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Theo is one of my favourite riders his personality is infectious ⛳

Bottom line. The riders are white. They will not get support from any South African federation.

My heart breaks for these guys. They are 100% correct. And with respect to GM he is over 40 already. Yet we are bringing no young blood through. All sport in South Africa is the same. Then we get upset when our athletes emigrate and compete for other countries.

How much of the Olympics this year had an impact on this foolish decisions from Cycling SA?

#Let the boys ride!!

someone needs to get Gayton Mckenzie on the phone

Thanks so much for the insight. #LetTheBoysRide maybe need the likes of news outlets like Cape Talk or Kfm gst into this? Spread the word more. Made me think, if Siya Kolisi was injured for a season, and then once fit again, cant play for the Bokke cause he doesn't have 'enough points' imagine the scenes.... Common Sense people!!!

Its so South African of the sporting bodies to paint every sport discipline with the same brush. I'm sick of seeing this. Since I've been watching DH for the last few years, its insane to think how fast the DH riders are riding now. I watch our SA boys riding overseas and love seeing them race. Its about time the SA Federations start to wake up, as THEY are killing the SA athletes from competing overseas and at that international level, I wish all those spots for the World DH seniors and juniors for men and women were filled. It would help all the other riders to advance in their own riding.

Mad. The riders know it, the teams know it, the squibs know it,the sponsors know it and the fans know it but the suits are rhino proctologists, censoring/editing out the juicy bits from Theo sucked though. What is this? CNN? 😂😂😂

Gutted for both of these guys. Theo is a BEAST and def deserves to be racing IMO

I've put about 12,000 kilometers on a Ghost Road Rage that I bought after moving to Germany. About 80% of my ride is on roads or bike paths. As someonewho hasn't really ridden anything but mountain bikes as a teen so long ago I absolutely love gravel bikes. I can cut through farm trails that road bikes cant even can't even consider. I can also keep up with my road bike friends when they aren't trying to set time records with ease. I just bought a Trek Checkpoint as an upgrade and a spare, I'll definitely keep riding bikes when I move back to the states.

Sorry state of affairs, to be honest. They should put the riders in if they're self funding. It is about far more than just the contenders for the win, as an outsider I want to see the SA riders, characters at World Champs, I don't need to see riders winning to be a fan. Get Theo to put a polite post on Instagram about his disappointment, tagging SA Cycling and let people get behind him - it got Thibault into Hardline Tasmania. As angry as people might be, ask and back it nicely - as people are in the comments. Also, it puts riders on display for potential teams and sponsors, attitude goes a long way - Oisin picked up an injury on day one of a YT selection camp, he got in because he was there and showed up well as a person. Best of luck guys, would love to see you there. Well spoken, btw.

No whingeing, just laying down the facts! #lettheboysride

Thank you for this oaks! Mad love & support for you guys! ❤️ 🇿🇦

Good luck lads, really hope it works out for yous! All the best my southern hemisphere bros!

This whole situation is just crazy, it boggles my mind. CSA, get your priorities straight and #lettheboysride Thanks for this insightful vid gents, hopefully, CSA can let logic prevail so that we see you ride! Keep smashing it over there.

English guy here. This situation is f***ing crazy. I feel so angry for you guys. CSA - what the hell are you doing? This makes no sense! The World Champs wants to welcome your countrymen. They have places open for them. They just need you to provide the names. Let your riders wear the South African jersey and proudly represent your proud sporting nation. Let the boys ride!

Thanks for the interview. The logic escapes me. LET THEM RIDE!

So tired of hearing yet another story of SA sports administrators making decisions that do so much harm to the sport and its participants. Theo’s points about the Worlds being key to raising the profile of SA MTB and SA riders are so on point and for Cycling SA to miss those opportunities is negligent.

Sooo much hard work and dedication, Congrats Candice you are a star *

Crazy logic from CSA. Let the boys ride! Seeing South Africans on the track is always great. WE are such a proud nation when it comes to sport, but this pride should include all sports! Thank you guys for shedding some light on the topic. The skill required to even make it down a World Cup track should be celebrated on its own! Keep pushing and inspriring the younger generation! #lettheboysride

SA series should be hosted over our summers. More competition locally and a true reflection of who the national champ is. Also teaches the riders to race wet conditions, improving their potential in Europe. And agree Theo, a better points system.

thanks for shining a light on this Mylo. It's quite an eye opener seeing the level of commitment and money that is spent and getting spat on by CSA is just wrong

You have a new Minister of sport, reach out to Gayton, South African cyclists have always been at the top for talent.

The selection criteria are the crux of the issue and at fault. They were never discussed with riders before being made law. They are now under review for next year, sorry to the 2024 riders. No common sense prevails.

#lettheboysride

What can we do?

Theres almost no point setting up CSA sanctioned races anymore

Appeal to the minister of sport

Sux living in your car for months on end....outta your own pocket...putting your life on the line...then you get your SA medal/colours....then what??? Nothing....been there...done that.Now just riding for fun....but races aint nowhere NEAR what the numbers were back in the early 2000's ...races etc were way cheaper yes, but we rode & enjoyed it...nowadays the real fun aint there anymore & everyone knows the top u can go is SA colours/medal...pointless if you aiming for overseas...SA sux

Great video Myles, thank you for putting this video together, hopefully some sort of logic will prevail as a result of your work making this video. It’s super sad what these hard working boys have to go through 😢 I really hope CSA see this.

Good discussion, guys, thanks @bikenetwork_SA for putting this out. Pretty much on every logical, common sense factor, there seems to be zero negative possible oucomes from letting our guys ride. Why does the SA federation insist on doing it like this (and not only in this sport)? If nothing else, as Theo said, purely showing our guys at Champs can - and WILL - be inspiring to our youth, regardless of the actual results they may achieve. And that is what is SO needed in South Africa! Not to mention that stimulating interest and inspiration ought to be one of the core functions of the sports federations. Oh wait, let me quote from the CSA website, in their Vision: "...inspiring a diverse nation from grass-root levels to ride bicycles, race and be a united community." So how do these actions align to their own stated vision? Quote from Paola Damilano, CSA MTB Director: “The World Champs is not where riders gain experience. Riders gain experience by entering and participating in South African series events as well as European races such as UCI World Cups or European downhill races such as those in the IXS series." So... only certain races help a rider gain experience? Especially those in South Africa, where the standard is SO much lower? OK then... Seems clear that this is yet another case of ego-tripping "officials" doing their utmost to take our country backwards - on taxpayer money. In the corporate world, this type of thing would get the Board kicked out and replaced very quickly... #lettheboysride

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Thanks for this well thought out discussion. You guys are well supported and respected in the DH fan community. All it takes is one breakout race. Use every opportunity. Give riders already there and young riders Int Nat experience as soon as possible. No brainer. We appreciate your sacrifices.

LET THE BOIIISSS RIIIDE 🔥🇿🇦

Thanks for your efforts in trying to get our boys selected for worlds. Hopefully the right person gets to hear this and understands the commitment of our riders and #lettheboysride

Can't quite believe it still. Insane

Bureaucracy is killing the hopes and dreams of young South African mountain bikers that won't get the opportunity to show everyone (including potential sponsors) what they are capable of at a World Championships. All because of the fragile ego's of those decision makers that hide behind rules they themselves decided on that will affect the future careers of these potential superstars. The system is failing the talent.

Racing 2004 World Champs in Les Gets as a Junior is still a core memory for me and the best time of my life, we paid for ourselves, travelled as a team.,it didn't matter where we finished, it was about the experience and just being apart of it. It's sad that CSA is taking that away from many of our talented riders🥺🇿🇦

No point in supporting our riders if our national federation doesn’t. I’m switching to extreme gravel riding now.

Do the people who select for SA not like our country?

Great video. Very comprehensive. Thank you!

That's a Gaboon Viper innit?

What would be fast rolling tires ?

I loved you reviews, pretty detailed and instructive

I'm 176 cm, should I get M or L size Epic comp?

Super informative. Great review. If you were riding at 30% power, do you reckon you'd be riding faster (on avg climbs) than fellow riders on acoustic bikes at the same level of fitness/kg as yourself? Or is the e-bike weight penalty significant enough to keep you from having an advantage once you dip into that lower level of power delivery?

Ask spez for an epic 8 and evo to test!

these videos are great but where do we buy them? seems like only a handful of stockists and either out of stock or like 1 bottle available

Its almost perfect its just a little heavy no? Its not better to buy a little older used carbon epic?