Yoann Barelli felt both the joy and the pain in Spain over the weekend.
The Frenchman, who now lives in Whistler, picked up his second consecutive runner-up position on the Enduro World Series, launching himself into the top 10 of the overall men's standings.
Barelli finished 20.227 seconds behind winner Richie Rude and held off the third-place finisher, a hard-charging Martin Maes, by 0.078 seconds to match his best career finish at the Specialized Opel Enduro Festival Zona Zero, which was held Sept. 25 to 27.
After breaking through for his first podium finish here in Whistler at Crankworx in August, Barelli said in an email that results actually took a back seat in his mind.
"Before the start of the stage one I realized that running after a ranking isn't what I'm looking for, I'm looking to get the most sensations that I can during my runs. If I do that, I'm going to give it all, I'm going to put all my heart, all my passion in what I do the best, riding my bike fast," he wrote.
Barelli's times faltered in the final two stages, as he posted 11th-place finishes in both. He noted a crash in the sixth stage left him with a banged-up knee, but he made a point of finishing the race strong.
"Even with a crash, and a knee injury on Stage 6, I played the game until the end and I got second," he wrote.
The eighth and final race in Finale Ligure, Italy runs this weekend, Oct. 3 and 4.
Elsewhere in the race, Australian Josh Carlson, who trains in Whistler, posted an 11th-place finish, 45.74 seconds off the lead. In his return from injury, Jesse Melamed placed 38th and Dylan Wolsky, another Australian in Whistler, was 46th.
As for the women, 18-year-old Georgia Astle found herself in the exact centre of the field, placing 17th in the 33-woman event. Astle was 6:18 back of winner Tracy Moseley, who has dominated the circuit this year. Fellow local Sarah Leishman was just a spot back of Astle in 18th.
Whistler Nordics ski swap coming
Skiers of all stripes will have the opportunity to get set for the coming season on Thanksgiving weekend.
The famous Turkey Sale, offering up to 50 per cent off famous brands, will be held at the base of Blackcomb Mountain from Oct. 9 to 12.
To capitalize, however, Whistler Nordics has also moved its ski swap to the same weekend. The local club will hold its event at the Hilton Resort and Spa from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Classic and skate skis, boots and poles will all be on sale as part of the event.
Those looking to sell equipment can drop it off from 10 a.m. to noon and pick up unsold equipment and money from 3 to 4 p.m. Fifteen per cent of equipment sales goes toward the club's events and programming.
Complete details are online at www.whistlernordics.com.
