Sport And Biking Talk: Enduro World Series heads home to France

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Enduro World Series heads home to France

Greg Callaghan (Cube Action Team) has a slim lead in the overall standings. Photo courtesy Enduro World Series

The Enduro World Series heads to its spiritual home of France this week for round No. 5, the Natural Games Millau EWS driven by URGE bp. Part of the Natural Games, EWS riders will be immersed in this celebration of sport and music that also features climbing, parkour, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, and paragliding. Now in its 10th year, the Natural Games is Europe’s largest outdoor event, attracting crowds of 100,000 over four days.

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This two day enduro race will feature nine stages across 88km, with a huge 4200 meters of total descending. Taking place on trails typical of the Aveyron region in southern France, competitors will be up against a mixture of loamy and rocky trails, some of which are intimidatingly steep.

Just a little bit chunky. Photo courtesy Enduro World Series

“This is the first time the EWS has visited Millau and the trails are incredible,” said Chris Ball, managing director of the Enduro World Series. “It’s also the first time the series has been part of such a huge festival and it’s great to see mountain biking sitting alongside other sports like climbing and kayaking. Our French rounds always deliver really exciting racing and I’m sure Millau will too, especially with such a tight points race on our hands as head into the last half of the season.”

Former DH world champ Sam Hill is lurking in second place overall. Photo courtesy Enduro World Series

As the series enters the last half of the season, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In the men’s competition the race for series points is the tightest it has ever been with just 20 points separating series leader Greg Callaghan (Cube Action Team) and second placed Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles Mavic). Adrien Dailly (Lapierre) sits 40 points behind Hill in third place, and with two EWS wins already this year, including at the last round in Ireland, the Frenchman is the hot favorite to take the win on home soil.

Beware the roots. Photo courtesy Enduro World Series

In the women’s race Cecile Ravanel (Commencal Vallnord Enduro Team) leads the standings and will be looking for another victory in front of her home crowd. But trying their best to stop her will be second place Ines Thoma (Canyon Factory Enduro Team) and third placed Katy Winton (Trek Factory Racing Enduro Team). With just 30 points between them these two will be battling hard this weekend. Isabeau Courdurier (SUNN) is also an ever present threat. She’s the only rider to beat Ravanel this season and will also be hoping to put on a show for her French fans.

Two-time defending champ Richie Rude is looking to get back in the hunt for the overall. Photo courtesy Enduro World Series

It’s another French rider that leads out the Master’s category. Karim Amour (BH Miranda Racing Team) has won all four races this season. Chasing him down will be Nigel Page of Chain Reaction Cycles-Mavic and reigning series champion Michael Broderick. In the Master’s Women, Mary Mcconnelloug is leading the charge.

Killian Callaghan is out front in the U21 Men, but faces stiff competition in the form of Daniel Self and Nathan Secondi. Over in the U21 Women Martha Gill commands an impressive points lead, but Estelle Charles of France beat her at the last round so expect to see a fierce race from these two.

The French track is a mix of loam and rock. Photo courtesy Enduro World Series

In the team race strong performances from the Gehrig twins and Robin Wallner mean it’s Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team out front, but they can’t afford to relax with second and third placed Canyon Factory Enduro Team and Rocky Mountain URGE bp not far behind.

More Information about this weekend’s race can be found here. To follow live timing, Quarq GPS tracking and the race feed to be sure to check in to the EWS live page on Friday and Saturday.

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