We started at the sea and that is where we’ll finish. Fabian Barel leapt into the water after winning in Punta Ala and to the riders it no doubt feels like they too have sweated a Mediterranean seas worth at the subsequent rounds.
The series has proved that Enduro is no walk in the mountains, yes a lot of riders who have retired or moved on from downhill racing have taken part. Don’t let that fact for one second make you think this is an easy sport, it could well be harder, just in different ways.
The Enduro World Series has grown after each event and Dirt has been there from the start, taking you through this first evolutionary season.
Entering the final round we have had quite a ride so far, across Europe, the USA and Canada before heading back to Europe to round off the series. The first race was full steeped in anticipation from riders, the industry and the whole bike world. Fabian Barel and Tracy Moseley took the inaugural race wins, and with them, a name in history as the first ever winners of an Enduro World Series race.
High above Val d’allos for the start of stage 4.
From the picturesque seaside of Punta Ala we climbed into the Alps, across the French border and inland. Location number two was Val d’allos, it was stunning, giving riders a huge amount of descending on natural terrain. Nico Voullioz took the win in the mens and Tracy Moseley continued her solid run of form. Staying in France for round three the teams headed to Les Deux Alpes where Jerome Clementz claimed his first win and began to emerge as a consistent force in the series. Moseley continued her assault on the women’s field and started to build her points lead.
Singletrack perfection in Colorado.
Winterpark was next and the scene was set high in the thin air of Colorado. With Graves having spent a lot of time here with Yeti over the years it could have been his race but Clementz had other ideas. Jerome and Tracy were victorious again and the hop across the pond for rounds four and five was underway.
Jared Graves on his way to the win in Whistler.
Round five saw us flying into the circus that is Crankworx Whistler. A huge course, 51km with a massive range of riding. Jared Graves had been unlucky at previous rounds but this time he showed his true colours as one of the best all round riders mountain biking has ever seen. He closed a huge gap on the fifth and final stage, which was pretty much the only one he practised. It showed, he made over 30 seconds on the 22 minute stage taking the win ahead of Jerome Clementz. After a big crash in Punta Ala Anne Caroline Chausson came back and took the win ahead of the Tracy Moseley giving two new winners for the first time since Val d’allos.
Jokes before the rain and thunder came in to Val d’Isere.
With the madness of Whistler over it was back to Europe and to Val d’Isere for round 6. Anne Caroline took the win again here, Moseley was ahead and would have won by a clear 15 seconds had she not suffered a time penalty on the last stage. Clementz returned to the familiar podium step and with that took the series title having taken a points lead out of reach of his competitors. Though she placed 2nd in Val d’Isere Tracy Moseley took the women’s title in the same fashion, her season long consistency gave her a comfortable points cushion going into this final round in Finale Ligure.
Maes sprinting from the start hut in Val d’Isere.
It’s worth also mentioning the blistering performance of Belgian junior rider Martin Maes. Regularly he has put in stage times to rival the best elite riders and his consistency throughout the season has annihilated the rest of the junior field. He goes into the last round with a monumental near 1500 point lead over his nearest rival.
Your first Enduro World Series Champion, Jerome Clementz.
The big end of season race in the aptly named Finale Ligure is a unique location for what is promised to be an amazing place to finish the first series. Finale nestles by the Mediterranean in the province of Savona.
With the racing running over two days there should be suitably relaxed Italian approach to the racing but no doubt riders will still be out to bag some stage wins even if the overall has been decided.
RACE SCHEDULE
Thursday, 17th
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Finale Ligure
8:00 Practice starts
12:00 to 15:30 Media accreditation opens
14:00 to 23:00 Pit setup for teams
Friday, 18th
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Finale Ligure
8:00 Practice starts
8:00 Press room opens
9:00 to 12:00 Pit setup for teams
13:00 Race office and rider registration opens
18.00 Race office and rider registration closes
18:30 Riders briefing
19:00 Media apertif
22:00 Press room closes
Saturday, 19th
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Finale Ligure
7:00 Race office and rider registration opens
8:00 Race office and rider registration closes
8:30 First rider sets off
16:00 Pasta party
Sunday, 20th
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Finale Ligure
8:30 First rider sets off
13:30 Pasta party
17:00 Podiums
18:00 End of season party
The stages have also been announced for the racing this weekend and each of them is shown here.
There course covers a massive 60km and the riders will be tackling over 2300m of climbing and descending over the 6 stages.
Although the overall winners have been decided there are still battles for rankings and riders will be out to land some stage wins.
MENS
1st Jerome Clementz – 3040
2nd Jared Graves – 2398
3rd Fabian Barel – 1761
4th Nicolas Vouilloz – 1726
5th Remy Absalon – 1440
With only 35 points separating Barel and Vouilloz the fellow Frenchmen will be battling for that 3rd podium step.
WOMENS
1st Tracy Moseley – 3400
2nd Cecile Ravanel – 2315
3rd Anne Caroline Chausson – 2060
4th Anneke Beerten – 1660
5th Innes Thoma – 1620
Similarly in the Women’s race for the points Innes Thoma is just 40 points behind Anneke Beerten so they will both be looking to pin some good results on the board at the last round.
Dirt will be there to keep you up to date with all the action and expect the first edit to be dropping later this week.
Photos courtesy of Blake Jorgenson and Matteo Cappe.
