The Rhône-Alpes Cup got off to a great start on Sunday the 26th of April in Chambéry, at the Combe Noire trials park. It shared the sections with the first round of the TriAl’p Cup 2009, the new four-round Franco-Swiss series that is fixing to be a benchmark in European competition and of which we are the official documenters. We will feature an article on this new competition shortly, but for now, here’s a brief write-up and full results of the Rhône-Alpes Cup, one of the most passionately fought series in France. This region is a hot-bed of talent, home to some of the best French Elite riders who fight mercilessly for this cup and the title of Rhône-Alpes N°1. The title is currently held by 2007 Junior World Champion Aurelien Fontenoy, who doesn’t intend to let it go this year. Guillaume Dunand, his brother Cédric, Nicolas Luque and Florian Tournier will not make it easy for him.
The Passion Trial Chambéry club, accustomed as they are to organising such big events (see Chambéry #3: a success!), ensured a faultless day once again. Although it was cloudy, not a single drop of rain fell on the 200 riders (including The Netherlands’ Rick Koekoek) who were riding the sections and a crew of ’rotating’ observers helped to keep queues down at the sections. The Elite competition was dominated by Aurélien Fontenoy, who was on great form, and Florian Tournier broke his modified rear axle and was unable to finish the competition.
Results...
Expert:
National / Cadet:
Full results:
Photos...
Here are some photos of the Elite riders, with more to see on the Passion Trial website, in the gallery.
Aurélien Fontenoy...
Guillaume Dunand on his prototype Ozonys Curve 26...
Cédric Fontenoy...
Rick Koekoek...
Nicolas Luque...
Florian Tournier...