On the Pegs - November 2021 Volume 6 Issue 11 - November | Page 79

professional riders . Despite making their first appearance since 2010 , Team Norway , made of Jarand-matias Vold Gunvaldsen , Hakon Pedersen and Sondre Haga , was slated as the favorite to win . Team USA included veteran TdN competitors Daniel Blanc- Gonnet , making his seventh appearance , and Josh Roper , making his second appearance . New to the team was Alex Myers , joined by minders Nigel Parker and Will Myers .
The World Championship class is reserved for the top four elite teams ; this year , those included Team Italy , Team France , Team Great Britain , and Team Spain , who has continued to dominate each year ’ s competition since 2004 and the introduction of Toni Bou to the roster . Team France returned with their 2019 roster of Benoit Bincaz , Alexandre Ferrer , and Teo Colairo , hoping to get back on the top step , a feat that hasn ’ t happened since 1988 .
The TdN took place the day after the final round of the TrialGP series , with a slightly reworked route and three additional sections bringing the total to 15 , with a nice blend of sections in the nearby creek bed and those on drier terrain .
As was to be expected , Team Spain , made of Toni Bou , Adam Raga , and Jaime Busto , only dropped a
single point all day , an amazing 35 points ahead of Team France in second place . Seven points back to round out the podium was Matteo Grattarola , Gianluca Tournour , and Lorenzo Gandola of Team Italy , with Team Great Britain ’ s Billy Green , Jack Peach , and Toby Martyn having a bit more difficulty throughout the day and finishing with 65 points .
“ It has been a really good day ,” said Raga , who has now won an incredible 18 TdN titles with Spain which makes him the most successful rider in the history of the event . “ All the team – the riders , the
VOL . 6 ISSUE 11 - NOVEMBER 2021 // PAGE 79