Mountain -X Race
Saab Salomon Lead the Way
Rob Howard / 02.07.2007
The heavy rain storms didn’t let up as the teams were introduced on a stage under a huge motorised screen in the centre of Morzine. This was a pity as they hid under nearby porches and eves and ran out quickly to be introduced, and there were no crowds to cheer them. The weather may do more than reduce spectator interest unfortunately. In his introduction the Race Director said tomorrows second mountain bike stage, a technical downhill, might be cancelled as being too slippery and dangerous, and that other stages of the race course might be changed or cancelled too. The high mountain section is doubtful, the canyoning might be too dangerous, and it seems likely the canoeing and white water swimming will have to be replaced by rafting (with professional guides). The Isere river is very high and the dams above it are full, so a lot of water is still to be released even if it stops raining.
It did stop during the trail run, which crossed a ridge between Morzine and Les Gets, but the footing was still treacherous and parts of the trail were quagmires. After running down the main street in Morzine the first climb of the 8km route was brutally steep, and soon sorted out the race order.
The Spaniard Agusti Roc Amador quickly established a lead, and he was to prove he was as good going downhill as he was going uphill, keeping his lead throughout and winning comfortably.
He was chased by two British racers, Ben Bardsley and Phil Davies, from Team Saab Salomon. “Everyone set off too fast,� said Davies, “and we kept a steadier pace and moved into second and third on the climb and kept those positions, but the leader didn’t slow at all. He was going at a fantastic pace.�See All Event Posts
