Mavic Trans Provence 2013 Day 1: Clamensane to Digne
Day one saw riders tackle four stages from Clamensane to Dignes-Les-Bains, often described as a ‘baptism of fire’, riders rode through biblical weather for most of the route which was spread over 50km with around 1800 metres of climbing. Riders start in two waves roughly based on their speed, with faster riders starting in wave two. The Trans-Provence is named as the toughest multi-day MTB race around with rocky, rooty and steep singletrack providing a combination of tight switchbacks and exposed trails. Current leader going into day two is Jerome Clementz, followed by Nicolas Lau in second, and Fabien Barel in third.
MAVIC® TRANS-PROVENCE 2013 /// DAY 1 from Trans-Provence on Vimeo.
The first wave of riders had breakfast around 6am and left for the uplift to the first climb leading to stage one. This stage provided riders with a new route into a valley rather than the traditional Trans-Provence route. Exposed singletrack into some tight switchbacks was first on the agenda, down to a broken river bed finishing in meadowland and finally on to a fire road.
Riders then followed the trail, onto a section of fire road to reach stage two, and they were then faced with an 800m climb to reach a col between two hills reaching the next timing section. In true Trans-Provence fashion the weather wasn’t kind to riders and the day provided a mixture of weathers throughout the day. Sven Martin posted on his Instagram:
And so it begins. Day 1 @transprovence. From epic light to rolling fog to Hail and thunderstorm from hell. Weather and trail conditions made the Special stages awesome but sketchy and the Liaisons a long hard slog. Plenty of moments almost list @olivermunnik as he flew off a cliff, worthy inductee into the #Darkcloud crew. @endurojc @ridehousemartin @ballersays all killed it. @smaildog @blackbox_jc @pangagram @steelcitymedia and me all survive another day!
As the first wave of riders arrived at the col at 1700m the heavens opened, bringing them on to a fast section, dropping across open hillside, through woodland over small rock gardens then alongside the river. The notorious right hander caught a few riders off guard taking them off the side of the track, meaning they had to climb back up the hill to reach the trail again. After a short while the trail dropped riders down to a road providing them shelter from the weather.
The final two stages of day one revisited a more classic Trans-Provence route, taking riders down to ‘Donkey Darko’ but via a new route with the added special stage three thrown into the mix. Down a steep fire road onto a ridge then down a trail off to one side via a wooden gully, onto a steep climb before finally bringing riders onto the final stage of day one. Special Stage Four was Donkey Darko, riders dropped across a meadow into a rock band then dropping onto a trail that drops steeply into the side of a ravine with added switchbacks, rock gardens, fast singletrack, open hillsides and forestry.
Results Day one
Day two has not long kicked off with nicer weather and and alleged easier ride for competitors today.
