SP7, such a scary trail, this one started off pretty fast flowing in the trees, breaking out on to a mega rocky double track going Mach 10. It just seemed to get faster and faster, although I missed a marker at high speed. Mark Weir’s descent was simply insane.

SP8. Another huge hike–a–bike with over 800 metres of climbing seems to be a trend here. This stage was awesome, difficult to slow down at times for some of the ridiculous switch backs, rocks everywhere and then a high speed flowing section at the finish, this trail, Donkie Darko, truly had everything.

I’m having to learn some fast lessons being used to riding on a trail that I can ride a hundred percent on the DH scene. It’s a very different concept riding these gnarly trails blind. Five more days to learn.

Digne – Villars-Colmars

SP 9   +0m/-536m

SP 10 +120m/-311m

SP 11 +50m/-232m

7.30am and the alarm went off and the noise of tent zips and morning coughs and farts from our tented neighbours marked the start of another day at the Trans Provence. Having not really researched much about this race before, myself and my boyfriend James (Richards) entered. The first two days had been pretty full–on and much more of a physical challenge than I had expected. Day 2 was a long one and I was feeling the effects on my body, a nasty chesty cough and a pretty damn tired pair of legs as I slowly crawled out of my tent. Today was in theory meant to be a much easier day than yesterday, it was going to be shorter in distance but we actually were going to climb more than we would descend! Coming into this race my experience at the Cape Epic would help me massively, just knowing how hard it feels to push your body day after day and knowing that I need to really think carefully about my drinking, nutrition and more importantly my bottom!

Our morning uplift left the campsite at 9.30am full of chirpy excited racers, soon after we were dropped off there was a little less banter and lot more pushing and panting going on as the first climb of the day was a beast, around 600m with the last half of it a steep and rocky carry. I was definitely feeling the effects of the first two days and also the end of season. This for me was as much a holiday as a race and during this first climb I really was questioning my choice of holiday! However, with all these epic climbs not only is the view spectacular once you reach the top but also the descents are as epic and well worth all that effort to get up there.

Anticipation of the trail was really hard on this one and made it a really tough stage. It also had a decent little ridgeline pedal in the middle of the stage and I really felt fatigued from that massive hike to get to the top, my legs were hurting. Marc Beaumont caught and passed me and it was great to follow him for a short while, as following someone on a trail like this is so much easier than trying to navigate it on your own. I was happy with my stage but disappointed that I felt so tired and my body and especially my shoulders were pretty sore after that effort.

The next linking stage only looked short on the map and it was at 15km so I thought that I would be smart and not fill my pack with water to keep me light for the first climb and stage and just survive with my water bottle. However it was predominantly uphill in the heat of midday and I soon ran out of water. I thought we must be there at every corner we came to but it just seemed to go on and on. I was really starting to be in need of water when I came around one corner to see Nico Vouilloz sat down in the shade with his map out having the same thoughts as me…how much further can it be? Thankfully it really wasn’t far and we made it to the feed station. One litre of water later I felt a little better and tucked into the food.