Clementz and Chausson lead Trans Provence after opening day

A relatively relaxed start to the week with a later start the normal saw our 70 riders kick off day 1 of the Mavic Trans-Provence with three special stages and around 45km of riding.

After an uplift out of the valley, pedalling proper started with the now legendary first climb to special stage 1 - the climb, an innocuous enough fireroad that gained height steadily but nonetheless sees 600 metres of height gain and topped out at around the 2000 metre mark, it was certainly a wake up to the system.

Stage one was modified from last year and missed out the lung busting carry or push, instead choosing to shorten the stage, (old hands at the event were disappointed that the newcomers don't have to suffer in the same way) but still starting on slightly uphill singletrack (this is enduro after all) before plunging in to a leaf and wood littered shoot that starts steeply and only continues to steepen as it makes it way down hill.. A real case of do or don't and make a choice at the beginning! Dismounts can and do end badly ( this is the special - stage that in 2010 saw world record round the bike racer Mike Hall break his ribs) Commitment is the key!

A short liaison stage led riders to a brand new special stage two for 2012, which started with steep switchbacks and ends in singletrack that crisscrossed a stream - There were a number of crashes including Geoff Kabush using his face as a rudimentary brake. And while no serious injuries occurred, the alarming view of Anka Martin riding into the feed station bleeding from around her eye after getting caught with a branch is reminder of how a small thing can potentially end your race and that this is a race that has a long way to unwind before it reach its final destination at Monaco .

What happens when you leave a feed station at the Trans-Provence? Well, it normally involves something steep and not in the direction that most people prefer, this year and this feed station is no different - a big climb again like this morning via fire road finishes the climbing for the day and led to today's final special stage 3.

Open woodland singletrack gave way to more leaf filled gullies before finally driving steeply down the side of the mountain in increasingly tightening switchbacks before firing riders out over a muddy stream the last blip of a timing chip against the timing balise and day one was over for another year.

Day 2 starts at 7:00 am and is probably the toughest of the event.

Full Results

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Special stage 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ralph Näf (Merida) (Pro men)0:10:17
2Jérôme Clementz (Cannondale/Mavic) (Pro men)0:00:16
3Adam Craig (Radobank/Giant) (Pro men)0:00:26
4Nicolas Lau (Pro men)0:00:27
5Nicolas Vouilloz (Lapierre) (Pro men)0:00:29
6Mark Weir (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:00:41
7Ben Cruz (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:00:46
8Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) (Pro men)0:00:47
9Joe Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Pro men)0:01:01
10Florian Golay (Felt/Crossroad) (Pro men)0:01:04
11Kieran Page (Amateur)0:01:29
12Matthew Slaven (Kona) (Pro men)0:01:30
13Joe Rafferty (Amateur)0:01:35
14Seb Kemp (Amateur)0:01:36
15Evan Turpen (Pro men)0:01:56
16Chris Ball (Amateur)0:02:00
17Peter Nilges (Amateur)0:02:01
18Rosara Joseph (Women)0:02:16
19Lars Sternberg (Transition Bikes) (Pro men)Row 18 - Cell 2
20Tobias Pantling (Amateur)0:02:17
21Petrik Brueckner (Pro men)0:02:21
22Eirik Schulz (Amateur)0:02:22
23Gary Barnard (Amateur)0:02:35
24Sven Martin (Amateur)0:02:44
25Matt Simmonds (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)0:02:48
26Matti Lehikoinen (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)0:02:59
27Anne-Caroline Chausson (Women)0:03:01
28Rúnar Theodórsson (Amateur)0:03:12
29Jeff Calam (Amateur)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Chris Marquis (Amateur)0:03:30
31Sam Pantling (Amateur)0:03:37
32Regis Daprela (Amateur)0:03:39
33Fabian Gleitsmann (Amateur)0:03:47
34Tim Kelton (Amateur)0:03:52
35Andy Dapre (Amateur)0:03:56
36Amos Hockmeyer (Amateur)0:04:10
37Björn Becker (Amateur)0:04:14
38Paul Smail (Amateur)0:04:16
39Jon Cancellier (Amateur)0:04:22
40Piet Weeghmans (Amateur)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Denis Flury (Amateur)0:04:24
42Tim Garrecht (Amateur)0:04:30
43Anka Martin (Santa Cruz/SRAM) (Women)0:04:32
44Plons Racing (Amateur)0:04:38
45Bas Rotgans (Amateur)0:04:56
46Dave Freeman (Amateur)0:05:16
47Martin Stefan (Amateur)0:05:18
48Arno De Ruyver (Amateur)0:05:20
49Hannah Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Women)0:05:27
50Fanny Paquette (Rocky Mountain Bikes) (Women)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Aimee Dix (Women)0:05:33
52Lee Carless (Amateur)0:05:47
53Bas Kwaaitaal (Amateur)0:05:49
54Daniel Wood (Amateur)0:06:02
55Erik Nienhuis (Amateur)0:06:21
56Joost Wichman (Pro men)0:06:27
57Stéphane Amaudruz (Amateur)0:06:28
58Hannah Thorne (Women)0:06:40
59Jean-Philippe Geudvert (Amateur)0:06:58
60Adrian Gidney (Amateur)0:07:29
61Jörg Kröger (Amateur)0:07:35
62Charles Joris (Amateur)0:08:04
63Kenny Alexander (Amateur)0:08:24
64Liz Simmons (Women)0:08:48
65Jo Cardwell (Women)0:10:07
66Mike Ranft (Amateur)0:10:20
67Tim Goodwin (Amateur)0:11:38
68Andy Lombardini (Amateur)0:12:07
69Simon Ablett (Amateur)0:12:41
70Andy Foote (Amateur)0:13:55
71Jacqueline Marquis (Women)0:14:02
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Special stage 2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nicolas Lau (Pro men)0:06:16
2Jérôme Clementz (Cannondale/Mavic) (Pro men)0:00:02
3Nicolas Vouilloz (Lapierre) (Pro men)0:00:06
4Mark Weir (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:00:07
5Florian Golay (Felt/Crossroad) (Pro men)0:00:19
6Ralph Näf (Merida) (Pro men)0:00:26
7Adam Craig (Radobank/Giant) (Pro men)0:00:28
8Matt Simmonds (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)0:00:29
9Joe Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Pro men)0:00:30
10Tobias Pantling (Amateur)0:00:32
11Ben Cruz (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:00:36
12Matthew Slaven (Kona) (Pro men)Row 11 - Cell 2
13Chris Ball (Amateur)0:00:38
14Matti Lehikoinen (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)0:00:43
15Sven Martin (Amateur)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Seb Kemp (Amateur)0:00:45
17Petrik Brueckner (Pro men)0:00:52
18Kieran Page (Amateur)0:00:54
19Joe Rafferty (Amateur)0:00:55
20Gary Barnard (Amateur)0:00:56
21Joost Wichman (Pro men)0:00:59
22Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) (Pro men)0:01:07
23Evan Turpen (Pro men)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Anne-Caroline Chausson (Women)0:01:08
25Peter Nilges (Amateur)0:01:12
26Arno De Ruyver (Amateur)0:01:13
27Rosara Joseph (Women)0:01:14
28Sam Pantling (Amateur)0:01:21
29Eirik Schulz (Amateur)0:01:22
30Regis Daprela (Amateur)0:01:27
31Jon Cancellier (Amateur)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Paul Smail (Amateur)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Anka Martin (Santa Cruz/SRAM) (Women)0:01:31
34Plons Racing (Amateur)0:01:33
35Andy Dapre (Amateur)0:01:34
36Denis Flury (Amateur)0:01:36
37Jeff Calam (Amateur)0:01:37
38Fabian Gleitsmann (Amateur)0:01:42
39Rúnar Theodórsson (Amateur)0:01:47
40Bas Rotgans (Amateur)0:01:49
41Lee Carless (Amateur)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Piet Weeghmans (Amateur)0:01:57
43Dave Freeman (Amateur)0:01:59
44Amos Hockmeyer (Amateur)0:02:00
45Björn Becker (Amateur)0:02:07
46Bas Kwaaitaal (Amateur)0:02:09
47Tim Kelton (Amateur)0:02:10
48Tim Garrecht (Amateur)0:02:13
49Aimee Dix (Women)0:02:18
50Hannah Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Women)0:02:29
51Martin Stefan (Amateur)0:02:35
52Jean-Philippe Geudvert (Amateur)0:02:45
53Lars Sternberg (Transition Bikes) (Pro men)0:02:50
54Daniel Wood (Amateur)0:02:55
55Stéphane Amaudruz (Amateur)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Fanny Paquette (Rocky Mountain Bikes) (Women)0:02:58
57Jörg Kröger (Amateur)0:03:00
58Chris Marquis (Amateur)0:03:10
59Kenny Alexander (Amateur)0:03:24
60Liz Simmons (Women)0:03:27
61Mike Ranft (Amateur)0:03:37
62Adrian Gidney (Amateur)0:03:43
63Hannah Thorne (Women)0:03:52
64Erik Nienhuis (Amateur)0:04:11
65Tim Goodwin (Amateur)0:04:24
66Jo Cardwell (Women)0:04:35
67Andy Foote (Amateur)0:04:46
68Andy Lombardini (Amateur)0:05:33
69Simon Ablett (Amateur)0:06:58
70Jacqueline Marquis (Women)0:07:06
71Charles Joris (Amateur)0:23:06
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Special stage 3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jérôme Clementz (Cannondale/Mavic) (Pro men)0:04:28
2Nicolas Vouilloz (Lapierre) (Pro men)0:00:03
3Nicolas Lau (Pro men)0:00:05
4Mark Weir (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:00:09
5Matti Lehikoinen (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)Row 4 - Cell 2
6Florian Golay (Felt/Crossroad) (Pro men)0:00:12
7Ben Cruz (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:00:16
8Matt Simmonds (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Lars Sternberg (Transition Bikes) (Pro men)Row 8 - Cell 2
10Joe Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Pro men)0:00:21
11Ralph Näf (Merida) (Pro men)0:00:24
12Seb Kemp (Amateur)Row 11 - Cell 2
13Chris Ball (Amateur)0:00:25
14Tobias Pantling (Amateur)Row 13 - Cell 2
15Sven Martin (Amateur)0:00:27
16Anne-Caroline Chausson (Women)0:00:28
17Adam Craig (Radobank/Giant) (Pro men)0:00:29
18Matthew Slaven (Kona) (Pro men)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Gary Barnard (Amateur)Row 18 - Cell 2
20Evan Turpen (Pro men)0:00:32
21Petrik Brueckner (Pro men)0:00:37
22Kieran Page (Amateur)0:00:39
23Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) (Pro men)0:00:40
24Arno De Ruyver (Amateur)0:00:43
25Joost Wichman (Pro men)0:00:44
26Joe Rafferty (Amateur)0:00:45
27Jon Cancellier (Amateur)Row 26 - Cell 2
28Regis Daprela (Amateur)0:00:47
29Eirik Schulz (Amateur)0:00:49
30Paul Smail (Amateur)0:00:52
31Peter Nilges (Amateur)0:00:56
32Andy Dapre (Amateur)0:00:58
33Plons Racing (Amateur)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Rúnar Theodórsson (Amateur)0:00:59
35Anka Martin (Santa Cruz/SRAM) (Women)0:01:01
36Fabian Gleitsmann (Amateur)0:01:02
37Bas Kwaaitaal (Amateur)0:01:03
38Rosara Joseph (Women)0:01:09
39Denis Flury (Amateur)0:01:13
40Amos Hockmeyer (Amateur)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Jeff Calam (Amateur)0:01:17
42Sam Pantling (Amateur)0:01:18
43Tim Kelton (Amateur)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Lee Carless (Amateur)0:01:19
45Piet Weeghmans (Amateur)0:01:20
46Chris Marquis (Amateur)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Björn Becker (Amateur)0:01:23
48Dave Freeman (Amateur)0:01:25
49Tim Garrecht (Amateur)0:01:34
50Bas Rotgans (Amateur)0:01:43
51Martin Stefan (Amateur)0:01:47
52Hannah Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Women)0:01:53
53Daniel Wood (Amateur)0:01:54
54Jean-Philippe Geudvert (Amateur)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Stéphane Amaudruz (Amateur)0:01:55
56Fanny Paquette (Rocky Mountain Bikes) (Women)0:02:10
57Liz Simmons (Women)0:02:24
58Mike Ranft (Amateur)0:02:32
59Aimee Dix (Women)0:02:36
60Kenny Alexander (Amateur)0:02:38
61Adrian Gidney (Amateur)0:02:40
62Jörg Kröger (Amateur)0:02:44
63Jo Cardwell (Women)Row 62 - Cell 2
64Andy Lombardini (Amateur)0:02:49
65Tim Goodwin (Amateur)0:02:51
66Charles Joris (Amateur)0:02:57
67Andy Foote (Amateur)0:02:58
68Hannah Thorne (Women)0:03:00
69Erik Nienhuis (Amateur)0:03:07
70Jacqueline Marquis (Women)0:04:22
71Simon Ablett (Amateur)0:05:47
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General classification after day 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jérôme Clementz (Cannondale/Mavic) (Pro men)0:21:19
2Nicolas Lau (Pro men)0:00:14
3Nicolas Vouilloz (Lapierre) (Pro men)0:00:20
4Ralph Näf (Merida) (Pro men)0:00:32
5Mark Weir (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:00:39
6Adam Craig (Radobank/Giant) (Pro men)0:01:05
7Florian Golay (Felt/Crossroad) (Pro men)0:01:17
8Ben Cruz (WTB/Shimano/Cannondale) (Pro men)0:01:20
9Joe Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Pro men)0:01:34
10Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) (Pro men)0:02:16
11Matthew Slaven (Kona) (Pro men)0:02:17
12Seb Kemp (Amateur)0:02:27
13Kieran Page (Amateur)0:02:44
14Chris Ball (Amateur)0:02:45
15Tobias Pantling (Amateur)0:02:56
16Joe Rafferty (Amateur)0:02:57
17Matt Simmonds (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)0:03:15
18Evan Turpen (Pro men)0:03:17
19Petrik Brueckner (Pro men)0:03:32
20Matti Lehikoinen (ChainReactionCycles/Nukeproof) (Pro men)0:03:33
21Sven Martin (Amateur)0:03:36
22Gary Barnard (Amateur)0:03:42
23Peter Nilges (Amateur)0:03:51
24Eirik Schulz (Amateur)0:04:15
25Anne-Caroline Chausson (Women)0:04:19
26Rosara Joseph (Women)0:04:21
27Lars Sternberg (Transition Bikes) (Pro men)0:05:04
28Regis Daprela (Amateur)0:05:35
29Rúnar Theodórsson (Amateur)0:05:40
30Jeff Calam (Amateur)0:05:48
31Sam Pantling (Amateur)0:05:58
32Andy Dapre (Amateur)0:06:10
33Fabian Gleitsmann (Amateur)0:06:13
34Jon Cancellier (Amateur)0:06:16
35Paul Smail (Amateur)0:06:17
36Anka Martin (Santa Cruz/SRAM) (Women)0:06:46
37Plons Racing (Amateur)0:06:51
38Denis Flury (Amateur)0:06:55
39Arno De Ruyver (Amateur)0:06:58
40Tim Kelton (Amateur)0:07:02
41Amos Hockmeyer (Amateur)0:07:05
42Piet Weeghmans (Amateur)0:07:21
43Björn Becker (Amateur)0:07:26
44Chris Marquis (Amateur)0:07:42
45Joost Wichman (Pro men)0:07:52
46Tim Garrecht (Amateur)0:07:59
47Bas Rotgans (Amateur)0:08:10
48Dave Freeman (Amateur)0:08:22
49Lee Carless (Amateur)0:08:37
50Bas Kwaaitaal (Amateur)0:08:43
51Martin Stefan (Amateur)0:09:22
52Hannah Barnes (MTBCut/Orange) (Women)0:09:31
53Aimee Dix (Women)0:10:09
54Fanny Paquette (Rocky Mountain Bikes) (Women)0:10:17
55Daniel Wood (Amateur)0:10:33
56Stéphane Amaudruz (Amateur)0:11:00
57Jean-Philippe Geudvert (Amateur)0:11:19
58Jörg Kröger (Amateur)0:13:01
59Hannah Thorne (Women)0:13:14
60Erik Nienhuis (Amateur)0:13:21
61Adrian Gidney (Amateur)0:13:34
62Kenny Alexander (Amateur)0:14:08
63Liz Simmons (Women)0:14:21
64Mike Ranft (Amateur)0:16:11
65Jo Cardwell (Women)0:17:08
66Tim Goodwin (Amateur)0:18:35
67Andy Lombardini (Amateur)0:20:11
68Andy Foote (Amateur)0:21:21
69Simon Ablett (Amateur)0:25:08
70Jacqueline Marquis (Women)0:25:12
71Charles Joris (Amateur)0:33:49

 

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