Slavik is Boss at the Grasse Urban DH

Nov 26, 2017
by BECCARI LIONEL  
Views: 10,627    Faves: 7    Comments: 0


The city of Grasse in the south of France is made to organize an urban descent as the slope is present as well as its many natural obstacles. More than 300 steps, narrow streets, a tunnel, larger portions... Its organizer, Xtrem Events, has added many modules such as a wall ride, cambered turns and stepping stones, whether to pass above the roads with the famous road gap or for the arrival jump of more than 10 m long. 60 riders from six different nations were starting with the Czech Tomas Slavik (winner 2016), the Grasse native, back after his victory at Taxco, Remy Metailler, the English Ben Moore and Harry Molloy, the champion of Portugal José Borgues, champion from Finland Petteri Leivo, the Belgians Nico and Mathieu Simon and many French including Camille Servant, Nico Quéré, Seb Claquin, ...

If you add a large and warm public, you get a 4th edition that was very spectacular under the beautiful sun of the French Riviera.

In the first two timed runs, the first thunderclap was the unlucky Nico Quéré's chrono last year with a chain breakdown at each run, who this time went downhill in 1: 59.330 when only Tomas Slavik had managed an exploit last year being under this famous 2-minute Mark. Only 5 riders finally made it through : the rider from Grasse, Remy Metailler clocked at 1: 59. 423, Nico Quéré, Camille Servant clocked at 1: 59.307 and the surprising Portuguese José Borgues who, clocked at 1: 57.107 was only half a second away from the leader Tomas Slavik who was clocked at 1: 56. 603.

The Super Final with the Top 20 brought this memorable day to a close, a run to reset the clockwatch and where the 4th edition classification of this crazy descent was definitely going to be sealed. Would it remain a little energy to our tightrope walkers of the day as this track was technical and physical with the arrival of riders exhausted and out of breath, we could also ask the question...
We didn’t wait for the answer too long as 13 riders of this Top 20 made it through even faster on this super final than the previous 2 runs and this time 6 of them below the 2- minute Mark.

A final in apotheosis with Remy Metailler who grabs a place and repositioned 4th in front of the 5th Andres Biersteker who managed for the first time to pass under the 2-minute Mark. For the podium, it was shared between Slavik, Quéré and Borgues. The Frenchman Nico Quéré improved again and was clocked at 1: 57.487 before the Portuguese José Borgues hurtled in the home stretch with a little advance on Quéré, but victim of a slow puncture making him unable to exploit all his power in this last schuss, and being clocked at a time of 1: 57.915, ranking 3rd place. Then, being the last to start, the Czech Tomas Slavik gained one second on his best time and achieved the stratospheric time of 1: 55.738 on this long track of 1,200 kilometers.

Urban DH Grasse 2017 technical and powerful Tomas Slavik dominated this race by winning the 3 run chronos. Cred. Cyril Charpin Xtrem Events

Technical and powerful, Tomas Slavik dominated this race by winning the 3 run chronos


6 different nations at the start and 3 on the podium with the Czech Tomas Slavik king of Grasse the Frenchman Nico Qu r 2nd and the Portuguese Jos Borgues 3rd Cred. Cyril Charpin Xtrem Events

6 different nations at the start and 3 on the podium with the Czech Tomas Slavik king of Grasse, the Frenchman Nico Quere 2nd and the Portuguese Jose Borgues 3rd


UrbanDH Grasse unhappy last year with 2 broken chains Nico Qu r gave everything this year to take a superb 2nd place. Cred. Cyril Charpin Xtrem Events

Unhappy last year with 2 broken chains, Nico Quere gave everything this year to take a superb 2nd place


photo

Portugal's champion, Jose Borgues, also Top 10 on the EWS final and 4th of the Mega Avalanche, made a splash by taking to the podium


Urban DH Grasse an air of Tour de France with the crowd near the cyclists except that there is a sequence of 139 steps taken at over 60km h for the best. Cred. Cyril Charpin Xtrem Events

An air of Tour de France with the crowd near the cyclists except that there is a sequence of 139 steps taken at over 60km/h for the best



Author Info:
lionelbeccari avatar

Member since Nov 6, 2013
22 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

36 Comments
  • 16 0
 Did that kid at the 1:00 mark see a crash and love it? Everyone else looked concerned...
  • 40 3
 No no he saw a 29er
  • 7 0
 The crazy tight start and the stair section are the real stars of the show.

youtu.be/52rSvP22FIk
  • 4 0
 Congrats Tomáš Slavík! ...btw. I always wonder why nobody uses slick tyres. I always thought they have better grip on hard surfaces.
  • 3 0
 I'm wondering the same thing each time I see urban DH races. I guess that reinforced Slick tires with DH casings do not really exist...
  • 4 0
 @SMASH3D: Hookworm!
  • 1 0
 @CanBLine: yeah indeed , they where made to do that job , sadly they discontinued production
  • 1 0
 Jak říká datel slick ti na schodech nezabrzdi..spíš zrychlí..
  • 1 0
 @CanBLine: Ahh the Maxxis Hookworm, Weighed a ton and gripped like hell on the skatepark.
  • 1 0
 @carfreak2000: weight , who cares if it goes downhill Wink
  • 1 0
 @Diesel-Powered: You do feel the weight when your jumping it. On some cases you won't feel it but if you're used to a lighter tire then you'll definitely feel the bike slugging a bit.
  • 1 0
 @carfreak2000: dont know that yet , not tryed them before , willing to try them , but i know what u mean with that feeling
  • 5 0
 1200 kilometers?! Longest track of all time!
  • 1 0
 Really shows how good the riders are nowadays LOL.
  • 1 0
 @fiatpolski:
Yep, totally. Guess it's time time to hang up my racing stuff, I'll never compete with 36,001 KpH necessary for the winning time...
  • 1 0
 a·poth·e·o·sis
əˌpäTHēˈōsəs/
noun
noun: apotheosis; plural noun: apotheoses

the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.
"his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career"
the elevation of someone to divine status; deification.
  • 1 0
 No professionals were used in the translation of this text.
  • 4 0
 I think they should get more money for what they do.
  • 1 0
 Funny you would say that, before I even scrolled down to the comments I was daydreaming about the cool shit I would do as a millionaire...1) Make the trip to France to watch this. 2) Drop another 1,000EUR on everyone's winnings, and pay through 6th place. The urban DH stuff is such a cool venue to bring the sport to the people.
  • 2 0
 Slavik on an Enduro rig! Good job, mate ????????
  • 2 0
 Just goes to show it's all about the rider
  • 1 0
 Kyle Strait won many years ago Down Taxco in an enduro specialized. 2003 Cheers
  • 2 0
 GRANDE ZÉ MANEL CARALHO!
  • 2 0
 Grande José,parabéns,I miss the Lisbon downtown
  • 1 0
 Would love to see the winners helmet cam video!
  • 1 0
 Was Slavic on a 29er?
  • 1 0
 could be, Ghost uses the AMR rear triangle on both their 27.5 and 29 SL AMR. The white rocker arm looks custom so he can fit a bigger shock. Unless that rocker arm is just to replace the heaps of crap they put stock on their bikes. I had a FR AMR blow a chain stay, crack a seat stay and bend the rocker arms. Been waiting on parts since July.
  • 2 0
 @HaydukeLives: He's riding a 27.5". The rocker you see is probably a new rocker all new AMR bikes will receive later. looks like it is compatible to the old frame though. I know about the chainstay issue, they changed the welding points to be stronger now. But waiting since july sucks. Over here, their service is quite fast.
  • 2 0
 650b!
  • 2 0
 @woosak: as you say mate Wink
  • 1 0
 ghost riot ftw
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.053162
Mobile Version of Website