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The second World Cup DH of 2017 has proven to be one of the most dramatic on record and it hasn't even started yet. The debate about 29-inch wheels on downhill bikes is at the breaking point and with the rained-out let down in Lourdes, Fort William has become the new barometer of success (or failure) for the wheel size...assuming the race runs without unfavorable influence by the weather.
Sven Martin, Boris Beyer and Dan Hearn dig deep with competitor interviews and photos of the classic Fort William, Scotland venue.
Alex Fayolle, winner of Lourdes, super stoked to receive his #1 Plate from Mechanic and tinkerer Hugues, who's had a hand in more than one winning bike. -Sven Martin
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Fort William is themed around super heroes and what better hero than World Champ Danny Hart? His custom one-off helmet ties it all in. -Sven Martin
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Will we see Loris winning his first World Cup on Sunday? What would you do if you had the chance to take away Greg´s 7th win here in Fort William? @maddogboris
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So, so close to get the legendary 69! Aaron Gwin's 27.5 YT Tues is still smoking hot and fast enough to win races. @maddogboris
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LOL. Lars and Tahnee, don't worry, we will not take pics of your new bike. At least we will not take them when you are around. @maddogboris
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Jon Cancellier, RockShox Product Manager, talks to us about the evolution and development of the 29er BoXXer. -Sven Martin
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Rachel, a little undecided still on the 29'r game, ultimately she hasn't spent enough time on it yet so is happy to hold off for now, choosing familiarity over uncharted waters. -Sven Martin
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Remi Thirion talks to us about his new 29'r and the feel of air vs coil with the metric-sized Super Deluxe on his DH rig. -Sven Martin
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Happy Birthday Mark Wallace! What better gift than a fresh #2 plate! -Sven Martin
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Brook a lover of many things but not everything. -Sven Martin
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Scenes behind the scenes at the goings-on at World Cups. Rupert Chapman looking for bigger wheels? Or trying to fix a seized-up wheel lug on Bernard's Range Rover. -Sven Martin
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Rupert on a 29er, Bernard (in audio) on a 27.5. Rupert mega stoked about his #8! Keep the single digit number plate, bro. @maddogboris
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Keith Punkt Valentine has a little local secret for you should you visit Ft. William and want to take on the midges. -Sven Martin
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New number plate situations for a lot of riders after the weather debacle in Lourdes. While troy had his first double digit plate in many years, riders like Rupert and co. have their first single digit plates. @maddogboris
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Bring Eddie Masters to Rampage! @maddogboris
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The beautiful landscape of the Scottish Highlands is always a pleasure to shoot. -Dan Hearn
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I could re-insert any photo from any year, there is always a day when it looks just like this here in Ft William. But unlike other sites, we just use today's photos. -Sven Martin
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Line choice in the new section. Nah, the endurotree(tm) in the middle of the track doesn't need a pad or anything. -Dan Hearn
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On our way to Edinburgh we stopped off at one of Claudio and Velo Solutions' Global pumptrack creations. Olly Wilkins and Gaetan Vige do their thing over the hips. -Sven Martin
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Here is the spot where the track splits off from just below the deer gate. It may look smooth in places but you can be sure it won't remain that way. -Sven Martin
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Sam Dale is a good, honest, hard-working bloke on and off the bike. Getting stuck right in the pits today prepping for a wet week. -Sven Martin
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@ODub_23 is here this weekend, already making moves for the King of the Pits title early on. #superMANual. -Sven Martin
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Deathgrip boss, Brendan Fairclough, warming up for a big old nac on this enhanced bridge gap. He will be clipped in this year folks so I'm not sure what we can expect. -Sven Martin
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Jack Moir joined Claudio for the course preview and was the first to ride the new section. -Dan Hearn
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Madison Saracen Factory Racing doing their best Beatles Abbey Road impression on the 50th anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper release. -Dan Hearn
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Brook MacDonald. happy to see a bit of NZ Native Fern here on one of his favorite tracks. The Scottish highlands resemble much of NZ's South Island. -Sven Martin
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Pom Pon keeping the French traditions alive and well here in Scotland with here Euro hiking poles for course walk. -Sven Martin
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Mick Hannah on the new section of the track. -Sven Martin
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Great to see the fans from all parts and places still stoked on real print and real signatures over selfies! Rachel obliges. -Sven Martin
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For Santa Cruz Syndicate's Dougie Fresh, 29-inch wheels are last month's news. He's ahead of the curve now with his fidget spinner game on point. -Sven Martin
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Hugues and his custom/homemade shock on Fayolle's bike, hooked up to the Telemetry. -Sven Martin
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Joe Krejbich has the honors of unwrapping Rachel's brand new Session with custom, personalized graphics. A nice touch and ode to Rachel's perfect 2016 season. -Sven Martin
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The realities of life following the World Cup circuit. Sparse internet and even sparser accommodation options. #mediasquids #threedudesonebed -Seb Schieck
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Aussie Vampire, Graeme Mudd from Atherton Racing, fueled up for training tomorrow. @maddogboris
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Loic checking out the new section of track. We assume you've heard his thoughts on wheel size by now! -Dan Hearn
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"Boys just want to have fun"...while Pom Pon concentrates on the track. It's her chance to be back on the top podium spot on her 29er. @maddogboris
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Midge killer Matt Walker on his way down the track, killing as many midges as possible. @maddogboris
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"What are you looking at bru?" Miranda is stoked about the track and can´t wait for finals. @maddogboris
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A lot of riders are saying "changes are always good" and it's a strong statement in the case of the new sections here in Fort Bill. @maddogboris
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Back to the 80's with Phil Atwill! @maddogboris
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The Deathgripmovie Squad Brendog, Needles, Adam and Odub during trackwalk. No excuses for Brendan with so much professional support! Go watch Deathgrip on iTunes before finals on sunday. @maddogboris
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Ruaridh Cunningham is back at the WCs after his injury, But first just to support his Canyon Factory Teammates Troy and Mark. Ruaridh also helped the track builders with ideas and design for the new track changes. @maddogboris
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U.S. Open #1, Neko Mullaly, leading the YT Mob Trackwalk. U.S. Open silver medalist, Aaron Gwin, following super focused and concentrated. -Dan Hearn
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Adam Brayton, after a 4th place here in 2016, is on the hunt for the extra time needed to climb further up the podium. This woods section follows the course of last year but has been reworked. -Dan Hearn
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With a new prototype Transition beneath her, will this be Tahnee's time to climb onto the top step? -Dan Hearn
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With Mike Jones still sporting a cast for his broken wrist, just Elliott Heap and Sam Hill will step up to the plate for CRC-Mavic. -Dan Hearn
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The new section of track snakes back under the gondola and into the woods at mach 10. -Dan Hearn
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Greg Minnaar going for max style points on track walk. 6 wins at Fort William means he has the most wins of any rider at a single track. More time on a big-wheeled DH machine than others doesn't hurt his cause this weekend either. -Dan Hearn
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Intense's second 29er prototype being assembled for Dean Lucas ahead of practice tomorrow. -Dan Hearn
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Alongside building the new section of track starting at the deer gate, modifications were made to existing parts: this being the jump where Gee unfortunately crashed during finals at the BDS and dislocated his hip, putting him out indefinitely. -Dan Hearn
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Bray Bans. (not a typo) -Dan Hearn
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It's always worth extending the drive up to Fort William with a few photo stops. Stay tuned for incredible coverage all week long from Fort William. -Dan Hearn
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Stay tuned for incredible coverage all week long from Fort William.
View replies to: The Haves and the Have-Nots - Fort William World Cup DH Pre-Race Show
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