ENDURO ACTION: Final Stages 4-6 from Val d'Allos Enduro World Series

View as: Slideshow | One Page
<b>Nico Vouilloz, your Enduro World Series #2 winner. The ultimate competitor rode smart today, always aware of the time gap between himself and Jared Graves. He knew what needed to be done and did it.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Nico Vouilloz doesn't do anything by accident. Here he is slowly stalking Jared Graves on one of the long pedaling sections, while figuring out exactly how hard he need to go to make up time.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Nico speaks on Greg Minnaar's Stage 6 victory and 3rd place overall.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Jared Graves had a tough time on Stage 4, crashing multiple times and ultimately surrendering his 6.44-second lead to Vouilloz in the process.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>(Graves, not pictured, continues in audio) - In deep with a foot-wide goat trail hemming you in from a 100-foot cliff flat.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Tracy Moseley with another unbeatable performance in the ladies on her 26er this weekend. Smart racing, solid fitness and the skill of a World Champ DHer were all put to good use in France. Good job T-Mo.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>(Tracy Moseley continues in audio) Course designer, Alex Balaud, must be complimented on the variety and quality of track. He has won here before and has not slowed down at all. With a pack full of course tape and marker poles, he checks for any piece of course that needs attention. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>Cecile Ravenel passed Anneke Beerten today for 2nd place overall. The lengthy battles of Stage 4/5 suited her.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>(Fred Glo in audio) An early morning with the first recon of Stage 4. Way better than 8 different bosses hassling you about TPS report mistakes. #ultimateofficespace</b> -Sven Martin
<b>This turn took out so many tired riders that 3 marshals were at the top of the chute reminding everyone to slow down. Those who didn't listen got stopped by the tree at the bottom. Lars-n-bars gets Lars-n-tape-to-the-face.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Jerome Clementz was the fastest rider overall today with two wins on arguably the toughest stage, Stage 4/5. Even with times over 15-minutes, Greg Minnaar, Jerome and Nicolas Vouilloz were less than 1-second apart on the second run down the track for Stage 5. Remarkable. #totalstagedomination #blackcloudcrew</b> -Sven Martin
<b>The peak at the upper right is the start for Stage 4 while the village in the valley is the finish. Jerome Clementz made the top-to-bottom trip in just under 15-minutes.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Greg Minnaar finally won an EWS stage today and finished 3rd overall. When the reigning DH World Champ is getting arm pump, you know the riding is legit.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>(Greg Minnaar in audio) Stage 4 sent riders straight down this upper ridge before a tough pedal up the other side. Apparently Peaty clocked himself upwards of 50mph.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Minnaar was a bit broken after today's riding and was not ready to defend himself against the Silverback photo aggression as he takes shelter next to his Bronson.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Rene Wildhaber maintained his position from Day 1 and ended up in 4th place overall, just 36-seconds behind Nico after 30,000 feet of descending and an hour and five-minutes of total timed racing.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>(Rene Wildhaber continues in audio) Wide Alp'ing Open!</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Justin Leov didn't disappoint in his first EWS outing with a 6th place overall and a 5th on Stage 5 today.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Fabien Barel was 2nd on Stage 4 today. It was long, rugged, wild, loose and dangerous in many places, but it had its peaceful moments, too. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>Dan Atherton with a 7th on Stage 5. He's learning his way through the format with considerably less practice than a traditional DH race. Experience with the format is worth many precious seconds, regardless of course knowledge.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Curtis Keene jumped 9 places higher in the rankings from 19th yesterday to 10th overall today. He really shined on the long Stage 4/5, passing his 20-second rider here. 6th place on Stage 4 as the #americandream finds his feet abroad.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Anneke Beerten had a few crashes and bobbles as fatigue started taking its tole in the latter stages, but she held on for a solid 3rd place overall among the women.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>The winning bike of Nico Vouilloz. Prototype frame, prototype tires and able to handle some serious abuse.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Steve Peat getting used to the feel of the 27.5-inch wheels. The King rode well, finishing top 10 with a few issues. Don't count the old guy out of anything just yet.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Let sleeping rats lie. Bryceland dreaming of the gym.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Several punchy climbs had riders riders bunching up during their recon runs. Or maybe they were just Instagramming the view.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>This is what happens when the Silverback gets excited about a section - bag dumped, lenses scattered, cameras left on and candy spilling. At one point he even had his shirt off.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Val d'Allos didn't treat 16-year old Martin Maes quite as well as Punta Ala, but the young gun looked fast and steady all weekend. 1st place among the Juniors and 26th overall.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Another day of big mountain enduro racing, another day of heavy carnage.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>French camouflage.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Pro Women's podium. Tracy Moseley on top, Cecile Ravenel 2nd and Anneke Beerten in 3rd place after 30,000 feet of descending.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Pro Men's podium. Nico gives Graves an ear-full while Sven gets a lens full.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>That's a wrap on Val d'Allos. The Enduro World Series marches on to Crankworx Les 2 Alpes next weekend, so stay tuned as the action continues to unfold.</b> -Lee Trumpore --- A HUGE THANKS TO SVEN AND LEE FOR THE INCREDIBLE STORY TELLING! -gordo
Intro Graphic
day3intro2
Description
Embrace the highs and lows of the Enduro World Series as the final stages of Val d'Allos conclude in dramatic fashion. After over 30,000 feet of descending, 6 timed stages and over an hour of total timed racing, the downhill legend, Nicolas Vouilloz prevailed in a highly strategic, but physical race. At 37 years of age, Nico dominated the World Cup downhill circuit through the 90's and early 2000's before turning his focus on enduro. Today, some 10 years after the first MTB enduro competition in Val d'Allos, Nico returned, using experience and strategy to best World Cup downhillers and enduro specialists like Jared Graves, Jerome Clementz, Rene Wildhaber and Greg Minnaar.

Tracy Moseley handily won the women's Pro event, making this two straight Enduro World Series victories for the former downhill World Champ.

It was the second day of competition in Val d'Allos with the final three stages running. Stages 4 and 5 were on the same, grueling course that was 15-minutes in length, while Stage 6 was a tamer 5-minute stage concluding the event.

Photographers, Sven Martin and Lee Trumpore, take you through the stages of the French Alps as riders passed by for their runs. Sven and Lee clocked a total of 55,000 feet of descending throughout the weekend, with three flat tires and a handful of jump-over-the-bars excursions while lugging there photo gear all over the mountain.

The action returns next weekend at Crankworx Les 2 Alpes for the third stop of the Enduro World Series.

View Val d'Allos Enduro World Series Results

17 comments

View replies to: ENDURO ACTION: Final Stages 4-6 from Val d'Allos Enduro World Series

Comments

In reply to by drlaboole

The Latest