Lucky Sanz, Unlucky Gabby

Women's World Trials Champs

Trials rider Gabby Gundry did not have a successful start to her first participation in a world event with a  41st place finish in the final round of the Women's World Championship in France last night.  Gabby knew that, realistically,she had little chance of the podium but was hoping to be higher up the field.  Unfortunately, the bike she had hired for the event "crapped out" in the first section so she used a bike borrowed from one of the other guy's minders to do the course - a difficult proposition since knowing your bike is a particularly important part of the control required in trials riding. Stef Downes, the other NZer competing, came a creditable 30th.

Still, tomorrow is another day but there will be no rest for the ladies -  tomorrow is the Women's Trials of Nations event and sandwiched in between is the traditional parade through the town of all the men and women who are in La Chatre for the Trial of Nations.

LUCKY THIRTEEN FOR SANZ

Report from www.fim-live.com

Laia Sanz – Montesa had to suffer an agonising wait before she finally discovered that she had won today’s closing round of the 2013 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship and in doing so she claimed a record extending thirteenth individual title in this discipline. Sanz once again engaged in a day-long duel with her main rival Emma Bristow–Sherco, with only a few marks separating the two title contenders throughout the three laps of twelve sections. Bristow, who would eventually finish as runner up on the day and second in the series for a third year running, saw any last chance of taking the championship slip on her final lap, which was her worst of the Trial.

Back from the leading duo, the competition for the last remaining podium place was equally well contended with Joanne Coles–Gas Gas being the worthy winner of the battle for third place as she demoted Sandra Gomez–Ossa to fourth on the day. Cole’s rostrum finished marked a welcome return to the FIM Women’s Trial World Championship for the twenty-one year old after she had taken two years out of top level sport to pursue her working career. Fourth place proved enough for Gomez to take third in the final standings, as her main contender Rebekah Cook–Beta endured a terrible day down in tenth spot.


The predicted heavy rain never became more than a few infrequent short and sharp showers and had no impact on the dry and dusty sections that were spread far and wide in the wooded areas around the town of La Chatre.

Sections four, seven and eight proved to be the toughest tests of the day and ultimately decided both the Trial and the championship as Sanz used these defining hazards to carve out a seven mark advantage come the end of lap three. Previously no more than three marks had split her and Bristow in yet another tense encounter between currently the two best female Trial riders in the World.

Bristow’s downfall was the seventh section where she dropped seven marks during her three visits, this compared to Sanz’s three cleans. Emma did manage to clean her bogey hazard on the final lap, but th is was still not enough to overpower the mighty Sanz who is now on route through France to the final round the 2013 Maxxis FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup.

If all continues to go to plan for Laia this weekend, she is on course to win two FIM World titles
by the time Sunday afternoon arrives.