Wet descent towards Nice. Remco Evenepoel He enters the corner wider and exits narrower. Matteo Jorgenson more than once does the opposite: he enters narrow and exits wide. In theory, the Belgian's trajectory was correct, but at times the American was faster in the exit phase.
This difference in trajectories seen at Paris-Nice It seems a bit more pronounced overall than in the past. Why? How important are materials, especially tires and disc brakes, in all this?
Vincent Nibali, It helps us understand better. The Shark was, and remains, a formidable downhill skier and also an excellent test rider. Vincenzo has a keen ear when it comes to guidance and materials.
We were saying, Vincenzo, different trajectories between Remco and Jorgenson…
Different trajectories, but behind these differences, I believe there are two different types of driving rather than materials. It must also be considered that there were two of them, and in these circumstances, or when traveling in a small group, it often happens that the trajectory of the one in front is not replicated: Perhaps to get a better view, because you have more freedom to descend as you wish, because you leave yourself a small safety margin. Things that you can't do in a group, especially if you're descending in single file, as the slipstream and trajectory are "forced."
Modern roofs are wider. Could this explain the different trajectories?
Yes and no, too I'm using 30mm tires right now and they certainly hold better. I still don't know exactly how they perform in the wet, because I've only been testing them for a few days. They definitely have a different feel. Let me give you an example...
Go…
Now I'm using some Shelf, whose tread is a sort of "slick". Before I had Vittoria, which was instead carved. In the last year at theAstana-Qazaqstan I had Vittoria, but I often used the good old tubular. Why? Because Vittoria's was a bit wider than many others, 26mm, so I had a good surface area, but at the same time a light coverage. And above all, this tire gave me a certain sensitivity when riding, a greater, deeper sensitivity. I felt the road better, that's all.
And with tubeless?
With wide tubeless, without a doubt the bike is faster, more comfortable… but it “moves” more uphill. And then there's a little extra weight. Without naming names, some riders use narrower tires when they hit the big climbs.
And how important is the disc brake in trajectories?
It's certainly a different kind of braking. With the disc it is immediately strong, then it stabilizes and is less intense, so you need to adjust it differently. However, it may happen that the disc brake system, the oil, or the disc itself overheats, causing the braking performance to change again.
That?
It becomes spongy, less responsive. With traditional brakes, however, it was the opposite: initially, they barely slowed down, and then the braking came suddenly, especially with carbon wheels and even more so in the rain. There you had 2” of panic and then the bike started to slow down. Now this problem no longer exists.
To the advantage of the less talented?
Of the heaviest, I'd say... For me, it's not just about tires and disc brakes, but a bit of everything: aerodynamics, larger wheel channels, better spoke camber than in the past, tires that, with the "right wheel," provide a better surface and support pattern... All this also allows for different, wider or narrower trajectories.
So, do the new downhill materials allow for more margin for error? As we saw with Remco and Jorgenson...
I'm going back to the point where maybe those behind don't trust those ahead. Van der Poel is great in downhill. Remco may have a gap, something he needs to improve. I admit I don't know Jorgenson. Today, tires, disc brakes, wide rims… allow you to dare more and from the outside to see some different lines.
Clear…
I myself see that with the 30mm coverage I can tighten the curve more and bend more, But this is mainly due to the lower pressures compared to the past. Before, if you descended hard, the margin for error was almost zero; the downhill skier was almost an artist; now you have a bit more.
So the new materials give a hand to the less skilled…
A little, yes, especially on water. Then you have to consider that you also go faster, that the bike is stiffer, faster... and ultimately the tire is very important, because it's the point of contact between the bike (and the cyclist, ed.) and the asphalt.
