Race Recap: Endurama Cuenca

Cuenca, city of the known "hanging houses" enclosed in between high cliffs and Huecar river, a paradise for rock climbers and mountainbikers. For 3 years in a row Cuenca has been the location of the last race of the Endurama championship and 2018 hasn't been different, fourth year and everyone goes home with a big smile on their faces. This year the race also was part of the Spanish Enduro Series, so all main riders where present in order to grab as many points as possible and keep their leading positions on the series. Riders as Miriam Alcantara, Marketa Michalkova, Mariano Mari or Gabriel Torralba from the Orbea Enduro Team wanted to battle hard to defend their top positions. There were even foreign riders present, known Marco Fidalgo and Joao Rodrigues from Portugal came to show that our neighbors also have awesome enduro riders.


With almost 40km, 1800m climb and same descending, race day was expected to be long and hard for many of the participants. Previous days poured with rain non stop, but Thursday night it stopped and official training days Friday and Saturday riders where able to enjoy a perfect terrain. Cuenca is known due to its rocky and loose trails, with some step sections that can cause the most braves to think twice before sending it at full speed. By the end of Saturday things where turning a bit dry and even more loose so many wished for some rain and in the middle of the night a big storm left the trails perfect for Sunday. We couldn't have a better terrain for race day.

Sunday 8:00am, race briefing even before breakfast, sleepy faces and yawns were clear signs that for some it was too early but you got to do what you got to do. With 242 riders out on the mountain, first riders departed at 08:30. First stage will be a quick flowy one, more like a light fast DH track, where local club "Sendas de Cuenca" spent a large amount of time to have the perfect berms and jumps.





First stage done, some hard crashes and first DNFs, time to hit the second stage "Miradores del Rey" where first real test awaits, a step rocky section ready to destroy some wheels. And some indeed where destroyed.



After second stage, riders have the opportunity to refill their stomachs and water bottles on the feed point, right on the paddock and afterwards, a long climb to get to the third stage "Barranco de los Chotos" a fresh new trail opened just days before the race.



Fourth stage was close by, so these two shared same climb with just 200m distance difference on the departure points. This one called "Merendero" (means "pic-nic area") is a known one, with a middle section very step and with some muddy places due to last night rains.






Last stage, with an urban section, "Tiradores" is always the one with more public, people shouting and cheering up their local heroes or the riders showing more skills. Just 900m long, but enough to lose the race if you are not careful enough. Some riders just fly through the rocks and choose their own lines, when everyone is shouting and screaming around you, adrenaline runs fast and blocks any safety desire...fast! fast! faster!!








Race finished and its time for podiums, both for the Endurama race and the Spanish Enduro Series.