Mavic Trans-Provence Day 1: Clamensane to Digne-les-Bains

Nicolas Lau took the overall lead at Mavic Trans-Provence after taming epic weather conditions on day two. Here’s how the day’s racing unfolded.

The previous four years of glorious autumnal weather that has blessed Mavic Trans-Provence was abruptly ended ahead of day two with a storm of biblical proportions.

Special stages one and two saw riders battling through rain, sleet and hail high up at nearly 1,800m in the mountains – with the usual route quickly becoming, in places, swollen rivers.

The camaraderie of the event showed itself once again at the feed stations – where spare clothes were shared out and riders huddled for warmth.

By early afternoon the storm had blown itself out and riders pedalled some warmth back in to there bodies with the long climb via a cancelled special stage three and up on to the now near mythical special stage four – Donkey Darko.

The combination of warming sun and some of the finest riding in Europe changed what had already been an epic day – but  mostly due to the shocking conditions – back into an epic day for all the right reasons.

Overall results after day two