On Saturday, Les Gets proved once again why it is quickly gaining a reputation among the most iconic World Cup venues. Not just for the amazing, if very difficult and sometimes very muddy, track. But for the fans. Fans that take their obsession far beyond what’s seen at even the most enthusiastic venues.
Year after year, despite the UCI’s, Warner Bros-Discovery’s and organisers best efforts to provide a sanitised and TV-friendly finish line, the French fans storm the finish corral in celebration. The chaos is all the more frenetic when a French rider did, as happened on Saturday when Max Alran won his first elite World Cup.
Turns out, even French President Emmanuel Macron is a fan of the Les Gets downhill.
The national leader took a break from more serious state duties to officially congratulate Alran on his win in Les Gets, reposting a video of his countrymen storming the finish line with the caption, “L’esprit Francais!”
What a rush for the 19-year-old Commencal rider. Winning his first World Cup. Winning his first World Cup with the wildest crowd in downhill, at home. And then getting a shout-out from the President? Not a bad day on the bike.
We couldn’t agree more. Vive la France! Vive la downhill! Vive les fans!
If the fans have Macron’s stamp of approval, who are the UCI and WBD to object next year?
Well, Canadian downhill fans. The assignment is clear. See you all in Whistler in a few weeks!