It was our first edition, the origin. An event that was born with a new concept in Spain, high-mountain biking, enduro and multi-day event. We didn’t know how riders will answer and if they will want to carry their bike during 4 days of adventure with many climbs and downhills.
The answer was incredible. It’s true that we were a little family with 55 riders, but what a level. Curren top Spanish riders came to Trans-Nomad, Rubén Rodriguez, winner of this first edition, Jacobo Santana, Markel Uriarte and many more we all know in this world. But we also had a great foreign representation, a Portuguese group with Marco Fidalgo (what the hell not to have you between us, friend. We miss you a lot), a Swedish group, a crazy French group with François Dolá, a German doctor and the South African Rene Damseau who is now responsible of Kindong Enduro and one of the responsibles of development of enduro in Lesotho (South Africa), both with events and trips.
We just had one girl, Sandra Pastor who was the first woman accepting this challenge and of course she won this first Trans-Nomad edition after completing 4 days. Men’s podium was Ruben Rodriguez (1º), Markel Uriarte (2º) and François Dolá (3º), but curiously Jacobo Santana was the winner of most of the stages during 4 days but in one of them he didn’t watch the signals and he lost the track losing a lot of time excluding him from the podium.
And the best of all, a great riders group coming to live a different experience without knowing what they will find. And the truth is that everyone had very positive attitude, including the hardest moments. We’ll never forget last Trans-Nomad day climbing to Puerto de la Madera for first time with snow covering this beautiful landscape. Thanks to all the team work and specially of the bikepatrols team, we could manage what could have been a crisis and we could turn it in an experience for everyone.
It was a Base-Camp format edition with individual tents. Each day we slept in a differente valley and our logistic team had to do magic to get everyday to the Base-Camp and getting all ready before the riders end the stage. We slept at Benasque Valley, Chistau Valley and Bielsa Valley crossing each day from one to another and discovering the most epic singletracks of the Pyrenees. It was a real challenge for everyone, it turned out well. And that’s why we continue, going for the fifth edition which wants to remember this 2016 edition and we’ve named it like “Back to the roots”. Because in 2016 this madness and great adventure which is Trans-Nomad began.
Here you can find each day summary and technical information (Road Book and tracks)
Day 1: Benasque Valley: first time of Sierra Negra… hard but magic experiences for many riders. It was cold in the beginning but conditions went better to end this day with three Puro Pirineo singletracks.
Day 2: Chistau Valley: after the first stage at Benasque Valley we climbed for first time to Colladeta del Ibón and then going down to Saravillo. It was maybe the hardest bike-carrying of this edition for many riders. But arriving to Basa de la Mora is an unique experience for any rider.
Day 3: Bielsa Valley: we changed to this valley crossing the mitic Cruz de Guardia and then another stages in Bielsa. One of them has not been repeated…
Día 4: Return to Benasque Valley: the epic and most remembered day of this first edition. Because of the snow, the beautiful landscapes at Puerto de la Madera and the return to Benasque Valley through one of their most famous singletrack.
- Download: RACEBOOK 2016 DOWNLOAD
- Download: TRACKS TRANS-NOMAD 2016
And of course Indomit Visual video who made this first Trans-Nomad edition.
Great memories we hope we could live again soon.
Javi
