Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

French rider out-duels March in Exodus

Torrential rains no problem for 130 racers

An almost 5,000 foot downhill course was daunting enough for Red Bull Exodus participants, but add some of the heaviest rains seen in months to the picture and the hardcore factor went through the roof.

Some 112 men and 14 women riders were at the start line beside the top of the Peak Chair on Saturday, with the women opting to join the ranks of male racers based on their times in Friday's qualifier.

Squamish's Shaums March, one of the top qualifiers, took an early lead and was first off Pika's Traverse to the Roundhouse, where the trail linked to the Garbanzo Zone. He kept his lead all the way to In Deep, where French rider Jerome Clementz saw his opportunity. March took a high line, the way he usually rides, while Clementz took the faster go-around and came out on top.

March caught up by World Cup Singletrack while Clementz was tiring, but couldn't find a place to pass as they headed to the finish.

"The only thing I'm bummed about is I didn't see (Clementz) behind me, or I would have blocked him out on that line, but it was a fair pass," said March, who finished just seconds behind Clementz after the longest race of his life.

"Things are always a little better in the rain than the day after a rain storm. The roots are clean so you have a fraction of a second of traction, you can clean your tires in the puddles - although some puddles were so deep it was like hitting the brakes hard.

"I really liked the format, I think everybody up there loved it. The mass start thing made it pretty exciting, and you knew the course was going to be long and challenging."

The route started down the back of Whistler Mountain on Matthew's Traverse before turning back towards the Roundhouse on Pika's Traverse. That section of course was entirely on access roads, but with riders starting in groups of 10.

From there the course dropped down onto the new trail that follows Upper Whiskey Jack to the top of the Garbanzo Zone. After that the sequence of trails was Original Sin, Blue Velvet, In Deep, Freight Train, Duffman, Side Track, Golden Triangle, World Cup Singletrack, Ho Chi Minh and Double Vision.

Clementz, who races in the Mega Avalanche downhill series, said the event was challenging.

"Basically we were sitting in our warmest clothes at the start for an hour waiting for it to start, I had on five pullovers," he said. "It was crazy to race from the peak. I told myself, I'm here on a holiday and I don't have to race when it's this terrible, but I'm glad I did it.

"It's not so slippy because everywhere is wet, you can feel all the roots. The qualifier was actually more tricky than today. But it was very physical, very hard.

"I would be in second probably if I hadn't taken the easy way while Shamus took the harder route on In Deep. I knew it was a little faster so I could overtake him, then it was go, go, go to the finish line. My legs are on fire."

Katrina Strand was the top female rider on the course, placing 48 th overall. She was followed by Sylvie Allen.

"This morning I had to dig out all my snowboard gear, my jacket, my socks, everything so I could stay warm at the start, and I was laughing all the way driving in today," Strand said.

"I wasn't scared at all (for the mass start), but the atmosphere is definitely different than when you're racing on your own. There's a lot more to contend in terms of people... I was surrounded by people from top to bottom.

"That definitely made it interesting. Some people rode out really fast and then were a nightmare on the technical sections, where I usually tend to do a little better. I was cautious, I didn't want to hit anyone, and I let some people around me. Everybody seemed to be good about it."

Strand was excited to win the event, which represents a turning point for her in some ways.

"I'm just stoked to have this win this season because it's been tough," she said. "I've had a season full of mechanicals and disappointing races so finally at the end of the season to squeeze out a win was so great.

"I love competing racing downhill, I got on the national team this year but decided it was in my best interest to stay here. At this stage of my career that's the type of racing I'm moving into, enduro races and some cross-country events like the Four Jacks, that kind of thing."

Riders reached speeds of over 80 km/h on the fastest sections of the course, with the top riders reaching the finish line in just over 21 minutes.

 

Top 10 Men

1. Jerome Clementz, France - 21:01.00

2. Shaums March, Squamish - 21:03.04

3. Jack Reading, UK - 21:04.99

4. James McSkimming, Whistler - 21:13.99

5. Paul Stevens, Whistler - 21:14.18

6. Tyler Morland, Whistler - 21:34.70

7. Dylan Wolsky, Whistler - 21:43.90

8. Chris Johnston, New Zealand - 21:48.83

9. Chris VanDine, USA - 21:49.74

10. Thomas Vanderham, North Vancouver - 22:00.76

 

Top 10 Women

1. Katrina Strand, Whistler - 25:04.67

2. Sylvie Allen, Pemberton - 27:19.55

3. Kari Mancer, Whistler - 26:52.00

4. Kristen Smart, Canada - 28:07.31

5. Carie Poole, UK - 28:14.43

6. Dawn Cashen, Winfield - 29:28.50

7. Carolyn Kavanagh, Vancouver - 29:57.86

8. Jessica Vogt, USA - 30:09.31

9. Julie Berry, Whistler - 31:47.35

10. Rachelle Fraser, Canada - 32:52.68