2016 French Enduro Series Round 4 - Les Orres: Day 2

2016 FRENCH ENDURO SERIES
ROUND 4 - LES ORRES: DAY 2
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY BEN WINDER

Day two of the fourth round of the French Enduro Series and the weather was doing its best to keep us on our toes all morning. From sun to rain before quickly going back to sun and more rain. It felt like the big storms would hold off for the day but around two in the afternoon we heard a roar of thunder from down the valley, and sure enough a big storm rolled in, forcing the lifts to shut and playing havoc with the schedule.

First thing this morning riders headed to the top of the mountain for a practice run on Stage 1, which was immediately followed by their race runs. The 'afternoon riders' headed back up to the top to practice Stage two, but mid-way through the practice runs, the storm came in, closing the lift and making the very top of the mountain too dangerous to ride, a decision was made to run the Stage from halfway down and instead of two race runs on Stage two there would only be one...

Today’s racing was won by Ludovic Oget who is leading by just over 10-seconds - he said today he loves the wet conditions so he should be feeling right at home for the rest of the weekend. Morgane Such was fastest in the ladies race.

An incredible ridgeline kicked off today's racing - both of the Stages shared the same start and this ridge.

A stunning morning to be in the mountains... momentarily.

An early morning start for the riders today, Baptiste Gaillot (right).

Camille Servant putting his number board on, he's searching for a good result here.

A big queue to get on the lift - a totally lift assisted day.

To the top!

Riders peaking down the track to get a glimpse of what is ahead.

The sun was pounding down first thing.

Nico Quere dropping in - he finished in 7th place after today.

An absolutely stunning start to a stage.

The rain was coming down, but the sun was still shining.

Irenee Menjou, the birthday boy, hucking off any small bump he could find at the top, and landed himself in second place after today.

The temperamental weather gave the mountains an awe of power.

A few drops of rain into the dusty trails.

The mixture of sun and rain formed a beautiful phenomenon.

But as the clouds got thicker the big mountains disappeared...

Elliot Trabac.

A quick update on the autumn coloured trees, apparently a bug has got into the trees because the winter wasn't cold enough, which is causing the trees to try to kill the bug off. This is causing the pine needles to fall and them to turn orange.

The trail snakes through the woodland.

The fallen pine needles create an amazing riding surface though.

The fallen needles create an amazing riding surface, though.

Baptiste Gaillot.

The trails do have some pretty tough sections and claimed a few victims.

A quick lunchbreak...

...and then straight back into the action. Camille Servant, pinned.

Fastest man on the hill today, Ludovic Oget.

And the fastest women, Morgane Such.

Midway through stage 2 practice, the storm piled on in and closed the lifts.

Wet, wet, wet.

As the storm passed, the decision was made to only race from halfway up. The riders were a little bit nervous about what the rain will have done to the rest of the track... just in time for race runs.