2008 Downhill World Championships, Val di Sole, Italy Sam Hill came into this race the reigning world champion. With four riders left on the hill Sam Hill started his final run. At the split he was five seconds up and no one could believe how fast he was going, even the commentator, Rob Warner, a former world level racer. Rob Warner yelled "Look how fast he's going!", "It looks like the film has been speeded up!". Sam was estimated 10 seconds up when he hit the final left hand turn at the bottom of the track. He pulled one of his classic drift turns around the corner but as he straightened up on exit his bike suddenly washed out from under him. He got straight back on his bike but it had cost him his lead and he finished 0.5 of a second behind eventual second place Steve Peat. His run was so nearly the greatest World Championship victory in the history of the sport.
-wiki
15 Comments
eric3579That was sooooo sick!
demon_ixAwwwww..... So close
westyLOL FAIL
aspartamHoly shit!!! That was a *quality run if I ever saw one. And ironically, it's a *fail as well. Well, not really, since it's arguably the best run ever, but I just want to have quality and fail in the same post. Ouch.
siftbotBoosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by aspartam.
Adding video to channels (Fail) - requested by aspartam.
GilsunI used to race downhill in australia and i have seen Sam ride many times. While kinda old now, This indeed is spectacular. In a sport where the top 10 places can be split by only 5 seconds or less.. to be 5 seconds AHEAD of second place only half way down in your run is amazing.
Bruti79says...I didn't quite understand what caught his wheel on that last turn? Was he trying to cut on the inside, and got his front wheel bogged down in sand?
rich_magnetThat one commentator needs a bit more speed. He's not sounding quite hyper enough.
rychanHalf expected Kanye West to pop up at some point with the "best of all time" meme.
ridesallyridencsays...wow.
PaybackHe didn't mean to go that fast, someone cut his brake cables.
Although, I upvote for the irony of going through all the tough shit flawlessly and falling down on practically the only flat turn.
Krupo>> ^rychan:
Half expected Kanye West to pop up at some point with the "best of all time" meme.
Wait for the medals ceremony clip that comes after...
jimnmsLet's see them do that going up the hill.
arghnesssays...I feel sorry for the quieter commentator, he didn't stand a chance.
Still, it does sound like he's enjoying 0:32-0:45... "Ooooh.... Oooooooooaaahhhh..... Oooohhh, it's close".
osama1234says...>> ^Bruti79:
I didn't quite understand what caught his wheel on that last turn? Was he trying to cut on the inside, and got his front wheel bogged down in sand?
I'm not sure what you mean by 'bogged down in sand', but basically you can't turn fast in loose land without the wheel sliding. Essentially he was moving forward, turned his wheel, but the sand didn't provide the traction for him to be able to turn, so essentially his wheel was turned but he continue to go forward due to momentum.
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