Practice Photo Report: Party at the Beach - EWS Madeira 2019

May 10, 2019 at 11:23
by Dave Trumpore  



Beautiful scenery and fresh tracks greeted racers as they took the steep hills of Madeira to kick off two days of practice in the runup to this weekend's EWS race. Super dry and dusty conditions are making both visibility and traction a difficult thing to come by, and with many sections being blown out after just one run, you can be sure things will be rough and wild by race day. With only a few stages revisited from the prior EWS here, all of which have been heavily modified, and a whole batch of new ones to keep riders on their toes, it feels like a completely new venue. Add in plenty of sunshine rather than the rain of 2017 and it's just about the polar opposite.

Once again Martin Maes and Isabeau Courdurier are the heavy favorites, but with a list of hungry and capable riders nipping at their heels, it is still very much anyone's race. Sam Hill is on a new 29'er, and Jesse Melamed is looking for redemption after nearly winning here in 2017. While in the women's race, Morgane Charre has proven she can win stages and compete for the overall each round while many of the remaining podium positions have been decided by just a few seconds at the first two rounds. Without doubt this has been the tightest season of racing we have ever seen at the EWS.

On Saturday races will tackle three stages while on Sunday they will head out for a very big day of stages to make eight in total. Being the first two-day event of the season, it will be interesting to see if riders who have been string over a single day of racing can carry the momentum and pressure through an entire weekend.

Check in here daily to find out.

First light of the morning in Machico
First light of the morning in Machico.

Moody Madeira weather but so far no rain
Moody Madeira weather, but so far no rain.

ALN locked and loaded
ALN locked and loaded.

Big weekend coming up for Sam Hill. Will the 29 inch wheels help in the battle against Martin Maes
Big weekend coming up for Sam Hill. Will the 29 inch wheels help in the battle against Martin Maes?

The last time the EWS came to Madeira Jesse Melamed was the man to beat before a mechanical ended his race. He will carry that confidence into the weekend to challenge the dominance of Martin Maes.
The last time the EWS came to Madeira Jesse Melamed was the man to beat before a mechanical ended his race. He will carry that confidence into the weekend to challenge the dominance of Martin Maes.

Can anyone beat Martin Maes this weekend
Can anyone beat Martin Maes this weekend?

Sharp rocks on track and sharp vegetation off track on stage 2.
Sharp rocks on track and sharp vegetation off track on stage 2.

Stage 2 is a beauty that traverses the ocean for nearly its entirety.
Stage 2 is a beauty that traverses the ocean for nearly its entirety.

Can you spot Josh Carlson among all the green
Can you spot Josh Carlson among all the green?

Cody Kelley trowing all the shapes on the Gamble track.
Cody Kelley throwing all the shapes on the Gamble track.

Pedro Burns is carrying the torch for Trek Factory Racing this weekend.
Pedro Burns is carrying the torch for Trek Factory Racing this weekend.

David McMillan lays it flat over Funchal.
David McMillan lays it flat over Funchal.

Keegan Wright getting his switchback on through on of the many tight turns on stage 1
Keegan Wright getting his switchback on through one of the many tight turns on stage 1.

Shawn Neer droppen down the loose and rocky ridgeline above town on stage 1
Shawn Neer dropping down the loose and rocky ridgeline above town on stage 1.

Mark Scott gets down to business in the fresh loam of stage six.
Mark Scott gets down to business in the fresh loam of stage 6.

Sam Hill boosting jumps on Gamble. First run full speed and sending everything blind.
Sam Hill boosting jumps on Gamble. First run, full speed and sending everything blind.

The Portuguese will all be out cheering for their favorite rider Jose Borges.
The Portuguese will all be out cheering for their favorite rider Jose Borges.

Remi Gauvin having a bit of fun at the iconic lookout on stage 7
Remi Gauvin having a bit of fun at the iconic lookout on stage 7.

Eddie Masters glowing up a corner on Loic Bruni s Gamble Trail
Eddie Masters blowing up a corner on Loic Bruni's Gamble Trail

Youn Deniaud pinned down stage 4 that will kick off day two of racing in Madeira
Youn Deniaud pinned down stage 4 that will kick off day two of racing in Madeira

Ella Connolly on stage 8
Ella Connolly on stage 8.

Martin Maes is currently the man to beat.
Martin Maes is currently the man to beat.

photo
Robin Wallner on stage 3.

The Gamble trail is taking a beating. Big rusts and holes all the way down.R
The Gamble trail is taking a beating. Big rusts and holes all the way down.

Martha Gill drifting through the dust win stage 1
Martha Gill drifting through the dust on stage 1.

Isabeau finding her way through the dust on stage four.
Isabeau finding her way through the dust on stage 4.

Someone gambled on traction and lost
Someone gambled on traction and lost.

Things get rutted and rooty ion the woods on stage 6
Things get rutted and rooty ion the woods on stage 6.

Theo Galy and one of Madeira s most well known photo spots.
Theo Galy and one of Madeira's most well-known photo spots.

Ines Thoma
Ines Thoma battles the dust on stage 1.

Stage one will be loose and dusty.
Stage 1 will be loose and dusty.

With no rain it is dry as can be right now in Madeira
With no rain, it is dry as can be right now in Madeira.

Jesse Melamed has been riding super fast and confident in practice
Jesse Melamed has been riding super fast and confident in practice.

Not a bad place for the pits here in Madeira for round three of the 2019 EWS
Not a bad place for the pits here in Madeira for round three of the 2019 EWS.

Baedx Baraona hoping to get herself back on the podium as she was at the opening round in Rotorua.
Bex Baraona hoping to get herself back on the podium as she was at the opening round in Rotorua.

Morgane Charre takes in the views at the bottom of stage 1
Morgane Charre takes in the views at the bottom of stage 1.

Florian Nicolai letting that front wheel go where it will as per usual.
Florian Nicolai letting that front wheel go where it will as per usual.

Stage two is short but rough. The views are amazing but likely not to be enjoyed at warp speed.
Stage 2 is short, but rough. The views are amazing but likely not to be enjoyed at warp speed.

Miranda Miller focused on a good result this weekend.
Miranda Miller focused on a good result this weekend.

Tutu everyday with Yoann Barelli.
Tutu every day with Yoann Barelli.

It s a quiet week for Pedro Burns.
It's a quiet week for Pedro Burns.

Remi Gauvin multi-tasking by watching helmet cam footage during his evening physio session
Remi Gauvin multi-tasking by watching helmet cam footage during his evening physio session.

Wyn Masters asking Martin Maes all the hard questions.
Wyn Masters asking Martin Maes all the hard questions.

Let s get this party started
Let's get this party started!


Author Info:
davetrumpore avatar

Member since Feb 26, 2008
269 articles

48 Comments
  • 69 0
 Cody Kelley, boosh!
  • 17 4
 That dude just has it... he throws this as an opening move in YETI video "proven here New Zealand" and it's just fricking massive. I don't even know how can one fold himself around the bike like that.
  • 10 0
 @jwrendenver: flyin' like a shit-hawk, randy
  • 5 0
 @jwrendenver: meanwhile, you got masters barely holdin' on to the shit-rope.
  • 1 0
 @rocky-mtn-gman: It's the shit winds!!!
  • 23 0
 YOANN, YER GIVIN ME A RUN FOR MY MONEY, MATE!!! Lookin good, wheelie good.
  • 21 2
 I know your game Wyn, you are trying to play the nice block now after giving me shit every day for walking the tracks.. you bully!! Yes my hair is way nicer that your stinky one, and F.Y !!!!! hahahahahaha Wink
  • 12 1
 @yoannbarelli: the real Wyn is here, didnt realise we were in a hair competition mate
  • 22 0
 no such thing as too many Cody Kelly photos.
  • 21 0
 Kelly's photo wins... #glowingupcorners.
  • 3 0
 It is a great shot, but my fav is the one of Maes. 1000 yard stare, foot out kicking up rocks in the loose loose soil.
  • 10 0
 Thanks for this amazing pictures! Good Job!
  • 11 1
 That photo of Eddie "glowing" that corner is awesome!
  • 2 0
 That’s my fave. POTY candidate. Great shot
  • 2 0
 RIP berm.
  • 8 0
 Shoes off at the door Pedro Burns. Kids these days..
  • 3 0
 Here's my prediction: Sam, Jesse and Martin will all trade stage wins. Sam will come out on top, Maes second, and Melamed will accidentally open up a rift in space time and get a DNF somewhere.
  • 3 0
 I saw those pictures and thought how about going to Madeira, then I checked tickets and decided that I'd rather stay at home.
  • 5 0
 Ace photos!
  • 4 0
 HOLY Sh*t that photo of Maes is siick. Cody throwing a Euro tabe whaaaa?
  • 6 4
 The Portuguese will all be out cheering for their favorite rider Jose Borges. - This made me LOL
  • 6 0
 Will all will be cheering for José, he can get a podium here, but all Madeirian mountainbike fans will want a good result from local boy and Trans-Madeira winnner Emanuel Pombo!
  • 1 0
 @AndrewMacNaughton after the race your comment made me laugh even more hahahaha
  • 6 4
 did Remi Gauvin accidentally lay down on the set of a madierian porno shoot?!
  • 7 0
 "ohhh you have so much tension, your back muscles are tighter than trying to fit maxxis tires onto asymmetric ultra-wide rims"
  • 3 1
 Remi’s pic.... living the life I guess hahhaha
  • 2 1
 Dry dirt and sunshine. Something not seen yet this year here in the Northeastern US. Looks nice there.
  • 2 0
 That pic of Remi Gauvin stole the show for me. Beauty!
  • 2 0
 #pinadjustments
  • 2 0
 Vamos Pedro Burns!!!
  • 1 0
 is that crest? Smile marty maes. get it!
  • 6 5
 I couldn't see Sam Hill's clipless pedals in any of those pictures.
  • 3 4
 he runs flats.
  • 4 0
 @rocky-mtn-gman: I know - my post is what ya call trollin'. Due to Sam's recent, internet-exploding switch to 29" wheels, the bro-posse is a little sensitive right now.
  • 5 0
 @pinhead907: he runs clipless
  • 1 0
 Lmao ???? @pinhead907:
  • 2 0
 "clips" or "flats" let's stop the madness now. please.
  • 3 0
 @ikaika: he runs
  • 5 0
 Sam Hill is running flatless pedals this weekend.
  • 1 0
 Awsome photos from my island. Nice work Dave and Matt!
  • 1 0
 shot of mcmillan would be so much better without the ship in the back
  • 1 0
 I think a ship is there almost all the time, either the ferry or a cruise ship. I think it is a cruise ship because the ferry that goes to Porto Santo has a big seal on the side.
  • 3 0
 @rcrocha: It is a Costa Crociere cruise ship. Sharp lines and a yellow funnel.
  • 2 0
 So many epic pics!
  • 1 0
 What is Remy Gauvin watching on his laptop.
  • 2 0
 Man, so many cool shots!
  • 3 2
 Is Rude still out?







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