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Indeed weird that there was that debate before the race but after race started and Josh's crew appeared people weren't interested of that and the discussion seemed to be mostly over already. The accusations of scouting the trail apparently came after they'd ridden ahead from the lodge in the mud to film and posted a picture of a muddy e-bike, here and somewhere else
https://m.facebook.com/groups/228009294199842?view=permalink&id=869199580080807
Also mentioned here:
https://theradavist.com/2019/06/tour-divide-race-part-4/That also mentions the other rider with a film crew getting clothes from them at the lodge.
Weird mess.
I'd have thought both crews were fine, as long as they don't interfere. If there is an actual organizer you'd need to inform them if there's someone filming but apparently TD doesn't have one in that sense. I do like the idea that the racers were there just by themselves in the woods, no organizer, film crews, communication, trail angels or safety net, but I'm fine with the way these races are developing too.
Samuli-
Regarding that whole Blue Mountain Lodge armistice thing, there'd already been riders that had seen the conditions and turned around - Kato for one and didn't Sofiane come back down.
I'm pretty sure in Lael's film the riders have stopped, come back, waited and are already talking about how unlikely it is to be passable given that it's still raining down the mountain even after they'd waited for it to cool down and they'd been hoping for snow.
Basically shit's changed. There's media. People are making money off this sport. Either make rules to deal with it and penalise riders that take the piss, leave it be or ban all fucking outside anything.
hippy
So, "logically", people are more suspicious and outraged about the crew who were upfront and transparent about their plans.
This is exactly what I mean. Everything is based on trust in these races, and we raise our suspicion when someone voluntarily makes an effort to demystify their actions. On the other hand, we assume others have the highest integrity because they didn't say anything. Wow.