The Enduro World Series occurs on the stunning Italian Riviera, in the commune of Finale Ligure, nestled against the Gulf of Genoa. This location is iconic to enduro riders. This round of the series, the Bluegrass Finale Enduro powered by SRAM, will take cyclists through some of the most challenging, exciting courses the Enduro World Series has to offer. This visual guide will provide a brief preview of these trails, as well as those responsible for making them what they are. In this article, we preview the 1st day stages the racers will experience, starting with Poste, a trail brought back to life.
Stage One - Poste
Poste is an old trail that was often frequented by hunters in the past, overgrown and out of use. With the Enduro World Series returning to Finale Ligure, the decision was made to clean up and rebuild Poste for this stage of the series. It begins with a steep descent from a hill, drawing a singletrack in the grass. The mid-section of the trail features a narrow series of four rocky corners, that will challenge riders. Finally, the trail breaks into a chestnut forest, where the terrain transforms into a grippier, rockier layout with narrower lines for rider’s wheels.
Dark shapes cast by the sun.
Riding across a variety of terrains.
Rocky narrow trails through a chestnut forest.
Mockingjay jersey.
Our perspective of the rider
..the rider's perspective of the trail ahead.
Poste features incredible trail riding and beautiful sights.
Stage Two - Cavatappi
Cavatappi translates to corkscrew, and with good reason. Beginning from the sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Guardia, many may expect a holy experience to kick off this race, but Cavatappi promises a devilishly difficult, though mercifully short challenge for riders. First they must pass through a singletrack jungle portion of the trail, naturally occurring with no artificial engineering, following the shape of the hill. Once through riders enter the namesake area of the trail, composed of twenty rocky, steep corners that corkscrew dizzyingly until the very end of the trail. It’s a rocky, scrubby, slippery course all the way through.
A stunning sunrise from the top.
A rider up for the challenge.
Welcome to the jungle.
Eyes on the prize.
No rest for the weary as the terrain corkscrews through the last portion.
Ghostbusters!
Stage Three - Cromagnon
Moving onto the next trail, we get to understand how it was built by the architect himself. Cromagnon is a reference to Cro-Magnon, the early modern humans of the European Upper Paleolithic, the last portion of the Old Stone Age spanning between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. Ivo is a trail builder and fossil collector, and Cromagnon is his creation. With a deep respect for the ancient past and an appreciation for beautiful, challenging bike racing trails, Ivo incorporated manmade structures from long ago into the natural features that make up Cromagnon.
On the antiquated walls that feature in portions of the trail, Ivo says:
“The walls were built to survive forever. They are part of the territory from before 1000. I wanted to bring to light those who, for me, are an artistic part of the frame of this path.”
Ivo enjoys bringing the past back to life, and that thought process funnels directly into his trail making.
"To find the best place and to decide where a corner has to pass, you have to be very creative and patient at the same time. I always try to rediscover old tracks and then shape them with rocks and earth that are part of the forest,” says Ivo on his trail design philosophy.
Tools of the trade.
The man himself.
Ivo's canvas. Natural features, utilization of his surroundings and ancient walls create a work of art and a challenge for riders.
An old trail brought back to life.
Corner to be built.
Rocky terrain features heavily in Cromagnon.
...as well as forested trail.
Ivo's home and workshop built amongst the trees and hills.
Real quality feature! We should appreciate more the guys behind our trails, as some of them are doing this out of passion for nature and being outdoors in general, and not necessarily for money. All of us should find the time to put in some work to maintain local trails. If built right, these trails will be there for future generations as well.
Just come back riding 3 of the valleys in liguiria , amazing place with so many locals starting there own up lifts and opening up trails , best bike trip so far ..!
Feels like I was just there the other day. Oh wait... I was there just last Thursday and now I'm back in cold, damp Ontario wishing I was still there. Awesome trails!!!
It was a pleasure to meet ivo on the tracks near NATO base a few years ago. The guide got off his bike and started kissing the ground at his feet.... such a cool guy. I think he has the same had too