Video: Madison Saracen 2013 - Episode 3: Conditioning

Apr 5, 2013 at 2:20
by Laurence Crossman-Emms  
Views: 46,208    Faves: 350    Comments: 45



Madison Saracen 2013 Ep.3 Conditioning Risca South Wales UK. Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com
Madison Saracen 2013 Ep.3 Conditioning Risca South Wales UK. Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com

It's been a long, hard winter in the UK and the day of this shoot was no exception: bitterly cold with snow atop the mountains and every bit of trail, but as ever, the show must go on.

Madison Saracen 2013 Ep.3 Conditioning Risca South Wales UK. Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com

Wales is a great spot for training with its vast and varied landscape of mountains, rocks, mud and good old fashion loam. For most of the winter this has translated into trails which are solid at the top and mushy at the bottom. Not only does the area give some of the best mountain biking on offer in the UK, it is also a great place for conditioning yourself, both mentally and physically. Tough terrain, tough weather…they combine to give an off-season training regime that makes escaping to dusty trails and warmer climates seem like the easy option.

Manon set for a storming season on Madison Saracen - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com
Madison Saracen 2013 Ep.3 Conditioning Risca South Wales UK. Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com


An early start to the day meant bitterly cold temperatures as the UK entered Spring with some of the coldest weather this island has ever seen. The location for the day? That will remain a secret, but these are trails designed for training for the rigors of the World Cup circuit: variation is the name of the game.

Arriving back from a pre-season training camp in Italy and being immediately thrown back into training in freezing conditions is not easy, but it's part of the routine and the conditioning to make sure that titles are kept and medals are earned.

Manon is rapid in the corners - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com
Madison Saracen 2013 Ep.3 Conditioning Risca South Wales UK. Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com
Big muddy corners are fun - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com

The daffodils poking through the snow suggest the arrival of Spring and the looming race season. 2012 was Manon’s first year riding in Elite after doing the double of Junior World Cup winner and World Champion. A renewed energy saw a second place at the first round of the World Cup in South Africa, with a win at the opening round of the British Downhill Series laying out Manon’s intentions for the season. Then came injury, but this did not stop Manon taking the British Downhill Series title, as well as a Bronze medal at the World Championships. You can bet that this season will see a focus on the top step of the podium whether at home or abroad.

Women’s racing is evolving, with established names regularly caught napping by the up and coming youngsters. There's a true fight on now for the top slots as times become closer and closer. Fitness, skill and stamina are what will make the difference come race day, but these things can only get you so far. Your body and mind have to be up for the challenge come sun, rain…..or snow. This is conditioning.

Photography & Videography: Laurence Crossman-Emms www.laurence-ce.com

Madison Saracen 2013 Ep.3 Conditioning Risca South Wales UK. Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com
Madison Saracen 2013 Ep.3 Conditioning Risca South Wales UK. Find the article on Pinkbike.com - Laurence CE - www.laurence-ce.com


Author Info:
Laurence-CE avatar

Member since Aug 28, 2009
47 articles

38 Comments
  • 40 0
 Manon is gorgeous and rides better than me, I have no problem with that!
Nice edit! Big Grin
  • 13 1
 Laurence KILLS IT again!
  • 3 1
 Yeah great photos. Love the last one of her pinning it. So focused... Really captured the intensity of the moment. Anyway, a good subject matter doesn't hurt... Go Manon!
  • 8 1
 Is this vid really just an excuse to show more Manon Carpenter?
  • 7 1
 I wonder if she'd go out with an ugly guy. Hmmm.
  • 2 0
 Nice to see South Wales trails + Manon getting some decent coverage recently. Hopefully bodes well for the WC this year.

Her success is helping the sport in South Wales grow, with Van Road Jumps as well as these trails in Risca/Machen not being closed down, as where is a former junior world champ supposed to practice Smile
  • 6 1
 Cracking Vid Guys Big Grin Good luck for the season Manon
  • 6 2
 great vid, i'd love to ride that
  • 3 0
 More, more !!! I want to see more !! Big Grin
  • 1 0
 We might have the most beautiful girls here in Hungary, but we really miss these kind of girls.... Also... Im in love now...
  • 3 0
 Conditioning? I thought she was riding her bike
  • 3 0
 Now my daugther want a new bike! Nice work Manon you have a lot of future.
  • 2 1
 Ill bring a dust cap for you to Combe Sydenham next Saturday. Ive only got schraders though. Ill have to drill your rims Smile much.
  • 2 0
 missing dust cap???
awesome riding Manon, keep it up
  • 1 0
 every little helps
  • 3 2
 pretty sure i love her... just sayin
  • 2 0
 song?
  • 1 0
 OVERWERK - House
  • 1 0
 Nothing sexier than a girl ripping on a dh bike. And damn she is fast!
  • 1 2
 i believe in love at first sight... so where can i sign the marriage license? this chick is super hot and can ride better than me. im in love
  • 1 0
 Nice riding and awesome Girl but no airtime at all on this trail :/
  • 1 0
 i bumped into manon thursday night riding my local trails
  • 4 4
 I must say I preferred last seasons race kit, stood out much more. Sick riding though!
  • 4 1
 I disagree, the old kit only looked good on them as they were on the team; if you wore it as an unsponsored rider you'd look like a nob! This kit looks way more professional and would actually be cool to wear, without all the sponsors on it obviously.
Agree on the riding part though!
  • 1 1
 I do like those saint socks too best part of this video lol where do I get a pair?
  • 2 0
 Nice bike!!!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 Nice Riding Girl.
  • 1 0
 Those are really nice stills. Amazing photography indeed.
  • 1 0
 She kinda HOT !!!
  • 2 4
 Why am I turned on after seeing this?
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