Race Report | Round #3 Enduro French Cup iDP, Millau
Having a reasonable doubt about the quality of a product may not be great when buying your first parachute, but going into an enduro series knowing nothing of the level of the trails your about to ride can either be absolutely thrilling, or an absolute disaster. Luckily for the riders taking part in Aveyron, their doubts were quelled.
The mountainous region of Aveyron is known as a softer version of the Alps, more known for its jaw dropping, beautiful scenery than its mountain biking trails. The race was held in Millau over four technical, long stages organized by the local team CSO Millau and beautifully shaped by Alex Balaud.
The technical level was high and the physicality was strong throughout due to the high elevation. Not only that, but the exhaustion of the riders was only made worse by a bitch of a heatwave. Saying this, it was ideal conditions for Nico Quere who really enjoyed the Friday night show with the top pilots presentation in front of 20,000 spectators. He declared, “This stage is fantastic – I really love this place.”
Like a lot of riders, Nico needed to be in high spirits to perform and after a dull beginning of the season, he will beautifully win the first round by masterfully winning the full 4 stages of the day. Some real talent were hot on his heels though and not one person gave up on trying to catch the enduro racing legend. Dimitri Tordo is the first to withdraw from the battle because of a puncture on stage 3, then Gally due to a broken derailleur and at the end Alex Cure, his most serious competitor, who attempted the impossible in Stage 4 and crashed twice.
Adrien Dailly was also part of the possible winners of the round, very regular and strong all along the day. He just missed out through the fighting spirit of the winner who achieved a perfect race.
In the female category we were expecting a tremendous fight between Anne Caro Chausson and Cecile Ravanel and it had been the case. The former DH rider finally takes the win in front of the former XC rider, with only a few second gap (sometimes less than 1 or 2) on each stage. Melanie Pugin finishes 3rd.
In the junior category it’s Lucas Bruder who has taken the win in front of Corentin Macinot. Valentin Brulas finishes 3rd and 1st of the current overall.
The talented Lucas Monetti from Digne and junior winner of the Tribe 10000 last week had a terrible crash. Luckily the news is good now and we hope to see him back soon on the trails.
Patrick Bonifay is exceptionally defeated by Gérard Blanc (a kind of local from the nearby Lozère region) in Master 2. For the Master 1 Gilles Doze successfully fought for 3 seconds against Jean Marc Picard.
Results
Men
1. QUERE Nicolas | Commençal Enduro team | 21:30.737
2. CURE Alexandre | Rocky Mountain Urge bp | 21:52.427
3. DAILLY Adrien | Lapierre Gravity | 22:05.576
4. PONTAL Yannick | Alltricks Transition | 22:32.280
5. PIAZZON Loic | Team Ktm Kenny | 22:34.785
Women
1. CHAUSSON Anne Caro | Ibis cycles team | 24:18.676
2. RAVANEL Cécile | Commençal Vallnord Enduro | 24:38.892
3. PUGIN Mélanie | Les Fourgs Singletrack | 27:03.596
It’s still tight for the general ranking of the Enduro Series French Cup with the current leader Nicolas Filippi who will have to fight against a solid Piazzon, a surprising Baladier or the strong Chamrousse team mates Clement and Gaillot.
The final podium is far from being revealed now with still 3 races to go.
Rendezvous in Les Orres on the 25th and the 26th of July for the first original format Enduro Series race of the season. And in that resort trails are known for being very steep.
For more info, visit: tignesnet.com
Words: Andrew Richardson & Tignesnet Photos: Tignesnet
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