Rider relishes challenge of racing in the south of France

A Karratha mountain-bike rider will swap the red dirt of the Pilbara for the mountainous wilderness of south western France next week when he takes part in an elite international race.

Tristan Wood-Hill has been accepted as one of only 80 people, out of thousands of applicants, to ride in the six day Trans-Provence adventure race in France from June 19-24.

He was due to take part last year but had to back out three weeks before after breaking his neck.

Mr Wood-Hill said while he had competed in day-long Enduro races down south, he had never done a multi-day biking competition and was drawn to the Trans-Provence because of its exclusivity.

“They only accept 55 riders like myself in the world, and then the next 15 are pro elite riders — male and female,” he said.

“So you get to ride against the world’s best, basically. And that was sort of the winning point. You can ride beside someone who’s won numerous world championships and be just in it for fun.”

The race puts riders through challenging conditions, covering a 300km distance and altitudes of up to 2500 metres above sea level through remote countryside.

Mr Wood-Hill said he was excited to have been accepted into the race a second time, a rare feat in the Trans-Provence.

“It’s going to be really a win just to get there. Just to have yourself accepted into this race, you’ve already won, basically,” he said.

“I was training for about eight months before last year’s event, and then I didn’t make it, so I’ve been training ever since to get back into this one again.”

He thanked his sponsors for their support.