SPAIN DOUBLES UP AT 2019 TDN

Given Spain’s incredible record of success in the annual FIM Trial des Nations (TdN), you can pretty much lock in their men’s team for victory before the event’s even started! Unbeaten in the premier men’s World Championship category since 2004, Spain came to this year’s TdN with an all-star team and a home ground advantage, as the 2019 showcase of the world’s best trials riders was held on the Spanish island of Ibiza on the weekend of 28-29 September.

The balmy Mediterranean setting couldn’t be more different to last year’s TdN, which was held on a wet, cold and extremely challenging course in Sokolov, Czech Republic.

As in past TdN events, the field for 2019 was split into three categories: Men’s World Championship; Women’s World Championship; and International Trophy for second-tier men’s teams. Australia competes in the Women’s and International Trophy classes, with a best result prior to 2019 of sixth for the Women’s in 2013, while our men’s team won the International Trophy in 2017.

Top Teams

With each nation fielding a three-rider team in the category they enter, Spain’s World Championship squad was led by 13-time World Trials Champion Toni Bou. A part of Spain’s winning TdN team since 2005, Bou was joined by two-time World Champion Adam Raga and Jeroni Fajardo for 2019.

Aiming to unseat the champions were teams from Great Britain, Japan, Norway, Italy and France, with the Brits and Japanese given the best chance of ending Spain’s winning streak.

In the Women’s category, ten world-class teams were entered, led by last year’s champions Great Britain and 2017 victors Spain. Aiming to upset this duopoly (Spain or Great Britain have won the Women’s TdN every year since 2006) were teams from Germany, France, Norway, Portugal, the USA and Switzerland, as well as Australia.

The International Trophy attracted 13 teams this year, with Germany, Norway, the Czechs (winners in 2018) and Aussies regarded as the top contenders.

The Australian teams were made up of Kristie McKinnon, Lillie Yiatrou and Jenna Lupo in the Women’s World Championship and Kyle Middleton, Chris Bayles and Connor Hogan (all from the 2017 winning team) in International Trophy.

All the Aussies except Middleton arrived in Spain early to compete in the final FIM Trial GP round (held in La Nucia, a week before the TdN) so they could familiarise themselves with the climate and conditions, while also getting some valuable practise time.

Fast Qualifying

On 28 September, TdN qualifying was held on a man-made course in the middle of Ibiza Town with each team choosing their two best riders to tackle it.

In the Men’s categories, fastest to slowest times translated to a reverse order start for the following day’s laps of the main trials course, giving those top qualifiers the advantage of observing the preceding team’s performance to assess strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly, identify the trouble spots on the course.

Unsurprisingly, Spain ripped out the fastest time in the Men’s category, courtesy of Bou, but a surprise come from Norway, who qualified second, ahead of Great Britain, thanks to a fast lap from Hakon Pederson. Italy and France followed, with Japan slowest over the short qualifying course.

In the Women’s category, there was another surprise when Great Britain qualified fourth, behind Spain, Norway and the USA, despite having six-time World Champion Emma Bristow as one of their nominated riders. Australia qualified seventh behind France and Germany.

Team USA also impressed in International Trophy qualifying, setting the fastest time ahead of Germany and Sweden, with Australia fourth quickest, followed by the Czech Republic and Belgium.

Hot Competition

For the main TdN competition on 29 September, riders were faced with a seaside course made up of rocky natural terrain and immense concrete breakwater blocks.

In perfect weather conditions, the International Trophy class saw Austria and top qualifiers USA log only two penalty points each on the opening lap, with Sweden accruing four and Australia and the Czech Republic ten each, but it was Germany who threw down the gauntlet with a zero-penalty opening lap; a performance no other team would match.

Section 9 proved to be the most challenging on the waterfront course, and it was here where the Aussies accrued their most penalties – seven on each lap.

Germany couldn’t repeat their lap 1 performance on lap 2, but they went damn close, picking up a solitary penalty on the problematic Section 9 to finish with a score more often seen in the World Championship class.

Next best was Sweden with seven points overall, followed by the USA with eight. Austria’s good start was undone with eight penalties on lap 2 (all coming on Section 9) that saw them finish with eleven points in total and miss the podium. A total of 18 penalties saw Australia finish fifth overall, one point ahead of the Czech Republic, with Belgium seventh.

In the Women’s World Championship, Spain set the benchmark with a two-point opening lap, leaving Great Britain (eight points) hoping for a reversal on lap 2.

As with the International Trophy class, it was Section 9 that caught many teams out, with Norway, the USA and Australia all accumulating the maximum ten penalty points on this section. That left Australia in seventh at the end of the opening lap, and while the Aussie women improved on the second lap, so did the rest of the competition; all recording lower scores.

Great Britain fought back on lap 2, with only two penalties, but Spain were smoother, picking up only one more penalty to win – 3 points to Great Britain’s 10.

Completing the Women’s World Championship podium was Norway with 18 points, followed by Germany (22), the USA (26) and France (33). Australia finished seventh overall against the world’s best with 101 points, improving on last year’s eighth place.

In the World Championship, Japan started with a 12-point opening lap, which none of the following teams could match – except Spain. With only two penalties (you guessed it – Section 9), Spain were the team to catch on lap 2.

Great Britain had a disastrous opening lap with 25 penalties, while Norway’s good qualifying was undone with 60-point start. As with the other classes, the World Championship teams improved markedly on lap 2, with Great Britain coming close to dislodging France from the podium, but two points on the second lap wasn’t enough. Team GB had to settle for fourth overall – 27 points to France’s 24.

The experienced Japanese team finished second overall with 19 points but Spain, once again, was untouchable, racking up only 4 points in total to win their 16th successive TdN World Championship trophy.

A date and location for the 2020 FIM Trial des Nations had yet to be confirmed at time of writing.