Photo Story | Mavic Trans-Provence 2017 | Days 1-3.

The 9th edition of the Trans-Provence enters the midway point and riders can almost smell the beer and the Mediterranean.

Our Pete has been lurking in the shadows, taking in all the 7-day race has to offer and has brought us this photo epic from the opening three days; Embrun to Les Thuiles, Les Thuiles to Villars-Colmars and Villars-Colmars to Valberg.

Day 1 – Embrun to Les Thuiles.

Day 1 started with some high Alpine proper. While technically in the Hautes Alpes, this area is part of Provence. Photo by Sam Needham.
Canyon Factory Enduro’s Ines Thoma would see off assaults from both Juliana ambassador Anka Martin and flying Swiss rider Monika Buchi to hold a 2 minute lead at the end of play on Day 1. Photo by Sam Needham.
Trans-Provence consistently takes riders into massive landscapes and riders are left feeling small amongst the gigantic limestone peaks of the Hautes Alpes. Photo by Duncan Philpott.
All great adventures have a good dollop of hike-a-bike and Trans-Provence sticks to that motto. High on the Col des Orres, shouldering your bike was the only option as riders topped out at 2613m, the highest point of the week. Photo by Duncan Philpott.
Don’t think being a media squid is an easy gig. Take what the racers ride, add a 5.30am start and 25kg of Instagram filters on your back and you have yourself no mean feat. Photo by Sam Needham.

 

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Day 2 – Les Thuiles to Villars-Colmars.

Jeff Calam dances through the rocks on a tough and physical day under a strong summer sun in the high Alpine. Photo by Sam Needham.
You’ve got to earn your turns here at Trans-Provence. Despite the healthy amount of shuttles through the week, the more remote and higher places of the world need leg power to reach. Photo by Sam Needham.
Once you’ve wheezed your way through the thinner air above 2000m, you’re rewarded with a seemingly endless descent through Alpine flora in full summer bloom. Photo by Duncan Philpott.

 

Ludo May loves back wheel. While Trans-Provence may be a race, there’s plenty of time on the trails to enjoy yourself. The BMC rider is in at the sharp end and ready to pounce should the front runners slip up. Photo by Sam Needham.
Marco Osborne had done plenty over the opening two days to earn himself a beer or three. At the end of day two he would have pushed his lead over François Bailly-Maître to 21 seconds. Photo by Sven Martin.

Day 3 – Villars-Colmars to Valberg.

At the top of the infamous Col des Champs, Sven puts the Hightower airborne long before the racers open their accounts for the day. Photo by Sam Needham.
A veteran of this event, Jamie Nicoll hits the top of the fan favourite stage that seemed to never end. Timed proceedings would start after a big old climb out of Entraunes but the rewards for it were untold. Photo by Sven Martin.
Anka Martin was holding onto second place in the womens’ race until a flying Monika Buchi pipped her on day three. Keep an eye on Anka for some witchcraft when the going gets steep later in the week. Photo by Sven Martin.
The Grey Earth section of the Valberg Enduro World series has been part of the Trans-Provence since 2009 and local enduros for much, much longer. Santa Cruz’s Max Schumann dropping in. Photo by Sven Martin.

Keep an eye out for Pete’s round up of the final three days of racing between Valdeblores and Menton on the Mediterranean Coast.

You can keep up with the race feed here. You can catch Day 1’s video here, Day 2 here and Day 3 here.


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