BRING THE GNAR! 2019 Val di Sole World Cup Downhill Track Walk

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Intro Text

Loic Bruni took 3 hours to do track walk and he still doesn't have his lines dialed. The 2019 World Cup Downhill race in Val di Sole is freaking on! Sven, Boris and Dan survive the black snake walk to share the goods.

Loic Bruni scratching his head about the line opportunities. @maddogboris
Normal people would lick ice cream.World Champs bite ice cream. @maddogboris
After the Viral success of the Vital Les Gets Long Jump Contest™️©️®️, we were contacted by the UCI asking if they could license the idea here at VDS. Boris, the visionary, is now car shopping on UK Ebay. -Sven Martin
Who will send it this weekend? @maddogboris
Tracey Hannah is having a great season and riding with such good confidence and speed. @maddogboris
Tracey Hannah still rocking the number one plate! @maddogboris
Amaury fills us in on his last two weeks and thoughts on a repeat win here this weekend. -Sven Martin
Is Bernard Kerr:<br />
A) Bummed he can't race?<br />
B) Nervous because he might not make World Champs selection now?<br />
C) Training too Hard for Vegas A1?<br />
or <br />
D) Upset he has to walk now, since his car is up for sale on Ebay?<br />
-Sven Martin
With weather like this predicted to be rolling in most days, it's all to play for on the Black Snake. -Dan Hearn
Blenki was happy to spend some time with his newborn at home, but seems to be also happy to be back in action. @maddogboris
Eddie Masters is looking so serious and focused here. He's actually just pointing to the quickest way to walk down to finish trackwalk. #enduroridersdontneedtrackwalk @maddogboris
A sign that new wheels are getting built in the Commencal pits. #wheelbalancingweights @maddogboris
The winning team of the weekend two weeks ago, making sure to be up there again. @maddogboris
A Mad Dog and a Salty Dog. -Dan Hearn
Anna Newkirk enjoying the season and the time with her team and friends at the races. @maddogboris
The dry AND wet conditions will make it pretty interesting for the riders for tomorrow. Some parts of the track are still dusty after the rain and some are muddy and slippery. @maddogboris
Troy Bronsan loves to play the puzzle of line choices...and even more if nearly all lines are gnarly as. @maddogboris
Wise thoughts and words from your US National Champ, Neko Mulally. -Sven Martin
Neko Mulally comes into Val Di Sole as the US National Champ. -Dan Hearn
Hard to believe some of the gnarliest riders rock some of the tamest footwear. Amaury Pierron. -Sven Martin
Who would have thought that rock destroyer Brook Mac wears Birks. -Sven Martin
Connor Fearon is looking for a gnarly, technical and wet track. @maddogboris
Yeah Lolo, we couldn't agree more. Thanks Peaty! @maddogboris
Luca Shaw is in a good mood and looking forward to getting wild on the track. @maddogboris
Wyn sits this round out with a broken rib. It's not keeping him off the road though -Sven Martin
Happy Dean Lucas have his buddy Charlie Harrison back. And he got a bit confused to having Kade Edwards around while getting interviewed. @maddogboris
Well done Deanos. Check out The Off-Track Experience podcast! @maddogboris
Val di Sole! @maddogboris
Today trackwalk started with some rain. The forecast was actually way worse, so let's see what will happen tomorrow. @maddogboris
Kade and Wyn. What do you expect when you tell us that you are not big fans of trackwalk pictures with people pointing at stuff? @maddogboris
Yes, that's how wide the track is. Wai to see what this section will look like after tomorrow's training. @maddogboris
Details, details, details... @maddogboris
Ben Cathro breaks down and ranks the press room food situation. -Sven Martin
Perfect left hand corner? What you recon? @maddogboris
MS Mondraker manager Lukas keeping a close eye on Laurie's bike. Second place here last year, and he's going to be giving it his all on Saturday to climb the final step of the podium. -Dan Hearn
Mechanics potentially haven't seen their riders' bikes for over 2 weeks now so full strip downs are the order of the day. -Dan Hearn
This is a landing. @maddogboris
Couscous is obviously stoked about his new business. Check out @biketraveldestination @maddogboris
Crazy all-around mountain bike genius, Kade Edwards impressed guys like Andreu Lacondeguy with his skills at LooseFest last weekend. Now he s back and has to switch from 30m jumps to rocks and roots. @maddogboris
In Val di Sole you have the choice between rocks, roots, dust or mud. The track builders did an amazing job this year. The course is in perfect condition but also gnarlier than ever before. @maddogboris
Team Kona Factory Racing ready to walk the black snake! @maddogboris
Mark Wallace was a bit unlucky at Canadian championships. He slid out on the third-to-last corner of the track. He's had worse situations, and we will get the full story for you tomorrow. @maddogboris
Things that make World Cups special. Sights, sounds and tastes of different cultures. -Sven Martin
Clean up day for Brook Macdonald. -Sven Martin
Charlie Hatton with yet another close 2nd at Brit National Champs. (I think its four 2nds out of five races in Juniors and Elites). -Sven Martin
Velcro and foam were being applied left right and centre in the pits. With storms predicted, track conditions are unpredictable with anything from loose dust to thick mud possible. -Dan Hearn
The track looked well prepped but there is always a loose rock that makes it way to the surface during trackwalk. -Sven Martin
The weather is looking to be a bit mixed this weekend. Not sure if it's going to be brolly or sunglasses weather. Spikes or drys? Tear-offs or clears? -Sven Martin
Couple more new sections on a familiar track. A lot of work has gone into this year's track. The gnarliest track top to bottom all year. -Sven Martin
Joe Bowman taking a break from producing, directing, filming and editing the Syndicate iPhone Insta-stories. Lake Garda. -Sven Martin
Newly designed rear end for Gee, slightly different "print" and we have a 50% stiffer rear end. Gee will also be trying the 27.5 rear / 29 front set up. Still testing and developing the Atherton Bikes. -Sven Martin
Take your pick. They tell you to cross roots perpendicularly. The problem with textbook technique is that it doesn't exist in the real world. -Sven Martin
There used to be a tricky entry, sketchy lip and even sketchier landing that only a brave few even attempted. Now the awkward tree at the entry has been moved, the lip built up and the landing leveled and groomed. The gap, however remains large and impressive. -Sven Martin
Keeping track of all the puzzling in the pits is never an easy task. -Sven Martin
So check @thomasestaque insta clip. This is the gap in real life. Lip where Jack (far left) stands, all the way to the banner with Finn on it. -Sven Martin
Loam, moss, roots and uncertainty. -Sven Martin
Even the stones in Italy are weird. -Sven Martin
New lines opened up with new taping, and a little tree felling up top. -Sven Martin
Loris' hand/wrist has had some proper time to heal even further. He will be one to watch this weekend. -Sven Martin
How riders will get their heads around the conditions one can only wonder. Here you have grippy dust and slippery mud living together in perfect harmony. -Sven Martin
New rides for the Pinkbike staff? -Sven Martin
In a time-saving move someone approved this finish arch set up where a massive horse trailer holds up the whole business. Not ideal for a photographer. Why? -Sven Martin
New treeless entry into the Boom Boom Huck jam section. More than a few racers were stoked for their elbows when they saw this change. -Sven Martin
Val Di Sole is here. The track may have been worked on, but last year's suspension settings are still the best place to start getting bikes dialed. -Dan Hearn
The sharpest tool in the box? Danny Hart's Saracen getting the silent treatment from Scotty Mears. -Dan Hearn
Another rad set of paint jobs for the Canyon team following their Shred City campaign. -Dan Hearn
A fresh shipment of lenses keeping the Trek team ready for any conditions. There might be a few changes throughout practice tomorrow! -Dan Hearn
Polish Pete prepping a new back-end iteration for Gee's bike. -Dan Hearn
Cable ends for every occasion. It's all about the details. -Dan Hearn
Riders will be risking life and limb taming the Val Di Sole track this weekend. -Dan Hearn
Before attempting the Black Snake, one first needs to make sure their silver snake is in order. -Dan Hearn
Hope green espresso anyone? When in Rome... (close enough) -Dan Hearn
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