Enduro World Series Round 5, Millau - Day 1 Results

 Maybe #endurowetseries is the Richie's kryptonite

 I'd guess either an injury during training or he's got surprises in store for North America.

 What happend to Maes? DNF stage 2??

 Maybe it's the redbull curse.. Bruni didn't have the best year his first year sponsored by them so maybe Rude will be back to winning ways next year??

 Hmmm mechanical for Maes... Dailly is on fireeeeee.... go Frenchy

 I guess the competition got better? Or maybe he met someone(girlfriend) and fell in love? Hey I know I would mess everything up for a hot chick when I was young, wait I'd probably screw everything up now too, lol !

 Looks like he won stage 2, but then came in 42, 83 and 137 in stages 3-5. Maybe a crash or mechanical in stage 3 slowed him down for the rest of the day? He obviously wasn't just out of shape or "off" all day... you can't win a EWS stage these days unless everything is clicking.

 Funny to see the contrast between speculation when graves struggles vs when rude struggles. When it's graves its all because of the shitty geometry, being forced to ride 29ers, terrible tyres and any other idea that can be pinned on the big S. But when rude struggles it's injuries, conditions, girlfriends etc. Even when he flats no one mentions maxxis it's hilarious how biased peoples viewpoints are!

 @bbroome: i think the problem for Rude this year is mostly due to the weather. He won stage 2 today as it was the only 1 wide open and grippy. All the other one were slippery and super tight where light agile riders do better. Expect good results as soon as we have a dry round.

 @tomlynchwatson: Look who's calling the kettle black! It doesn't take much deduction to figure out that you ride a Specialized, right? You're basically whining about people putting the blame of Graves performance on Specialized, then why not do the same to Rude and the brands that he uses, isn't that what you're getting at? Aren't you biased for the same reasons then? Sounds a bit hypocritical...

 @dirtyrig: graves has been a great rider, no doubt but he's not gettting any younger is he, it gets harder to recover as you get older, mind isn't willing to take risks as much, bike I dunno, but everyone's bike and support has stepped up, Euro conditions, Graves Aussies and Kiwis have so far to travel, but I'm not surprised he's having a hard time, Ritchie yes, arguably he has one of the best bikes in the SB6C, imo I think he made s mistake opting for the SB5C earlier in the year, but that's JMO fwiw he's young, but it's tough staying at the top who knows what's going on they're, the pressure maybe after a bad start, pressure is easier when you do well at the beginning! But take nothing away from the others no doubt they have stepped it up, Adrienne Dailley is just on fire!! Again though it's a French round and he's French lol. Sure Ritchie will be back for Whistler if not then good bye title if it's not already!

I am surprised though that Specialised haven't made a frame to Graves own specification, winning sells bikes as much if not more so than a rider which I doubt as a brand ambassador really helps sells bikes!

If any bike proved that it was the IH Sunday!

 @dirtyrig: but I didn't give any of my own speculation, just observing trends of others.

 ehh. Sami, pasta's ready. Spaghettiiii and'a meat-a-balls.

 Dailly, Oton, and some others are at their regular rank anyway though i am a little agree.

 So what you mean is you Americans don't like wet muddy conditions! These guys have plenty of opportunity to come out early and get used to local conditions, in fact that round was hammered to death by over practice imo, all events should have a one run minimum practice only like this round! The problem they're is at Rotorua the trails are five minutes from town, shuttles runs daily at that time of the year and legally they can't close that forest for an event!! So very hard to manage! But this is about the best riders, Tracy Mosley didn't have any problems riding they're nor did AC. The best riders can ride and win anywhere that's why they are the best end of story! It's also the same everywhere locals do well at they're own event is it coniendence that a French man is leading in France based on yr theory!

 Or Scotland in the summer ha ha ha

 9 frenchies in top 13

 @PanchoPaloma: I"m finding that as far as EWS is concerned, betting on the locals is generally a pretty safe bet. That and Cecile to take the win.

 @kjjohnson: BH-Miranda crew is killing it - jumping ~30 places per rider...wonder if they are based nearby?

 It's in the rules, no excuse! Lucky not to be Dq'd

 @Maverickdh00: Is there something in the rules that says you have to wear pants/shorts or a jersey? If not, somebody should exploit that loophole, and see what happens. I could see Ratboy attempting this stunt.

 YUP! Not what I was hoping for.

 Absolutely true!

 49th 29:10.10 +2:31.98

 Dude can't catch a break this year, seems he's got a better chance of catching Bigfoot.

 He did manage to win stage 2.

 @Pininator: Well ok then. I stand happily corrected