Start List: Fort William World Cup DH 2018

 Yeah it's hard to follow, but thought we'd do a separate post so people see it.

 @brianpark: Don't get me wrong, I think we all appreciate (and require) a little clarity on this matter. It's just sad that we've reached this stage.

 @brianpark: Yeah, thanks you post this separately. But agree that the UCI and teams have taken this too far.

 Seeing alot of USA up front lately,,, in men's elite at least.

 If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the powers that be at UCI are trying to justify their exorbitant salaries doing crap like this, I think they should really should consider focusing and fixing bigger problems elsewhere in the UCI.

 @brianpark: Thanks for this.

 @trillot: yeah...like letting masters in...WTF! I hope they land in a big pile of doo on their next crash/ride...oh wait, none of them prolly ride.

 @brianpark: I roughly follow the UCI ordeals and stuff, and somewhat follow DH racing. What is everyone talking about in the comment thread? That this article is too much? Just not following

 @chillrider199: the new rules regarding qualification and start order are convoluted and dumb, so it's not necessarily the case any more that it's just the quali results in reverse order. Gwin qualified 17th and is starting 9th last, for example.

 Great article Brian! And totally necessary!

 You need to be high on long drugs to understand anything the UCI does.

 This fucks up the proper drama of a race. I don't feel like it's going to be as easy to,get friends and family into it now.

 @loganm2977: Preach

 Time to unsuscribd from the UCI. KILL IT NOW WITH GNAR!!!! All hail DHWS!!!!

/leaving, going back to drinking. See you tomorrow.

 @Boardlife69: upvotes for drinkings

 UCI: Useless Counterproductive Incorporated

 @Rubberelli: You never had to. They used to slot any protected riders (top 20) in 21st place which worked perfectly well and didn't disrupt the qualifying order.

In my opinion these rules were only needed due to red bull dropping the number of riders shown from 30 to 20.

 @GrandMasterOrge: adding 50% more broadcast riders adds another hour to the 2 hour show (and thats just for the men). Who wants to watch the podium go down first anyway? Gwin flatted in qualies yesterday. If he didn't crash today, he probably would have won and if it was in the old formula, he would have started two hours before the end of the broadcast. If the new formula brings the podium from the top ten then that's the goal, as viewership skyrockets for those last ten.

 @Rubberelli: 3 minute gaps is only for the top 20 (3:30 for 1-10, 3:00 for 11-20), once you get past the broadcast riders the gap is 1 minute so it would be an additional 10 minutes for the next 10 riders to be shown. Despite it being a *2 hour show* today we got 75 minutes of racing between Brendan's start time and Luca's start time.

a) Gwin would have gone down an hour before the end, not 2, and b) I'd happily stick another 10 minutes on that to see another 10 riders and avoid having these artificial qualifying rules that for me, spoil the event a bit.

Gwin did flat yesterday, and Gwin did crash today, this is racing not a scripted reality tv show.

 @GrandMasterOrge: And yet, all but 1 dark horse of the podium was from the last ten, so the strategy works. Are you suggesting that Red Bull should only show 1 minute of the runs for places 30-20? Imagine if Gwin or Minnaar were in that.

 I think they should just draw random shit from a hat..... hang on a minute

 You'll see Finn and Gee. They broadcast the last 25, so starting with Brendog.

 nice, thank‘s @reddev:

 I'm still bummed we won't see the bulldog though...

 @reddev: 20 isn't it?

 Where is Minnaar?

 @jaame: out with a broken arm

 He crashed and didn't enter the course at the right spot. Due to some rule changes this lost him his protected status for the race. Seems the UCI is back at it's bullshit...

 @CullenHerring: I thought that was the reason too, but now I'm not so sure. It looks like the UCI have changed how they select protected riders. For example, Bruni was protected despite not scoring any points last round and having the 61 plate. Fayolle also, even though he's ranked 71. I guess they must be taking into account results from last season to determine who is protected. If you look at the Quali start list Masters never had a P.

 In a world of salaries driving sports, it sadly makes sense. Not that I agree with it of course, the UCI just want to get their moneys worth...

 @Grouty2505: you mean they just want to get their money...period!

 I think the interwebs will show the top 25. So Brendan down to Luca, I think. Unless, this new start list junk is confusing me like everyone else.

 Didn't qualify.

 As in United Ski and Snowboard Association points?

 @parkeroverby: yes

 Fuk