The Graveyard Call
Race Report: The Graveyard Call Day 1
Written by Marcus Rietema
Friday, 24 July 2009
Course described as the world's best!
Argonay, France- Many riders didn't know what to expect when they traveled to Argonay, France for the Graveyard Call. After all, the race was a replacement event after Almabtrieb was canceled and some said the narrow course was not worthy of World Cup status. After some of the bad reviews a number of the world's best racers were very pleasantly surprised what they found.
Current IGSA World Champion and World Cup Series Champion Scoot Smith (CAN) feels that Argonay is the best and most technical course on the entire World Cup circuit. James Kelly (USA) was completely blown away by the course and felt it was the most challenging he has ever ridden!
One of the great features of Argonnay is that the transport buses are able to take a different route to the top so riders can make runs continuously and the roads never need to be opened for traffic the entire day. This allows the riders to make a very large number of runs in a short period of time.
The track starts out very narrow at only about 4 meters (12') in width and works it's way through dense forrest. There is a long straightaway followed by a tight left hand hairpin. After the hairpin there is another straightaway followed by a high speed right hand sweeper. This is followed by hard ninety degree left and two more hairpin corners, and series of esses that take you by a cemetary and finally a hard, ninety degree left that sends you onto the finish straight.
Bareaud and Wagner likely out for the season
On the Tuesday after Peyragudes, Olivier Bareaud (FRA) had a severe impact with a guardrail while out freeriding and suffered a broken ankle. He will be in a cast for the next 6-8 weeks and off his skateboard for 6 months. Bareaud is severly disappointed but vows to come back stronger in 2010.
In the afternoon practice session on Friday, Olivier Wagner (SUI) went off at the exit of the high-speed sweeper suffering a huge impact. Initially he thought his ankle was broken but after a trip to the hospital, the x-rays were negative. He anticipates that his season is done but he still is hoping to make it to Eastbourne next month.
After a full day of riding, the organizers decided to end the session at around 5:30 pm when a rain shower came in resulting in numerous crashes. Everyone headed down to the riders building where the IGSA performed technical inspections and dinner was served.
Tomorrow's action begins at 9:00am with a morning practice session followed by two qualifying runs in the afternoon. We will have a detailed qualifying report and full results posted here immediately after tomorrow's qualifying runs.
Written by Marcus Rietema
Friday, 24 July 2009
Course described as the world's best!
Argonay, France- Many riders didn't know what to expect when they traveled to Argonay, France for the Graveyard Call. After all, the race was a replacement event after Almabtrieb was canceled and some said the narrow course was not worthy of World Cup status. After some of the bad reviews a number of the world's best racers were very pleasantly surprised what they found.
Current IGSA World Champion and World Cup Series Champion Scoot Smith (CAN) feels that Argonay is the best and most technical course on the entire World Cup circuit. James Kelly (USA) was completely blown away by the course and felt it was the most challenging he has ever ridden!
One of the great features of Argonnay is that the transport buses are able to take a different route to the top so riders can make runs continuously and the roads never need to be opened for traffic the entire day. This allows the riders to make a very large number of runs in a short period of time.
The track starts out very narrow at only about 4 meters (12') in width and works it's way through dense forrest. There is a long straightaway followed by a tight left hand hairpin. After the hairpin there is another straightaway followed by a high speed right hand sweeper. This is followed by hard ninety degree left and two more hairpin corners, and series of esses that take you by a cemetary and finally a hard, ninety degree left that sends you onto the finish straight.
Bareaud and Wagner likely out for the season
On the Tuesday after Peyragudes, Olivier Bareaud (FRA) had a severe impact with a guardrail while out freeriding and suffered a broken ankle. He will be in a cast for the next 6-8 weeks and off his skateboard for 6 months. Bareaud is severly disappointed but vows to come back stronger in 2010.
In the afternoon practice session on Friday, Olivier Wagner (SUI) went off at the exit of the high-speed sweeper suffering a huge impact. Initially he thought his ankle was broken but after a trip to the hospital, the x-rays were negative. He anticipates that his season is done but he still is hoping to make it to Eastbourne next month.
After a full day of riding, the organizers decided to end the session at around 5:30 pm when a rain shower came in resulting in numerous crashes. Everyone headed down to the riders building where the IGSA performed technical inspections and dinner was served.
Tomorrow's action begins at 9:00am with a morning practice session followed by two qualifying runs in the afternoon. We will have a detailed qualifying report and full results posted here immediately after tomorrow's qualifying runs.
Views: 36
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Premium Member Comment by Dani on July 26, 2009 at 14:18 -
Looks like a nice spot. I love the beautiful flowers at "the graveyard call".
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Premium Member Comment by Jacko on July 26, 2009 at 18:04 -
quallify results....leeso 14th 2.16 jackson 18th 2.17 yates 26th 2.19 ash 29th 2.21... full report and list on igsa site
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Premium Member Comment by Dani on July 26, 2009 at 20:15 -
All the Aussies have nice close times. Seem to be riding at similiar levels. Well done guys.
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