THE FAKER'S GUIDE TO XCO SPECTATING

Post race celebration.

Unlike rugby which, lets face it, is full of cuddling, XCO competitors are much more standoffish and staunch post race, a bit like that episode of Will and Grace where Jack and Will have that tiff over who’s going to wear what to Grace’s birthday bash at the Rainbow Room. After a big race XCO competitors often celebrate by having half a hamburger and a small piece of cheese.

Seriously for one moment though: Being an XCO racer is tough. Watching the joy of winning shine through their exhaustion is actually kinda inspiring.



Drugs.

The first high profile drug cheat in world XCO was Filip Meirhaeghe, the favorite to win the Athens Olympics. Unlike road cycling it is uncertain as to whether you have to be on drugs to race XCO, but you sure have to be on drugs to watch it. XCO competitors often carry their bike through rough sections, to avoid falling, as a fall can cause a cut, and when you’re cut all of the EPO flows out. The UCI runs so much drug testing these days that this year they disqualified the entire Tour de France, but the general opinion is that mountainbiking is pretty clean.

This XC racer has taken too much drugs.

The Riders.

Despite our DH prejudices you have to admit some of these riders can really ride. I guess it is almost impossible to spend that much time in the saddle without developing some real skills. Case in point is our own Kashi Leuchs who in a previous life was a pretty handy DHer.

The women’s favorite is Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesja. When I was a kid growing up in Africa I caught a nasty case of gunnrita dahleflesja from eating rotten crocodile meat. If there is one XCO racer that you should check out it is Gunn-Rita. She is completely dominant and at the height of her powers. A bit like Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle. In fact Gunn-Rita has been quoted: “No Viet Cong ever called me nigger” although I think this may have been a misprint. Floats like a bee. Stings like a butterfly. A extraordinary must see racer.

The men’s favorite is Julien Absalon from France, although Swiss rider Christoph Sauser will give him a run for his money.

If you can’t remember any of these racers just stand at the side of the track shouting “Go Gunter”, cause most of the other spectators won’t know anyone either.

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