Trans Provence (Micro) Bike Checks

Trans Provence isn't your average bike race. Staged over 6 days the route traverses 269 km of some of Provence's most spectacular landscapes. Riders climb over 9000 metres (30,000 feet) under their own power and descend twice that distance - and for most riders it's all blind. You find out what's around the corner by going around the corner - at race pace. 

Here's a look at some of the riders in the event and their bikes. Scroll to see all the photos in each group.

Francois Bailly-Maitre – Ibis Cycles

(Sitting 2nd after two days of racing)
Ibis Mojo HD4
Size Extra Large
770mm wide bars
50mm stem
Fox 36 160mm
Fox X2 Air Shock
Saint Brakes with 203mm
Schwalbe Magic Mary Soft Addix Front, Hans Dampf Rear
XTR Enduro Pedals
XTR Di2
No changes for the Trans-Provence

Martha Gill – Marin/Stans Racing

(Sitting 4th after two days of racing)
Marin Wolf Ridge 8
Size Large
Minion DHF Front and Agressor Rear, both Double Down.
160mm front and rear.
760mm bars.
35mm.
Crank Brothers Mallet E pedals.
Same setup as any other race, new tyres for this race.

Max Schumann – Santa Cruz Bicycles

(Sitting 6th after two days of racing)
Santa Cruz Hightower CC
Size XL (would normally ride large but the XL feels good with a short stem)
30mm stem
760mm bars
Fox X2 coil shock
SR Suntour Durolux fork160mm
Schwalbe Addix Nobby Nic Rear and Magic Mary Supersoft Front
Crank Brothers Mallet E
Trans-Provence is the same style of riding as per home, big mountains and long trails so setup is fairly standard.

Anka Martin – Juliana Bicycles 

(Sitting 2nd after two days of racing)
Juliana Strega (rode a green nomad 5 years ago)
Size Small (larger small than the rest of the range)
Not too narrow and not too wide bars
Not too long and not too short stem
Seat goes up and down
Shoes have things that clip onto the pedals
Need to pump up tyres
Forks go up and down 170mm

Jamie Nicoll – Santa Cruz Bicycles

(Sitting 11th after two days of racing)
Santa Cruz Hightower CC
Size Large
160mm Fox 36 semi-open bath
770mm bars
35mm stem
Fox X2 Air shock
Michelin Magi-X Wild Rock’R 2s
The way the bike is set up runs pretty good for the Trans-Provence

Ines Thoma – Canyon Factory Enduro Racing

(Sitting 1st after two days of racing)
Canyon Strive Shapeshifter
Size Medium
760mm ish bars. Ines cut “some milimeters off them in Tazmania and they feel great” 757.8mm approx
50mm stem
Lyric 170mm
Mavic Charge Front and Rear (grippier tyre than usual on the back)
Mallet DH (pedal wrecker)
Rides the same setup as for an EWS.

Rich Norgate – Magic Rock Brewing

(Sitting 3rd amateur after two days of racing and 12th overall)
Orange Stage 6
Size Large
Rich claims the bike has “6 travels” (It has 150mm/6” travel)
Claims to have 180mm wide bars (actually 800mm)
35mm stem
160mm Lyrics
Fox X2 Air
Maxxis Minion DHF Front and Rear Double Down
Hope 4-piston brakes with 203mm rotors
Huck Norris run flat system

We'll bring you more coverage from Trans Provence as the event progresses. To see the standings click here. For more into on the race hit this.