After last year's calamites with the weather here in Finale, it was nice for riders to head out for practice under clear, blue skies. The course is a monster this year, not one for the faint-hearted. Over the two days of racing, riders will tackle 50km per day and a total of 3,250m climbing. More than any year before, there is a huge variety in what the riders will be facing - from full-blown DH, to stages that wouldn't look too out of place on an XC race course, it's going to be a complete challenge for any mountain biker. While some may feel that one stage goes too far one way, or another, at the end of the day, whoever wins here is a real all-rounder. As such, this is a fitting climax to the season, the right place to let the dust finally settle on an incredible season of racing.
The hazy mornings have been burning off to fill the days with sunshine but all of that could change on Saturday as a storm is predicted to roll through.
Ines Thoma grabbed her first podium of 2016 last time out. Can she repeat that again this weekend?
Nico Vouilloz showed he has what it takes to win in Valberg. Will this be the round it happens?
Dan Wolfe is on the hunt this weekend to end his season on a high note.
Elliot Trabac is always a podium threat in the U21 race.
Rene Wildhaber scandies his way through a hole in the wall.
One of Italy's top riders, Vittorio Gambirasio, on the hunt in practice.
Curtis Keene's strong mid-season results have put him in the top ten overall with just one race to go.
Jerome Clementz knows the smoothest line is the one in the air.
Cube's junior rider, Daniel Schemmel, asked "Is it ok if I lift the front wheel?" Yes, yes it is. You can make moto noises...
Martin Maes has been flying in practice and that elusive first win is long overdue.
Katy Winton, hucking her way down stage three.
Jesse Melamed is riding with confidence and authority right now.
Hannah Barnes descends the rough old cobblestone road that makes up the final section of stage one.
This is one of the most physical races of the year. Can Casey Brown smash it again?
Nico Lau tends to his much-grazed helmet after training.
Last round's winner Sam Hill is riding a bit chilled here in Finale, perhaps keeping his cards a close to his chest before race day.
Mark Scott lays her flat on stage four.
Not a bad way to start the day, eh?
World Cup regular Eliot Heap is once again trying his hand at the EWS.
Happy Birthday Iago, thanks for putting some style in everyone's day.
Florian Nicolai may still be the number one Rocky rider in the series rankings, but he hasn't been the fastest man on his team in a few races, and will want to set that straight in a race that is less than two hours from his front door.
Josh Carlson smashed the boulder in the background hard enough to rip it clean out of the ground. Somehow. he also managed to ride the whole thing out.
Jerome Clementz speeding through the gully on stage four.
Jesse Melamed is leaving a trail of destruction everywhere he rides right now.
Jared Graves rails a berm through one of the more unique sections of stage three.
The top of stage five looked a touch like Hecklers Rock today. Everybody kept their shirts on, no beers were thrown.
This weekend marks Kelli Emmett's last as a full-time racer.
Anneke Beerten is healthy, and looking to battle it out once again with Cecile and Isabeau.
Cody Kelly drops into the spine on stage five.
Miranda Miller is on board a shiny, new 2017 Enduro this weekend and is looking faster for it.
Nico Vouilloz is on form right now and his past results in Finale mean he is definitely a threat for the win.
Hannah Barnes having no troubles on the ridge of stage five. Those whites stayed crispy clean.
Early morning light, courtesy of stage four.
Birthday boy Iago Garay takes the high line to straighten out the natural chicane halfway down stage four.
Joe Barnes weaving his way to the sea.
Damien Oton was on the hunt through the flowing rivers of perfect dirt at the head of the fourth stage.
Cody Kelley arcs it through the work of art that is stage four.
Martin Maes finding the mega huck on top of stage seven.
Greg Callaghan had a good showing last time in Valberg and is looking to consolidate his top ten ranking this weekend.
Isabeau Courdurier is only here for one thing this weekend: to seal second in the championship and upgrade her jersey for next year.
Sam Hill threads it through a rock and a hard place on the freshly cut ridge of stage five.
Toni Ferreiro scrubs throws a bit o' style into the day.
Riders pause for food and water between stages six and seven.
Theo Galy heads to the sea on what will be the final stage of the weekend and the 2016 season.
Richie Rude may not need a big result this weekend to take the title, but he looks all-out in practice so far.
Flying Flo sliding through the loose corners on stage seven.
Just two more days left before the sun sets on the 2016 season.
MENTIONS: @mattwragg / @davetrump / @mdelorme
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Slied my rear tyre few days before the end so spent the rest chilling.
Great little town, totally fell in love with it. But def I needed a full sus, doing those trails on a steel hardtail is punishing and rewarding.
Minnaar didn't have a great result in Finale the last time he raced despite practicing and this year he seems to be doing it just for fun. so perhaps he's just making excuses for the performance we will see this weekend ahead if time so no one judges him to harshly.
There were two days of practice for everyone and 4 of the stages were new/fresh and not ridden by people who train in Finale.
It's one of the more popular riding destinations due to the number of trails that can be shuttled year round and a lot of European pros train here. Just like Whistler and Morzine it sees a ton of rider traffic so yes some trails have been ridden or even raced in previous rounds of EWS. But that doesn't make it cheating just because the venue uses the long standing training grounds of a few people.
I wish Greg the best in the race but would have been nice if he'd done his thing quietly and not tried to make a controversy out of it by stirring the pot over a moot point.
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pie+plate
He's on a Stumpjumper, guess it suits the course better?
*to qualify, no one is going to do that without a fat bonus check from their sponsors marketing department. Cuz it ain't faster.
If you did look, you may have found this.
www.pinkbike.com/news/ews-race-tech-jared-graves-new-specialized-tires.html
Maybe he will, maybe he won't but it's certainly not out of the question