BRUTAL BATTLE - Enduro World Series Millau, France

View as: Slideshow | One Page
Intro Text

Classically French terrain yields French dominance at the 2017 Enduro World Series in Millau, France. 20-year-old Adrien Dailly earned another victory in the Pro Men's class and Cecil Ravanel took the Women's gold home. Two days of racing and eight stages reveal a memorable and challenging race mid-way through the season. The EWS ventures to Colorado for the high-altitude Aspen adventure next.

Although Adrien won by almost 20 seconds it didn't come easy for him. He flatted and crashed and had his fair share of troubles too. Three stage wins in the unpredictable conditions for the young wonder.
Let me tell you rocks in the South of France are slippery when wet. I have some titanium hardware in my arm to prove it. Add in mud, gradient and hooting crowds and Cecile's stylish boosting becomes even more impressive.
Isabeau Courdurier doing all she can on stage five to power it home with a rear flat in the driving wind and rain. There were mechanicals, flats and plenty of drama both racing days. Second place finish for the weekend with two stage wins.
Sam Hill's recovery drink after day one of racing. Tricky to compete against riders who have raced and ridden here so much before when you only have one practice run. Sam Hill was the first non-French rider with a sixth place finish.
Damien Oton setting up for a steep blown left hander under a supportive local crowd.
This sums up most of the racing pretty well here in Millau. Tight, natural (no berms) sloppy corners. James Shirley has no problems though.
McKay Vezina trying desperately to make the corner. This crash resulted in a broken brake lever. McKay had to pull out later after another crash resulting in a cut that needed stitches.
Martin Maes only made it part way through stage one before having to pull out from a mechanical where his wheel was destroyed.
Anita Gehrig finished Friday's racing in second and held it together for a third place podium on Saturday.
Impressive performance and consistent riding from Alex Cure. He won the very first EWS stage back in Punta Ala. He led after day one and finished up in second place with two stage wins.
Lewis Buchanan holds on to a wild one in front of a carnage-thirsty crowd.
When a hundred odd riders have gone down before you in the mud chances are that the catch rut or hook-up spot you sighted in practice is not there come race. Sam Hill goes down for a moment on stage seven. He got right back up and won the next stage which was a little wider and faster.
Other than the tricky trails and conditions it was vision which hampered riders the most.
Stage eight ended in a narrow, rocky valley with couple of stream crossings and deep puddles before the finish.
Tough end to the race for Katy Winton on the last stage losing over a minute from a front flat, knocking her from fourth to sixth. <br />
While waiting for the podium, the media squids got to catch the last five riders over in Andorra on the live feed. The Canyon pits adjacent to the podium erupted with a roar when Troy Brosnan crossed the line.
Ines Thoma came in slightly fatigued from her win in the Trans-Provence the week before. Her spirits remained high though and she soldiered on.
Estelle Charles with a big win in the U23 women. Winning all but two stages.
Jerome up top on stage six. The consistent veteran still sitting in the top four overall for the year.
Andréane Lanthier Nadeau, or A-L-N as she's known, is having a great European "vacation," making the trip over under her own steam and snagging a podium in Ireland and a fourth place here in France. She also bagged her first stage win.
Theo Galy looked to be a threat for the win all weekend. Unfortunately a slightly worse second day knocked him back to fifth for the weekend. But a great result for Devinci with two riders in the top five.
Isabeau on stage two, a flat-out, fast and relatively simple stage in comparison to the others.
Newcomer to the Top 10, Dimitri Tordo, was looking set for a podium before stage nine where he lost thirty seconds. So close only to have it washed away on the final stage. Seventh for the weekend still his best result thus far. Nicolas Vouilloz and Fred Glo in audio, speaking on French dominance.
Richie had a rough weekend. Almost seeming to give up at the end of day one after one too many crashes. Winning two stages though, including the final one shows us his speed is still there if there is desire. Unless you knew the tracks like some riders you had to simply dial it back as there was simply no room for error and all sorts of abrupt, narrow corners ready for blowing.
Evidence of rubber knobs doing their best to find purchase (and failing) in the slick, red clay-based dirt.
The conditions and minute sprint to the finsih line made some riders cross eyed. Alex Cure after taking the day one win.
The Swede's as a nation embody style and efficiency. Robin Wallner keeps the tradition going and the flag flying high. Top 10. ON a side note, that is about as much support as you could find on any corner in Millau and despite being on a near cliff face you only got about 12 inches.
Damien Oton with another EWS podium. Pushing hard to the very end got him back on to the podium in Millau.
Mark Scott suffered two mechanicals in the two physical stages knocking him back somewhat. It wasn't only mechanicals and crashes that plagued the field though it was the ability to see.
How much do you think you would be able to see through these? Adrien Dailly at the end of day one. Imagine having to dodge sniper roots rocks and ruts with obscured vision like this!
Greg Callaghan held on to a top ten but lost his leader's Jersey to Dailly, dropping back to third. He will be more than motivated come Aspen as he is fit and ready.
Jesse Melamed, second non-French rider after a tough week of illness. He is often the fastest rider in many sections doing some of the riskiest lines, a sight I hope you all have the honor to see in person one day.
Sam Hill. Only 6 seconds off third, but back in sixth shows you just how tight and competitive the EWS racing is these days. He had a six-second crash right in front of me and a few others over the weekend too. The mental toughness to race at this level for 48 minutes straight must make this one of the toughest sports ever.
Bex Baraona got battered this weekend with some big crashes. Eighth for the weekend with a couple of top five stage results.
About the only thing clean on bikes this weekend was the fork stanchions. Sam Hill's Nukeproof.
The landscape was vast and when the clouds and mist pulls back on occasions the views were not too bad.
Florian Nicolai missing the podium by just two seconds. The last few men had a much wetter end to stage eight than those before them.
Theo Galy attacking on slippery stage eight's treacherous rock garden. Not even the rain did much to dampen the spectators support.
Caro Gehrig at the end of the two days racing and this photo shows just how tough it was. Bike body and helmet battered and dirty from the efforts of the last two days. Fifth place with a second place finish in a stage is not bad when you look and feel like this crossing the line.
Alex Cure reads days two's print out to discover his lead had been snatched by Dailly by the end of the second day.
Cecile braved on with a sprained and swollen ankle on day two. Only pushing hard enough to retain the GC and the win here. The women of the Ews are a tough and hardy bunch.
A different looking Devinci spotted under Theo Galy this weekend.
Sam Hill and Dailly look settle to battle in Aspen for the GC, but don't count the fit Irishman out of it just yet.
When you have all had an equally tough day, what's the best way to forget about it all and celebrate Josh Lewis's birthday? What happens in Millau stays in Millau?
Intro Graphic
ewsintro
Description

​Sven Martin snags the snaps from the trenches in Millau.

4 comments

View replies to: BRUTAL BATTLE - Enduro World Series Millau, France

Comments

The Latest