Still recovering after the weekend we spent in Dijon (France), try to do a mental exercise to sort out all that we’ve lived, seen and enjoyed during this year’s National Moutarde Crit, a carefully crafted edition and with a very positive international impact, becoming one of the benchmarks at a European level.
Saturday, May 31
After getting up really early and a lot of hours driving, we arrived at Dijon at noon, just in time to drop our bags at the hotel and go to test the course, during the morning the organization was in charge of putting everything together.
The course, located in the parking lot of the Zenith of Dijon, was 1.4 km long, over 30 curves and two straight ways uphill that made it a technical, fast and very demanding course.
As the riders came and tested the circuit, you could see how they were getting off their bikes and started to change their cog’s to find a more appropriate gear ratio for the occasion. It was clear that I wasn’t going to be an easy choice.
After a friendly welcome from NMC staff, attentive at all times of the riders, and having done some test laps on the course, we were invited to accompany them to the Velodrome of Dijon, where they would give us your numbers and were later would be the Past Party.
Already in the velodrome, we met Max, the main organizer of the event along with the rest of Dijon Mustard Crew, who help out throughout the weekend, so that everything came out perfect.
Familiar faces began to appear: Alessandro Bruzza of Chrome Cinelli Team, Stefania Baldi riding for Desgëna witha prototype, Schott Stefan with his particular 8bar ‘Federleicht bike’, Mario Paz Duque on behalf of the Iride Team, Larz WOLVH, Stefan Vis that decided to ride there from Germany in 28 hours (“Fish” never fails to impress), the guys from Supernova, Fixedpott, Polo & Bike, our friends Dontdo, and many others.
For the rest of afternoon we enjoyed music, goldsprints, with a personalized Williamsburg special for the NMC as a prize courtesy from the friends of Polo & Bike, this legendary velodrome and, pasta, lots of pasta.
On our way to the hotel, we took for a spin around the historic center of Dijon and did a little sightseeing express.
Sunday, June 1
Race Day. Day when we woke up with that weird feeling between nerves and eagerness to lend and getting on your bike.
About 12:00 h. started the first bike inspections. Most riders already beginning to sheathe the lycra and review all the preparations.
The classification was divided into 4 groups of about 45-50 riders each. Each group had 30 minutes for the riders to do their best time.
QUALIFY
It’s time. The first riders took to the track and started riding. Some tried to find the right moment to go hard, one in which the circuit is clear in front of you and you’ll avoid obstacles that may prevent beating yourself. Others chose to wait for a fast wheel of another rider overcome them and had a chance to catch a slipstream and try to get a good time without such aid could hardly get.
During the 4 classifications of groups we started to the first crashes (including mine), no more important than a few scratches and burns. Note that there were areas of the course the asphalt was bad and gave you some bad fillings about it.
The best time among all riders was Mario Paz Duque who, with an impressive time of 2:02.09 that got its start shortly after qualifying, made it clear, that he didn’t just come to spend the weekend.
MENS FINAL B
For all those that didn’t get a good enough time to make the cut that would allow them to race with the strongest, they had the opportunity to race and make the podium with 74 more riders.
A race of 15 laps that the guys gave it all they’ve got and gave in every inch of effort.
Since the start of the test, with the strongest riders was highlighting and gradually moving away from the rest.
Pablo Bartol, Pista BCN club held a good position for most of the race but, due to a fall in one of the corners, lost several positions and pace to continue to fight for a good result.
In the end, the contenders for the top 3 were Agosta Davide riding for Mytologik, Saludes Yoann from Street Pistard and Alexandre Largy from the Vélo Station team, who won a sprint finish to claim victory.
- 1º Alexandre Largy (Team Vélo Station), France
- 2º Agosta Davide (Mytologik), Italy
- 3º Saludes Yoann (Street Pistard), France
GIRLS FINAL
Fourteen were the girls who were fighting for a good result, including Stefania Baldi and Claudia Weiss, both with considerable experience in previous crits. Among other females, names were somewhat less known as Fleur Faure, road racer and member of the national track team, and our friend Mariela Farabello from Pista BCN and Team Moreno 112, who was willing to use their full potential to make a place among the top positions.
The race was off and strongest stared hammering it. They gained ground from rest, Baldi and Fleur made it clear that they were going for it.
Mariela suffered a crash in the third lap after accidentally touching another rider and made her lose some positions. For a moment it seemed that the crash had affected her, but the laps went passing by, she was going strong and cut distance from its nearest rival and got a very good 5th place.
Regarding the head of the race, was alternating between Fleur and Baldi, finally, in a sprint wo by the young Fleur.
- 1º Fleur Faure, France
- 2º Stefania Baldi (Desgëna), Italy
- 3º Claudia Weiss (Gorilla Team), Switzerland
MENS FINAL A
The moment of truth had arrived. The time to prove who had done their homework and were in good physical shape to perform at their best for 21 laps.
Among the most important teams, and a race full of real animals on wheels, were Ivan, Jordi and Luis on behalf of Pista BCN and Oriol and Armand, members of RAW Cycling Team.
The race with 73 participants, started with a frantic pace as expected. The strongest riders started to pull the peloton and break it a few laps from the start. There were several crashes but the riders didn’t lose a single moment on rejoining.
Lap after lap, were formed three main groups. The head of the race was alternating between Mario Paz Duque, Thibaud Lhenry, Augusto Reati, Pablo Rodriguez, Stefan Reimer, Alessandro Bruzza and Luis Junquera. They kept up the pace and direction of the race, every time they passed by the start/finish line, was killing the rider who were a minute and a half behind the leader.
The final lap was a heart attack, with a crash in the last corner of Mario and some more riders options and leaving the podium.
The victory went to Augusto Reati followed Lhenry Thibaud and Pablo Rodriguez in third.
- 1º Augusto Reati (Supernova Factory Team), Italy
- 2º Thibaud Lhenry (In’Bô), France
- 3º Pablo Rodríguez (POLO&BIKE), Spain
Respecting to our friends, Luis Cordon (Pista BCN x 5Shillings) and Oriol Cañizar (RAW Cycling Team), fought to the last second and managed to finish the race in 28th and 30th place. Bravo for them.
Congratulate the organization for the big event have managed to organize, and thank the club Pista BCN for the help they’ve have help us and Roodol for provided and lending their superb rollers.
For the next year, more and better.
More picture on: Toni de la Torre’s Flickr
