I'm Chris, this is the downtime podcast and you're tuned in to our Valde Solé pre-race show with Chris Gilmorry. If you're listening to this, then the chances are that you love mountain biking just as much as I do, and you want to stay as close to the heart of the sport as possible. Well, that's exactly what we're here to help you do. All season long, I'll be joined by Chris for these pre-race chats and by Nico and Ollie for our post-race debrief. We're bringing you analysis and insight that you won't find anywhere else straight from the track. But here's the reality, the mountain bike industry is struggling right now, and that means this series does not have any backing. It's the most expensive thing that I make with the travel costs and paying the team for their time and expertise. Honestly, I thought hard and long about not running it this year, but I love doing it and from the amazing support we've had trackside, I know you love it too. So I've decided to fund it myself for now. But if this show means something to you and if you want to keep it going, then please consider supporting us over on Patreon. You can sign up for as little as £3 a month at patreon.com for slash downtime podcast. That's less than the price of a coffee, but it makes a real difference to us. The more of you who chip in, the more likely it is that we can keep doing this. I know times are tight, but if you value what we're creating

here, if it helps you stay connected to the sport that you love, then now's the time to chip in and help out. Just head to patreon.com for slash downtime podcast. That's p-a-t-t-r-e-o-n.com for-slash-down-pondcast and help us keep it rolling. A massive thank you to everyone who's chipped in so far it definitely helps but we still do need way more of you to make this thing

sustainable and help us keep it rolling. A massive thank you to everyone who's chipped in so far. It definitely helps, but we still do need way more of you to make this thing sustainable. So if you can, now is the time to help out. All right, one week off, and we're back into the thick of World Cut racing, this time on Vaudesolet's Black Snake. Join me as I sit down with Chris Kilmurray to discuss what we should be expecting from

one of the most challenging venues on the circuit.

The season is gathering pace and there's heaps to dive into.

So without further ado, here's Chris Kilmurray.

Chris Kilmurray, post-Leer gang.

Welcome back to the downtime podcast.

How's things, mate? It feels like I've never left yet again. At least you've got an actual break this time. Yeah, yeah. It's like a blessing and a curse because you go home for a week and you watch everyone on social media doing laps and schlabming. And I'm doing laps of my house for maintenance and DIY and laps of the town picking the kids up at school and laps of just general life you know so it's

great this sounds pretty familiar yeah I've I came out of the plane with a cold that I've been

fighting and trying to catch up on tasks here but I'm a sniffles sniffles and head colds and everything

else at the last two races between people brought something from Poland to Ludenvale and then a new strain developed between Ludenvale and Liu Gang.

It seems like I met a lot of people the last two weeks with sniffles and coughs and everything else.

So the World Cup circuit's been hard.

I don't know what this one is.

It's not particularly bad, but I'm definitely like lacking energy.

Walking up small hills is getting me out of breath. So, yeah, who knows. Finn Dow's COVID-25, that's what we call it, okay? Probably. Let's say that then. We got COVID. Well, let's talk a little bit about Lear game before we get stuck into Voward of Soul. I, fast racing, tight margins, many injuries is kind of how

I would sum that one up. Any thoughts from your side? Yes, lots of thoughts. In contrast, fast,

not as fast as Ludinville in terms of average speeds.

A wild contrast actually I think on the surface

two fast tracks

taped relatively straight

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