Loudenvielle, France was the next stop for the EDR and DH World Cups, and it didn’t disappoint. After several rounds of wet weather racing, athletes were treated to super–dry conditions with both the EDR and DH tracks. With beautiful views and high-speed trails, Loudenvielle was a perfect location for the World Cup circuit.
EDR racers faced a one-day, all-out brawl with a course distance of 43km, 1,470m of climbing and 2,410m of descending between five timed stages. After the dust settled, it was clear that Maxxis had a successful day, winning three of the four races. Lacey Adams (Yeti Fox Devo) rode to her first win in Junior Women with teammate Chloe Bear behind her in third.
The Elite Women’s race saw overall points leader Ella Conolly (Cannondale Bikes) take her first-ever EDR World Cup win, cementing herself as the one to beat this year.
In Elite Men, Dan Booker (Santa Cruz Bicycles) took his second win of the year, reassuring any doubters that his first win was not a fluke. The rest of the podium filled out with more Maxxis athletes with Alex Rudeau (Commencal Bikes) and Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti Fox Factory) achieving second and third on the day.
After the completion of the EDR round, attention turned to Downhill. Conditions were fast and blown out on race day with riders ripping down the mountain on the very edge of control. The Juniors were the first to test those limits with Norco Race Division’s Lina Frener putting down the run of her young career, taking her first-ever World Cup win. Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox Factory) stood on the Junior Men’s podium after bravely pushing himself to a second-place finish.
All eyes were on the Elite racers for the final two competitions of the week. After an incredible lower section, Gracey Hemstreet (Norco Race Division) claimed gold for the first time in her Elite tenure. Not long after, her countryman Jackson Goldstone (Santa Cruz Syndicate) took the victory in Elite Men, making it two-for-two in the Elite categories for both Maxxis and Canada. Both Gracey and Jackson were on dry tires while many opted for spikes or mid-spikes for the deep dust and loose conditions.
It’s going to be hard to top the racing action in Loudenvielle this year. What a race this was; it’s clear that Maxxis athletes are at the top of their game. We can’t wait for the next one in Leogang next weekend!
