Skip to main content

TRANS SAVOIE

Early mornings, late nights organising, long days, long descents & most importantly long lasting smiles! "Stage 4 Secure!"

Marshals- Jonas, Phil & Martin securing a stage

I've not long returned from 10 days of helping out with the inaugural Trans Savoie as a course marshal.  I'm exhausted, but happy, just like all the other helpers and athletes.  The trails we rode were world class and the climbs were true alpine bruts.  The breakfasts and dinners were also bottomless, just like the smiles and fun atmosphere.  There may have been issues each day for marshals and riders alike, but for an event in its first year that is bound to happen.  Hopefully next year will be even better.

The speed of the top riders down 20min descents was unreal.  A highlight for me was being the start marshal for the final stage on day 3, or was it 4? Anyway, after a slog of fire road climb in the heat, Rene Wildhaber and his mate Armin arrived having not broken into a sweat.  Four of them then proceeded to 'train' it down the singletrack timed descent and off into distance leaving clouds of dust behind them.  From our vantage point we could see about 3km of the singletrack ribbon as the riders turned into dots and disappeared into the loamy treeline.

Also on the very last timed descent of the event Neil Donoghue's speed over the roots down towards me was unreal after 15mins of descending, not to mention the previous 5 days of racing!

 I didn't get loads of photo's, even though everyday featured world class trails.  I had work to do checking the signposting...  The media guys got some really good ones so hopefully they will get in a magazine or two.  Aussie Dave the super Mechanic is hoping to get an article in an Oz mag.  Marshal Dave got many including Luca owning a rock drop in Meribel.  Aswell as Jonas's dust photos higher up in Meribel.  Tony did have some great ones till he lost the camera, hope the Wife's ok!  Martin however managed to keep-a-hold of his and has some great ones too.  Maybe even some of me?

 Official videos here: http://vimeo.com/thisisbigalpineenduro

Other reports here: https://www.facebook.com/TransSavoie
Val d'Isere campsite chaos

Lots of waiting for riders = flower time

Jovet style!

This awesome trail disappears into trees just right of centre, near the top of photo

Wildhaber crew shredding hard

Pink! Only pro girl!



Phil above Les Contamines- caffeine power!

Money shot!


Martin zooming past high above Les Contamines

Col Joly

mellow meadow shredding
Well done to everyone that made it through both staff and riders!
World class event! Happpy Days! Thanks again to Russ for the bike!
and remember: the liason from here should be signed...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Being shown around my classic stomping ground

Another chance to be shown around trails.  Not as glamorous as Switzerland, but just as good! Mortimers Forest and Bringewood, Ludlow, Shropshire, England The woods of Mortimers Forest and Bringewood are where I grew up mountain biking so I always love going back.  A few years ago I built a long section of singletrack trail to link in above a much loved piece of trail that had been a staple of rides for many years.  It was my way of giving back to the forest riders and builders. Over the last few years whilst I've been away riding 1000m+ descents my Dad has still been out exploring every corner of these forests.  Sometimes walking with my Mother, other times out on road rides with his Wednesday night Pub Ride group or usually with his main Sunday morning off road group. They are trail connoisseurs, though they might not look it.  They are the type of group that make up every British Forestry carpark on a Sunday morning...
Post a Comment
Read more

What guides do between work in the peak of July

Summer is here, and after fantastic spring riding in Southern France and then all over Valais, Aosta and Haute Savoie with good friends it's been time to get back to summer guiding, taking hikers around the Tour du Mont Blanc circuit.  There's much worse things to do, but with three weeks off the bike I was itching to get back on some trails. With a carefully planned week between tours I was excited and made some plans to hit up some classic lines, and some new stuff too. It's mid July now, so in Chamonix valley you have to think carefully about where to go to miss the crowds, and to avoid going on the bike ban trails (July & August).  Luckily it's still easy to find quiet trails in nearby resorts, or to simply drop round the back of a hill away from the frontside lifts. It went a little like this: Day 1- La Thuile with Wayne of newly qualified French legal mountain bike guiding service  Chamonixmtb.com  . Enduro race venue at it's best, rough and raw. ...
1 comment
Read more

Changing times

Being show around Valais trails for a change People I've been riding with recently have been talking about the Emosson to Martigny trail and how good it is.  Me and Tom had been up there in June to ride the first half of the trail and loved it.  blogged here . So I was keen to get back. I wasn't keen to get up after a late night in Amnesia, but knew that the road climb from Finahut would sort me and Jarno out. 1 1/2 hours spinning wasn't too bad. Luckily the trail is great form the beginning, even if it undulates and you often have to get off your bike for a quick push up.  It still kind of flows, in a 'flow-tech' kind of way. The views looking down towards Martigny and Sion were still great.  The trail really gets going after about 3 kilometres.  Basically from the Emosson the trail traverses North-Eastwards constantly hugging the mountainside to your left, and always with a big drop down to your right.  It's another one ...
Post a Comment
Read more