Legion's CRIT Championships

[@HIcycles]

And that’s a class in class from the master. Not only was he not invited, he hyped up the race, having nothing but nice things to say about legion. Good work, Jeff.

[@colehaans2863]

He hyped up the race and said nice things because he knows he didn’t want any problems in person. Straight up bitch move; stand on what you said, don’t try and be nice to them now, it’s too late.

[@MorgusVR]

thats way too much, TLDR

[@SeraStaplz]

Again, another missed opportunity to repair their reputation by reaching out to one of the kindest and well liked youtube cycling ambassadors. Honestly they could have done one better than just inviting Jeff, they could hire him to commentate the entire race.

[@21tresi]

Why didn't they invite him?

[@HGZie]

@@21tresi they're racist

[@SeraStaplz]

@@21tresi NorCal has called them out on lack integrity in the last event they held (which they did invite him) including not paying out prizes; and they started beefing with Jeff when he also called out some unsportsmanlike conduct, race strategy, and general attitude in a collaborative podcast. Jeff being a nice guy openly and continues to praise Legion for what they do for cycling in the US, and refuses to engage in the direct beefing. But every time I see it I'm just like, "Just get with Jeff. He holds no grudge and will improve your image." At the same time, I don't want to see Jeff get entangled with Legion. An open lack of integrity is a sign of lack of integrity elsewhere.

[@SpicyTrifongo]

I'm not saying he doesn't have the skills to do it, but commentating a live race is a helluva lot different than doing a race breakdown. Entirely different skill set.

[@colehaans2863]

@@SeraStaplzNorCal threw the first shots, and now he is kissing their ass? Nothing changed except NorCal realizing he is going to have to walk that all that tough talk, and he knows good and well he wasn’t going to back it up or stand on what he said in person. Classic bitch move. Talk crazy and tough online, but when it’s time be about it, switch up and try to befriend the same people you were spitting venom at so comfortably in your online safe place. SMH

[@123oner2]

Huge shout of to the Tekkerz boys reppin the UK, who placed a very strong 2nd having not raced against this crowd before. BIGGGGG UPS!

[@lolbubs11111]

As a track racer I love to see points races showing up in crits. The diversity of formats is part of what makes track fun. Great commentary and always impressed with the caliber of racing in these events.

[@rockymanbro]

Good to hear America will have a sprinter in the World Tour again!

[@dwaynerandolph3565]

Great stuff Jeff ! This is the kind of content we like seeing & hearing from you and how to race or ride our machines, POSITIVITY is always best @NorCal Cycling 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@dag221]

Did anyone get paid this time ? As a long time cycling fan and former racer/rider I can honestly say I don't feel especially thrilled by these new formats. I understand they might want to try and get new fans into the sport which is great and maybe regional/city connections might do that but honestly I have no connection whatsoever with the Milwaukee Swarm but I'm much more familiar with Project Echelon. There were a lot of good riders in the race albeit on teams I didn't know anything about but there were tons of top pros who weren't there and the invite only format isn't something that seems to have worked in the past since it was top heavy with Legion affiliated teams. If you're essentially paying yourself to put on a race I don't think it's going to hold much interest for me but maybe someone in Atlanta eating wings and drinking beer while watching this 'new' thing happening will be over the moon. Three crit series in America all trying to make it when one barely has been able to up to this point is going to be interesting for sure.

[@zzzwillzzz]

legion also stacks the deck by making a bunch of composite teams that don't ride together much against their teams that has been riding together for years...

[@itsP0rky]

@@zzzwillzzz Not to mention bringing in U.S. Road National Champ Luke Lamperti to ride for their team even though he's a Soudal Quik-Step rider.

[@davewyman]

I clipped a pedal in my first race during the Westwood criterium, in Los Angeles, in 1976. When it happened, I thought someone had grabbed my jersey and ripped me backwards off my bike. I’d been part of a three person breakaway, getting ready to lap the back of the field. I still have and fit into my La Grange-Peugeot jersey. The bloodstains are a reminder of my inexperience that day.

[@PatrickLino]

Jeff + Will = GOAT race commentary.

[@williamrhardin]

🤩🙌

[@colehaans2863]

Here we go with this guy @PatrickLino. SMDH

[@livingwithfshd]

They dont want you cause you have called them out in the past. They salty

[@JwallzMTB]

i dog them at every race while they sit alone away from everyone. theyre fuckin jokes.

[@Avioto]

Legion is really that petty?

[@KickAndSit]

@@Aviototheir leader openly made immature comments about the situation. Very petty

[@enochmogusu8573]

@@Aviotoyes 💀

[@chamansw]

Yes

[@jgrefrath]

Awesome to see L39ION promoting US racing! Another NorCal honest dialogue with smart inside takes on the race and the riders. Keep it coming!

[@chanito_nyc]

“I didn’t get an invite” I wonder why 😂

[@edwardkrasnai6488]

Why is this not titled "Legion hires non-Legion rider to win Legion race."

[@deadstump4970]

... I mean, welcome to bike racing. Buy the legs you need to win.

[@Martin-ls9bz]

​@@deadstump4970hiring for a day is not very common

[@mstrasser]

your invite must have been lost in the mail (or insta stories/DMs) 😂 Great race. the power to catch you on that break. Insane. EDIT: did he clip a pedal? good to hear it wasn't THAT bad

[@williamrhardin]

Yep, clipped a pedal deep into that corner

[@mstrasser]

​@@williamrhardinyeah i re-watched it and saw the contact. was blinded b the rear tire skidding! also great race, seriously. especially after a collarbone break so soon. that ending "wait you're moving up" 😂

[@williamrhardin]

😂😂

[@MarcKohli]

That crash looked like a “high side” after loosing rear traction rather than a clipped pedal. Bike flips up in the air when the rear regains grip. Happens a lot in motorcycle racing.

[@Pratalax]

Excellent coverage! Glad you got to put out some commentary on this. Really like the race and branding format, i think it could be really effective - i mean how many people have a Yankees hat, right? One day. Fingers crossed this grows and develops in a good way. Hope all the i's were dotted and t's crossed this time eh!

[@wraith8323]

The critiques you give them are perfect, praise where deserved and useful suggestions on where things could improve. It is fair. If folk cant appreciate this kind of helpful nudging then its on them not you

[@obikedog]

If L3gion didn't invite Jeff just because he called (one of) them out for their hypocritical social media posts then that's kinda - no - extremely lame. Not a good look for America's premier crit racing promoter. (I'm glad gravel/mtb racing doesn't have drama like that \s.) Glad to see someone (Jeff) is showing the kids how "rising above" is done.

[@colehaans2863]

@odbikedog, Legion could have easily invited Jeff and then punked him in front of everyone for his keyboard warrior shit talking. And Jeff would have done absolutely NOTHING about but stand there and take it because he is not built like that, he is not a tough guy like he talked on the computer. Legion did the right thing by not inviting him because if they did, someone could have justifiable beat his ass for talking shit on the internet knowing he is soft and not going to back it up.

[@obikedog]

Hey dude - IF much? Lol Not reactionary at all. @@mindfreebodyfree5770

[@obikedog]

So much rage. Be better.@@colehaans2863

[@silenagomez3547]

@@colehaans2863 are you 15 years old

[@buzzman4860]

Did they pay out for last one?

[@nationsnumber1chump]

this one was free. you didn't get invited?

[@aaronbarker6988]

Hello Will!! Nice to see/hear you on this channel!!!

[@williamrhardin]

Thanks bro!

[@CarlDoesStuff]

I've been watching bike racing for a minute but I have never seen a crash like that.

[@fixedfortitude8087]

I got a chance to race the fixie field in this! It was awesome!!

[@davidvonslingshot]

Legion…….. and “branding” - oh irony

[@Djacob_]

That guy who attacked at 5:12… too much sauce!

[@northpole3490]

Great race and keep up the good work

[@duttyvegan]

Don’t forget the tekkers from the uk 👊🏾

[@andyrob6565]

will handled this really efficiently considering they were going 30+ mph the whole time

[@williamrhardin]

🙌

[@painterabc123]

Bro, that one rider crashed and burned. That crash at the start of the first bell lap was intense. 6:29

[@binkzera2777]

Those barriers look crazy dangerous, I would not want to get close

[@aquicktake]

The guy that went up over the barrier probably would of been fine had he not looked back right at the apex of the corner. Holy smokes at the point where he's just gripping the bars and his whole lower body is 6' up in the air!

[@lolbubs11111]

It looked like he struck a pedal to me.

[@Second247]

@@lolbubs11111Yup. Pedal points down and rear wheel goes up.

[@ericmosher6969]

is legion going to pay out this time?

[@tuna_buoy]

I’ll miss you in blue, Will.

[@williamrhardin]

Miss you too Tuan!

[@sureshot1109]

I just can’t get behind anything Legion, their leaders set a piss poor example and have zero integrity. Like usual, they’re in it for the money.

[@colehaans2863]

@sureshot1109, I respect your opinion, and you may be correct. But now you have to stand on it. Don’t be like NorCal and next month sing Legion’s praises after they don’t invite you to race. If you believe they have zero integrity, then you should stay far away from them, not swing on their sacks afterwards like NorCal did.

[@sureshot1109]

@@colehaans2863 Agreed, I didn’t like that NorCal still features and talks about them. There’s nothing Legion can do to earn my respect and support unless they kick off their founders/other dirty riders and show through time they’re not the same team.

[@colehaans2863]

@@mindfreebodyfree5770i’m not hating anyone, but as long as the narrative is “NorCal/Jeff is the good guy in the right” for now changing his tune because he wasn’t allowed to race,and Legion are the bad guys and bullies who were salty and mad and didn’t invite NorCal to race, i’m not letting it go cause thats bullshit what NorCal did. Legion is fighting an uphill battle due to all the negative press, suspensions, non-payment allegations, and they put on a bike race so people could have fun hang with friends etc. People don’t agree with the format fine, people don’t like Justin, fine, but i’m not gonna sit here and let it seem like NorCal also wasn’t wrong and did some bitch shit after the fact. I don’t hate NorCal, I don’t know him, just like I don’t know Justin. This isn’t about hate, it’s about setting a story straight so Legion just doesn’t get more negative press for trying to promote the sport we all love, while NorCal gets put on a pedestal after he was dead wrong.

[@joshuaelundberg3333]

They wont be the same team next year most likely. Forgoing the continental license will see them lose big name riders. But it doesn't matter to Justin as long as he gets his league kicked off. The league presents a better long term venture for him and it doesn't need Legion to be there necessarily. What it does need is massive investment to cover all the team and race expenses in order to own everything. @@sureshot1109

[@redfixfive]

so a championships of almost all teams under the umbrella of one team? Ok makes sense. I know the Williams need attention LOL

[@edwardkrasnai6488]

and, legion hires the crit national champ to race for them.

[@redfixfive]

@@edwardkrasnai6488 gotta keep that sponsor money coming in... all looks good on social media and the reality is they are an instagram team at best

[@joshuaelundberg3333]

We need it, but not under the ownership of one group. It would be better if existing teams are asked to join rather than ANOTHER new team being cretaed every year. @@mindfreebodyfree5770

[@leonharddearaujoalbrecht8543]

its funny to me that points races are a new concept to the US, in europe crits have always been points races.

[@joshuaelundberg3333]

USACrits was a points based series. Nothing new at all here in the US either. It's just about promotion and hype.

[@987654321ttoomm]

YES WILL!

[@myoung14]

The Chicago Rivals?

[@Joshua-dx7zn]

Why in the world did guy in white look back while doing 30mph before a turn? That was a scary crash over a high barrier.

[@Newtttton]

I'm sorry to hear they didn't invite you, my friend. It's disheartening when we, as members of the human race, act in ways that are vindictive and unforgiving. Let's aspire to rise above such tendencies, embrace forgiveness, and allow bygones to be bygones. It's truly sad when we let these attitudes affect our connections with one another.

[@jimmynickelz]

They changed the format. This should be interesting. 🍿 🍿 🍿.

[@gmen1305]

Do my eyes deceive me or does LEGION have 2 teams in the race again -Luke, Sam&Tyler wearing dark blue jerseys the other Justin & Corey in black "Dream"

[@williamrhardin]

Yep, they split up some teams to be squads of 6

[@gmen1305]

@@williamrhardin they have some great riders but Justin stacking the deck in their favor says a lot about the team

[@MorgusVR]

Think they will pay people this time?😂

[@MorgusVR]

@@mindfreebodyfree5770 lol didn't know that

[@MorgusVR]

@@mindfreebodyfree5770 I looked into it, I didn't know all the stuff that went on with the fist fights and taking someone out in Colorado. Sounds like age is catching up with him and he is going all in with rough riding to make up with loss of speed.

[@MorgusVR]

@@mindfreebodyfree5770 are you a bot or did chatgpt write that?

[@AbhijeetSingh-nm2ll]

Legion really this petty?

[@sirehan1002]

nation number 69 beast

[@stefanlogan1344]

Yeah I no buddy that crash.

[@JwallzMTB]

6:40 for the crash

[@AndrewCJXing]

Does anyone know which front and rear cameras are used in this video? Thanks in advance.

[@NorCalCycling]

gopros hero 9 through 12s in my videos. it's more about the settings though.

[@user-sj1hz9qw3e]

Man love your channel but not the sucking up to legion since you called them out. You don't need to be obsequious to the legion team.

[@colehaans2863]

FACTS!! PREACH!

[@joshuaelundberg3333]

I wrote a long comment in another video to Jeff about this. I told him that Legion doesn't respect you, doesn't mention you or Mike's Bikes in their videos, yet he continues to play off them for clicks. It's getting sad.@@colehaans2863

[@jordanperformance]

Orange belt crit...lot of confusion here. Legion only ran the pro race. The rest of the event was run by the Orange belt crit team and they were phenomenal. legion.. not so much

[@ZwiftDude]

Is anti-doping regulated in these events over in the US? I mean, do you have authorities who seek random urine samples using random sampling?

[@williamrhardin]

There is anti-doping at many of these events, they are random in their testing but do show up at many big races.

[@joshuaelundberg3333]

@@williamrhardin The problem often with USADA is they will show up and only test one guy, the winner. Unless they're targeting someone of course. Will in one of your videos a race was won by a guy who got popped 11 years ago and I think he's been tested a few times since. So you just never know I guess, but I wish they would check more people.

[@scottheitmanmarinesurvey3557]

Was that guy OK?

[@williamrhardin]

yep! hear it was just a few eyebrow stitches

[@joshuaperry8729]

Jeff they didn't invite you because they knew you would toast them all in the sprint. 😊😊

[@brizziefritz4794]

I don't get it. They want to promote cycling, want to make the sport 'cool', exciting and accessible. But then they, again, field two teams where others only get one, they hire a World Tour pro for the day so they can get the win and they are selective in who gets an invite. Seems more like an ego and money thing than love for cycling.

[@rserton]

That crash over the barriers is insane. Is that dude still alive?

[@williamrhardin]

Just some stitches!

[@MostlyAutomotive48]

The only thing that died is his ego 🤣

[@shepshape2585]

I really need to start paying more attention to local racing. I grew up in St Pete and live not far from there. Had no idea there was a huge crit race there a few weeks ago, would have loved to have gone and watched it.

[@alibabaong]

Argh, why didn’t they invite one of the biggest promoter of USA Cycling?

[@colehaans2863]

@onglenghin, because he talked hella shit about them and tried to expose them. They don’t fuck with NorCal after that. If he wanted to race in their series, he should have either kept his mouth shut, or been a man and had a private conversation in person with them - which he wouldn’t because he knows he can only act tough online since he knows he would get violated if he disrespected one of them in person. NorCal chose the bitch route, it is what its.

[@lilithstrange]

did the legion bullies pay off the prizes from their last race?

[@gabbyallong]

Their graphic designer is Justin

[@MorgusVR]

lol...he pays people to do that.

[@jamilcostley1]

What camera is being used for this footage? Almost looks like a video game.

[@adccars359]

🤔Wonder why i didnt get invited to this marvelous star studded event. 😒Oh yea i crapped all over legion for the whole 2023.

[@cheers1905]

NFL-ification with cringe made up names, standardised aesthetics and general legion bullshit, no thanks.

[@joshuaelundberg3333]

It could work if it weren't owned by 2 groups.

[@shepshape2585]

That was one of the most spectacular crashes I've ever seen. If he can't make a living as a bike racer, he should go to Hollywood and be a stunt man.

[@painterabc123]

Now that was an attack. See ya ! 9:09

[@geraldtone5914]

Legion hate incoming in 3.2.1...

[@dag221]

Anyone but L390210

[@joshuaelundberg3333]

Maybe he could just make a video about a real race that doesn't even mention Legion. Wouldn't that be amazing. @@mindfreebodyfree5770

[@sealtooth6382]

90’s Cat 3 race 💤😴💤

[@tjtennisicmroll2k]

It is nice Legion didn't invite you to their race, because they know you like to get paid.

[@skippervevo8441]

Speaking of godline @ 3:15

[@williamrhardin]

😂

[@billkallas1762]

Not enough sprint for points. There should be points every 6 laps.

[@williamrhardin]

That would spice it up!

[@alexandersilinskiy8258]

Have they paid prizes yet? Legion is a “brand” you don’t want to associate with in any way

[@basedgodstrugglin]

lol

[@ronm9357]

"I didn't get an invite" = salty

[@jackal6234]

U guys okay with Legion now? I thought u had a beef wit em?

[@colehaans2863]

@jackal6234, it’s the other way around, Legion doesn’t fuck with NorCal. He pulled a bitch move, and now thinks sucking up with get him back in good graces. NorCal should just apologize in person, man to man, not post stuff on the internet about, and move on.

[@belarusian8380]

Legion didn’t stack the field with two teams this time?

[@riderhawley7296]

They did

[@jackryan2135]

Legion is a disgrace to cycling. There shit would not fly in Europe.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

america has made everybody sprinter but not everybody sprinter. don't waste your time living someone else's dream. don't be trapped by american crits

[@robinfowler9477]

Legion still sucks

[@colehaans2863]

@PatrickLino, is a lying snake. He acts like a 13 y.o. groupie around Legion in person, but at the same time agrees with NorCal about Legion’s shady and unsportsmanlike conduct. The road bike scene is full of opportunistic cowards.