TdN gets ready for Swiss role!

The girls will actually get proceedings under way on Friday with the final round of the World Champs before moving straight into their TdN on Saturday.

 

A healthy 11 Ladies teams will be in the fray with the British trio of Becky Cook, Emma Bristow and Donna Fox looking for the win. With Foxy back in the squad there will be no let-up in the pace and no shortage of passion, while the girls will be marshalled by team manager James Fry.

 

Here's hoping that our men's squad and their back-up guys get involved and help Becky, Emma and Donna get to stand on the top step of the podium.

 

They will be up against last year's victor Spain who feature 12 times World Champion Laia Sanz, but whether Maria Conde and Sandra Gomez can once again do enough to keep ahead of the Brits is the big question.

 

Australian and Unites States of America squads fly in to join the usual suspects from Europe in what will be a well fought and respected battle between the girls.

 

On Sunday it is the turn of the men and the team to beat, as ever, is the mighty Spanish quartet. 

 

Spain have won the event for the last eight years, the last seven with exactly the same squad - Toni Bou, Adam Raga, Albert Cabestany and Jeroni Fajardo. The year before Marc Freixa was in the squad, not Bou!

 

On paper they are unbeatable but in an event like the Nations you just never know, it is like a cup game in football.

 

Of the five teams contesting the prize - there will be 19 teams contesting the International Trophy - the Great Britain squad is by far the strongest challenger to Spain and James Dabill, Michael Brown, Jack Challoner and Alex Wigg have got to get a real team spirit going under new team boss Ben Hemingway. 

 

With the best three scores to count in every section the team really does come into play which is why anything is possible.

 

Italy, France and Norway are the remaining teams in the full Nations.

 

The International Trophy is often  a real lottery with many teams in with a chance of a podium.

 

Ireland are always enthusiastic contenders and they have an experienced team which comprises Gareth Andrews, Andy Perry, Sean Doyle and Michael Burton.

 

As well as the expected Euro teams there's a Latin American flavour with teams from Brazil and Venezuela plus, like the Ladies, Australia and United States adds extra spice.

 

This will be the 29th running of the Trial des Nations and the first time that Switzerland has hosted the event despite having fielded a team in every single TdN held to date. 

 

And they have twice finished fourth in the International class.

 

Watch out next week for a full report plus pics in your favourite TMX.