Photo Epic: L'Anteprima - Enduro World Series, Round 8 - Finale Ligure

Oct 3, 2015 at 13:01

by Matt Wragg

WORDS AND PHOTOS: MATT WRAGG & DAVE TRUMPORE

L'anteprima - The Preview (italian)

The storms that moved in over Finale on Thursday and cancelled Friday practice broke this morning and normal service was almost returned. In the end it was decided that stage one needed to be cut because the end of the stage was in a riverbed and with the recent weather the organisers could not be certain that ambulance crews would be able to access the stage to evacuate riders if they were needed. At 8.30 riders started heading for the stages and the first act of the final chapter of the 2015 Enduro World Series saga was finally underway...

This morning was a time for the mechanics to put the final touches to the bikes before they were let loose onto the race course.

While some media outlets were halfway to stage one, others needed some assistance to get things going.

Joe Barnes needs no help getting his faithful scooter fired up and flying.

It was a nervous Isabeau Courdurier on the start line this morning - with the third spot in the championship within he grasp you could see how much she wanted it.

Shaun Hughes messgae to Richie Rude this for the weekend. Richie just needed to finish 23rd to seal his title.

Shaun Hughes' message to Richie Rude this for the weekend. Richie just needed to finish 23rd to seal his title.

Tracy Moseley was taking no chances with her pack this weekend.

Nico Lau was pretty happy about his care package from 100% this morning.

Anneke Beerten heads down the palm tree lines promenade en route to the first stage of the day. Currently 4th she is still two places ahead of Isabeau Cordurier going into Sunday. If all goes to plan she just may be able to claim the final podium spot in the overall world rankings.

Anneke Beerten heads down the palm tree lined promenade en route to the first stage of the day. Currently 4th she is still two places ahead of Isabeau Cordurier going into Sunday. If all goes to plan she just may be able to claim the final podium spot in the overall world rankings.

Yoann Barelli started the day optimistic after podium finishes the past two rounds, but would end the day frustrated and way down the order after a pair of bad crashes.

Rene Wildhaber darts through the tight woods at the top of stage one.

Despite just having to finish here in Finale to take the overall title, Tracy Moseley is still charging hard and heads into the final day with a good lead on her nearest rivals.

Fabien Barel took a tree to the shoulder on stage one, then came back to win stage 2, and heads into tomorrow just a few seconds down on the podium positions.

Iago, faster than a speeding bullet. thanks to his aerodynamic tucking.

Iago Garay knows Italy is all about fashion. Sadly, the Italian federation does not allow Lycra in gravity racing and he had to put the baggies on after stage one.

Martin Maes struggles on the physical stage one to finish 20th, but would end the day with a 3rd on stage two and a 2nd on the gnarly stage three.

8th and 20 seconds of the lead was exactly what Richie Rude needed to do today. This evening his is one step closer to the title...

Eighth and 20 seconds off the lead was exactly what Richie Rude needed to do today. This evening he is one step closer to the title...

Marco Osborne has been looking wild in practice all week - 16th today is a solid showing from the loose, young American.

Chris Johnston through the thick canopy of trees that made up most of stages one and two today.

Damien Oton is getting back up to speed after his injury and was back in the top ten this evening.

Anka Martin was charging as ever today.

Greg Callaghan started the day off with a strong 4th but would slip on stage three to finish the day back in 7th.

Gas to flat, Adam Brayton, is here in Finale this weekend, trying his hand at EWS racing.

Jerome Clementz is looking back to his old form this weekend. Winning stage one and sitting 2nd in the overall just 7 seconds behind Jared Graves.

Anneke Beerten was charging this morning and was rewarded with third this evening - if she can hold onto that spot the third spot in the overall is hers.

Despite some small errors, Francois Bailly-Maitre is right at the front tonight in third and is only 14 seconds off the lead with long, physical stages that should suit him well tomorrow.

Always one to watch, Nico Vouilloz heads into Sunday's final two stages sitting in 4th.

Cecile Ravenel ended with a pair of 2nd places and one win to finish one spot back of race leader Tracy Moseley.

XCO racer, Natalie Schneitter, bagged a tenth in Ainsa and is in twelfth this evening, ever so close to repeating her top ten finish.

Today was a big day for Ines Thoma - it is the first time she has finished a day in third and hopefully she can carry this confidence over into tomorrow.

Raewyn Morrison backed up her top result from last week in Ainsa and is sitting in 5th after the first three stages.

All focus from Tracy Moseley. Many we wondering if she would take it easy today - the resounding answer is no this evening although a 3 second lead is fairly modest by her own standards.

All focus from Tracy Moseley. Many were wondering if she would take it easy today - the resounding answer is no this evening, although a 3 second lead is fairly modest by her own standards.

Many expected Yoann Barelli to be pushing for the win this weekend, and on stages two and three he was right there. However, he had a nightmare on stage one, losing 40 plus seconds, effectively ending his hopes of ending his season with another podium.

Florian Nicolai is suffering stomach flu this weekend and struggled all day to finish way down the order. Currently 2nd overall in the championship hunt, it looks like he may be at risk of even finishing on the podium now.

Nico Lau is another rider who has come into form as the season has progressed and this evening he is just 10 seconds off second place.

Isabeau Cordurier has to stay ahead of Annele Beerten this weekend if she wants to end her season on the podium. 7th today is not what she was hoping for.

Isabeau Cordurier has to stay ahead of Anneke Beerten this weekend if she wants to end her season on the podium. 7th today is not what she was hoping for.

Fabien is anothe rider who fell victim to stage two losing 20 seconds and while he clawed back time on the final two stages he looks like an outside bet for the win as things stand.

Fabien is another rider who fell victim to stage two, losing 20 seconds, and while he clawed back time on the final two stages, he looks like an outside bet for the win as things stand.

Always calm and collected, Richie Rude enjoys some gelato, while team manager Damion Smith checks the overall rankings. 8th with two stages to go means it will take a disaster to stop Richie from winning the championship.

A very happy Jerome Clementz after a stage win and second spot in the overall to close day one here in Finale.

While not the Finale Ligure we are used to seeing, there was hope on the horizon for sunny days to close out the weekend.

About the Photographers

Matt Wragg • Age: 32 • Years Shooting: 3
Maybe best-known as a long-standing member of Pinkbike's European editorial team, Matt is also a successful commercial photographer. As the first English-speaking photographer to follow and document the nascent European enduro scene, he was shooting enduro well before it became a marketing buzzword or a shade of blue. Today he is still one of the few photographers to make his living following the discipline and has built up an enviable client list that includes many of the top teams and brands in the world.

Dave Trumpore • Age: 35 • Years Shooting: 4
Dave spent the bulk of the past 17 years racing professionally before realizing that despite qualifying for the random World Cup final here and there, the next generation was just way too fast and way more talented. Upon hanging up his racing boots in 2010, it would be a few years until Dave picked up a camera and started shooting the odd race here and there as a way to stay in touch with all the friends he had made over the years, and the rest as they say is history. In just a few years time his photos have graced the pages of just about every MTB magazine and major media outlet, while his commercial client list includes a who's who of the cycling industry, and he is lucky enough to shoot regularly with some of the best riders on the planet. Currently at Pinkbike, Dave shoots the Downhill WC and the Enduro World Series as well as contributing to the occasional editorial story.

MENTIONS: @EnduroWorldSeries, @bikinginireland, @Cannondale, @GTBicycles, @mattwragg, @davetrump

Author Info:

mattwragg

Member since Oct 29, 2006
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46 Comments

47 1

ShreddieMercury (Oct 3, 2015 at 18:40)

Wow. Look how high Barelli rides his brakes.

14 0

classicmoto (Oct 3, 2015 at 19:13)

Saw that and was surprised. Then thought: he probably doesn't use them much anyway!

5afety3rd (Oct 3, 2015 at 19:30)

its better for when it's steeper

5 17

jclnv (Oct 3, 2015 at 19:52) (Below Threshold)

Not just steeper, it's better everywhere.

6 10

WAKIdesigns (Oct 4, 2015 at 1:44) (Below Threshold)

There is a theory (which I apply myself to some extent) that it provides some cushioning in the wrist, for feel and minimizing wear, as it allows the wrist to work by flexing instead of acting in a straight line

loloTHUNDAH (Oct 4, 2015 at 3:23)

I'm guessing its because he likes to ride off the saddle most of the time, which might be rearward, and results in a much more horizontal placement of his wrist. that or he's an absolute madman

WayneParsons (Oct 4, 2015 at 6:20)

Remember the trend a few years ago when dhers were running their levers almost straight down? So glad that's over. I can't see how he can run them horizontal though. This ain't no MX bike!

WAKIdesigns (Oct 4, 2015 at 7:59)

Just go to an average XC marathon and you'll see a huge deal of people with brakes run nearly vertically down with lever blades extended to maximum reach.

jclnv (Oct 4, 2015 at 9:16) (Below Threshold)

I guess the Pinkbike tards like putting weight on their thumb joints when descending.

11 2

WAKIdesigns (Oct 4, 2015 at 10:05)

Jclnv, you are right but just like deeeight you are an a-hole about it. Can you please enlighten us, which forum is that promised land, filled only with skilled, knowledgeable, reasonable, and facts loving people, who post only meaningful questions and relevant answers free of discourtesy and sexism? Is it Salsa bicycles blog?

jclnv (Oct 4, 2015 at 13:00) (Below Threshold)

There are so many morons on Pinkbike that any regular poster who can maintain politeness is a saint.

39 1

EKrum (Oct 3, 2015 at 19:03)

More coil shocks than a DH race

a-m-c (Oct 4, 2015 at 0:04)

True. Weird.

timsim07 FL (Oct 4, 2015 at 3:08)

16 1

davidgilbert28 (Oct 3, 2015 at 21:07)

Thank you PinkBike photographers for your awesome coverage today (and the past couple of weeks too)!

15 0

kusanagi72 (Oct 4, 2015 at 0:34)

Even women are checking out Anneke's booty

crashtor (Oct 3, 2015 at 23:04)

Looks like Rude is running a 60mm stem, while manufacturers are denting handlebars to fit a smaller one and telling us we absolutely need them to be faster

rrsport (Oct 3, 2015 at 23:51)

I've personally gone back to a 80mm stem as it just felt better for my riding

Narro2 (Oct 4, 2015 at 6:42)

75mm here. Tried 35 buu the enhsncement on the downhill was not that good compared to the hindrance while climbing.

billymtb (Oct 4, 2015 at 7:56)

tell me where a manufacturer has stated a short stem is absolutely needed to go faster madbob.

rifu (Oct 7, 2015 at 2:01)

same here. running a 710 mm flat handlebar attached to 70 mm stem with 6 degree rise.

that aside, I'm running a Thomson setback seatpost as a setfront. so maybe there is something wrong with my bike geometry. ;P

flymcg (Oct 3, 2015 at 21:25)

Stomach flu? Is that where you sneeze out your arse?

WAKIdesigns (Oct 4, 2015 at 2:09)

Yes, but first you are shouting to Huey and Ralph that you are buying a Buick

beerhunter (Oct 4, 2015 at 2:26)

Graves has a very distinctive body position: no matter what bike or what he is dressed in, you can't mistake him for any other rider.

casey79 FL (Oct 3, 2015 at 20:29)

Great edits PB. Any chance we can see a bag check to see what TMo is carrying around? Keep up the great work!!

dars51 (Oct 3, 2015 at 20:19)

graves' kit is rad!

luis-beri (Oct 4, 2015 at 1:37)

Yes, baggies should be mandatory all 'round the world, everywhere!! No visual polution please!!!

gshep (Oct 4, 2015 at 8:03)

I remember when"Dick" was JUST a nickname for Richard.Does anyone no who makes that tire kit T. Moseley had? Oh yeah.........GO DICK!

gshep (Oct 4, 2015 at 8:10)

OH never mind, the Air Rush regulator is a Trek thing.They got me! I saw what they did there,a Trek-PB conspiracy. :-)

Connorlacey (Oct 3, 2015 at 21:46)

Thank you PB love it!!!

funkzander (Oct 4, 2015 at 15:54)

iago, do you even drift bro

Leviruddell (Oct 4, 2015 at 20:08)

Did no one think that maybe that was just Barelli's trainer bike....

luis-beri (Oct 4, 2015 at 1:37)

Yes, baggies should be mandatory all 'round the world, everywhere!! No visual polution please!!!

teedubya (Oct 4, 2015 at 1:53)

What rear tyre is Vouilloz running?Looks like a Panaracer

AllridersAgency (Oct 4, 2015 at 3:04)

Michelin prototype ( lighter version casing)

thezoggo (Oct 4, 2015 at 7:56)

Suitable music when you read this article: Metallica - Enter Sandman : )

joe113 (Oct 3, 2015 at 20:03)

woah

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