“More fun than XC and more accessible than DH”. For many riders enduro is very much the way in to competitive mountainbiking, offering a mix of technical riding, big days out and a ticking clock… 

From Dirt Issue 121 – March 2012

Words by Steve Jones. Photos by Steve Jones.

The French, and latterly the Italians, have led the way, but over the past few seasons a British bloke, labouring and based in Morzine, has taken them on at their own game mixing it with the likes of Nico Vouilloz and Jerome Clementz.

From holeshoting the Mountain of Hell, to hard–slamming grappa, Dirt takes a look at a 26 year old downhill racer who has made the switch, making the transformations necessary to become a top level enduro’ist. From heads–up riding and improved all–round fitness, to reading the terrain and fine tuned technical skills, Al Stock is mastering the balance of tempo during quite varied events and is leading the British charge. With Dan Atherton also having ‘gone through the change’ and with the sport growing by the second we are seeing a new type of mountain bike athlete. I sat down with him over a full–English after a belly full of piss to go through some detail. >>