The St Maxime DH isn't a big race in many ways. It's a small race run in the South East of France to keep the racers interested in the off-season. It's a testament to just how deep the talent runs here in this corner of Europe that the start list would leave many national series race organisers green with envy.
Top riders aside, there was a big turnout of all levels for this race.
The wings on Loic Brunis Red Bull helmet seem to be doing the trick, as he pulled a couple of seconds on the stacked field.
Utter focus from Pom Pom.
Aurliene Giordanengo is making the step from World Cup DH to Enduro World series this year, even on his enduro race bike he still took seventh overall today.
The St Maxime DH track isn't the kind of terrain that suit Remi Thirion - there wasn't not enough gradient for the big course specialist who grabbed third today, three seconds off Bruni.
Both Jonnier sisters were out racing this weekend - this is Morganne on the way to not quite beating her older sister.
Pom Pom was a class apart today, winning by nearly 30 seconds.
Men Scratch1 BRUNI Loïc 02:58.0
2 THOME Patrick 03:00.0 +00:02.1
3 THIRION Rémi 03:01.7 +00:03.7
4 VERGIER Loris 03:02.1 +00:04.1
5 FIGARET Faustin 03:02.8 +00:04.8
6 GEORGES Pierre charles 03:04.6 +00:06.7
7 GIORDANENGO Aurélien 03:05.7 +00:07.7
8 SPAGNOLO Damien 03:07.1 +00:09.2
9 PIERRON Amaury 03:08.9 +00:10.9
10 CONTRERES Romain 03:09.5 +00:11.5
Women Scratch1 NICOLE Myriam 03:31.8
2 CIGANA Severine 04:01.4 +00:29.6
3 GIMENEZ Viktoria 04:05.0 +00:33.2
4 CABIROU Marine 04:16.3 +00:44.5
5 DUVERT Julie 04:57.0 +01:25.2
6 MARTINEZ Sandra 06:45.6 +03:13.8
Womens podium
Mens podium
All photos courtesy of Cyril Charpin.
www.facebook.com/CyrilCharpinPhotographie
For racers, figures proove that running clips is faster, but for the everyday folk it's down to personnal preferences. I've tried hard to like clips, and I just can't. But I'm using the 5.10 Minnaar shoes for flats, it's unbelievable the grip you get! Miles better than my other set of 5.10 Sam Hill ... Less comfy on the pushing though.