Worst Mechanicals of 2023 😩 | WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series

Before the 2024 UCI Cross-country World Cup kicks off in Mairipora, Brazil on the 12th of April, we took a look back at some of the best...or worst mechanicals from 2023!
Who had the worst luck? Let us know!👇
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The UCI Mountain Bike World Series unites mountain bike’s major formats under a single brand for the first time. The new UCI Mountain Bike World Series includes the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup for Cross-country Olympic (XCO), Cross-country Short Track (XCC), Cross-country Marathon (XCM), Downhill (DHI), Enduro (EDR) and E-enduro (E-EDR).
Comprehensive coverage from the races captures the excitement through exclusive interviews, analysis, reactions and event highlights. In-between events and through the off-season there are regular features covering technical and rider-based topics. All embedded with the latest mountain bike action from the world's best riders.
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[@alexpetrovitch]

The frame breaking at the bottom bracket! Wow!

[@beneklein413]

Arc8

[@1975edgard]

Watching this, after WC starts in Mairiporã and Araxá... all I can see is that teams were well awarned about inner pressure on tires AND a meticulously inpection on trail to get them safe and advised to avoid flat tires. And with another amendment, traks in Brazil were far worst, dificult and challenging above every ways compared to Canadian etape. Good point for organizers/UCI Staff, best point for teams, glorious point for the winners!!!

[@robclarke5438]

Bring back Rob Warner

[@jabrielramos19]

+1

[@alanfaustop]

+2

[@Sirmellowman]

man, that guy at the end that had the two flats. his mechanic deserves a medal for that shit. WOW, what a pro team they are

[@jameswilson2815]

I don't do good in crowds. I'm more of a soul rider. But more power to these riders. Their crazy.

[@kennethkuhlman8864]

Why are there so many flats?!! That's ridiculous.

[@LukaszRogowiczYamaortodks]

Because they literally fight for fractions of seconds, rushing as fast as they can, even through root patches or boulder gardens. And since it's XC, the tires are lightened as much as possible. Unfortunately, the lack of an inner tube also has its effect because it is lighter, but the tire is susceptible to leakage of the connection between the rim and the tire. Generally, it is light but easy to get a flat tire, especially since today's XC races in downhill sections resemble riding in a Bike Park and these light sets of tires often cannot withstand it.

[@jimihendrix731]

Because tubeless isn’t as good as it’s advertised to be.

[@kennethkuhlman8864]

@@jimihendrix731 so I’ve been thinking about this for the past couple days. I wonder if it’s such an issue because they have very fresh tires that have just been mounted. Tires need some time to like let that sealant get into all the nooks and crannies and cure a little bit.

[@BikingNL000]

@@jimihendrix731 Used to ride tons of flats with tubes, now riding with tubeless for 4 years and only had a puncture ones since I sliced my sidewall where the sealant couldn't do much. It's not the tubeless set up thats bad, it's the tire choice. It's not like an inner tube would have made much of difference if a sharp stone is sharp enough to puncture through the outer tire.

[@Simte]

Worst nightmare for pro mechanics.

[@accismusanachronism]

Freame?

[@helmutloidts5126]

Don't they use tubeless?

[@LukaszRogowiczYamaortodks]

Well, they use tubeless ones and that's really the main problem. Because in XC everything has to be as light as possible. Also tires. And on such crazy descents as on XC routes today, which resemble riding in a Bike Park, these light sets often do not withstand and leak. Because these super light tubeless tires most often do not get punctured, but only leak at the junction with the rim when driving hard over roots or stones. Well, the weight is low, but there is a risk of such "failures".

[@jimihendrix731]

They do and it’s clearly not as good at preventing flats as the industry has lead us to believe.

[@GaborEID]

Tubeless but on the limit. They are in the 60-70kg body weight range, running just ~18psi or lower. On the other hand, I'm 80kg using ~25psi and I could ride through anything without issues, the tyres hold pressure for almost weeks, tubeless is very good.

[@ricaze70]

At this time and age, flat tires should not happen this often, unacceptable at this level to say the least, tire manufacturers have a loooooooong way to go in order to be at the rest of the bicycle tech level.

[@LukaszRogowiczYamaortodks]

But at the moment, when it comes to bikes, the problem actually only applies to XC races. And it lies in the desire to take the weight off the tire. If the tires were thicker and more armored, they would not leak so easily at the connection to the rim. Because the vast majority of these cases are not punctures at all, but leaks. In Enduro or DH bikes, getting a flat tire is very rare these days, because the tires are really armored. And in XC, low weight is the priority and it is what it is. This is a risk that riders take fully consciously.

[@Andy_ATB]

As a motorsport follower, I'd never class a flat/ puncture as a 'mechnical'......it's a tyre issue. Mechanical is brakes, suspension, drivetrain.......

[@jabrielramos19]

ok motorsport follower.

[@baron95893]

So, a tire in engineering terms is not a mechanical part? xD

[@dukey_1337]

As a mountainbiker for 30 years who doesn't care about motorsports I was thinking the same. Also, if they would put on beefier tires and avoid puntures, they wouldn't have to pedal so hard - a few minutes saved. :P

[@owenscott2966]

This was boring