VIDEO NASTY

How Cédric Gracia's worst crash became an instructional film for first responders

- James Costley-White Pics Andy Lloyd, various

Having raced downhill, dual slalom, four-cross and enduro, and also competed at- and won - the infamously gnarly Red Bull Rampage freeride event, French MTB legend Cédric Gracia is no stranger to crashing. However, his worst moment came in 2013, while taking part in the Megavalanche La Réunion.

This accident saw him come close to death, and medics were so surprised he survived his injuries that the footage was not only used as the basis for a TV documentary, but is now commonly shown during first-aid courses and other types of medical training.

A RÉUNION REUNION

It wasn't the first time Cédric had visited this volcanic island in the Indian Ocean. In fact, taking part in the annual mass-start downhill race held there had become a tradition for him and his friends. "Every year we'd go there, we'd rent a house, everyone would bring the family and we'd go ride. I'd ride to try to win, they'd ride for fun," explains Cédric.

On this occasion, there had been lots of rain so the ground was slippery. All was going well until Cédric reached a tractor path through a sugarcane plantation. "The end of the course was super-easy but really greasy," he recalls. "I hit a corner, started sliding and crashed. My bar was dragging on the ground, it hit a rock and the brake lever [stabbed] into my leg.

"It hurt so bad, from the impact.