Andorra revisited

In a tale of two seasons Andorra has had the honour of opening the 2013 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship, and tomorrow it will bring a dramatic close to the 2014 series. Back in June of last year twenty-three female riders from five nations descended on the mountainous principality to get the 2013 season underway. In a typically tense encounter the British duo of Rebekah Cook – Beta and Emma Bristow – Sherco shared a win a piece to confirm themselves as two of the favourites to take the title even at that early stage.

Apart from Bristow failing to win on day one, when she made a mistake with the overall time, there were few surprises with the riders who packed the higher order. In the absence of Laia Sanz, due to her Enduro commitments, Sandra Gomez – Ossa announced herself as the leading Spanish rider at the event just across the border from her native land as she placed second and then third over the initial two days of competition.

As always is the case in Andorra, the high altitude plays its part with both the riders and machines having to adapt to riding at heights well in excess of one thousand metres. Last year and this year are no exceptions.