One to Go - Enduro World Series, Finale Ligure, Italy Recon

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Early morning departure for the media Reece. We needed eleven hours to take in all the stages for both Saturday and Sunday's race. What a race it's going to be! -Sven Martin
Good old rural Italy. Dodging bullets amongst the hunters. Stage three. -Sven Martin
Stage three is a re-worked stage with a new end from a previous EWS here. A couple of feet of dirt and rocks had to be dug out to allow this passage through a natural cave. They go the extra mile here at Finale Outdoor Resort. -Sven Martin
Stage five's creator, Mike, knows you cannot have black without white. The yin and yang on stage five is evident with its white ridgeline followed by its stunted forest loamy switchbacks. -Sven Martin
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Get the stage 5 lowdown. -Sven Martin
Enrico briefs us at the top of each stage. The history of the trail, it's cultural or historical significance and a bit about the trail builder. There is a deep connection here in Finale with new and old. Top of stage one that follows an old silver mine route from the 1400's -Sven Martin
The Enduro Pope (Enrico Guala) points to his private Island where he plans to retire after we have all left town. He's nagged constantly about where the best coffee and gelato is. -Sven Martin
Oh we do enjoy coming back to Finale every year. Even though the days are shorter and the seasons are changing, it still has that warm glowing holiday vibe here. Pre-race pebble skim-off between Duncan and John Red Bull Parkin. -Sven Martin
Reason #157 of why we love Italy. The World's best Gelato. This time in Calice at the bottom of stage two. -Sven Martin
Everyone comes to Finale a day or two early. Not for pre-practice, rather for soaking up all it has to offer. The culture, food, shopping and abundance of other trails means you just have to spend more time here. -Sven Martin
Matti Lehikoinen does some early morning, naked dusting and cleaning in his Air BnB. You should see the stairs up to his fourth floor walk up. -Sven Martin
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Sven Martin
Stage one is fast and the second half is rough and rocky. There are of course some pinch-chicane switchbacks that will bite you, especially riding blind on heavier e-bikes. Lee Trumpore amused. -Sven Martin
Magical pool on the end of stage one. Pack your swim suits for practice. -Sven Martin
No brake drags, just pedal- and axle-deep in leafy, loamy goodness on stage four. -Sven Martin
Guillaume from Bosch letting it loose on stage three. -Sven Martin
Minnaar is here to have some fun and ruffle some feathers (which is equally as fun as riding sometimes). -Sven Martin
Lee Skidmore on stage seven. -Sven Martin
Lunch break at the infamous NATO Base. -Sven Martin
Boost. Autumn means the leaves they are a fallin'. -Sven Martin
Stage five will blow some minds. Very different to everything else we have come to expect in Finale. Exposed, precise ridgeline riding at its finest. And brand new trail opened up just for this race. -Sven Martin
See...from up there! -Sven Martin
Europe is, well, Europe. Laid back and full of history and culture. Beer and coffee for two bucks is not too bad either. -Sven Martin
Salva, CRC filmer, taking a break from face slapping his dome on stage seven. #poesklap -Sven Martin
Salva skipped the swim and opted for breaking a few rocks on his face instead. #NFG -Lee Trumpore
EWS race director, Chis Ball, is never one to shrink away from a cold morning swim. -Sven Martin
Matt Delorme took this opportunity to wash his chamois stains for the first time in 17 months. -Lee Trumpore
Lee rut-railing into Varigotti. -Lee Trumpore
Loose rocks, sharp rocks, rock walls, rock tunnels, Finale rocks. -Lee Trumpore
Stage 4 is full-gas through the trees before dropping into a natural toboggan ride through a gully toward the finish. -Lee Trumpore
The main line runs through the center of the gully, but sneaky high-line options were the ticket for maximum speed and flow -Lee Trumpore
Chris Seager is stoked on his new battery-powered leaf blower -Lee Trumpore
The liaison to Stage 7 took an unexpected detour 20 meters underground. -Lee Trumpore
Going down. -Lee Trumpore
#mtbbatman -Lee Trumpore
Nothing like hanging out with friends from all over the globe for a great time of catching up. #pokemongo -Lee Trumpore
Stage 7 offers drifty corners and gnarly rock chutes all the way to the beach. We'll be there soaking up the sun all week, so stay tuned! -Lee Trumpore
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Description

The final race in the 2016 Enduro World Series calendar lands once again in Finale Ligure, Italy. This classic venue on the Italian Riviera is an EWS staple and with good reason - sun, sea and several hundred miles of singletrack. This rider-favorite never fails to deliver, with two days of racing winding through medieval villages and towns before ending on the beach and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean.

Richie Rude has a solid chance of wrapping up the 2016 overall in the Elite Men's class. If Damien Oton finishes first, Richie must finish at least 36th. Cecile Ravanel wrapped up the Women's overall at the previous race, so it's a battle for Total Stage Domination in Italy. The U21 overall race is neck-and-neck with Adrien Dailly and Sebastien Claquin in a dead heat, each with 1750 points, so the kids will letting it all hang out this weekend.

Sven Martin and Lee Trumpore give us the pre-race goods with an insightful recon slideshow from an 11-hour day in the hills!

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