Santa Cruz Andes Pacífico 2017 // Día 3
Sun 12th Feb, 2017 @ 9:30 pm
Simply stunning riding! Day 3 of the Santa Cruz Andes Pacífico brought more superb riding, tired competitors and big grins.
A new morning begins and is about to start the third day of this great Andes Pacifico. At the camp there was a lot of movement as the riders must dislodge their tents, pack their bags and leave everything ready for a new location at the end of the day.
After leaving everything ready, the caravan drove the pilots directly to the base of “Nido de Condores” where the riders pedal to the top to reach a viewpoint with a tremendous view towards Santiago.
The first special “Santuario de la Naturaleza” was very long and was developed in a track that had previously been used in the first edition of Andes Pacifico. A very good and technical track, very rocky that made the riders arrived to the base of the Santuario de la Naturaleza.
Jerome Clementz opened the day with an undisputed podium with a time of 15:21.63 followed by his compatriot Francois Bailly-Maitre with 15: 35.97 and third arrived the Chilean Pedro Ferreira with 15:45.58. Among the women, solid champion Tracy Moseley took the first place of the special with 18:19.69 followed closely by Casey Brown with 18:48.22 and finally Emily Slaco with 19:21.98.
There were still four specials ahead so the trucks took the riders to the place where they were waiting for a good lunch with a spectacular view of the city.
There was not much time to rest because there were still two hours of a drive by truck up hill to reach the start of the second special stage.
Above the mountain at almost 2700 m high, it was very cold so the riders prepared quickly to go down the famous special “Raja Motores” (Blow Engines), a fast slope with trails full of woops made by motorcycles.
In this second stage the table changed and it was the great Milciades Jaque who stood with a solid first place with 5:04.90, being the followed in second place by Mark Scott with 5:08.33 and in the third place Francois with 5:08.80. Tracy still does not give her arm to twist with a time of 5:47.98 followed by the unstoppable Casey with 6:06.51 and on third place the Chilean Florencia Espiñeira with 6:14.55.
The third stage “Bumps” was a hard hit, a long and very fast trail. Some riders reached up to 70 km/hr. It also demanded technical pedaling, with woops on the way.
Mark Scott was the one who climbed to the first place this time with a time of 9:15.06 followed by Jerome with 9:22.12 and a little behind the Spaniard Iago Garay with 9:26.42.
Tracy continues to impress by keeping on top with a time of 10: 33.53 followed by Florence Espiñeira with 11:34.72 and third Emily Slaco with 12:15.14.
The fourth stage “Moto” was much shorter. The track took the riders to the sector known as Shangrila by a trail full of pebbles and berms that arrive almost exactly to the starting point for the last stage.
The Chilean National Enduro Champ Guga Ortiz took the stage with a time of 2:04.65 followed by his compatriot Milciades Jaque with 2:06.97 and on third place Cedric Gracia that had 5 stiches in his shin did a time of 2:07.81. Tracy returns to stay in the tip with 2: 24.45 followed by Casey who managed to come back after his puncture in the previous stage did a time of 2: 40.04. Finally in third place is Emily Slaco with 2: 41.48.
The fifth and last stage “Peñon-Chicureo” was one of the most entertaining of the day and marked a tremendous close of the day. This track was also previously used in the first edition four years ago. It was pure enjoyment with a fast track with a mix of sand curves and few rocks. This is where the classic hashtage and now Brand of Iago Garay #doyouevendriftbro was forged.
Chileans are doing good!! This time it was Pedro Ferreira who got the first place with a time of 7:13.11 followed by Jerome with a time of 7:19.17 on third place arrived Guga Ortiz with 7:21.36. Tracy made a time of 8:29.45 followed by Casey with 8:39.28 and third again Emily Slaco with 9:20.60.
The riders arrived exhausted but with a tremendous smile on their faces. Undoubtedly an intense and exhausting day but it was worth it especially because the Chilean army shone on this third day of the race.
