Here we are: 2011 race season! Once again, the first stop of the Canada cup is in sunny Mont Tremblant. Now that’s something we can’t say often, the sunny part that is. It remains, unfortunately, one of the most demanding tracks on the circuit in Canada. I say unfortunately because it is so early in the season. I’ve heard many riders manifest their desire to race this track later on the Canada Cup schedule, once a little more riding has been done… but I guess it throws us right back into it!
We were blessed with the first “good weather” weekend of the year in Tremblant. One big cloud poured its misery on us at the end of the day on Saturday, but luckily it was at the end of practice. Riders ran and huddled up under the closest pit tent possible as the thundershower struck without warning.
It’s the absence of flow coupled with the long pedaling sections in open ski trails and not to forget the slightly uphill rock gardens (sigh) that make it both so technical and physical. These factors thrust the well trained and power house racers to the top of the results list while less prepared and less trained riders drop down that same list. I guess you could say it separates the hungry from the rest of the pack.
The course drops just over 1200 feet or 375 meters. The track has remained the same for the last 13 years with a few very minor changes. Such changes included gravel in one of the soggy open stretches, a wooden bridge over one of the streams and a hip jump/bump right on the corner of the last stretch to slow down racers charging towards the end of their 4 minutes of suffering. The finish line jump that was modified in 2010 was again modified to avoid major cases of over-clearing in like in ‘09.
The first section stays true to itself year after year. It presents riders with many line choices that have you guessing where to go even though you’ve been studying and racing this section for years. Nothing seems to feel good on the way down, getting tossed from one side to another, struggling for that moment that gives you confidence in the first 30 seconds of the race. Tough luck ‘cause there no such thing in these first woods! Hold on to your lock-ons and plow down as fast as you can. When you hit that wooden bridge at the bottom, breath then pedal. A slight uphill on to the ski trail, two slippery berms (especially the second one) and it’s time to focus on what’s coming up in the next technical section while you're maxed out on your gears and tucking in as much as you can to avoid feeling like a Volvo on the highway.
At the finish line, the crowd was good and lively. Many booths were setup and many curious bystanders wandered over to join the true fans. A sunny race does help with the attendance numbers.
Results are as follows:
Pro Men1 Andrew Mitchell (Can) Dunbar 4:08.060
2 Dean Tennant (Can) Dunbar/Devinci/Elka 4:09.060
3 Yann Gauvin (Can) Lama Cycles 4:10.225
4 Matthew Beer (Can) Freeride MS 4:10.437
5 Hans Lambert (Can) team pivot cycles 4:11.977
6 Rob Fraser (Can) Primary SRAM/TREK 4:12.466
7 Jeffery Bryson (Can) brysonracingclan.com 4:14.101
8 Chris Del Bosco (Can) Cove bikes/Oakley 4:14.524
9 Kyle Sangers* (Can) PerformX/Devinci 4:15.528
10 Remi Gauvin* (Can) PerfromX/Devinci/TroyLee/Spank/ 4:15.752
Pro Women (Jr.Exp*)1 Lauren Rosser* (Can) BC Provincial Team 4:51.966
2 Miranda Miller (Can) Cycling BC 5:00.938
3 Vaea Verbeeck (Can) indépendant 5:08.189
Complete Elite and Junior Expert Men and Women Results here.
