Grenoble Four Day 2012, Day Two: Folies and Crashes Galore

The trouble here at the Grenoble Four Day 2012 is that when folks see you with a camera and hear you write for a website, you’ve had it. I spent a chunk of the afternoon taking pictures of Gunther, one of Iljo Keisse’s soigneurs. He’s back on the bike as a ‘master’ and has the track bike down here with him, he trains on the boards in the afternoon and actually looks good on the bike.

And five minutes ago I was collared by Laurent Biondi to take pictures of his laddie who’s in the ‘Cadets’ race.

Monsieur Biondi is a sound guy, a DS with AG2R La Mondiale, a former winner here in Grenoble in 1990 with Laurent Fignon and was World Pro Points Race Champion, ‘back in the day.’

I was in a deep sleep when the soothing sound of chainsaws jarred me out of my dreams.

The Ville de Grenoble knows how to time things when it comes to tree trimming.

Franco is still in hospital, but Austin and Guy have perked up and rode a good opening Points Race.

The first chase, over 35 minutes was a good race to watch, with Team 9, Brisse and Boudat getting stuck in.

But Iljo/Kenny are looking good.

Although the French team of Kneisky/Coquard emerged as overall leaders.

Whilst the top French guys are rapid, those further down the rankings, like Sébastian Ivars are nice guys, always with a smile and happy to chat.

The sprinters have plenty of time on the boards here – but loll around on deck chairs between the heats.

The sprinting is low key – no-one wants a crash. Baugé is looking as cool as usual, Jason Kenny just sits quietly and takes it all in.

The 15 lap Scratch Race comes and goes without drama.

The catering is handled below the track in a big ‘bunker’ – the quantities involved are huge, baguettes by the hundred.

And on the catering front, the champers zooms over the counters once the punters get warmed up on the ‘house red.’

“How much did we spend last night?” will be the question on the lips of many a citizen of Grenoble, come the morning.

Whilst the stands aren’t full, the restaurant is, every night – 1,000 covers.

Good business.

The Team Time Trial saw our boys leading out triple Olympic sprint medallist Jason Kenny in the flying three lap Team Sprint.

That doesn’t happen every day.

The French pair of Kneisky/Coquard teamed up with compatriot and team sprint specialist, Mickael Bourgain for the race, but put a different slant on it.

Bourgain did the lead out, Kneisky tried like a dog to hold his wheel, then rapid little Coquard finished it off.

Fastest!

Well, until Race Boss Bernard Thévenet DQ’s them for breaking the rules – the ‘pure’ sprinter has to finish the job.

Meanwhile, there’s much arm waving from Iljo, who’s leading his trio round the fence – they were going to have Sireau as second wheel with Kenny as last man.

They have to do a quick re-shuffle – all good for the crowd.

The Folies girls, long range shots only – last year I was branded sexist for my Folies pix and racist for light hearted remarks about Gregory Baugé.

And this year I’m apparently a ‘Lance Apologist’ – which is obviously the worst of the three.

The sprinters are up again, no records broken.

Then Trio Laruss (the ‘Golden Statues’) – a man and two women painted gold who perform slow motion balance/strength routines which are amazing.

The 20 minute chase isn’t too gruesome – but it’s no ‘potato chase’ where little teams are able to pull boat-loads of laps back.

Sprinters, the De’il Tak the Hindmost, and the Folies – they pose for me and give me huge pouts as they prepare for ‘Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a Man After Midnight.’

“Merci!”

Then they do the ‘Poker Face’ thing…

When it gets late and people get bored, they do daft things; as Iljo chats to Thévenet, his soigneur Gunther does his best Iljo impersonation on the rollers, behind them.

Another Devil, Tristan and Max Stahr kick for the line at the end; Tristan comes down a little, Max moves up a little and with an almighty ‘clatter’ they’re down.

The Scratch Race comes and goes, then it’s the Team Devil…

The race hasn’t started yet as officials are still looking at the damage to the track – which is showing it’s age, by the way.

A French guy touches a wheel, brings Guy down and it’s dominos as half-a-dozen bite the dust.

Thévenet shrugs; ‘let’s call it a night!‘

No one argues.

Results - Grenoble Four Days 2012, Day Two