Mountain Race: Vertical Trail - Xavier Verny and Laurence Race Ahead

This course of Maroussem Yan knows by heart for having spotted it and reopened just two years ago with his buddies trailers, armed with " machete . " On Saturday, November 5, was the first time that the route home to a full race.

" The course is super demanding, not two as steep, with vertical passages altogether! This is the kind of terrain that I really like and where I feel more comfortable , "confieYan of Maroussem.

His last race, the Ferney Trail (28 km and 1500 m D +) where he finished fifth, went back to just Lacroix, he must still deal with a few extra pounds after many trips in recent weeks.

Riders spin "to 15 per hour " from the start given to the car park in Black River Gorges. " We are 3 to 4 buddies and I decided to enter the first path in the Ironbreaker. Xavier Verny and Fra Janot, just behind, keep up the pace without difficulty, and this little group of three will grow together and gradually separated from the other , "says Yan of Maroussem.

Xavier Verny and Fra Janot do not know the first part of the course. They prefer to play "safe" and snap back to Yan Maroussem. After 33'30 effort, they reached the top of the peak Ironbreaker. They are then to 622 meters.

" This is probably my best time , "says Yan of Maroussem. As for the rise, it is so steep in places that had to install a rope and a chain to lift themselves squarely as the "wall" is awesome!

Part of the trail is still in the rough, but with little bumps. It leads to the highlands of Gorges, with some " break-legs": roots, trunks of trees, streams to cross. He joins a dirt track where riders can switch back to " 15 per hour . "

The three men have already made the hole in the lead. Yan Maroussem knows that his two breakaway companions are "two big cars." Xavier Verny is cross-country champion and is 14 'to 5 km. Janot is Fra Duathlon champion Maurice.

After an hour of racing, the sensations are excellent for Yan Maroussem. The trail technique Mare-aux-rods appear before them: a very steep descent to the beautiful place called the " window "where one of the best views of the Gorges and where flows as a river turning into beautiful waterfall!

Slope at 25%

Yan Maroussem replenished with water. He also took the opportunity to refresh and renewed the attack on the climb that reaches the other side of the slope. The three runners talk a tiny bit and progress " at a good pace , "operating mode, because the slope is 25%.

The trail emerges on a track. The three men find themselves on a landing that leads down to the point of view of Maccabees, 800 meters away. Xavier Verny and Janot Fra take over for the first time but soon slow down, forcing Yan Maroussem to take command.

They expect to find themselves on familiar territory to attack. The show is wonderful: a great view of the entire region west of the island. Black River Tamarin and tables are placed in the distance! The colors are especially attractive this morning. But the effort quickly regained his rights. A steep trail a new challenge: the descent of "Zepoli" hyper technical, steep. Yan Maroussem is always in control. He knows every inch of the trail and climbed down so many times.

He descends " thoroughly ". Xavier Verny and Janot Fra cling! At the bottom, there are 500 feet long way and then another steep descent though equally familiar: it is " Wire "! Yan Maroussem decided to lift a little off.

Xavier Verny and he discussed some VMA. " I am twenty years older than him and we've known p had, "says he. The three trailers are down about 500 meters and it's nice to find some wheels. Yan Maroussem checks his clock: 1:26. All is well. He took the opportunity to recharge in the river and cool off as " a chunk "awaits them: the famous ascent of Grand Piton, which takes them into the top of the island, Piton de la Rivière Noire at 828 meters.

The moment he was waiting for arrived: his two comrades "retrograde" and soar as conquerors to this mythical summit! He looks to spin without much response. This rise is gradual and progresses through a forest of TECOM, which lose their leaves in the period, which makes support very elusive! It took a few minutes so that he finds himself alone in the rise of this difficulty. The part embedded in the rocks is formidable: it is hot and the slope is very steep there. Yan Maroussem progresses relatively slowly over the broken and is careful not to get into the red!

At times he even takes a break of ten seconds and leaves. He turns to see if there is a runner on his heels. He finally arrives at the top and the view is breathtaking, panoramic. The whole of Mauritius, dressed in her best dress, he looks! " I have a little chat with some hikers who m'avisent my two friends went there 5 and 3 minutes respectively !"Says Yan of Maroussem.

Behind him is always calm. No one on the horizon. The descent on the other side of the Piton is so steep that it took to install a chain again, just to secure " the brutal part "! Yan is fun and found a good rhythm on the following three kilometers of trails a bit hilly.

3.5 km of single track sometimes on the part of the Plaine Champagne road and found a stable and steady stride and immediately plunged back into the path of Trochetia. He made a stop at the small stream to the crystal clear water, cools and replenished with water. Yan Maroussem rises gently, walk a little and gradually increased the trot. He leaves the trail and attack a false flat amount of approximately 1 km on the grass under the sun is directly overhead. He then finds much joy with his friend Philippe training for the Trail of Rodrigues Surprise! Fra Janot is a few hundred meters ahead! Yan Maroussem not expecting that! A small portion of road leading to the bottom antennas Parakeet which is the largest descent of the trail: 3.5 km of "single track "

As a good competitor, Yan decides to make up for Maroussem Janot! He knows the descent of Parakeet by heart. "I worked my runs the past few months and have well-trained thighs for me start at a rapid pace , "said he. He joined easily, twice while encouraging him to " stick "with him. Fra Janot holds. Yan Maroussem gets stung by a wasp and the two men arrive together at the bottom! The duathlete is serene and concentrated. The veteran cools again to the river and offers Janot Fra finished together, to accept proposal.

At this stage, it remains only 2 km of the race. At the first small climb, however, Fra Janot slows. Yan Maroussem awaits but he insists he continues. Yan keeps his pace and finally found a second lump Fra Janot in better shape.

This time it is he who finds it difficult to follow! But he holds back and forth before. These are two men in the last mile: a kind of way rather unstable with a lot of rocks and down a bit, so ideal for Janot, the duathlete!

" We are 15 hour and I can not follow the tempo too high at this stage of the race after 3:35 effort! Combative, I refuse to let me Janot too behind. I am really relieved to catch and finally reach the finish line , "says he. The finish line finally: Janot Fra finished second, Yan Maroussem to 5 seconds, very happy with his third place and a time most satisfactory.

League of 2001 Trail ends Sunday, December 4 with the " Ring Trail "of 24 km on the west coast.