Trans-Provence IX: Adventure Redefined - Photo Epic
As the French city of Menton looms on the horizon, shuttles make their way up to the hill in Sospel. As the fog lifts, mountains appear. Today, four more stages await before overheated bodies get the chance to cool down in the Mediterranean Sea.
The mountains seem to drop straight into the mesmerizing blue ocean. The last miles to the final destination are hard. Sharp rocks over rugged terrain, loose and dry, demand mindful handling, especially after a full week of riding. Aches are getting the upper hand in tired bodies and the climbs remain to put some more pain in.
Spirits soar on a high as the Trans-Provence has once again proven to be an adventure like no other, both for the ones who race and for the ones who ride.
A recap of mighty landscapes, skilled riders, high spirits, friendship and battered bikes. This is the 2017 Trans-Provence.
Six days of riding, going from Embrun to Menton, crossing 25 mountains. Each day brings a new camp, with a tent and mattress waiting for every rider. Time for a Magic Rock beer, some bike tuning, food and some much-needed sleep.
80 riders. 40 members of staff. This event houses an incredible amount of organization, logistics, and support. The food is truly second to none. Vegetarian? No worries, this crew has your back with awesome homemade lentil burgers. Lots and lots of food, tasty and nutritious.
Last year, this valley was covered in a pack of fresh snow. This year, riders made their way up in soaring temperatures. Day one consists of a big up-and-over, ending with a fierce hike-a-bike to Col des Orres at 2,600 meters.
Welcome to the Trans-Provence. The first special stage left some people wondering if they were going to be up to the challenge. It was loose and steep.
Winding further down in the valley, do not expect things to get easier. This is blind racing.
There are plenty of places with extreme exposure just inches away. There's a fine balance between race mode and recklessness.
Alpine meadows provide a welcome change to rocky trails.
Meandering through the woods.
The liaisons in the Trans-Provence will make you suffer, but they are a sight to behold.
French countryside.
Starting out in rocky switchbacks, moments later you will be racing in loamy woods.
The Mavic crew kept riders rolling smoothly during the week.
Ines Thoma expresses how much fun the stage was.
One final special to finish the day.
Marco Osborne rode a consistent race. Only 21 seconds separated him from Francois Bailly-Maitre in the end.
The TP catering always had a treat awaiting riders at camp.
Descending from the famous Col des Champs.
The Parque Mercantour. A long, long climb and hike-a-bike see riders struggle for over four hours before the start of the first stage.
Views in Mercantour.
The descent towards the stage.
Ines Thoma charging.
With temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, riders struggled to stay hydrated. Gary Perkin squeezes the sweat from his helmet padding.
Almost Martian.
Bailly-Maitre in action.
Ludo May.
Part of the TP's challenge is to navigate to the scarce route pointers. Find your lines. This is blind racing.
A sheep herder awaiting the storm.
A long, flowy singletrack marks the start for one hell of a descent.
La France.
On day five, fatigue kicks in as riders try to get as much fuel in as possible at the early morning hour. The intensity of this event is... quite intense.
Loose, fast, yet controlled.
Sharing experiences.
This is it. Day six. On to Menton.
Rene Wildhaber, loose, fast and powerful.
The winner takes it all. Well done Randy.
A puddle of bubbles.
Six days, twenty nationalities. One mindset. This is what makes the Trans-Provence what it is. The riders, the staff, the landscapes, the adventure. But most of all the atmosphere throughout this week. Well done to all involved.
Pro Men Results:
1. Marco Osborne (Cannondale/WTB) 2:34:39
2. François Bailly-Maître (Ibis Cycles Enduro Team) 2:34:58
3. Ludo May (BMC Ride Crew Team) 2:43:46
4. Jamie Nicoll (Santa Cruz Bicycles/Hope/Fox) 2:46:23
5. Max Schumann (Santa Cruz Bicycles) 2:47:39
Pro Women Results:
1. Ines Thoma (Canyon Factory Enduro Team) 3:06:14
2. Anka Martin (Juliana/SRAM) 3:12:02
3. Monika Büchi (Schmid Velosport/RC Graenichen) 3:12:51
4. Martha Gill (Marin/Stan's NoTubes) 3:29:10
5. Emma Neale 3:32:35
Master (M40 Men):
1. Olivier Giordanengo (LAPIERRE/MAVIC/La Roue Libre) 2:37:39
2. Rene Wildhaber (Trek/Red Bull/IXS) 2:41:05
3. Antti Laiho (Suunto) 2:50:40
4. Shane Kroeger (Santa Cruz/Derailed) 3:00:07
5. Anthony Mayr (fusion-world.ch/trailworks.ch) 3:02:21
Amateur Men:
1. Christoffer Brochs (Trek/USWE/Velorapide) 2:49:04
2. John Owen (Orange Bikes) 2:51:15
3. Rich Norgate (Magic Rock Racing/Orange) 2:51:39
4. Seb Kemp (Santa Cruz Bicycles) 2:52:51
5. Sebastian Beilmann (MTB-News.de) 3:01:47
 | This is what mountain biking is all about. Adventuring in the unknown. Not knowing what you're racing. Riding with everyone and having fun. This is what it is all about. |
For full results, please refer to trans-provence.com
MENTIONS: @ikeizer
Author Info:
Member since Jun 4, 2009
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In 2016, I took a Bell Super 2R so I could wear an open face for most of the riding but have a chin bar for the special stages. I eventually cracked on Day 5 (and I am a "wear your helmet at all times young man" sort thanks to a safety conscious mother when I was a kid!!) and wore my floppy hat on the long (really long) up hill transitions where the greatest risk of falling over was from exhaustion whilst pushing or carrying one's bike rather than falling off one's bike when riding it.
Some riders carried two helmets (rarely as an extra 450-ish grams for 270 kms really adds up). Most of the full face full race types (Pros, top 5 M40 and top 5 AM) carried their full faces or strapped them to their packs on the easier climbs and transitions and just suffered the heat if they felt that they should be wearing their helmet for any of the more technical, higher risk, non special stage riding.
1. Marco Osborne
2. Francois Bailly-Maitre
3. Ludo May
4. Jamie Nicoll
5. Max Schumann
Masters:
1. Olivier Giordanengo
2. Rene Wildhaber
3. Anti Laiho
Amateurs:
1. Christoffer Brochs (7th overall in GC!)
2. John Owen
3. Rich Norgate