On the Pegs - October 2021 On the Pegs - Volume 6 Issue 10 - October 2021 | Page 127

ROUND 3 – SANT JULIÀ DE LÒRIA , ANDORRA – AUGUST 21-22
After a five-week break , the series continued with four rounds in only four weeks . First up on the schedule was Round 3 in Andorra ’ s southernmost town of Sant Julià de Lòria . 2021 marked the 23rd edition of the TrialGP competition in Andorra . Weather held steady for the event , leading to dry and dusty sections ; paired with steep climbs , the picturesque and rocky terrain claimed the greatest number of points in the series .
TrialGP
Beta ’ s Benoit Bincaz made his series debut after finally healing from his pre-season back injury , while Sherco ’ s Dan Peace sat the weekend out due to an ongoing elbow injury .
Day 1 in Andorra marked Fujinami ’ s 350th World Trial Championship appearance , but it would not prove to be a successful weekend . After the first loop , Fuji sat in ninth place and was only able to move up for an eighth-place overall when Sherco ’ s Jeroni Fajardo was penalized six points for time . Matteo Grattarola was in seventh place after the first loop but posted the third-best loop with 23 points to leapfrog into third place on the day . TRRS ’ s Adam Raga and Bou continued to show they are the best in the field by finishing almost 20 points ahead of Grattarola . Bou was able to take a two-point lead over Raga after the first loop , but the pair tied after Raga had a 17-point final loop to Bou ’ s 19 . The new regulations would put the tiebreaker on time , of which Bou was 90 seconds faster .
On Day 2 , mechanical issues and a punctured tire cost Bou the lead on a very low-scoring day . Taking a total score of 23 points was only enough to earn him a third-place finish . Raga and Busto battled out for the top-step finish . In the final six sections of the day , Busto dropped 10 of his 13 points , with the final point in section 11 losing him the lead .
Trial2
Day 1 saw Toby Martyn and Jack Peace battle again for the lead , but despite taking an almost entirely clean second loop , Peace failed section 5 and had to settle for second place , taking 22 points to Martyn ’ s 19 . Lorenzo Gandola would take his third-ever podium of his career with 26 points .
VOL . 6 ISSUE 10 - OCTOBER 2021 // PAGE 127