MAVIC® TRANS-PROVENCE 2014 /// DAY 1 3

Day 1 of racing at the 2014 Trans-Provence is in the books, and it looks as though the race is off to an easier start than last year's edition, where cold and rain made the going quite miserable at times. For 2014, the sun is out and the trails are running full speed. Good times were had by all (bar the unfortunates like our very own Sven Martin...once again victim to a Trans-Provence crash and out of the race already...).

DAY 1 /// CLAMENSANE - DIGNE

Distance: 39.15km

D+ : 1516m

D- :  2107m

Day One of this year’s Mavic® Trans-provence. 39km on the map with a bit of up and down, it can’t be so tough right?

A few years ago this same days racing was nearly 62km. Veterans mumble about how the days are getting easier, and reminisce about the old days when things were tougher and how much easier competitors have it now.

Ask the same vets at the end of today whether it’s got easier and you hear a resounding “NO!”. With the same amount of climbing that you used to get spread over 62km jammed into just 39.15mm, it just makes for steeper days up and down. Being able to really spin uphill, is no use at all if you have to carry your bike for most of the climbs; so less distance, but still a classic  Mavic® Trans-Provence day. Many people had a seven and eight hour day out on the hill today.

It’s not all slog, the usual array of starry eyed happy people are found at the feed station after Stage One and Two, and for Stage Four virgins the now legendary Donkey Darko ends in a combination of words that makes no sense, but clearly means they are happy!

So day one is done - people are tired, some of them are scraped, and some of them are bruised. Sven Martin has a suspected separated shoulder and there’s tales of teeth bouncing off bars. Lessons learned for some, and a race finished for others, and tomorrow is promised to be a brute.

Stay tuned...