At the end of last month, I went to Les Gets in France for the Mountain Bike World Cup. This was a big trip for me, something I'd wanted to see since I first picked up a mountain bike five years ago, hooked on the glamour and whirlwind chaos of downhill racing: the crunch of tyres on dry soil, the hiss of scattered mud kicked up from the ground, the pure, mind-bending adrenaline of riding off-road.
Nestled in the Portes du Soleil area of the French Alps, Les Gets is one of the most famous tracks in the downhill circuit, primarily because of its crowds. The World Championships last year ended in fans swarming the final metres of track after the last rider came down the hill, resulting in the men's podium being escorted away by police. This year, guards combed the crowds during the race, its chaos momentarily contained to muddy hills turned slip and slides for the French fans mid-race. But, come the final rider down the hill after Rónán Dunne's blistering win, and the people charged the finish gate once more.
