2017 French Enduro Series Round 2, Raon l'Etape - Preview

After two months break, we're in Raon l'Etape for the second round of the French Enduro Series. Although we have moved deep into the spring, the geographical change from Levens to Raon l'Etape makes us feel like we have hit the season rewind button.

Raon l'Etape is a small village that sits in northern France, close to Switzerland, Germany, Luxemburg and even Belgium. It's not surrounded by big mountains, but some decent hills with pine forests. It's known as 'porte des Vosges' (gateway to the Vosges) and its leafy and lush forests contain good soil for mountain biking.

The weather forecast of rain for Thursday and Friday came true, although we didn't experience heavy rain. We visited the trails on Friday and they're basically wet and fresh, super fresh. These trails look like they were just built but natural at the same time and never ridden. Apart from a few small showers on Saturday morning, in principle, it looks like we are set to enjoy a dry weekend.

We are in the middle of two Enduro World Series rounds, and some of the top French pro riders are not expected to race here in Raon l'Etape. However, we have seen Jerome Clementz this Friday, so we already have our big name for the race. The Cannondale rider lives close to this area and is happy to support mountain biking by racing here.

As for the race itself, we will have three stages on Saturday and three on Sunday, being the stage 3 and 6 the same track. Following the race rules, no track walks or training rides are allowed in the two weeks prior the race. A recce ride will be done on every stage on Saturday and Sunday, just before hitting the tracks on race mode.

Does anyone know if Raon l'Etape's sister cities are good for mountain biking?.

So far we haven't experienced any traffic jams in Raon. Buildings here don't look any taller than these ones.

We are happy to visit cities and towns with bike lanes. It doesn't matter if it's a pretty small town, bike lanes are always good.

It looks like a certain road cycling race has a relationship with Raon too.

A city center landscape. That hill on the back is hosting some of the race stages.

Love these French shops for what's inside. Although this one looks closed for good, loved the facade.

Seeing the life where you live. Showing love for your place.

Race posters are good this big.

Your local riders' club in Raon l'Etape. Loving the ninja style, probably ninja lines too.

Not the main river but one of the canals spread over the town.

When in France, you can easily bump into some classics.

World Wars are always present in center Europe, mainly in those places close to certain country borders.

The village theater. Not a bad place to pick up your registration bag.

Sabrina Jonnier is back to enduro after some 4x racing a few weeks before.

Long waiting line at the theater, not for a play though.

In Levens they were made of glass. Laser cut metal trophies for this race.

If these licenses could talk about races...

Morgane Jonnier, Sabrina's sister, is recovered from a crash with a car this winter and ready to race.

Timing chips are stored in this wooden box.

You enduro riders already know what these stickers are for.

Olivier Giordanengo, the e-bike winner in Levens has been training hard over the last weeks.

Same plate design as in Levens, just swapped by Raon l'Etape.

Camille Servant picking up his chip.

Jerome Clementz arrived home from Madeira at the beginning of the week and, as usual, is hungry for racing.

No caption needed.

We headed to the woods to get a taste of the local nature.

Fresh as new.

Pines over pines is the common thing in these woods.

Local moss.

Local roots..

It's not all about loamy trails and a few roots. We spotted this rock garden and we're told about some slippery boulders too.

A change of season.

A good bunch of natural obstacles.

This foliage doesn't look like springtime.

There's many more of these drops into the soil, although it might not end with being a muddy race.

A threatening sky on Friday afternoon. The weather forecast for the weekend seems to come in peace.

The start line still missing the inflatable arch.

We might save this one labeled by the Raon riders' club for Sunday.

MENTIONS: @kabelleira

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Racing and Events French Enduro Series

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kabelleira
Member since Jul 20, 2016
34 articles