Superenduro PRO 4: Sauze D'Oulx, Sunday Racing
Every year Superenduro like to mix things up with their race in Sauze. For the last few years they have run mass-start races from the highest lift station. For this year they wanted to try something new - a pursuit race. In the morning riders faced four log stages with well over 2,000m of descending, on top of their racing from yesterday. Using those times riders then were set off according to their time. So the leaders went first, then riders were released however many seconds or minutes behind they were.
www.superenduromtb.com
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 The morning weather check over the Chaberton fort (look closely at the top of the mountain): blue skies and not too hot, perfect weather for racing. |
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| It was a relatively early start this morning, at least by Superenduro standards, with riders heading to the lifts for 8.30 to go racing. |
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| Marco Millivinti picked up where he left off yesterday, consistently placing near the front to hold a lead of just under ten seconds going into the pursuit race. |
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| Things didn't start well for Gabby Molloy this morning, a small, awkward crash barely 10m from the start gate left her fighting to straighten her bars and cost her a good chunk of time, leaving her around a minute behind leader, Louise Paulin, going into the pursuit race. |
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| It was a solid ride this weekend for Nicla Casadei to bag himself third - 30 seconds or so off the lead going into the pursuit stage. |
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| Sam Shucksmith clearly likes it here in Sauze, taking fourth overall this evening. |
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| Katy Winton pushed hard today to hold onto her third position, but couldn't capitalise on Molloy losing time to grab a step higher on the podium. |
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| In the lower parts of the third stage today riders passed through a medieval village. |
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| Alex Lupato was charging today, trying to make up lost time from yesterday. Despite the pain he was feeling, he still found time to throw some horns on the toughest climb of the day though. |
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| Greg Callaghan didn't quite get going in the way he would have hoped to this morning, unable to cut Millivinti's lead down much further. By the time he headed up for the pursuit race he was some 10 seconds back. |
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| Davide Sottocornola was doubly unlucky today - first he flatted, then because he didn't rejoin the track where he left it, he was disqualified. It may sound harsh, as no racing advantage was gained, but that kind of clear stance is needed to make it clear that any course cutting will not be tolerated by the race organisers. That said, he didn't let it get him down, as he volunteered to be course sweeper for the pursuit race so he could at least ride the track, even if he couldn't race it. |
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| With more than 200 riders to sort out there was a bit of a wait at the top of the hill while the organisers set up the timing system for the pursuit race. |
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| Louise Paulin has been utterly dominant this year in Superenduro, in fact her race with Molloy yesterday was the hardest she's been pushed all season. In the end it was 4 for 4 though - the perfect clean sweep. |
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| Laura Rossin hucks off the starting jump in the pursuit race. She held onto her fourth from yesterday making her the first of the Italian women this weekend. |
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| Marco Millivinti had done enough to come into the pursuit race with a commanding lead, having watched him on some of the stages today, we'd bet he was holding a little back so he could give it his all when it most mattered. |
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| What the ten seconds between Millivinti and Callaghan meant on track. |
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| While Greg Callaghan waited for this start time he made a much more reliable second camera than any pocket wizard. |
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| Gabby Molloy went into the pursuit race a fair way between the women before and behind her, and reached the finish line in the same manner to claim second position this weekend. |
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| There was an element of luck to how many riders where on track at any one time - some were lucky and had plenty of time before and after, some were even luckier and started four abreast, a recipe for an exciting fight all the way down to the finish line. |
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| What better way to end both a great weekend and a great season of racing. It seems like only yesterday the season was starting in Sestri Levante, but today was last orders, with just the EWS in Finale Ligure left to go here in Italy this year... |
www.superenduromtb.com
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13 Comments
- 5 0
FletchAus
(Sep 7, 2014 at 21:42)
2nd photo, cow on the left...
- 5 0
MendelMu
(Sep 7, 2014 at 10:29)
@mattwragg How did the pursuit format work out according to the racers?
- 6 2
linton-photo
FL (Sep 7, 2014 at 11:02)
@mattwragg you better watch that gypsy dude doesn't do a runner with your camera 
Awesome pics as usual
Awesome pics as usual- 1 0
krisrayner
FL (Sep 7, 2014 at 22:38)
I like it. Seems like making the last stage a Pursuit Race would really amp things up the racers. Being able to see just where you stand can really motivate you. And for the spectators it makes the finish far more interesting.
- 1 0
MendelMu
(Sep 8, 2014 at 0:12)
One thing though, how do you pass on "a typical" enduro course without the guy infront of having to let you go by. Agree its an exciting concept but, without knowing how this played out, is seems a little dangerous and the racers have to be good sports. How about if someone is faster on the top of the stage and you have to let him pass, then you catch up again etc. Sometimes I've noticed its not clear that I've been faster than the guy in front of me but he let me passed anyway cause he was thinking I was.
- 3 0
dirtnapped
(Sep 7, 2014 at 10:31)
Interested to hear the riders opinions on the pursuit format.
- 1 0
cuban-b
(Sep 7, 2014 at 19:53)
Can we stop putting Pro in the title of races already. We get, pros ride in it.
- 1 0
Maverickdh00
(Sep 7, 2014 at 12:14)
Well done Gabby
- 1 0
rolandpoland
(Sep 7, 2014 at 14:14)
..
- 1 0
darrenspink
(Sep 8, 2014 at 12:34)
Superennnnnnnduuuro
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