French riders struck gold in the former tin mining town of Derby on Sunday.
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On a day of torrential rain but terrific entertainment, compatriots Adrien Dailly and Isabeau Courdurier claimed the $1500 winner’s prizes in Round 2 of the Enduro World Series.
Round 1 retiree Courdurier podiumed in all eight rounds last year without claiming a win and burst into tears on taking her breakthrough victory after five years of trying.
She recorded a time of 27:52.17 to beat Round 1 winner and fellow Frenchwoman Cecile Ravanel, who suffered an early puncture, by 21.71 seconds with German Ines Thoma third, 1:41.29 behind.
“Everyone was screaming at the end and it was so good to win,” said the 23-year-old, of Gardanne.
Launceston’s former cross-country world cup rider Rowena Fry was the first Aussie woman home, coming tenth of the 37 females.
“That was tough. It was super hard conditions,” said 34-year-old Fry.
“All the practising was in sun and dust so that was like a different course.
“But it was super fun. It’s a long day but all the competitors are in it together and there were a lot of high fives at the end. It was epic.
“I had a big crash on Return to Sender (stage 3). I’m not sure what happened, but I was running on adrenaline so it only hurt when I finished the stage.
“I might do some more local enduros and I’ll do this again if it comes back to Derby. It was not ideal conditions but everyone seemed to love it.”
Dailly was both ecstatic and surprised to hear he had won his first EWS race at the tender age of 20.
“Not a bad day!” said the Nice youngster.
“I did not know how I was going during the day so it was a big surprise. I only just found out. It’s crazy.
“Derby is a nice little town and the trails are really good. But I hope the weather will be better for the rest of the year.”
A crash on the relatively easy final stage into the Blue Derby headquarters cost Irishman Greg Callaghan victory as he finished just 2.65 seconds behind Dailly with Aussie Sam Hill third.
“It was a tough day but the crowd kept me going,” said Hill.
Round 1 winner Wyn Masters, who rolled in with blood dripping from an elbow and a finger, said: “It was a helluva day, but you have them. We had a good time anyway.”
As Derby did its utmost to match the downpours of Rotorua in Round 1, Ben McIlroy won the under-21 men from fellow Aussie Blake Pearce and Kiwi Ben Friel.
Longford’s Ewan Ferrier finished second on stage two and ninth overall. Brit Martha Gill won the women's event.
