the elite riders were clipping their derailleurs on the said rock,however when hill came around he was definately quicker then anyone else and leaning over a lot more, and just ripped of his derailleur. Therefore didnt qualify.

However hill did a timed "sweeper" run before the finals, and the time would have given him second by approx 1sec behind Graves who took out the event.
So you can definitely say the specialized isnt slowing him down, he definitely looks very impressive, along with Graves on the track.

I can say i beat Hill on the weekend with my time

Either wasy it was good to see world class riders hit up a local track

 

[top_dog]

That track's pretty flat isn't it? It would suit Graves far more than Sam, so not an unexpected result?

 

[Damo]

Go Graves!

 

[JCL]

I think Graves is going to do rather well in 4X next year.

raID, any other Aussie pro's racing the event ?

 

[Sov]

Here's a pic, not the greatest. I heard a nasty clatter coming down the hill and figured it was someone on an Orange, didn't realise it was Hill with his derailleur banging around!

 

[RaID]

Out of the "full pros" it was only graves and hill, rennie was here but he couldn't race since had slight knee injury or something, he was on commentary duty at the finish line.

The remaining field was few of the lesser known aussies that did a bunch of the world cups this year more from the junior to just senior ranks and most of the junior aussie team. Plus all the "bigger" local names that pretty much the next bunch after the australian team.

Kovarik and bryn atkinson were registered to race but didnt show, not sure what was going on there.

As to the result, personally i dont what the result would have been if hill qualify between him and graves. It definitely looked like those guys were on the next level to everyone else. Given the winning time was 2:02, it was quite a short track so any slight mistakes and you were essentially out of contention. So the only real comparison was between Graves qualifying and winning run time 2:04 and 2:02 respectively and hills "sweeper" time of 2:03.

You can also question how much sam had in reserve, but i doubt you could squeeze a lot more out of that track. The top qualifying junior time was 2:05, gotta wait for the full results to come out but the Under 19s are very fast here.

All the talk about sam not being comfortable on the Demo vs the Sunday its bull**** really. He was looking fast and im sure he will be fast (and any other world class rider for that matter) on any decent quality bike whether its single pivot, dw link, vpp whatever. Sure they make slight advantages but a good rider is a good rider regardless of the bike.

 

[Harry BarnOwl]

All the talk about sam not being comfortable on the Demo vs the Sunday its bull**** really. He was looking fast and im sure he will be fast (and any other world class rider for that matter) on any decent quality bike whether its single pivot, dw link, vpp whatever. Sure they make slight advantages but a good rider is a good rider regardless of the bike.

Word. I've been saying this since the beginning of the season, it makes **** all difference what bike he's on. As long as he's on two wheels he's in contention for a podium at WC level.

 

[RaID]

the top 5

Elite Men
1. Jared Graves - 2:02.44
2. Ben Bell - 2:03.77
3. Mitch Delfs - 2:04.87
4. Ben Cory - 2:05.15
5. Craig Yates - 2:05.64

U19 Men
1. Will Gower - 2:04.93
2. Rhys Willemse - 2:07.99
3. Tamryn Murrell - 2:08.60
4. Laurie Dinham - 2:10.55
5. Tom Rowe - 2:10.98

rest of results
http://www.farkin.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=120041&stc=1&d=1225622217

pretty toight

 

[DHPeteinSC]

Sure they make slight advantages but a good rider is a good rider regardless of the bike.

You said it all right there! Sam could go fast on a wally-world bike, he's that good. Not taking away from any other rider, but Sam can do things on a bike that others just have'nt figured out yet! When they do, it's gonna get interesting

 

[Steve M]

Here's a pic, not the greatest. I heard a nasty clatter coming down the hill and figured it was someone on an Orange, didn't realise it was Hill with his derailleur banging around!

One race on a huck bike and he's already got the front wheel miles in the air, dirty hucker style. I heard he was going to enter the Rampage next year now that he finally has a suitable bike. Also TLD are going to use Sam and the Demo as a launchpad for their new line of wifebeaters and oversize moto helmets that are compatible with sunglasses and don't allow the visor to sit up any further than horizontal.

 

[Udi]

Not taking away from any other rider, but Sam can do things on a bike that others just have'nt figured out yet! When they do, it's gonna get interesting

I'm a pretty crazed fan myself, but come on, are you blind? All that has already happened, this year on the WC circuit in case you didn't notice.

I hope he comes back, but the fact is - you raise the bar and people jump higher; and this year that's exactly what they did.

 

[dhmike]

thanks for the report raid !

 

[sanjuro]

Nice report.

btw, I thought Specialized uses a protective derailleur guard. lol

 

[William42]

You said it all right there! Sam could go fast on a wally-world bike, he's that good. Not taking away from any other rider, but Sam can do things on a bike that others just have'nt figured out yet! When they do, it's gonna get interesting

yah i'm sure he could give minnaar a lesson on winning overall, or gee a lesson on winning champs

 

[primo661]

to be fair, he tried and failed this year and im sure he's not gonna succeed next year(atleast with the world champs part of it)

 

[fortenndu]

He is not going to win Worlds next year. I think this could be Peaty's year, hopefully he got the bad luck out of the way and canberra this year.
Sam looks comfortable on the demo, good luck to him.

 

[primo661]

I'd say its between Minnaar and Peaty if the world cup there was anything to go on. Pity Steve nearly fell there this year because it denied us a good indication of how much he had for that track.

 

[fortenndu]

Yeah, that track really suits Peaty, Minnar, and Rennie. Maybe we'll see a santa cruz sweep of worlds, that would be sick.

 

[William42]

most courses suit peaty and minnaar.

Except worlds, which doesn't suit peaty.

 

[xy9ine]

Hill didnt qualify after ripping off his derailleur hanger on a rock.

...and we gearbox proponents take a rare opportunity to say 'ha-ha' to the detractors.

 

[dropmachine]

...and we gearbox proponents take a rare opportunity to say 'ha-ha' to the detractors.

A very, very rare opportunity.

 

[MDJ]

...and we gearbox proponents take a rare opportunity to say 'ha-ha' to the detractors.

I'll still take the 1 in 10,000 odds of ripping of my derailleur.

...for now.

 

[xy9ine]

A very, very rare opportunity.

yes, yes. we gearboxheads need to take those jab opportunities when we can.

 

[Akula_7]

most courses suit peaty and minnaar.

Except worlds, which doesn't suit peaty.

Hahahaha! Every track suits Peaty!

 

[jonKranked]

I'll still take the 1 in 10,000 odds of ripping of my derailleur.

...for now.

tell that to anyone who's broken more than 3 or 4 deraillers in a season.

 

[SpasticJack]

Say what you will about the difference in bikes but I bet Hill is missing the derailleur protection offered by the inch wide dropouts on the Sunday more than just a little bit.

I'm not one to make predictions one way or the other but, if last year serves as any kind of example, I'd bet that this year will have more than it's fair share of exciting races. Now we just need a huge sponsor for Freezecaster so we get to actually see them.

 

[General Lee]

Say what you will about the difference in bikes but I bet Hill is missing the derailleur protection offered by the inch wide dropouts on the Sunday more than just a little bit.

I'm not one to make predictions one way or the other but, if last year serves as any kind of example, I'd bet that this year will have more than it's fair share of exciting races. Now we just need a huge sponsor for Freezecaster so we get to actually see them.

somehow i doubt it. The top WC guys got where they are by being able to ride a razor sharp line through rough sections at speed. the sort of bike control this entails means they are able to avoid hitting things like derailleurs, pedals/cranks, and disc rotors on rocks and such; it's all part of the equation. Sure, there are lots of riders who go through derailleurs but next time you make it out to a World Cup check out how many guys come down in practice or in the race with mechanical issues other than flat tires. the answer is very few.

 

[IH8Rice]

Nice report.

btw, I thought Specialized uses a protective derailleur guard. lol

well im sure he's a weight weenie, so i doubt its there.

 

[MorewoodKid]

the top 5

Elite Men
1. Jared Graves - 2:02.44
2. Ben Bell - 2:03.77
3. Mitch Delfs - 2:04.87
4. Ben Cory - 2:05.15
5. Craig Yates - 2:05.64

U19 Men
1. Will Gower - 2:04.93
2. Rhys Willemse - 2:07.99
3. Tamryn Murrell - 2:08.60
4. Laurie Dinham - 2:10.55
5. Tom Rowe - 2:10.98

rest of results
http://www.farkin.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=120041&stc=1&d=1225622217

pretty toight

Good to see Bundy aka Ben-Can-Turn up there. What's he riding these days?

 

[boogenman]

What the hell is he wearing?

he must have worn his halloween costume to the race, he was a Zebra

 

[no skid marks]

somehow i doubt it. The top WC guys got where they are by being able to ride a razor sharp line through rough sections at speed. the sort of bike control this entails means they are able to avoid hitting things like derailleurs, pedals/cranks, and disc rotors on rocks and such; it's all part of the equation. Sure, there are lots of riders who go through derailleurs but next time you make it out to a World Cup check out how many guys come down in practice or in the race with mechanical issues other than flat tires. the answer is very few.

I don't know what rockless world cup races you've watched. But I see more than a few, and out of how many riders? Makes it about a 1-100 chance? Or to look at it another way, how many mechs has each rider lost a race or practise run from?
I'll still be putting my money on Hill this year, no matter who's stepping up to the plate.

 

[FarkinRyan]

I'll be putting the long-odds bet down on Graves for the Worlds DH/4X double this year. Jared has smoked all of the Aussies at Stromlo in the past to win the National DH title; beat Rennie by 2.5 seconds and Hill by 7. Hannah would be another dark horse possibility. Unless Hill puts in a massive off season and gets the legs and lungs sorted big time he's not going to have a hope.

 

[Full Trucker]

Yeah Ben Cory. Get some.

 

[Patan-DH]

Unless Hill puts in a massive off season and gets the legs and lungs sorted big time he's not going to have a hope.

I would love to see you telling that to Hill in his face.

 

[RaID]

I would love to see you telling that to Hill in his face.

Im sure he knows his weaknesses, and the canberra track is definately one of them due to the large amount of pedalling required especially for the last couple hundred metres.

I guess we will see how much training he has put it at the national champs that will be run on the worlds track in late january. Either way i think it will be hard for him to compete with the physically bigger guys such as rennie, peat, barel and minaar. All the best to him though. I will be suprised if he takes out the world but wish him all the best.

 

[iRider]

Either way i think it will be hard for him to compete with the physically bigger guys such as rennie, peat, barel and minaar.

And this is what seperates him from the "real alien" Nico. Nico could win on any track at any given day...and most of the times he did!
And to be honest, because of this racing is more exciting now than in the old days. Who wants to watch a race where the big question is "who got second?"???

 

[JohnnyBoyDH]

All this "should have, would have could have" talk...Anyone at that level can rip up a course BUT you still have to finish the race to win! Sam "should have could have would have" won the Worlds too but he didn't.

 

[RaID]

All this "should have, would have could have" talk...Anyone at that level can rip up a course BUT you still have to finish the race to win! Sam "should have could have would have" won the Worlds too but he didn't.

I think thats the beauty of the worlds, is that any one on the day can win it with a blinder of a run.

 

[toodles]

I would love to see you telling that to Hill in his face.

Probably the wrong person to say that to... knowing Ryan he'd probably say it using a loudspeaker :biggrin:

 

[Udi]

Short angry men, loudspeakers, how can you lose?! :biggrin: