Tuesday, January 27, 2015
This:
Reminded me of this:
In a related story, did you hear that Mitch isn't racing World Cups this year, only enduro races? Bummer. Another one bites the dust. I'm fine with doing enduro's after your downhill career wanes, I'm fine with doing enduro's while also racing downhill (that's what I'm doing, to the disappointment of most of TEAM ROBOT's readers), and I'm even maybe sort of okay with bright, promising young talent like Martin Maes choosing to race enduro's... even though he could be winning the Junior World Cup overall right now. Whatever, I'm okay with it I guess, he made his choice good for Martin.
But for a guy like Richie Rude or Mitch Ropelato to just walk away from a downhill career boggles the mind. There are so many guys who would kill for a spot on a real team, or for that sort of talent. Like me. All I want to do is race the full World Cup circuit, and to see guys who are podium capable on the World Cup circuit who choose not to race it, I don't understand. It's the formula one. It's the crème de la crème. Choose your preferred analogy, the point is that World Cup downhill is obviously the pinnacle.
On the other hand, Mitch got 4th at Winter Park in his first outing, versus an all time best result of 12th at Val d'Isere in 2012, so I can see the attraction. That and he rides for the company with the deepest pockets in mountain biking, a huge trail bike product line, and the company that owns the rights to the word "Enduro." So maybe there are tens of thousands of reasons why he really LIKE$$$$$$$ racing enduros. Or maybe he actually prefers drooling and coughing up blood at the end of every race. Who knows.
The plural would be "Enduros"
ReplyDeleteThanks
Grammar
Richie had a 2 year contract, his first being his last year in Jr.s and when Yeti decided to go full enduro he had to go along with it. The continuation stems from I don't know what. Brain washing? Money? I don't know. But if I was getting paid twice as much for half as much fun I would do it too.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing
ReplyDeletewhere can I buy one of those continuation stems? do they come in 35mm?
ReplyDeleteI hope the robots are concocting a response to this pile: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/mind-the-gap-the-making-of-unreal-ep-1-2015.html
ReplyDeleteI couldnt agree more, it staggers me too. I think Mitch was due to results - honestly I dont think he had it in him to win ever. And I dont think its too much of a loss. Richie Rude makes waaaaay less sense - he was pretty damn good at DH, pretty ordinary at enduro. Its like being great at basketball and swapping that for a solid career in volleyball. Maybe he likes it more, I doubt it. And he could have left Yeti if they stopped the team. Look at his coverage in WC DH - pretty good. Look at his coverage in EWS - hardly any, and most just referring to his WC DH days
ReplyDeleteBro, Bingnelli got him at Fontana this weekend. Dont know about those WC wins.
ReplyDeletehttp://mpora.com/videos/pNr30kwt9
ReplyDeleteenduro knows its place.
Yes, F1 is the correct analog: F1? Jeez...
ReplyDeleteI actually have a little respect for you after this post
ReplyDeleteA former downhiller riding a fatbike as fast as it'll go looks oddly familiar...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01KKa9upRiU
The real reason is he didn't want to race the new Demo.
ReplyDeleteHe will get smoked at all the other ews races outside North America, it's what Americans do. But I won't be paying attention.
ReplyDeletewho gives two flyin fucks about mitch.........
ReplyDeletethe kid is a million dollar talent with a ten cent brain.
plus, the dude is a major follower, has no fuckin clue how to be a leader or an individual.
hes a moron.
Rude, Mitch and Kelley all walking away from DH at a young age bums me out. Sure it's the right decision cause they can make as much if not more money and their bodies take less of a beating but wow...do they really not want to prove themselves against the fastest guys in the world? These 3 make america look like a bunch of pussy Euros.
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