After winning the inaugural edition of the Red Bull Los Andes in Chile, current enduro world champion Cyril Despres took some time out of his busy schedule for a chat. In the first part of our interview, we get the lowdown on enduro riding in the Andes…
You had no hesitation in signing up to take part in Red Bull Los Andes, Cyril – what got you excited about this race?
My home is in Andorra, and that means that I do most of my riding in the mountains of the Pyrenees. Don’t get me wrong – the riding back home is good, but nothing can match the Andes for challenging riders, so that is the first reason why I came to Chile for the race. Other than the chance to ride in the Andes, I always love to compete, so this race was the perfect match for me.
'Chaleco is a fine competitor, but first and foremost, he is a friend and another person who enjoys the challenge of the sport'
Do your tactics change at all for a one-day race like Red Bull Los Andes, compared with a rally over many stages?
To be honest, the tactics for a race like Los Andes are completely different from those for a race over five days, for example. Another thing that was special is that they kept the course a secret until the morning of this race, so that element of surprise means that the preparation is different. I didn’t set off at top speed for the race but instead just made sure I kept in touch with the leading pack for, say, the first 40km. Then, after an hour passed, I was about 20km from the finishing line, so I increased my speed and moved out in front.
You’ve been riding through the pain barrier recently with a back problem. How did the injury occur and how is it feeling after Red Bull Los Andes?
I picked up a back injury while riding last month and I had to spend two or three weeks in and out of the medical centre. I’m pleased to say that it is all fine now and seems to have cleared up nicely. The injury was another reason why I was so keen to compete in Los Andes. It was important to test my condition in a race of this level because it could be a big problem if I were to carry an injury into the Dakar. However, I’m pleased to say that I was in no discomfort out on the course.
Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Photofiles
Did you enjoying testing yourself again against Chaleco Lopez in Red Bull Los Andes?
Yes, of course. Chaleco is a fine competitor, but first and foremost, he is a friend and another person who enjoys the challenge of the sport. He was born in Chile and knows these mountains very well from his time spent training in these surroundings. I was pleased for him that he had so much support at the race, and this shows what a hero he has become to the people of Chile. Chaleco was unlucky to have a little crash during the race when he went over the handlebars in one of the muddy parts of the circuit. I was riding close by at the time so when I saw him fall I stopped to see if he was OK and could complete the race. Now Chaleco has signed his deal with Aprilia, I can see him getting better and better in the future.
Tomorrow, we find out how Cyril is preparing to defend his Dakar Rally title next year.
Read more about Red Bull Los Andes at redbulllosandes.cl.
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