MARIGOT—Mark Maidwell showed just how adept he is at switching from road bike to mountain bike, even in treacherous conditions, to give Dean Hodge Jr a run for his money on Sunday during the Le Grand Prix VTT de Bellevue.
Dean, the favourite in the Elites category coasted through the four laps of the 4K course to snatch the fastest time of 1:13:56 but Maidwell, first in Masters 1 was only a minute behind finishing in 1:14:28 for second overall, and that with a fall on the top trail.
The race got off to an ominous start with a rain shower that made the trails greasy for the first couple of laps. Due to the conditions laps were changed from five to four for the Elites and Masters.
“It was very tricky in the beginning with the mud and slippery roots and rocks,” related Maidwell afterwards. “I caught up with Dean because he let air out of his tyres to get more traction. We were playing cat and mouse for a while but when I fell on the last lap I didn’t see him again.”
Dean made sure he was first away from the starting grid and was able to maintain position.
“Actually because we were out in front on the first lap was not too bad because we made the lines we wanted,” said Dean. “I thought the second and third lap were the worst and the fourth lap the best because the sun was out and it was drying up.
When I managed to open a good lead on the third lap I had to stop about three times to let air out, and that’s when Mark closed it back.”
Otis Paines was second in Elite’s (1:18:41) and Jeannnot Gouin third (1:22:08).
Christope van Kerrebroeck turned in a gutsy performance to take second in Masters 1 (1:17:36) while Travis van Neste took third (1:25:28).
Annelies Starreveld won the women’s race in 1:18:39, Susy Piscione second (1:34:12) and Celine Verdonck third (1:36:39).
Ronan Garnier won Masters 2 (1:19:57), Jean Francois Brunet second (1:22:18) and Juan Pablo Piscione third (1:34:52).
Cadets 15-16 (two laps) was won by Matheo Gosse and Juniors 17-18 (three laps) by Alban Lafay.
Children’s races started at around 9:30am after the adults and they did three laps of a short course.
Tao Gentil, son of Erwan Gentil, was the winner in 7:43:08, Ylael Caro second (11:17:58) and third Alicia Guibreteau (11:21:90)
Complete results for the children and adults are on the Tri Sport website.
