DAY 4 : RECAP

by Ash Smith | Jun 24, 2023

Day 4 is a transitional, as we depart the Cottian Alps’ Occitan Valleys and wade into the whole other world that is the Maritime Alps via an infamous, history-steeped entrance way, the Colla di Tenda / Col de Tende.

The morning contained the lowest altitude trails of the week but this had no diminishing effect on their level of excitement or technicality. You had to keep your wits about you, especially on PS13 with its sharp awkward switchbacks and high-speed straights past ancient ruins.

The first half of PS14 involved some physical effort to reach a really fun wooded spine which leads us down to lunch in Vernante.

After our shuttle to Col de Tende, the afternoon was a feast of the high Roya Valley’s absolute best singletrack descents. PS15 is what mountain biking is all about and contained little to worry about. Loam for days, ending in some dryer, looser rocks to keep you focused.

PS16 was a little steeper and more intense, and contained a pretty crazy suprise with some WW2 bunker navigation, lit up by locals who cheered us through the concrete maze, before heading home for the day.

Special mention to P3 in the men’s overall @zian_bisson who took an unfortunate spill and ended up in hospital with 3x broken vertebrae, after riding like a hero all week. Rest up friend and we’ll see you soon.