It is my pleasure to nominate into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame the most successful downhill racer in our young sport’s history- Nicolas Vouilloz.
Nicolas retired from mountain bike racing after winning his 10th World Championship in 2002. He only lost one World Championship that he competed in, after suffering a flat tire at the Worlds in Sierra Madre, Spain.
Having worked with him for several of his racing years, I can attest to the fact that rarely on the racing circuit has there been a person as professional and dedicated to the science of speed as Nicolas. He approached every aspect of racing with the intensity of a brain surgeon and it showed in his multiple World Champion, World Cup and French National championship titles.
Vouilloz’ approach at the racing scene was also a step above the competition. Bringing telemetry and technology to the suspension on his bikes, his prescence in the pits brought the races one step closer to the style of Formula 1 Racing - serious, solid and scientific.
To witness Nico in person was a study in style, grace and calculated power. Nothing being wasted from the top to bottom of the world’s gnarliest mountain bike downhills.
While Nico has now moved on to racing Rally cars, I would hope that you will help move him into a hall that he belongs in - the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
Steve Boehmke
