Originally Posted by
junkyard
I didn't see the competition, so I can't really judge. But, what I've noticed is that seeing video of a skilled rider on a gnarly course often makes the course appear easier than it is. Also, the steepness of a climb doesn't always translate well onto video. Without having seen the competition, I can't judge, but this might be part of it.
I noticed that too. At first, I thought, "that doesn't look so hard". Then I watched the winner spin up the hill in her small ring & you could tell she was working. "Hmmm... I don't have legs like her, or do this for a living - maybe it isn't as easy at it seems....". Also, the difference between watching the leaders and the stragglers do the technical downhills also lead me to believe they weren't quite as "easy" as it looked at first.