[video]https://youtu.be/1XYcK1Rw0V4[/video]
As always looks awesome and epic out there and would love to be sat by the med this weekend!
8 Rounds lapping the globe
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Th4oNk]EWS17_Rotorua_Race-1821[/url] by Enduro World Series, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Tr7Yvg]upload[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/T97niy]IMG_7082[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Uzknae]Mark Scott committing to a corner on stage 1, his best stage finish of the day with a 4th place.[/url] by Enduro World Series, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/TYjxp7]Katy Winton scores her first podium in front of Irish crowds, 2nd place after a strong performance today![/url] by Enduro World Series, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/VGHqBu]Carolin Gehrig has some work to do tomorrow if she is to win the battle of the twins she’s currently in 5th overall.[/url] by Enduro World Series, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/X4WmTZ]Sam Hill, foot out flat out! On his way to the win.[/url] by Enduro World Series, on Flickr


7 Down 1 to go. Money has to be on Sam to see this through barring any mechanicals which will be another line on an incredible CV

However a stella effort from Chris Ball and all the organisers to put on these races in such varied and bonkers places, seeing first hand the work that was put in to get Derby in Tassie up to scratch and ready to host the world (thanks we now have fibre broadband and 4g phone signal 🙂 )
and bringing it all to us are the Squids on Tour
https://www.instagram.com/squidsontour/
There is nothing that stokes the riding ego more than hearing Sven yell some encouragement at you.
Watching them scurry around the place hunting like a pack, getting the media out within hours and this year probably going through more rice for camera drying than any other year.

Sven Martin media squidding. With heavy camera bags you try save weight where you can, no gloves, no knee pads. Sven doesn’t even increase his spring rate either because extra air weighs too much. @maddogboris

http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Enduro-World-Series-Action-from-Finale-Ligure-Italy,11313/Slideshow,0/sspomer,2

Its been hot an sunny so far this week. The trails are dry and dusty. Early start for us as the U21 Women are out from 7.30. At least they get to do the long climb between stages 1 and 2 before it gets too hot.

Race feed by ‘yere

Good luck to all the riders. I find with Enduro I don’t really have a favourite as I just like them all.
It’d be great to see Sam Hill take the overall though.
Wyn Masters mentioned on Wyn TV something about a rumour that Enduro could have a world champs next year?
About 8:15 into this
[video]https://youtu.be/479H47nxGWY[/video]

Basically if they sign up to be UCI you get the rainbow stripes added. It’s a no brainer for the UCI given the scale and popularity of it all and might lead to some alignment to allow more pro’s to drop into both as the calendar goes around. It’s probably over to Chris and the EWS team to decide if they want the UCI involved – world champs TV deal being a prime example.

and wow that tracking map is awesome!!
http://www.enduroworldseries.com/live/tracking-map/
I see the U21’s are out there with the live transmitters on – they were not for everyone!!

It’s baking hot out here. Meant to rain a smidge tonight, but it won’t make any difference.

Finale has made it straight in to my top 3 riding spots already. Loving it. 🙂

We were riding there last weekend, it was great, intense trails, nice town.

A few of the pro’s were out and about practicing. I beat Sam Hill to the bottom of the trail*

*I had a 20 minute headstart and only beat him by 30 secs or so.

Finale has made it straight in to my top 3 riding spots already. Loving it

Have you never been before? Its a pretty amazing place and over in the other valleys there is more riding.

No, ever. I’ve been entered for the EWS a few times but always been injured at this point of the year (as I am now) but decided to come out anyway.

It’s nice to come somewhere hot when the weather sucks in the UK, I guess it’s the mix of great trails, the beach, sea, etc, but really enjoying it.

It’s nice to come somewhere hot when the weather sucks in the UK,

Yep it’s grim down here in Tassie which made me look up the 2018 dates….

Gwarn Sam!

Tight times for an 18 minute stage, Sam with 10s though though as they say not many places to win it a lot of places to lose it

Greg Callaghan who sits 3rd in the series finished stage 1 with 6psi in his front tyre!

Taking advice from the squids on here?

😉

Just looking through the stage 1 results and see the Syndicate have all made it to Finale again. Loris had a pretty solid result on Stage 1.
It’d be good to see an episode of the syndicate with Greg, Rat and Peaty reunited.

Last Syndicate man wears a dress on Sunday 🙂

MBUKtastic

wow 14s covering the top 4

1st 2 Damien OTON Devinci Global Racing (FRA) 30:17.66 17:59.57 1st 6:44.06 4th 5:34.03 1st
2nd 13 Samuel HILL Chain Reaction Cycles Mavic (AUS) 30:24.68 +0:07.02 18:02.32 2nd 6:42.57 3rd 5:39.79 4th
3rd 21 Adrien DAILLY Lapierre (FRA) 30:30.61 +0:12.95 18:12.17 4th 6:38.81 1st 5:39.63 3rd
4th 4 Martin MAES GT Factory Racing (BEL) 30:31.04 +0:13.38 18:03.66 3rd 6:38.91 2nd 5:48.47 24th
5th 7 Greg CALLAGHAN Cube Action Team (IRL) 30:58.83 +0:41.17 18:32.94 8th 6:45.36 6th 5:40.53 5th

Going to be tight till the end, Daily needs to win with Hill 5th or worse I think so let’s see how it goes.

Very tight. Just hope it’s not won or lost due to a mechanical.
Loris Vergier is taking it seriously too. Only 1:30 back.

Mate is out there (Jesse from QECP) reckons very tough going fitness wise, more so than tweedlove, if he’s saying that it’d kill me! Im still jealous tho.

Well just catching the last of the feed here on a Sunday night, top 10 men are rolling into the last stage now

and spoiler tastic
http://ews.sportident.com/bluegrass-finalenduro-powered-by-sram/stage1_men_class.html
Go on Sam!!

Great stuff. Well pleased for him.

Yep, chuffed to see a washed-up former downhiller showing everyone how it’s done.

😀

Great finish for use in the end. Abigale decided to ride after busting her thumb and banging hes shoulder in practice on stage seven. She needed to finish to get the points. Also smashed he Garmin watch at the same time.
Party time started straight after the awards and she was still buzzing at 3.30 this morning when she got back to the van.
Bit of dust in my eye when she climbed onto the stage. 😀
Twelve hour drive today to get to the tunnel in time. Another four when we get across.

Awesome to see Sam take the win, on flat pedals too – the debate will rage forever 😆

Greg Callaghan in 3rd too. Hup the parish.

The after party was pretty bonkers. getting drawn into some strange drinking game with Yoann Barelli & Loris Vergier which went horribly wrong was a highlight though.

Hangover cure consisted of 65km & 2000m of climbing today. Very broken.

Sounds familiar as far as after parties go…