In the TrialGP Women class, Bristow maintained her unbeaten record with another victory, but it was much, much closer than at TrialGP Japan where she dominated.
The British rider, who is aiming to win her sixth straight title this season, was forced to battle all day with the Spanish pairing of Abellan and Sandra Gomez (TRRS). Just four marks separated the leading trio following a close opening lap that saw Bristow ahead on 18 followed by Abellan on 19 and Gomez on 21.
Bristow then moved up a gear on lap two, dropping her score to 14 for a total of 32 as Abellan added an additional 20 with Gomez slipping off the pace and coming home in third on 49.
“Today I felt like I was fighting hard and nothing seemed to go right,” said Bristow. “I drowned my bike in the fifth section and got behind and didn’t think I’d be able to finish the day so I’m happy to win. My riding could have been better but, yes, I was fighting.”
The Trial2 Women campaign kicked off in Gouveia where Germany’s Vivian Wachs (TRRS) produced an incredible second-lap total of just five marks to claim a dramatic victory from Britain’s Alice Minta (Scorpa).
Minta had held a narrow lead after the opening lap with her score of 15 putting her three marks ahead of a three-way tie for second between Wachs, Lenna Volpe (Sherco) from France and Germany’s Sophia ter Jung (TRRS).
Wachs then rode out of her skin on lap two to claim a four-mark win from Minta with Volpe taking the final step on the podium on a total of 35, seven ahead of fourth-placed Caroline Moreon (Sherco) from France and 11 clear of ter Jung whose costly second lap was compounded by an additional time penalty.
The next stop on the FIM Trial World Championship tour is TrialGP France next weekend at the Alpine resort of Auron.