Vital MTB

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RACE DAY - Leogang World Cup Downhill Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

See what the top riders of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH in Leogang, Austria, have to say about their race weekends. A familiar track was made tricky with varying conditions thanks to overnight rains. Interviews by Jack Rice.
Interviews
0:00 - Loic Bruni
4:52 - Anna Newkirk
7:49 - Neko Mulally
10:52 - Vali Holl
11:54 - Max Alran
13:28 - Erice van Leuven
14:41 - Ellie Hulsebosch
16:18 - Finn Iles
18:37 - Myriam Nicole
21:50 - Lachie Stevens-Mcnab
23:14 - Oisin O'Callaghan
24:25 - Lisa Baumann
25:33 - Benoit Coulanges
29:11 - Marine Cabirou
30:32 - Lucas Dedora
32:49 - Andreas Kolb

How Does Loic Bruni Keep Track of Those Buttons? Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

Loic Bruni has five different electronic buttons on his prototype Specialized Demo downhill bike, and we're not even talking about shift levers. He, his mechanic Jack and Ohlins are all pretty tight-lipped about the functions they serve, but today we got a bit of information from the current World Cup DH leader himself.

SuperBruni confirms the buttons are not Skittles, he seemingly teases that they're for playing music, and then says their function should be pretty easy to figure out. When asked if using them is confusing, he admits that keeping track of them is not easy and there are risks associated with hitting the wrong button at the wrong time. Regardless of their function or trickiness in pressing, Loic's in the lead right now, and that's really all that matters.

Living on a Prayer and GoFundMe with Seton Tuning DH Team Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

GoFundme to support Seton Tuning DH Team
Phil Seton, manager of Pole Factory Racing, shares the story of keeping his team alive after Pole Bikes went into administration a week before Fort William. All team budget was pulled and they were left with a decision to race or pack it up. Phil decided to use his personal money to get Onni Rainio and Dan Slack to Fort William and Poland. Onni had a personal best at Fort William and Dan Slack had his best-ever finish making finals and breaking the beam with a 28th in Poland. With the help of a GoFundMe, they're successfully attending Leogang this week and are halfway to earning enough money to race Les Gets. Jack Rice gets the scoop from Phil as race life rolls on!

Who Will Be Fast in Leogang?! Vital Downhill Fantasy Pre-Race Show Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

What a start to the 2024 World Cup downhill season we've had! Fort William properly kicked things off with a gnarly track and insane racing, followed by a new venue in Poland that produced one of the best tracks and tightest races we've seen in years. Now, after a brief two-week pause, racing resumes this weekend in Leogang, Austria. A classic track that always delivers dramatic racing, there are exciting stories shaping up in each category that will be fun to watch play out over the weekend.
Join Vital's own Jason Schroeder, ex-World Cup mechanic John Hall, and podcast co-host and contributing editor Tanner Stephens as they discuss who will contend for the win this weekend in each category, what makes the historic Leogang track so tricky, and highlight some potential dark horses who could mix things up come race day.
0:00 - Intro
2:04 - Southwest Downhill Series this weekend
8:43 - Leogang venue & track analysis
13:33 - Is Leogang a bike park track?
17:48 - Why Leogang is so difficult in the wet
20:17 - Breaking down the motorway section
22:05 - John discusses Aaron Gwin's chainless win at Leogang in 2015
33:11 - A fan trying to sell John Aaron's broken chain for $3,000
38:25 - Weather report
39:03 - Injured reserve list for this weekend
44:33 - Fantasy strategy
49:10 - Junior Women race predictions
57:28 - Junior Men race predictions
1:04:15 - Elite Women predictions
1:18:30 - Elite Men predictions
Play Vital Downhill Fantasy - https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy
More mountain bike news and reviews - https://www.vitalmtb.com

Tight Times and Dangerous Inside Lines - B Practice Podcast - Bielsko Biała, Poland May 22, 2024

Show notes

After a rocky (literally) start to the 2024 season in Fort William, a fresh track with a good mix of features and fluctuating speeds greeted racers for the second round in Poland. Speculation surrounding speed suits and electronic lockouts was replaced by the buzz of line choice and rut formation. In the end, it was a battle for thousandths of a second, and who could predict and adapt to the ever-evolving conditions best after some race day rain. The cream is definitely beginning to rise to the top in each category, but holy cow, there are a lot of names fighting for the podium!
Our guy Stack-Attack set the pace most of the weekend, but a slippery flat corner put an end to his winning hopes. We break down Dak's headspace during and after the weekend, where the race was won or lost, thoughts on electronic shifting in downhill, the return of shorts in downhill, and chit-chat about how racing unfolded in each category. Enjoy!
These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!
Maxxis Tires - https://www.maxxis.com/us/
Industry Nine - https://industrynine.com/
Burgtec - https://burgtec-usa.com/
Play Vital Downhill Fantasy - https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy
More mountain bike news and reviews - https://www.vitalmtb.com

RACE DAY Interviews - World Cup DH Poland May 21, 2024

Show notes

With positions separated by just hundredths of seconds, the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill near Bielsko-Biala, Poland, was a fan and racer favorite even with it being a first-time venue. Listen to the podium finishers and more as they discuss how it all went down.
Interviews
0:00 - Ronan Dunne
2:10 - John Lawlor
3:47 - Dakotah Norton
7:02 - Marine Cabirou
8:35 - Asa Vermette
9:25 - Neko Mulally
10:35 - Heather Wilson
11:51 - Loic Bruni
14:04 - Camille Balanche
15:37 - Nina Hoffmann
18:16 - Loris Vergier
19:37 - Jess Blewitt
20:19 - Amaury Pierron
21:57 - Luca Shaw

Vital Downhill Fantasy Pre-Race Show - Bielsko-Biala, Poland May 13, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to another pre-World Cup discussion as part of Vital MTB Downhill Fantasy! The first race of the season in Fort William, Scotland, kicked things off with a bang! Now, just two weeks later, the excitement continues as we head to a completely new venue for the second round of the UCI World Cup downhill series. Without past results to make predictions, this weekend will offer a clean slate for racing. Who will be able to figure out the new track in a limited time and be the fastest on race day? Will more experienced riders still have an advantage? Or will up-and-coming racers be able to adapt and rise to the occasion?

Join Vital's own Jason Schroeder, ex-World Cup mechanic John Hall, and podcast co-host and contributing editor Tanner Stephens as they discuss who's looking fast after Fort William, what to expect from the new track, and who to keep on your radar in Bielsko-Biala, Poland.

0:00 Intro & How to Play Fantasy
2:00 - John gives insight into how racers and teams approach a new track
5:49 - Bielsko-Biala track details and discussion
11:00 - Will electronic suspension systems be a thing again this weekend?
14:54 - Loic Bruni's setup speculation
22:32 - Will experience be an advantage this weekend?
24:42 - How teams find the best lines during practice
30:28 - Injury updates
34:50 - Fantasy notes and insights from Fort Bill
44:33 - Junior Women predictions
46:48 - Junior Men predictions
52:02 - Elite Women predictions
57:03 - Elite Men predictions

For all the details on how to play Vital's Downhill Fantasy, including what prizes are up for grabs EACH round - https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy

Speed Suits, Electronic Lockouts, and 75mm Rise Bars - Vital's B Practice Podcast - Fort William May 09, 2024

Show notes

The World Cup season has arrived, and with that, we are back with our regularly scheduled post-race banter! Fort William went off with a bang, providing one of the most thrilling and engaging season openers we've seen. Numerous team changes were finally put on display against the clock; the track was dry, fast, and ridiculously rough, and the level of racing in all four categories was tighter and more intense than ever. With plenty of topics to hit, like speed suits, electronic suspension lockouts, and Dakotah's mega-rise bars, it was awesome to have the crew back together to chat about elite downhill racing. Enjoy!
These awesome brands make The B Practice Podcast possible!
Maxxis Tires - https://www.maxxis.com/us/
Industry Nine - https://industrynine.com/
Burgtec - https://burgtec-usa.com/
Play Vital Downhill Fantasy - https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy
More mountain bike news and reviews - https://www.vitalmtb.com

RACE DAY - Fort William World Cup Downhill May 07, 2024

Show notes

Hear what racers have to say after the first World Cup Downhill mountain bike race of 2024 in Fort William, Scotland.
0:00 - Asa Vermette, Junior Men's Winner
0:55 - Heather Wilson, Junior Women's Winner
3:00 - Dakotah Norton
7:52 - Nina Hoffmann
10:47 - Tahnee Seagrave
13:23 - Kale Cushman
15:14 - Greg Williamson
17:59 - Myriam Nicole
20:25 - Cory Rimmer

Transition Factory Racing TM, Jorge Gomes - The Inside Line MTB Podcast Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Thanks to Maxxis Tires, FOX and Jenson USA for supporting The Inside Line MTB podcast!
Jorge Gomes is a man dedicated to mountain bike racing. He is team manager for Transition Factory Racing, and the man behind Pro Builds mobile bike shop and Pro Builds Racing team, too. He tells us the story of how he became hooked on MTB which includes riding a dirt jump hardtail at Mountain Creek, how he became a bike assembler for Walmarts in his region and how he took his passion straight to the top by helping his rider, Valentia Roa Sanchez, earn the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup overall title in the Junior Women's class.
As the first round of 2024 approaches, enjoy the stories of overcoming adversity and learn what it takes to become a World Cup mountain bike race team manager.
0:00 - Intro and His first mountain bike
9:23 - Getting into DH Racing and Teams
17:09 - From Machine Operator to Bike Shop Employee
19:18 - The Reality of Assembling Bikes for Walmart
25:52 - Pro Builds Racing Grows
28:42 - Introduction to Valentina Roa Sanchez
33:26 - Meeting Valentina In-Person for the First Time
49:07 - Investing in Junior Women's Racing
55:54 - Transition Factory Racing's First Year
1:08:37 - 2023 Race Season Highs and Lows
1:16:02 - Loudenvielle Junior Race Cancellation
1:30:05 - Valentina Roa Sanchez Winning the World Cup Overall
1:43:00 - The Future of Non-Elite Teams at World Cups

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