Report: GetzenRodeo Extreme Enduro
By TMX Archives on 3rd Nov 16
Claiming a hat-trick of wins in the event, Husqvarnas Graham Jarvis has won this years GetzenRodeo Extreme Enduro in Germany.
Continuing his 2016 display of dominance, Jarvis once again proved he's the Top Dog in extreme enduro by adding the GetzenRodeo to Erzberg and Red Bull Romaniacs victories already collected this year.
The Spanish pairing of Alfredo Gomez (KTM) and Mario Roman (Husqvarna) joined him on the podium in second and third respectively.
A tough day at the office saw KTM's Jonny Walker place fourth, while Beta's Ben Hemingway in sixth ensured British riders held 50 per cent of the top six finishers.
"I'm delighted with how things have turned out,” said Jarvis. "To get my third straight GetzenRodeo win is just incredible.
"With this race only held every two years it's difficult to win. But I really enjoy the conditions here, it's snotty, technical and suits my style.”
Held every two years, Jarvis entered this year's race having won the previous two editions and was quietly determined to claim his hat-trick of victories in the German classic.
But with a strong line-up of talent and competition in the form of Walker, Gomez, Roman, Hemingway and South Africa's Blake Gutzeit (Yamaha) he faced arguably his toughest challenge in the race to date.
Getting things underway with the two-hour multi-lap morning qualifier, it was Gomez who shot out to an early lead in the 40-rider mass start.
But Walker and Czech rider David Cyprian (KTM) were hot on his heels and by the end of lap one it was youngster Cyprian in the lead, with Walker in tow followed by Jarvis and then Gomez and Hemingway together.
As the race progressed Walker hit the front and Gomez worked his way back up to second.
Jarvis on the other hand, knowing there was a long day of racing ahead, was quite happy to sit back in fifth before upping his pace in the final 30 minutes to slot into third behind Gomez, the eventual winner, and Walker.
"I usually try to take things steady in the morning race and settle into the conditions,” explained Jarvis.
"The ground is quite slippery and technical. I actually made six pit stops just to play with settings in order to be ready for the main event.”
With the flag dropping on the five-lap final, the 12 qualifiers blasted into the woods. Gomez and Walker led the field off followed by Jarvis and Roman 10 seconds later.
Midway through lap one, Jarvis had gobbled up their advantage and was in the lead. But Walker quickly fought back passing both Gomez and Jarvis up a steep wooded climb.
But Jarvis didn't waste time and put his Husqvarna back in front before they entered the final rocky climb on lap one.
Scaling the slippery greasy rocks fastest, Jarvis instantly opened up a one-minute lead and from there on was never really headed.
Stretching that gap out to an eventual three minutes over the remaining four laps, Jarvis successfully defended his GetzenRodeo crown.
"I started third in the main race and charged hard straight away,” said Jarvis. "I got into the lead before the end of lap one on a long tricky rocky climb and pulled a gap over the other guys.
From then on I sort of rode my own race and it came my way. "I love coming to race, it means an awful lot to have won it three times during the last six years.”
Behind Jarvis the battle was on for the remainder of the podium results. Walker, Gomez and Roman all battled back and forth before Gomez made his pass for the runner-up result stick.
"I'm happy with second place,” said Gomez. "Graham was incredibly strong in the main event, he was the best guy today.
"Overall I've raced strong. I won the qualifier this morning and enjoyed that. I knew things would be tougher for the main event and they were. Graham found a better line up a rocky climb and that's where he gapped us. After that I just tried to maintain my position. I'm pleased to be the runner-up.”
Working his way past Walker and into third, Roman was quite impressive as he secured a well- deserved podium result... "I'm so happy to be on the podium, it's a fantastic feeling. Everything went really well for me today. I felt strong and comfortable on my bike and knew in the difficult sections I had some good line choices I could use if needed.
"The pace was fast almost immediately, Graham was in the lead but Alfredo, Jonny and myself were battling hard. On lap two I got around Jonny on a rocky climb and from there on held third position. It's been a great day.”
In what was his first full forestry- based extreme enduro since early March, Walker didn't have his best day at the office.
Despite riding well in the morning qualifier for second, he was unable to up his game once the going got tough in the main event. "The morning's qualifier was really good,” said Walker.
"I rode well and felt like I had more to give but wanted to save energy for the main race.
"I started second behind Alfredo but ran into some trouble on a rocky climb.
"I just wasn't able to regroup quickly enough and then continued to make more mistakes. It's disappointing, I know I should have been better but I also have to consider that this is the first rocky technical race I've done in 2016 so that's a factor too. I'll regroup and come back stronger for the next one.”
With Gutzeit fifth, Hemingway brought his Beta home in sixth... "I enjoyed that, I really did. It's been a good day.
"I wasn't quite sure how things would go as I didn't get as much training in as I wanted to but this forest suits me. I like the technical slower paced stuff.
"I just tried to maintain a pace that would see me through. In the past I've pushed too hard too early and paid the price. I'd like to have got inside the top five, but you know, in this company sixth is not to be sniffed at. I'm happy. I'll sleep happy tonight!”
Behind the top six, Cyprian and Philipp Bertl (Beta) in seventh and eighth were the only other two riders to complete five laps.
Results
GetzenRodeo 2016: 1 Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 5 laps, 53:30.211, 2 Alfredo Gomez (KTM) 5 laps, 56:25.866, 3 Mario Roman (Husqvarna) 58:42.972, 4 Jonny Walker (KTM) 1:01:08.408, 5 Blake Gutzeit (Yamaha) 1:15:03.588, 6 Ben Hemingway (Beta) 1:17:18.821, 7 David Cyprian (KTM) 1:21:24.931, 8 Philip Bertl (Beta) 1:22:28.950
