Can GCN Beat Pogačar Downhill?

[@gcn]

Do you think you would have the skills to keep up with the pros? 💨

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Cheers, Hank, however my wife & I are both in our late 60s and ride a tandem.... I would be deafened if I tried that and would have to live in the shed for a month.... The dangers of high speed downhills are far-reaching! Thanks for a great video

[@B_KFC_Leg]

Nice video! May I know which seat post mount did you use to take those shots from behind Hanks?

[@peterwillson1355]

No😂

[@ReynaldoOrio]

No I like not flying off a cliff

[@johnandrews3568]

Yep. I love descending.

[@matejstankovic9843]

"I'm not gonna take crazy risks"
Proceeds to overtake the orange van through the corner...

[@Jan-n.p.2]

😂

[@Jan-n.p.2]

😂

[@maniac0303]

Was these overtaking maneuver really risky? Or was this calculated by a high skilled ex pro? Here is an example for hi risks in my opinion: th-cam.com/video/tM1NLT1W01E/w-d-xo.html

[@EricMichaelManuel]

nah, that van braked intentionally to let him pass.

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

@@EricMichaelManuel corner was blind though

[@bittiapina]

That bunny hop that Hank did in those speeds to dodge the wet tarmac? Insane. Well done. Always a good time watching Hank do crazy challenges.

[@gcn]

He's got skills

[@jasoncdebussy]

Insane absolutely - and unnecessary 🤣 OK, I'm jealous as I'm pretty much devoid of skills! Great work, Hank 👍

[@bikekante]

Greets to Nibali

[@mradelphi02]

At no point in my cycling life would I ever feel safe going 110km/h.
Props to the pros making it look easy

[@NinjaElephant]

Try going down Kühtai at Ötztaler Marathon. It’s different there. I never before did more than 72 but there it was 107.

[@gcn]

They make it look too easy!

[@johnandrews3568]

I can hit 90+ on my daily ride in one spot. C'est le fun!

[@dtibor5903]

I have hit 80kph a few times, pretty damn scary 😬

[@jb-rx2ig]

nice. I guess you did a bike check before the race right? ​@@NinjaElephant

[@chrisdavidson911]

You'd've found about a minute if Si was somewhere behind you on his Brompton and you could hear him shouting

[@gcn]

A stern word from Si can go a long way! 👀

[@jbratt]

Having the entire road allows you to carry much more speed through the corners. This not only gets you through the corners faster but sets you up to go much faster on the straights. Good job!

[@JeremyKnight-i2g]

Brilliant video. You're a brave man, Hank! I was s**t scared just watching you descend! Loved the bunny hop, too!

[@gcn]

He's got the skills!

[@mitch_smith]

Hank you smashed it and since no one said anything, that bunny hop was perfectly timed. Made this old BMX’er smile.

[@gcn]

He's got skills

[@AQUPAS]

Another banger of a video by GCN!! Absolutely epic views too!

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it, we had so much fun filming this one... can you tell 😉

[@FKnoph]

The most impressive part is how Hank managed to move the bike mounted camera from front to back during the descent! 🤣 Great video, though! 😁

[@roberthayter157]

I have a French friend who lives in St Jean de Maurienne in the region of Galibier. Last time I saw him he was 77 and had ascended four of the local Tour de France mountain passes that summer - by bike, that is - including Galibier.

[@festerofest4374]

That was thrilling to watch! The awesome drone footage really helped provide
perspective. Nice work, GCN! And a beautiful bunny-hop over the wet spot, Hank! You were FLYING yet the TdF bros were 10kph faster -- just unbelievable!

[@suhdud4646]

Surely Im not the only one who when on the flats at speed under my own power feels in control but that exact same speed going down a decent feels alot quicker.

[@Jeffgreene37]

Agreed! 😂

[@williamcroson9102]

On the flat you know you can stop a lot quicker. Makes a massive difference.

[@gcn]

It's all about confidence 🙌

[@Sixten--]

I mean, you are probably also accelerating at that speed still. Maybe that's what makes it feel faster?

[@mommamooney]

Loved it! I am definitely not a speed demon on descents. The hubs told me recently that I’m faster going uphill than down. I think it triggers my absolute fear of heights

[@gcn]

To us that sounds like you're just a speedy climber! 😉

[@galloglas6907]

One of the most iconic beginnings to a descent where they handed out newspapers for the riders to stuff inside their jersey to block the cold wind

[@gcn]

It's an absolute classic! 👌

[@nickpatten5263]

That was bloody good going Hank, great footage too. One of the best GCN videos of late.

[@gcn]

Thanks Nick

[@inz_uzi]

Amazing thing is that Ganna was faster on flat than Hank on descent 😂

[@gcn]

Hahahah don't rub it in too much 😉

[@Grant_Ferstat]

Well done Hank it scared me just watching!

[@gcn]

Hank ain't scared of nothing! 🙌

[@MartinBentancour]

The camera on the front of the bike when Hank starts the descent and on the back at end 🧐🤔
I bet if he didn’t have to stop and change it he would have beat Tadej 😂

[@steveb0503]

Yeah - I noticed that, too. Gonna chalk it up to supplemental shots taken later or something - 'cause I don't know how he could've considered it a non-stop run otherwise...

[@markkorondi5983]

@@steveb0503 probably they did a recon ride and a full on descend. I mean thats what I would've done

[@MartinBentancour]

@@markkorondi5983 yeah, I figured as much. I imagine they often have to do several takes of the same and/or do a recon before the actual attempt.

[@BrentNeal1979]

I came to the comments for exactly this point. Immediately noticed the 360 camera change during the video.

[@ianba123]

At the top of the descent the camera is mounted on his handlebars, yet by the bottom it's on the back of his saddle. Clearly some video trickery is going on here!

[@cpshoot1146]

They have two cameras, you see the other one thats behind him as he descends.

[@inz_uzi]

It's magic of YT. 😊
On some shots he miraculously doesn't have any cameras.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Hank undid the mount and reattached it to the seat post while descending. 😲

[@suvikristjan]

@ianba123, So there's no way they did multiple descents to make the video more dynamic?

[@ianba123]

​@@suvikristjanYeah, sure they did - but it does detract from the authenticity!

[@stevestudley5685]

Great content! Thank you.

[@waynebond5771]

Love watching Hank ride and of course he throws in a bunny hop on his descent

[@fredhercmaricaubang1883]

This is pretty descent of you!

[@gcn]

Thanks 😉

[@fredhercmaricaubang1883]

@@gcn You did get the pun, right?

[@zhangyi3271]

Interesting to see GCN doing Safa Brian thing😅

[@rant-a-dad3636]

Chapeau! That is an absolutely amazing effort. 👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿

[@davidshardlow4369]

Hank that was absolutely epic! Bluebird day in the Alps and serious cojones from you on the descent.. brilliant video!

[@gcn]

Thanks!

[@mikkelaare4103]

What a epic vid, the experiment is interesting of course - but can we take a minute for the feeling of this epic descent. From the flowy turns into the perfect hairpins with the most amazing views in the background.
This is why i ride my bike in flat Denmark, so I can have experiences like this in the mountains.

[@ger128]

This looks like so much fun! Great job to Hank for making it down at such a fast pace.

[@PepeDalinShow]

I love descents! It's the best part of the climb! SEND IT!

[@gcn]

What goes up must come down 🙌

[@QwertsMinecraft]

Wow that’s still a crazy good time by Hank! 👌🏼

[@gcn]

He's got skills! 👌

[@eleycki]

See hank: click! Great vid as always

[@gcn]

Yes yes yes! 🙌

[@n22pdf]

Awesome ride Hank.. footage looked amazing.. you’re looking super trim dude 💪 you’ve got to ride back up now though😉🚴🏻👍 Pete

[@rodrodriguez5847]

Amazing! Hank..😮🤙

[@Bathi666]

Wow amazing mate

[@KarthickManickam]

The ascent and descent comes after a long ride for hours. Ideal test would be spend that much effort and then start descending. He started fresh from top.

[@Stirling1989]

Props to Hank bunny hopping the wet road at 60kph+

[@gcn]

He's got the skills 🙌

[@nemure]

Tbf with those "hills" you can grab a mountain bike and descend it straight ignoring the road lanes 😅😅😅

[@Gixer750pilot]

Now that would make a great GCN / GMBN challenge !!!!

[@nemure]

@@Gixer750pilot Hahaha indeed

[@yohansharp3040]

This was awesome, thanks GCN & Hank

[@gcn]

Thanks for watching

[@wandering_pete]

Great video. Get Hank doing more of these and he'll be GCN's own Safa Brian.
There are two things wrong with descending fast. You're so focussed on riding the road at speed, the optimal lines, etc., that you don't get to enjoy the scenery nor the twisty, winding road.

[@robertgreiner4703]

Kudos for that jump over the wet road!

[@WanderingDiabetic]

Smashed it mate awesome effort

[@youngdave9976]

Still mightily impressive Hank, great video and again just goes to show how much better the pros are at everything

[@gcn]

[@Va1l4323]

You guys should do a vid about how you film cycling vids like this as cycling is an incredibly hard to film

[@garysladek9110]

Cheers to you Hank. I for one would be terrified.

[@Burkhard_Ehnes]

well - and Pogi didn't have to change the Insta-360 from bar to saddle ...

[@dirkstaudt4341]

What Pogi's average speed makes more impressive , is the fact of the mediocre road surface quality of the Galibier

[@dr_taka]

Ha Hank looking awesome on the bike. That is all matters 😂. Don’t care about the time

[@michaelfleming4015]

That was amazing! Without a closed road I don’t think you can or should go any faster. I was really scared for Hank. A close to head on with a climbing bike and those vehicles made it very sketchy. You Bunny Hopped the water! You did great Hank!

[@gcn]

He is a mad man and a very skilled descender

[@ramsden35]

Brilliantly terrifying!

[@Barrygee]

I’m more impressed that you were able to change the camera from the front of the bike to the back whilst descending.

[@zekeHXC]

I just want to say that the music choice at 1:00 is amazing.

[@bb-r5710]

What a ride with the camera view. I am glad you made the descent safely ❤

[@gcn]

Safe and speedy 👌 That's Hanks way 💨

[@Seppster58]

The added 360 camera was great. I just staretd using one as well, and really adds to experience.

[@gcn]

We love having one 🙌

[@berndyorokai9283]

Hank´s definition of "in a safe way" differs a lot from mine 😅

[@robertfranks3644]

Fair play good effort.

[@m477yrul3z]

I want to see the GCN guys try out the olympic sport of BMXing! Freestyle and racing!

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Awesome video,in a safe way 110km/h but excellent bunny hop Hank.💯👌🏻🚴‍♂️💪🏻

[@andrewbackhouse5828]

Great views and terrifying, all at once

[@GeekonaBike]

IMHO downhill KoM have no place on Strava. Don't incentivize more risk taking on downhills!

[@paulgrimshaw8334]

Big Question: Any special measures taken to balance your wheels?

[@iswish_41]

Tadej did it after climbing up that monster of a mountain, you arrived in a car...

[@michaelplantarich3375]

Great job Hank! Those roads without guard rails make my sphincters clench up 😂. Don't see many like that in America. I'm jealous of all the famous roads that are overseas that are packed with cyclists and cars that are super aware of their presence. I'd love to get over there one day to ride, just maybe not as quickly!

[@PrzemyslawInstunajd-rj5ep]

What kind of mount You used for seat post @gcn?
Lovely cornering skills Hank👌🚴

[@EricMichaelManuel]

110km/h with 1mm of clothing to protect you, oh and styrofoam helmet that doesn't cover your face. Cycling! :D

[@galanska]

I feel it in my stomach

[@aharshephotography]

this was thrilling to watch

[@stanislaogerman3743]

Well done ... you were not on closed roads and not optimized for aero (3d camera for one). I think you could have beat Pogi under optimal conditions 💪🏾

[@williamh4611]

Hi Hank & Manon, I was the bike packer that took a pic with you at the summit of Galibier. Thanks for having taken the time for the pic. Great vid !

[@gcn]

No problem at all, it was great to meet you. Hope you enjoyed the riding in the Apls as much as we did. Manon

[@bobfrode]

100 km pr hr in a safe way? wow....didnt know that :P
You are a brave man Hank :D

[@themanof83]

Tom Pidcock, "Hold my beer"! 🍺

[@gcn]

[@reecedawson6113]

I'd love to see a pro or former pro not from the UK come and decent an open UK decent on our terrible often wet and gritty, potholly roads. Somewhere in the Yorkshire or the lakes down a 25% slope

[@jfa849]

Unusually in South Africa I've been lucky enough to ride a mountain pass descent that been used in a pro race. The times on Strava warp the brain a bit.

[@CarlosParadaP]

How many times did he went down ? In the beginning, the camera was in the front and then all of a sudden it was on the back 🤔🤔🤔

[@lukacalov1988]

Short answer: No
Long answer: Hell no

[@HenningGu]

110?!?!?! I'm already feeling iffy at 30 on the good roads around here and 25 usually.

[@okayest_amateur]

You were flying!!

[@gcn]

He is speedy!

[@aihsanasl]

You should add "dont try this at home" warning in the description :D

[@mrvwbug4423]

I think even a typical amateur rider or even amateur racer would've stuffed it trying to go your pace. That spot where the back of the bike tried to step out on you, you held it, I think a lot of amateur riders would've stuffed it in that spot.

[@raybarber9837]

Can I suggest a challenge for Hank. Take on Beth Shriever on a BMX course then see how she does against him on a road bike sprinting and uphill.

[@dklindsey1952]

Very fun video

[@maniac0303]

I would say the not closed roads cost around one minute, the aerodynamic disadvantage though the cam around 20 seconds and maybe optimized aerodynamic cloths would save a couple of seconds ... So, it's not too bad at all. But I don't know about the weather conditions. It looks like the same as on TdF race day. What about the wind direction or the air pressure?

[@alinapopescu872]

It must be Jamie's breakfast that's slowing you down. 😉

[@chamfly5783]

I'll try that comment on my wife. "110 kph but in a safe way......"

[@africancyclist]

4:07 I see you are using the insta 360, would be great if you added the stats especially speed. This can be done by connecting to Garmin or using the insta 360 GPS remote

[@NinjaElephant]

Everybody saying Hank did not ride safely, I think he did a great job there, most of the time you can see oncoming miles ahead , road conditions were good and at some point he had motorbike and drone support, possible radio warnings. And I mean he was 2 minutes slower, think about the speed they do at the Tour.

[@eduardolevylopes8126]

Me cycling in brazil at sea level , i wouldnt even be able to breath there to get into the bike

[@jonathanzappala]

I don’t know guys, the only video I’ve seen of Hank’s professional career is him failing to navigate a corner 😂

[@shadowbanned4606]

7:55 moto drafting...

[@kamenninov1405]

WoW I was able to do 61 km/h( GPS ) downhill with my vintage Pegeout Carbolite 103!!! From Bachkovo to Asenovgrad in Bulgaria 8-9km. Shall I go to a tournament? :D I do casually 80km per ride on a mountain terrain with it.

[@ChampionGaming]

Manonnnnnn ❤

[@nicholasg.844]

"I'm not gonna take crazy risks" .. and went on to do a Bunny Hop on the wet part of the descend 😱

[@gcn]

He can't help himself!

[@_MattyG_]

Top 100 ain’t bad considering the tour just went through there and they have 150+ riders

[@rg807]

"We made it to the top.." You DROVE to the top. 😂

[@gcn]

Watch this space 👀

[@alexhffmnn]

Which mount are you using to mount the camera on the aerobar?

[@erikmmartens]

80th ish still means that you were faster or at worst as fast as the slower half of the peleton. Surely the top of the leaderboard is populated pretty much only by TdF athletes. Even assuming many TdF riders don't upload publicly to Strava, this is still pretty fast for open roads.
The amount of time you loose on not being able to take both lanes while cornering is massive. You have to brake more before, you are slower throughout the curve and you'll take longer accelerating back up (which might be cut short by the next curve). Probably ⅔ or more of you time loss comes from that.

[@frankbuchsel293]

How would the one-by have made any difference... a 54-11 remains a 54-11 regardless of second chain ring or not?

[@tn9274]

I think my carbon rim brake wheel might just delaminated and blowed over that speedy descent and required hard braking on every turn

[@felixe5816]

Would have loved to see more, possibly all, of the onboard footage without the music. Great video still!

[@CycoWarriorx]

Says he’s not gonna take risks… then flies by a cargo van… ok Hank 😅

[@gcn]

Classic Hank 🤣

[@Popmycherryyo]

I imagine of course 1 thing is that they are more skilled etc on the bike (obviously) but I would imagine that they have probably also studied the descent down to more or less every pebble or potential pebble on the road? They know which bends they might need to break some extra on, and which ones they can take more risks cus it might "look scarier than it is" ? This is of course just speculation.

[@pierrex3226]

There's time to save by dropping that jacket and not running cameras on the bike. At these speeds, both things absolutely slow you down materially. Now that wouldn't take you to the top 10, but you would for sure save several seconds. And I'm surprised you didn't do several runs.