OK - lets say that's true. That in itself doesn't mean they won't stand up for years. Thing is, sponsored riders are given every possible advantage by the companies sponsoring them, which can improve every year, which can result in new frames being used every season. Which doesn't mean the frames retired were defective or damaged - just no longer quite as competative.

Its surprising the things that are considered 'obsolete' when you start measuring performance to three decimal places.

We need more sports measured by 'FUN FACTOR' and not a stopwatch.