The traditional EWS final in Finale is nearly upon us. To top what has been an incredible season of racing, riders are faced with four stages in one day, starting at Border Line, to Rocche Gianche, to Mao Crest, and finishing up on the 3km double-black diamond DH Men track. Expect the unexpected here in the sleepy Italian coastal town of Finale Ligure; the sum of their efforts from the training in the off season to the seven races prior to this one comes to a conclusion. Time to go full out flat out… time for EWS Finale Ligure.
The Course
What Happened At The Last Round
Seven mighty stages in scorching temperatures in Spain presented us with a fantastic weekend of racing in the penultimate round of the EWS. The rain stayed away but it meant the tracks were dry and the dirt was loose, with stages claiming a number of victims along the way.
In the Pro Women’s race, Cecile Ravanel won five of the seven stages to take the overall, and Isabeau Courdurier claimed a small victory by taking the final two stages of the two-day event, slotting into an all too familiar second place. It was Andreane Lanthier Nadeau who finished the race in third behind Ravanel and Courdurier, with the icing on the cake for ‘ALN’ being the victor in the urban prologue race on the afternoon of the Friday.
In the Pro Men’s race, Richie Rude reigned supreme and looked to have not made a mistake throughout the event. He completed the first day of racing with 12 seconds to spare over second-placed finisher Martin Maes. Maes would put in a good fight come Sunday and managed to win two of the three stages that day, however he wasn’t able to pull back such a margin of a time Rude had created. Rude would take the win by eight seconds, making it his second win of the 2018 EWS season. It would be Damien Oton who would complete the podium in third place.
Rider Rankings
Top five individual rider points are awarded as follows. A full rundown of points is available in the
EWS Rulebook.
• 1st = 500 points (Men) // 400 points (Women)
• 2nd = 450 points (Men) // 350 points (Women)
• 3rd = 420 points (Men) // 320 points (Women)
• 4th = 400 points (Men) // 300 points (Women)
• 5th = 390 points (Men) // 290 points (Women)
Team Rankings
The Weather Forecast
Wragg’s Predictions
“Damn you Richie Rude, you don’t make predicting winners easy, do you? As soon as I leave you off this list for a race you do that. For this weekend I will go with the form and put my chips on him to take back-to-back wins, if for no better reason than I really want to see a four-way fight next year between an in-form Rude, a healthy Dailly, Maes and Hill.
Grant Langston gave a great explanation of what Hill is facing at the end of this year’s US outdoor MX season - these guys spend so long learning to go flat out, that when you get these kind of once in a career moments when they have to ride slower than
Pinkbike's EWS Predictionator
they can to protect a lead, it messes with their heads. Imagine riding with "don’t crash" looping in your head, I’m pretty sure I would end up in the first ditch. Hill only needs 10 points to secure the title, 89th, which for him is basically not crashing and I don’t think anyone doubts that will manage that, but it’s worth keeping this perspective in mind that no matter what his final spot on Sunday, there is a lot more that will go into his ride this weekend than we will see on the surface.
As for the rest of the podium this weekend, I think Oton and Maes are solid bets. They took second and third in Ainsa and have both won this race (Maes '16, Oton '17), so form is definitely on their side. I reckon when it comes down to it, the young Belgian will have the speed to hold off the Catalan Eagle.
My math was out last time and it turns out Cecile still needs 50 points from Finale to wrap up the title. I think we are at a point where the points awarded should be re-considered. Don’t get me wrong, Courdurier has had an impressive season, but she has consistently been second to Ravanel. The way things break down, if Cecile were to DNF, then Isabeau would take the title, if she won, and that somehow doesn’t seem like a great way to win a world title. If you win 7 out of 8 rounds, you should probably get the title. However, with the title still on the line, I would expect Ravanel and Courdurier to carry on with business as usual, taking the first and second spots. I actually think the more interesting betting is on Ravanel and what she plans to do next year. After all, she is the same age as Minnaar, but, much like him, she is showing little sign of slowing down and the question is not whether she is going to take up a comfy chair and relax, but if she wins three titles is she going to focus on a new challenge, like World Cup DH and Crankworx events.
For the third step of the women’s podium, I think we will see a battle between Katy Winton who is trying to hold onto third in the series, Noga Korem, Anita Gehrig and Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau, who will all be looking for a strong finish to the year. If I had to call it, I think Korem and Gehrig are not quite consistent with their pace, Winton seems to have peaked at the beginning of the season, but Lanthier-Nadeau seems to be on a rising tide, with ever-improving results since her return from injury and the confidence of a podium one week earlier.”
PRO MEN
1 // Richie RUDE
2 // Martin MAES
3 // Damien OTON
PRO WOMEN
1 // Cecile RAVANEL
2 // Isabeau COURDURIUR
3 // Andreane LANTHIER-NADEAU
What Happened Here Last Time Round?
Last year’s race was down to the wire and there was a huge turn out of riders - 500 in total - who raced over 100km in two days, ending their challenge at the lapping blue shore of Finale’s Mediterranean beachfront.
In the Pro Women’s race, Cecile Ravanel would lay down an impressive performance, taking the podium as well as the championship title. Meanwhile, Isabeau Courdurier and Katy Winton would battle it out throughout the weekend, with Courdurier eventually prevailing over Winton, taking the second podium spot, with Winton in third.
In the Pro Men’s, everyone was closely watching how the final day would pan out as it was neck and neck between Sam Hill and Adrien Dailly. It would be a mere few seconds between them in the final stage on the second day, and the Australian and DH legend would make his mark on the world of enduro by securing enough time that would slot him into third and take the overall EWS world championship win. Meanwhile, it was Damien Oton who flew to the top step, followed by Martin Maes in second spot.
Previous Winners In Finale Ligure
PRO MEN
2017 // Damien OTON // FRA
2016 // Martin MAES // BEL
2015 // Jared GRAVES // AUS
2014 // Fabien BAREL // FRA
2013 // Jerome CLEMENTZ // FRA
PRO WOMEN
2017 // Cecile RAVANEL // FRA
2016 // Cecile RAVANEL // FRA
2015 // Tracy MOSELEY // GBR
2014 // Anne-Caroline CHAUSSON // FRA
2013 // Tracy MOSELEY // GBR
Must Know, Must See, Must Do
Finale Ligure is one of several coastal towns in the Gulf of Genoa in Liguria, north-western Italy. The town itself is nestled at the base of a steep limestone mountain on the famous Italian Riviera. Beaches, open-air dining, and picture-postcard views welcome tourists from around the world throughout the year thanks to its warm Mediterranean climate.
Finale Ligure is divided into a number of districts, each with its own notable features, from the palm tree-lined seaside promenade, to the narrow streets of the old walled Medieval town. Further up on the slopes overlooking the sea, you’ll find a plateau of cultivated and partly-cultivated land; a juxtaposition of where nature’s forests meets man’s mechanical hand, the latter of which traces a history back to Roman and Medieval times.
Archeological evidence points to us humans being around what is now Finale Ligure as far back as the Neolithic times, and then the Romans made their mark and it’s believed the area marked the border between two Ligurian tribes; the Intermelii and the Sabatii. The Romans built up ports and fortifications in the area to protect this soft underbelly of the coastline against invaders coming in from the sea.
The 10th century saw the first recording of Finale Ligure as a town and during the subsequent few hundred years it was ruled by different powerful families, and it would be under Spanish rule by the beginning of the 17th century. The Finale area was subsumed into the Kingdom of Sardinia in the early 19th century and in fact at the time was made up of several small communes, and through the passage of time, there would be just three left.
Among the various mountain bike trails and rock climbing routes, there’s plenty of history to hunt out, including several castles, forts (Castel San Giovanni, Castel Gavone), and churches (Church of Santa Maria di Pia, Basilica of St. John the Baptist), all with fragments of heritage on show, such as 13th century bell towers or 12th century crypts).
#ewsfinaleligure
The Schedule
Friday 28 September • 08:00-11:00 // Training - Stage 1
• 09:30-13:00 // Training - Stage 2
• 11:00-14:30 // Training - Stage 3
• 12:00-16:00 // Training - Stage 4
Saturday 29 September • No main EWS events scheduled
Sunday 30 September • 07:30-17:30 // Race - Stages 1-4
• TBC // Pasta Party
• TBC // Awards
• TBC // Closing Party
It’s one last grab to get that killer shot for our team of photographers and videographers covering the Enduro World Series for this year. For all the latest news, including results and stories from the mountainside, keep your eyes peeled on Pinkbike over the weekend.
You can also catch the all the riders’ times as they progress through the stages on both days via the
EWS live timing feature.
MENTIONS:
@Fahhhmed / @EnduroWorldSeries /
@mattwragg /
@davetrumpore /
@rossbellphoto
Translation: Still faster than any mortal and will be using flat pedals to win medals but will try not to "wash 'er out".
Both of these guys are consistently at the sharp end but get almost zero coverage. All this chat about Richie Rude but he's down in 10th position overall.
Still, it is pretty rare to see them on podium while Rude has won 2 races this year and is in the top 10 with a DNF and a finish in the 50’s...not to mention that he is a 2 time overall winner. Perhaps that garners a bit more coverage than a couple of 4th place finishes between them?
Funny joke!
H
Rude gets scared only by smelling a rain cloud. Maes even gets better when it rains..
It's pretty clear you love Martin and are a fan and want to see him do well. That's great, but don't be the fan who trash talks everyone everyone else in the process.
Truth.
Still on the Rude and Yeti groupie band wagon I see?
Are you paid by them? Or you are trying to get a free bike
Olargues 2018, complete clean and sunny... a bit of dirt, but rain race? No way!
www.pinkbike.com/news/video-highlights-from-ews-olargues-france.html
Milau 2017, Rude was nothing, now that was wet:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=85X2bAyb38k
And here's a photo of the pouring rain that came down for the last two stages of the first day and continued into the night, making day two ridiculously slippery ;-)
m.pinkbike.com/photo/15893189
Facts matter kiddo
It was nothing compared to the EWS Wetseries of 2017 where your homeboy and sponsor Richie was nothing...
Rain is not where he shines.. he is a great rider... massive respect for him, but in the rain, he is on a different level...
And that is what is not happening to Maes and Dailly.. facts Davy boy
Oh and I see you copied my kiddo thingy, and you start following my posts... funny, a total new obsession... nice to have this impact on you
It seems you really do have no idea do you ? You heard the term "Enduro Wet Series" to describe some rainy races on the internet. Did you know though that most races were actually sunny and it's a reference to the rain that also happened during many of the practice days? Just riders kidding around about a day out in the rain again, even if it was on the Thursday or Friday of practice? It's rained in some way shape or form at so many ews races over the last 6 years that is too many to keep track of, but only actually rained during the racing in Millau and Tasmania, and for the part of Rotorua (the rest have just been passing showers that make everything nice and slick, especially when the sun starts to dry it). At all these various races a variety of riders have done well and other poorly, but in no real sense or order. One guy will crush it in the rain one weekend and struggle the next (hill in Colombia vs. France this year for example)
And at the real mud fests... The guy you said just gets better and better as the other guy gets worse? Yeah, he wasn't on the podium at any of those rounds.
To make blanket statements that some rider is scared of rain to bolster up the guy you like is just plain rude and idiotic. No one wins two overall championships in ews, junior worlds and WC DH, and nearly the most individual EWS round wins if they are "scared" or bad at riding in all conditions. So why don't feel the need to make up some nnarrative in order to try to knock them down a peg or two? Any single Enduro World Series round covers just about every imaginable condition, and the riders at the top perform in all of them.
Why have you just come out if the woodwork in this site these past few days as an outsoiken authority on the EWS? And why always to brag about one rider and slam others to prove your point... Even going so far as to make things up like saying the courses were changed, bla bla bla?
It's not about me being a fan of a particular rider. It's about a level of respect for all the men and women at the top of the sport who are all on a level that is mind blowing. Your crass and arrogant statements fly in that face of this and maked a mockery of their efforts. All from the anonymity of your keyboard, without ever speaking to any riders face to face or seeing them perform in person.
Martin Mae's sporsmanship is next level and maybe you as his fan should try to act the same. He would be embarrassed to have someone like you cheering for him at the expense of other riders.
Grow up or just stop posting your petty nonsense in every EWS thread.
Too much words to read for me... You are pretty emotional and very predictable, that is for sure!
You try to know me, but you don't and that irritates you... you try to push me in some box... but effortless...
I love it to see how freaked out you get only cause I touch your idol, your god's, your holy brands...
Now you even try to get Maes in the thing and tell me that he would be against me.. OMG mate.. you are soooo funny... I bet that when you had a fight at school, cause of your big mouth....you would get your biggest mate to fight for you...
Seriously ... Wtf is wrong with you?
You just scream louder in every thread the more people show you that you are wrong or out of line. Why? Your arguments get more obsurd and insulting the further you dig yourself into your little troll cave. Why?
All those downvotes on all your comment in every thread, those should be a hint that's it's you who has some problems to work out before you can join the adults in the room here.
Enjoy your trolling Rhudi. You provide no value to the PB community and are just a lowly internet troll trying to pick fights as a 40 year old man behind a keyboard.
Sad
That you dig in my profile.. abuse your PB rights.. does not change a thang to that ...
It only shows how obsessed you are cause you got backfire from some person that is not lying on his knees to praise the PB community...
Tough luck nooby... no skills needed to shoot with modern camera's nowaday's... problably get paid poor too
Unfortunately you seem to just be there all in your own.
Good tactic though. Still short in facts, can't have an adult discussion or argument, so just go to the schoolboy childish level insults like petty little troll.
But those last lines above... Gems
May have disturbed the neighbors laughing so hard.
The last words all yours though kiddo since I know you can't help yourself... Can't wait to see what you close this argument out with.
Make it count Rhudi.
And funny that you think my name is there and still... you cannot write it... kiddo.. hope you can still sleep.. skinny dude :p
I'll give you another shot but it's your last one... Ready set go
Lay it me and maybe we can give your account a little break after (like your buddy Mollow).
Messsge of tha freak: so we know why he in on the band wagon....
Since you asked about money in an attempt to insult me ...
My commercial day rate is $2500 for on off client shoots
For events I charge clients $800 -$1500 per event. For a WC or EWS I carry 10-11 clients.... There are 16 events a year for those two series.
Get out your calculations and add that up.
Oh... I also take 6-7 months off a year and just go in holiday.
As usual you didn't have your facts straight before you ran your mouth did you Rhudi.
You really are a next level a*shole arent you?
And those are the same rates used by all my colleagues so it's not exactly a secret or some mystery.
What's your point here
Please feel free to share essential knowledge, are there any how to enduro vids I should watch?