Ecuador Devinci Enduro Series 2018: Round 1, Cuenca - Photos & Results
PRESS RELEASE: Devinci Enduro Series
March, 2018: it was time to start the racing season and Andres Sotomayor and his team decided to do it in great style. Hard and fun trails in a beautiful location, and raced blind, naturally. Cuenca is one of the most important cities in Ecuador, surrounded by mountains with ancient trails and modern DH tracks. With the proximity of the opening rounds of the Enduro World Series in Chile and Colombia, this 38 km course, with its four stages and tough liaisons, served well to test the fitness and preparation of the riders who will be attending the big show.
High tech timing in the backcountry.
Dropping into the valley.
After a little climb to warm up and reach the highest point of the course, at 3100 meters, the riders took the starting line. The first stage started with a fast section on an open dirt road that included a brutal climb. Then, the route entered a beautiful singletrack full of little natural jumps that led to the steepest part of the stage, a tight section full of rocks and switchbacks that drop into the valley below.
Some serious power was required to tackle this climb.
A beautiful singletrack full of small jumps welcomed the riders.
As the loam became hardpack, the trail got steeper.
Enjoy the landscape riders couldn't.
Mateo Cuesta entering one of many switchbacks in the second half of stage 1.
Vegetation tunnels to end the stage.
A short liaison led to stage 2, 3 km of steep singletrack. The first section featured some steep chutes followed by a tough flat section full of bumps. After that, a tight trail hanging on the side of the mountain led to an amazing ridge line witch technical features and high speed zones.
Riding these natural berms high was a good strategy to keep your wheels safe from the rocks.
Great riding and crazy views.
No taping required.
Mini jungle crossing.
This trails may induce vertigo.
Martin Jijon takes the high line at this steep turn.
Amaru Pazos tackles one of the steep chutes on stage 2.
Follow the ridge.
Awkward turns at high speeds.
Daniel Costa enjoying the steeps.
A long liaison, with almost 600 meters of vertical gain, led to stage 3, a short but steep affair. Starting with some fast corners, the trail became smaller and steeper, with lots of switchbacks. Lots of switchbacks.
The climbing to stage 3 was worthy.
This stage was all about the turns.
Mario Jarrin tacklin the corners full speed.
More natural berms.
Diana Marggraff had to solve some mechanicals problems to win the race.
Lots of vertical loss for a short stage, almost 430 meters in just 2 km.
Which way??
Juan David Pozo keeping things under control.
Another hard climb took the riders to the start of the last stage, the longest one. Stage 4 shared some parts of the classic La Paz trail, a bobsled section with huge bermed corners, and the last section a steep dry and loose trail. The middle was a new natural trail trough a small forest. The result was a real gem with more than a thousand meters of descend and a great mix of styles.
Big berms for high speeds.
Juan David Pozo about to enter the forest.
Daniel Romero didn't lack speed but ended on fourth place.
This beautiful trail kept riders on their toes with blind turns and big rocks.
Some high speed in between two sections of forest.
More switchbacks in the forest.
After more or less eight hours in the saddle, riders had to tackle the last section of La Paz trail.
Keeping on the good form from last year, reigning champion Martin Jijon was able to take the win while local Cristian Valdiviezo took second place. A big win on stage 4 gave Alejo Ortiz the last spot on the podium. On the women category, Diana Marggraff managed to overcome a difficult third stage to win the race.
RESULTS
Enduro 1
1. Martin Jijon
2. Cristian Valdiviezo
3. Alejo Ortiz
Women
1. Diana Marggraff
2. Daniela Costa
3. Gabriela Acosta
Enduro 2
1. Fabricio Custode
2. Sebastian Tamariz
3. Daniel Falconi
This mountains will be waiting for the infamous La Paz DH+Enduro later in the year.
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We should cover the Riders Cup Ecuador. It’s the true ecuadorian downhill national series coming up soon. Eventually this year we’ll have world cup riders visiting us and racing this cup. Cheers guys!!