Today's racing built up until it became a monster. It started slowly, with riders rolling out of the pits and tension building as they tackled the two-hour climb up to stage one. Once on track, it rose to fever pitch as the world's best enduro racers, and the last battles of the 2016, began to play out.
Martin Maes has been flying all day, demolishing the field by 30 seconds. Many people have been waiting in expectation for him to stand on the top step, so there is lots of breath being held for him tonight. In the championship race, Richie Rude is in second, with Oton behind him in ninth and as it stands Rude's lead appears unassailable, as Oton needs to win to challenge him and must find 52 seconds tomorrow. But, let's not count chickens before they hatch
Cecile already has the title sewn up for the women's series, and seems to be riding even faster than ever - once again, soaring clear of the field. In the under-21's race, a puncture on stage one didn't help Seb Claquin's tie-breaker fight with Adrien Dailly. Seb's flat may be the least of his worries Adrien's time would have placed him in second in the GC! Speculation aside, the final EWS of 2016 was set for a dramatic climax - racing will finish on what may be the gnarliest trail this year - "Men's DH." It looks to be a big one...
Another beautiful day of riding in a land before time
What will the EWS look like when these two are fulfilling their titles?
Maybe the biggest fight of the weekend? Adrien Dailly vs. Seb Claquin for the under-21 title. Coming into the weekend they are tied on points, so it is everything to play for...
Adrien Dailly not only dominated the U21 race today. He also set the fastest time in the GC on stage one and would be sitting second in the overall among the pro men.
Matti Lehikoinen is having one of his best results of the season, sitting just inside the top 20.
It may be his teammate who is trying to fight for the title, but Theo Galy was the first Devinci on the results list - seventh, 49 seconds back.
Jerome Clementz is giving it all this weekend, looking noticeably aggressive on track - he's only six seconds off the podium.
Iago Garay is a bit off the pace - perhaps a bit too much celebration for his birthday yesterday? But, nothing to stop him from being one of the most stylish riders out there.
Mark Scott is knocking on the door of the top ten and possibly, his best finish of the season.
Theo Galy had a cracking day - six, eight, and fourteen - now sitting in sixth place.
Martin Maes is a man on a mission, churning out three stage wins. Can he keep up such a blistering pace?
Miranda Miller is crushing this one - two fourths and a third place.
Isabeau continues to nip at Ravenel's heels. Another second in the GC after day one.
Pretty much unknown, Israeli rider Noga Korem managed a top ten last time out in Valberg and she is up in ninth.
Seventeenth this evening for Louise Paulin - the fastest mother in Italy.
Miranda Miller was on a tear, duking it out with Casey Brown for fourth.
Jared Graves had a massive crash on stage two that resulted in a destroyed helmet and a mangled ankle. No word yet on the extent of the damage, but it looked pretty serious.
Anne Caroline Chausson is racing her final EWS race this weekend and sitting in third place.
A last-minute trip to Finale saw former DH World Champ Loic Bruni in the mix. Despite having no practice, and only getting his bike built up the night before, he was still incredibly fast in the rough sections.
Not a good day in the office for Justin Leov - a flat on stage one put him well behind the leaders, then a mechanical on stage three propelled him all the way back to 128th.
The Alien was flying on stage one, taking second. Despite being unable to repeat that on stages two and three, he is still in fourth this evening.
U21 racer Elliot Trabac had a massive crash and spent the evening in the hospital as a precaution. He has no major injuries, but his weekend is over.
Tenth-place Jesse Melamed might be having a bit of an off weekend, but he still floats through rock sections like a ninja.
Richie Rude sits in second after today's racing. We expect him to play it safe tomorrow, but he may decide to throw down.
Nico Vouilloz was pushing hard and looking damn quick.
Richie Rude started the day taking it easy to feel out his competition for the overall, but once they were well behind him he turned things up a notch to finish second.
It's been a rolling roster for who is running at the front of the Rocky team right now - this time it was Remi Gauvin.
Isabeau couldn't repeat her form at Valberg, and even though she is in second, Cecile is 47 seconds ahead.
Casey Brown is in fifth after day one. Brown and Miller are racing for fastest Canadian at the moment.
Jerome Clementz sits in eighth after fourth place on stage one and two stages in sixteenth.
Cecile is still untouchable.
The mud on Ines Thoma's back tells you everything you need to know about her day.
Ravanel has the title locked up, but still wants to close out the year with a win.
It's testament to how far that Jesse Melamed has come on this year that he won't be stoked with tenth this evening.
Martin Maes won every stage and has a 30-second lead over Richie Rude with just four stages to go. Barring disaster, he could claim his first ever EWS win tomorrow.
Nico Lau reflects on a good day on the bike. Third this evening has him back up at the sharp end.
Sam Hill may only be in seventh, but times are extremely tight - he is still only six seconds off the podium right now.
Adrien Dailly could be just one day away from being the U-21 Champ
Jose Borges was on the gas and sits in twelfth in the GC.
Always smiling and happy, no matter the conditions, Hannah Barnes drops into the rough on stage two.
Job done on day one - but Martin Maes makes it clear that, as well as he has ridden today, there is still a long way to go tomorrow.
Casey Brown washed away the days dust with a post-race swim.
Exhausted and relieved, Richie Rude all but sealed the overall title today, as his closest rivals are probably too far off the pace to catch him, no matter where he finishes on Sunday.
Fuel up... Sunday is going to be a big day as we close out the 2016 EWS season - in style.
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Looks like he rolled to the end of the stage after the crash from this video. Also Maes looks very fast, even smashes someone's selfie stick.
Thanks www.enduroworldseries.com
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