On April 11th, we flew to Johannesburg in South Africa with the following program: a big road trip to rally Pietermaritzburg, beautiful landscapes, safaris (with many animals that will not see in the Alps), a small dip in the Indian Ocean (by black flag = huge waves!), a south african national race (in the mud!) and finally the opening of the World Cup on one of the most physical tracks of the circuit.
Moving quickly on the first race, the incessant rains the first week have made the track almost impassable after having been shortened by half for the first run, the race will finally be canceled.
Fortunately, the sun came out, the track dried and we could finally send big on this track: nice technical sections on the top, speed (high), jumps (enormous: up ‘more than 18 meters for the last double!), but unfortunately a long pedaling section of about fifty seconds in the middle…
In semi final, Myriam signs the 7th time; we all know, she doesn’t carry the weight of the best on those pedaling parts…
Thibaut did a good qualifying run without major mistakes and finished 17th. Gaëtan rolled increasingly hard during the practices, 60th at the first split, breaks his chain at the beginning of the pedaling section, he will not drop his arms and continue somehow to let it slip in an attempt to hang the qualification. It only lacks him two small seconds to be in the top 80, he took the 84th place! no doubt that without this technical problem he had his ticket to the final.
For the final, Myriam has worked hard during the last practices to blow up the 3 huge table tops that gave the impulse for the long pedaling section, but after Gaëtan, misfortune befell her, she has a puncture after 50 seconds of racing and can not finish this round. Big disappointment …
Thibaut, had set a target to appear in the top 20 in order to be protected for Fort William, it’s done, he finished 20th, which ranks 18th overall.
Back in France, Myriam headed to Lourdes for a training with the french team and at the same time compete in a regional competition where she took the 3rd place (with a crash), while all the best french were present.
The Ruffin brothers went to Lyon for the Avalanche Cup, for a downhill and a 4X on the Fourvière hill, Thibaut ranks 10th in the DH after a runway and 6th in the 4X, Gaëtan 26th in the DH and 16th in the 4X. The results were not those they expected, a little tiredness in the legs after the trip, but the 2 brothers were right about them, and brought back beautiful pictures…
Thibaut Ruffin