[MUSIC PLAYING]
JEROME ALIX: Hey, everyone.
Welcome to the fourth world cup of the season in Les Gets.
My name is Jerome.
PETER FELBER: My name is Peter.
We're the team mechanics for the Specialized Factory Team.
JEROME ALIX: We will take you behind the scenes this weekend.
PETER FELBER: Come on and check it out.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
BENNO WILLEIT: With Jerome and Peter,
those are the two boys behind the toys.
They really know everything in detail
about the equipment, the rider, and it's a very, very close
relationship that they have, and that's
also why they've spent so many hours even just for two riders
preparing and getting everything ready during the week.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
JEROME ALIX: Good morning.
(SINGING) I say disco.
You say money.
Disco, disco.
Money, money.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MARCEL KEYSER: You want to make sure to use the full suspension
stroke and particularly on that course where you really
want to look for any tiny bit of grip,
and, yeah, we want to look to use the full stroke.
But we want to also make sure that the front and rear is very
balanced after all these drops, so it's not
like the bike is only moving on the rear
but the front is too stiff.
We want to really have a symmetrical movement.
We did a couple of adjustments, but it's pretty much
where you want to be.
JEROME ALIX: After training or during training,
we do modification if we need to on the bikes, the tires,
suspension.
PETER FELBER: Every time it gets close to the race,
the bike should be already race ready.
BENNO WILLEIT: We have two mechanics for the four riders,
so we grew so much together within this short time.
JEROME ALIX: It's kind of a family,
so you trust everyone on the team.
See you later.
PETER FELBER: Now here in Les Gets,
we have the first race with spectators again,
so I get all ready goosebumps when I just think
about it with all the crowds.
And, yeah, no, race day is my favorite day.
It's action day.
SUBJECT 1: So track number four of 2021 gets underway then.
PETER FELBER: Rock and roll.
JEROME ALIX: Good job, Sina.
Good job.
PETER FELBER: Come on, Sina!
Come on!
JEROME ALIX: Fuck, yes.
Second.
Ha!
PETER FELBER: Yes!
Second!
PETER FELBER: [LAUGHS]
SUBJECT 1: Sina Frei.
SINA FREI: Today I really raced smart, and in the end,
yeah, I'm happy with my performance.
SUBJECT 2: And, remember, start positions
on offer for Sunday's cross-country Olympic race.
The first eight in this race will
go in the front row on Sunday.
SUBJECT 1: Here we go.
Here we go.
PETER FELBER: Jordan!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Here they come.
JEROME ALIX: Second.
PETER FELBER: Second.
Yeah.
JEROME ALIX: Good.
Good job, man.
[IMITATING HORN]
SUBJECT 1: From France, your world champion, Jordan Sarrou.
JORDAN SARROU: I'm so happy to finish second today, but, yeah,
I'm focused now for Sunday.
But to race in front of my home crowd, it's just amazing.
JEROME ALIX: So when the riders get back, we-- first thing,
we wash the bikes.
Then after that, we're going to look
if nothing is broken on the bikes,
like no scratch on the frame, like wheels are all good.
After that, we're going to loop every single part moving
on the bikes, and the last thing is going to check the weather
and see if tomorrow is the same for choice of tires.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
OK, yeah.
Yeah, we send [INAUDIBLE] on course and we make a decision.
So for now, we're going to send Flo with the mud tires
to do a lap and fast track, and we'll
see, take a decision from here because if it's raining,
the course going to change again.
So it's kind of a tricky situation,
and we need to make a decision soon.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
So for now, we go with the storm tires.
It's raining crazy, so we'll see.
And even if it stop, it's going to be super tacky mud,
so we think mud tire is good.
SUBJECT 2: Moments away now from round four.
Sina Frei.
Let's get going in Les Gets.
PETER FELBER: Sina, you're doing super good.
JEROME ALIX: 10 seconds .
10 seconds.
Come on.
Up, up, up, up.
PETER FELBER: [INAUDIBLE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SUBJECT 2: Sina Frei there in seventh place.
PETER FELBER: Wow.
Sina is pushing [INAUDIBLE].
SUBJECT 2: Great season.
Hasn't made it on to the podium yet this year, Sina Frei,
but she'll be happy with that today.
Seventh place for her.
JEROME ALIX: Yeah, just before the woman finished the race,
we have one mechanic go down to set up the men's bikes,
so transponder pick up number plate,
do pressure, tire, suspension.
We try to wash as fast as possible, whatever we can.
We need to change tires in between because the men,
they're not going to race on the same tires of the women,
and then we pack up the tools, and we head up to the start.
When mechanics go to the start, the other ones
go already to the the feedzone, and we get ready to race again.
SUBJECT 2: The conditions might be a little bit against him,
and I was going to say you heard a roar from the crowd
as this man came to the line, the French world
champion, Jordan Sarrou.
Seven laps for these men, difficult conditions, and we're
underway.
Jordan Sarrou on the number four bike.
JEROME ALIX: [INAUDIBLE]
PETER FELBER: Up, Jordan.
SUBJECT 2: Interesting.
[INAUDIBLE]
Saw a lot of the women doing it.
Why would you ride all the way around these rocks?
Look at that.
That's how slick it is.
JEROME ALIX: [INAUDIBLE]
PETER FELBER: Fuck.
Where is Gary?
He's running.
JEROME ALIX: This is not good.
SUBJECT 2: Not his best season for [INAUDIBLE]..
SUBJECT 3: No, Drew.
New team for him as well this year.
PETER FELBER: Fuck.
SUBJECT 2: So Sarrou--
yeah, Sarrou fighting [INAUDIBLE] from somewhat
of an attack.
Oh, a decisive attack.
SUBJECT 3: Yeah, it looks like that.
SUBJECT 2: Atrocious conditions out there.
War of attrition for these riders.
Wow.
Look at that.
Sprint finish between these two.
Oh, I really thought Sarrou had done the damage there.
Oh, excuse me.
And the biggest roar of the day for the Frenchman, Jordan
Sarrou, the world champion, the mudman!
JEROME ALIX: Yes, sir.
Third.
Woo-hoo.
We got it to third.
Third place for Jordan.
Yes.
OK.
PETER FELBER: What a battle.
SUBJECT 1: Third place for Specialized Racing
from France, Jordan Sarrou.
JEROME ALIX: So, yeah, this weekend here in [INAUDIBLE],,
it was super good.
We have a super good race in short track,
and cross-country was very nice.
The weather was maybe not that what we accept to,
but it's part of the game.
But the riders, they get used to those weather
from the beginning of the year, and I
feel like the result was super great.
We're super happy with the weekend,
and let's see what the next couple of race going
to give us.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) I've been walking around.
SUBJECT 4: Cheers.
SUBJECT 5: Cheers.
BENNO WILLEIT: [GROWLS]
JEROME ALIX: Oh, wow.
PETER FELBER: [LAUGHS]
JEROME ALIX: Yeah.
(SINGING) There's only a time for a better confirmation.
Yeah, I'm heading for the station.
PETER FELBER: Wow, man.
That was an incredible weekend, hey.
I'm still stoked, and it couldn't be better actually.
And now we are looking forward for the nationals
and for the next races, what's coming up.