Finals Photo Epic: Southern Discomfort - 2019 Windrock Pro GRT
Once again it would be rain that greeted racers on track throughout the day at Windrock Bike Park, the already saturated ground turning even more into mush by the hour. While conditions were messy for Friday's qualifier, they were downright disastrous for Saturday's final runs. When some of the best racers in the world cross the line after a 3-minute race and say it was one of the toughest they have ever done then you know it was a hard effort. Even intermittent rain through the day was not enough to keep the dirt from getting sticky, and each run was an effort to keep the bike on a fast line and carry speed. One wrong move or mistimed corner and the ruts would suck your speed at best or pull you right off track at worst.
Not one of the top five women came down without dirt on hands, arms or legs from a crash, and in the end the battle of attrition would be won by Rachel Pageau. Over 20 seconds back would be last years Windrock winner Caroline Washam, followed by favorite Frida Roenning who came down covered in the most mud of all to take 3rd. Rounding out the podium would be Sarah Olsen and Kera Linn.
For the Pro men, it would be Max Morgan who would set the first competitive time of the day and he would sit anxiously in the hot seat for quite a few riders before being knocked off by eventual 3rd place finisher Jacob Dickson. Race promoter Neko Mulally would slot into 4th and yesterday's top qualifier Charlie Harrison would take home 2nd. The top honors belonged to Frenchman Loris Vergier who bested the field by just 0.40 seconds.
While youngster Ethan Shandro would easily top the rest of the junior field by nearly 10 seconds he could not repeat his performance from qualifying that saw him take the fastest time of the day. His time would have put him on the podium in the pro men's race so it's safe to say he is riding at a pace that should see him turning more than a few heads on the World Cup stage this season.
Fog, cold, and rain once again at The Rock.
The fog lingered in the woods all day long but at least the rain held up until the last few riders down.
Mitch Ropelato drops through the foggy woods.
First place qualifier Charlie Harrison would end the day in 2nd.
Christopher Grice is one of the smallest riders yet posted a big time. He won his category by just under 20 seconds.
4th on the day for Neko Mulally.
Mud and ruts were the name of the game today.
There were some big names on the start list who were eager to get the season going.
The bottom of the track was quite hard packed and dealt with the excessive rain quite well.
Loris Vergier kept it tidy enough to post the fastest time in the worst conditions imaginable.
Luca Shaw battling the muddy ruts in morning practice.
10th for Forrest Riesco.
Henry Fitzgerald heads out of the woods and into the final two big jumps above the finish line.
One of the very few riders who was sending this very big double through the trees.
5th for Kera Linn
Some mud on the right hand of winner Rachel Pageau showed she wasn't immune to crashes in her race run either.
Covered in mud from a crash, Caroline Washam still managed to take home 2nd.
The task of holding on to the bars increased ten fold in difficulty once the grips hit the ground.
Tire choice and pressure were important to keeping it rubber side down today.
The heaters were out in full force once again today in an effort to dry gear and keep riders warm between runs.
Keep your eyes on junior Ethan Shandro this season.
9th on the day in juniors for World Cup podium regular Kye A'Hern.
Elliot Jamieson took 3rd in the junior men's race.
Junior Men's podium.
Junior Women's podium.
Loris Vergier helping to clean and prep his bike before finals.
And you wonder why your brake pads only last two runs.
It's amazing that even in this kind of heavy mud the suspension seals still keep things running slippery and smooth.
Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do to keep your equipment going in the mud.
The rain and mud combo is all anyone saw.
A mud covered Frida Roenning had high hopes and rode the rutted course well.
Kera Linn rounded out the women's podium in 5th.
All smiles for women's winner Rachel Pageau.
All smiles on the Pro Women's podium.
Third place for Jacob Dickson, six seconds off of Loris's time.
Great riding today by Loris Vergier.
Vive Le Loris indeed!
Benjamin Despres Morin battle through the extra muddy rock garden in practice
Loris Vergier was on point today and took the win by the slimmest of margins.
Luca Shaw was just off the podium by 0.10
Max Morgan charged the track for 5th.
5th place finisher Max Morgan sat nervously in the hot seat for a good while as more than a few heavy hitters failed to beat his time.
3rd for Jacob Dickson.
Charlie Harrison gave it his all and couldn't believe how close to the top he got. It was a hard pill to swallow considering he put five seconds into third place.
A big effort on track, and an even bigger effort off the track by Neko Mulally who is the man responsible for putting on this race each season.
The top 5 men at the opening round of the 2019 Pro GRT series.
Previously:
• 11 Downhill Bikes From the Windrock Pro GRT
• Qualifying Results: Windrock Pro GRT
• Qualifying Photo Epic: A Tennessee Mud Bath - 2019 Windrock Pro GRT
• Video: Windrock Pro GRT Qualifying and Whip Off
• Final Results - 2019 Windrock Pro GRT
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WALES AINT GOT SH*t on Windrock !
I wanna be there when u fly out and make ur best attempt at the Rock bc I don’t think u have what it takes and after I post this I’m sure many more will agree