Nobody likes to admit they don't know. But as the first ever round of the Enduro World Series at Punta Ala hurtles towards us this weekend, the truth is that nobody knows how it's going to shake down when the racing starts. A lot of people are familiar with the Superenduro format, but no enduro race has ever seen this kind of field. Then there's the question of pre-season training, with the level going up like this year, who's really been putting in the winter miles? Throw in a lot of new riders turning to the discipline and you have a big unknown.
Al Stock going big in practice for last year's race.
Jerome Clementz has shown good form, winning the first round of the Superenduro season a month ago and Metabief last weekend, but then Fabien Barel edged him to the win at the Lake Garda Specialized/SRAM enduro a few weeks ago. Fabien has lost a lot of weight this year, adapting his strength from the explosive power of downhill to the endurance fitness needed to win in enduro races. Dan Atherton dominated the last Superenduro he raced last October, but has changed trainer this winter was slightly off the pace in Garda, winding up in fourth. Nico Vouilloz is, well, Nico Vouilloz, anybody who even needs to ask why he's in the hunt should read up on downhill history. Joe Barnes might be one to watch, in Garda he won one stage and claimed two solid seconds, before punctures put an end to his hopes. Or Ben Cruz, who was also plagued by punctures at Garda. Al Stock very nearly beat everyone at the race here in Punta Ala last year, denied by a crash on stage four, and he's got new handlebars and is looking lean and hungry. Remy Absalon has been very, very quiet recently, is he quietly building a head of steam? What about the Italians? Davide Sottocornola, Alex Lupato, Andrea Bruno... this is home turf and everybody wants to put on a show for the home crowd. Then there are the riders who made the jump to enduro recently - Jared Graves, Curtis Keene, Justin Leov. Not to forget the downhillers who are coming outside their World Cup schedule - current DH world champion Greg Minnaar, Steve Peat, Cedric Gracia, Josh Bryceland, Sam Blenkinsop, Cam Cole. There is no doubting their speed on the descents, but do they have the legs to be competitive over a 60km loop? Or is someone we haven't even thought about just going to lightning-fire out of the blue beyond and destroy everyone?
Who do you think will be standing on that top step come Sunday?
Take the Pinkbike Poll
cheers c*nts!
Possible surprises: Maes, Arnoud and Bailly-Maître.
Can't wait anymore!
But without F. Golay, F. Bailly-Maitre, M.Maes or F. Nicolai ????
Ya, for certain people Enduro is a new discipline, indeed.
Maybe that will be a surprise if a guy like Jey Clementz win this weekend... haha
www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/Alex-Cure-Wins-Urban-Prologue-of-Enduro-World-Series-Punta-Ala,595
1. Barel
2. Clementz
3. Graves
4. Atherton
5. Blenkinsop
10. Lopes
11. Keene
So I think having a bike check section would be really cool just to show what the pro's are riding and how they choose their setup based on their style of riding. And that's where the technology advantages will happen. Peat's personal bike setup may not be optimal for Graves given they have different styles of riding and charging sections. That will be interesting to compare given their bike setups.
All these wearable cams with wifi now....
French guy first. Fabien, atherton, minnar, lopes, peat, nico all within reach.
My buddy just got a bronson. Other than no internal cable routing...really nice. And a large feels like a large. (6'2")
..ill wait for gt to release new models next month b4 I go sc.
As for the winners, I'd probably bet on Clementz and T-Mo.
I want to see skill wins, no techologies or $.
“So many superheroes racing in Punta Ala this weekend, that I heard it being called the Expendables of MTB.”
2nd Barel
3rd Nico/ Minaar/ Scottornola?
How does a racer with his own tire model not make the list?