The New Scottish Royalty: Enduro World Series, Round 2 - Tweedlove

Jun 1, 2014 at 13:50
by Matt Wragg  
"The hardest EWS race." Those were the words of Enrico Guala at the podium ceremony this evening. He is probably right too. While the Scottish Borders where the racing has been this weekend haven't got the biggest hills in the world, but there almost seems to have been a determination to make the race even tougher to make up for their relative lack of vertical metres. This evening riders are recovering from around 140km in the saddle and 3,000m climbing. And the some of the descents were, without doubt, the toughest we have yet seen at the EWS. So, the question you probably want answered now is, who has been crowned king and queen of the Tweed valley this evening?

The royal crest of Tweed. To the winners go these fine tweed jackets.
  The royal crest of Tweed. To the winners go these fine tweed jackets.

The calm before the storm... After a long day in the saddle yesterday riders were somewhat slower and later arriving in the pits this morning.
  The calm before the storm... After a long day in the saddle yesterday, riders were somewhat slower and later arriving in the pits this morning.

We re willing to bet that Joe Barnes isn t a morning person... He didn t look too phased by sitting in second overnight.
  We're willing to bet that Joe Barnes isn't a morning person... He didn't look too phased by sitting in second overnight.

Florian Nicolai was warming up this morning with a quick game of table tennis with his mechanic Nico.
  Florian Nicolai was warming up this morning with a quick game of table tennis with his mechanic, Nico.

Woods so dark with branches like teeth that will swallow you whole if you get off line.
  Woods so dark with branches like teeth that will swallow you whole if you get off line.

Tracy Moseley picked up were she left off last night winning stage one. to open her account for the day.
  Tracy Moseley picked up where she left off last night, winning stage one. to open her account for the day.

Nico Lau taking the high line in the upper woods of stage one.
  Nico Lau taking the high line in the upper woods of stage one.

Jared Graves had a stronger start this morning placing solid top ten finishes in the first couple of stages this morning.
  Jared Graves had a stronger start this morning, placing solid top ten finishes in the first couple of stages this morning.

Today s stages consisted of fast decants with longer climbs. Fitness played a huge role in making up time today.
  Today's stages consisted of fast descents with longer climbs. Fitness played a huge role in making up time today.

Justin Leov stormed through today taking second places in the final three stages of the day to place himself firmly in podium contention
  Justin Leov stormed through today, taking second places in the final three stages of the day to place himself firmly in podium contention,

It was an usual day for Fracois Bailly-Maitre - as a former XC rider we d have expected him to excel today but struggle yesterday. Instead he sat second overnight after the technical stages but fell back today on the more physical stages dropping off the podium and behind Florian Nicolai to take fifth.
  It was an usual day for Fracois Bailly-Maitre - as a former XC rider we'd have expected him to excel today, but struggle yesterday. Instead he sat second overnight after the technical stages, but fell back today on the more physical stages, dropping off the podium and behind Florian Nicolai to take fifth.

Tracy Moseley was in simply dominant form - winning every single stage this weekend.
  Tracy Moseley was in simply dominant form - winning every single stage this weekend.

Joe Barnes had a stellar weekend on home soil. He started off today with the win on stage one and third on stage two. He started to slip back in the later half of the day but not enough to keep him off the podium.
  Joe Barnes had a stellar weekend on home soil. He started off today with the win on stage one and third on stage two.But his results started to slip back in the second half of the day.

Anne Caroline Chausson drifting one of the upper turns on stage two. Try as she did she wasn t able to keep up with Moseley s pace this weekend.
  Anne Caroline Chausson drifting one of the upper turns on stage two. Try as he did, she wasn't able to keep up with Moseley's pace this weekend.

Cecile Ravanelle was able to hold off Anneke Beerten today for third place. She now sits in the same position she left off at last year.
  Celine Ravanelle was able to hold off Anneke Beerten today for third place. She now sits in the same position she left off at last year.

Jared Graves was sitting in twenty-eighth at the end of yesterday. The Aussie made up time today to finish tenth overall for the weekend.
  Jared Graves was sitting in twenty-eighth at the end of yesterday. The Aussie made up time today to finish tenth overall for the weekend.

A moment of disbelief. The numbers were good for Nico Lau but there were still questions to be answered...
  A moment of disbelief. The numbers were good for Nico Lau, but there were still questions to be answered...

...most importantly how fast did Joe Barnes do He was the only rider left on course who could dethrone Nico so there was a nervous wait around the results screen as the riders waited to see how well Joe Barnes has done.
  ...most importantly, how fast did Joe Barnes do? He was the only rider left on course who could dethrone Nico, so there was a nervous wait around the results screen as the riders waited to see how well Joe Barnes has done.

Joe Barnes momentarily lost his calm waiting for his results sheet print out. Third he also lost ground to Justin Leov giving up his overnight second spot. Not the win but he was more than happy with his first trip up to the podium.
  Joe Barnes momentarily lost his calm waiting for his results sheet print out. Third, he also lost ground to Justin Leov, giving up his overnight second spot. Not the win, but he was more than happy with his first trip up to the podium.

Concession. Nico Lau headed over to speak to Joe Barnes as he entered the finish area
  Concession. Nico Lau headed over to speak to Joe Barnes as he entered the finish area

The mens podium - Nico Lau Justin Leov and Joe Barnes compare times eager to see who went well where and where they lost time.
  The men's podium - Nico Lau, Justin Leov and Joe Barnes compare times, eager to see who went well where, and where they lost time.

A huge crowd turned out for the podium ceremony this evening - of all ages from kids to pensioners.
  A huge crowd turned out for the podium ceremony this evening - of all ages, from kids to pensioners.

Women s Podium Tracy Moseley Anne Caroline Chausson Celine Ravanelle
  Women's Podium Tracy Moseley, Anne Caroline Chausson, Celine Ravanelle

Joe Barnes has super fans who got rowdy for the Scotsman during awards.
  Joe Barnes' teammates turned out as super fans to got rowdy for the Scotsman during awards.

Men s podium- Nico Lau Justin Leov and Joe Barnes.
  Men's podium - Nico Lau, Justin Leov and Joe Barnes.

Nico Lau looking good in the royal tweed.
  Nico Lau looking good in the royal tweed.

So long from the Enduro World Series here in the Tweed Valley. Huge thanks to the people of Innerleithen Peebles and the surrounding areas for sharing your fantastic trails and your warm hospitality.
  So long from the Enduro World Series here in the Tweed Valley. Huge thanks to the people of Innerleithen, Peebles and the surrounding areas for sharing your fantastic trails, and your warm hospitality.
www.enduroworldseries.com

Author Info:
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Member since Oct 29, 2006
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54 Comments
  • 84 2
 Winning an elite level competition nets a check for £625 (approximately $1150 usd). Seems a little light to me considering the level of professionalism these riders bring to the sport. None the less bravo to the victors.
  • 13 0
 I know of really low level golf tournaments around here that pay 20 000 prizes, and there are tours that you will literally never see on tv and the pros will probably never get their names published anywhere. its whack how that is all the money that the ews can pull together considering how almost every company is producing an "enduro bike"
  • 23 5
 Not that I disagree... But.. Big Money tends to ruin a sport..
  • 9 2
 Could not have agreed with you more. In addition, the associated risks of accidents involved. I know it's not a Televised sport but I really wish to see much larger purses because these Men and Women definitely deserve it.
  • 7 0
 should money be an incentive to compete, or love of the sport? I'd rather it was too little than too much, though I agree this is too little. especially given the size of the industry, and the travel costs for the competitors.
  • 14 1
 Way I see it someone somewhere is making a pile of money off the backs of the riders.
  • 2 3
 The sponsors pay too. CG owns a Ferrari.... However the prizes are quite ridiculous compared to other sports 'less dangerous'. If i think about the risks that the athletes of the Rampage take....
  • 6 0
 mtb racing is tiny in relation to most other sporting activities.
  • 3 3
 Cedric Gracia? I thought he owned an X3
  • 3 0
 Yea its pretty sad to see a check of that size for such talent. But, they must be doing alright if all they do is live eat and breathe the sport. Somewhere along the line, someone is paying some bucks for them to make their house payment.
  • 2 1
 This is a non uci series that is still in it's infancy.By the way...that is on par or likely more than a 1st for a UCI DH race.The EWS is a series where locals can compete against pro's.That's what makes it awesome.Think Joe Barnes takes a 3rd at a race in the Andes? Not likely. The diversity of the tracks opens up the competition which allows local ringers to get some spotlight.
  • 2 0
 I thought CG owns a nightclub or something, and thats how he got the car and sweet house
  • 2 0
 I get the impression putting on an Enduro race is much more expensive than the other racing disciplines. Much, much more to coordinate, tape, marshal, time, etc. It's like having 4 downhill races back to back and then some. I'm guessing that's why registration is more expensive and the prizes less, although usually sponsors seem to be one of the big contributors for cash prizes, so maybe ask them?
  • 2 0
 And a shit load of hard work...
  • 2 0
 CG made his money outside cycling. He made his money from property
  • 1 0
 A riding buddy told me he won around €200 for coming 14th in a french DH race over 10 years ago... Sponsors and prize pools come and go in waves I guess. Hopefully these guys have podium/top10 bonuses written into their contracts! Although you would be surprised how many of the top 20 are not actually professional racers and have to work on the side.
  • 1 0
 I hope one day someone posts a chart showing the disparity between what these race organizations spend their sponsorship money on and how much of that goes to the people who are key to the future existence of said race organizations, including how much the organizers get paid. The UCI would be hilarious.
  • 18 2
 Mon the Barnes!!! Scottish Rider on the World Podium.. Get In..
  • 4 1
 English...
  • 5 1
 Honorary Scott Wink
  • 15 1
 Love the winners jackets!
  • 3 8
flag jclnv (Jun 1, 2014 at 16:19) (Below Threshold)
 Blazer..
  • 6 1
 Dick...
  • 3 8
flag jclnv (Jun 1, 2014 at 18:33) (Below Threshold)
 Prick...
  • 11 0
 Canucks are all upset it's not denim...
  • 2 0
 true GOrtho true...
  • 2 4
 Lots of Brits in Canada...

"Jacket" FFS!
  • 7 0
 "Woods so dark with branches like teeth that will swallow you whole if you get off line."
Wow, you've made one step closer to art and poetry! Really super-uber-shots!
  • 9 0
 €625 for the win. You could get 1 Carbon Wheel...
  • 5 0
 Most likely the purse winner is a fully sponsored rider who has no travel maintenance or personal Cost. Also being paid for the pleasure of winning a round. On a bike you got given. 10 Years from now MTb of all kinds will be a massive TV sport and we will all moan about back in the day and the love of the sport as the big corporate tesams mop up week in week out and we all render when riding bikes was cool
  • 1 0
 That's where goals are born.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, you'd hope so... and I think you'd be shocked at how many "sponsored" riders get very little in the way of support. Anyways, regardless of how much racers get paid by their sponsors, they're responsible for the success/popularity of these race organizations. These race organizations tend to make money off companies/mountains sponsoring them which is relative to how successful the series is... essentially these race organizations are making money off the racers with very little going back to the racers. A lot of the top riders aren't rich by any means and the ones that are, are wealthy because they were smart with the money they earned, not because they were making bank just by riding/racing. It's a terrible career choice if you're looking to not be poor so it's not accurate to have the mentality that because they're pro, they're rich and don't need higher purses.
  • 6 0
 Well done Joe Barnes and the TweedLove / EWS team for a fine event !
  • 6 0
 Good stuff Justin we all proud of you mate
  • 5 0
 So many new fox 36's. wow!
  • 2 1
 What do Nico Lau, Cedric Gracia, Greg Callaghan, Joe Barnes, Ruaridh Cunningham, Alex Lupato, and Remy Absalon all have in common? There is photographic evidence of all of them racing a proper European Enduro™, while wearing open face helmets with goggles. I guess Matt Wragg never got around to telling them that was something only clueless Americans do.
  • 3 1
 I thought full face helmet was mandatory on the downhill part on the EWS, no ?
  • 1 0
 Usually, but not with this round.
  • 2 1
 Yeah Justin way to go pro guy. You'll have the hang of this by the end of the season!
  • 2 0
 Hey Matt, It's CECILE Ravanel not Celine! Cheers
  • 3 0
 Is Tracy riding a carbon remedy now? Just a month ago there was a write up about her aluminum remedy. Trek might be the only company offering a mid-travel 29 21.5" top tube frame and they keep releasing bikes so quick! WHEN to buy is the question of the day.
  • 2 0
 As a side note, who makes the jerseys for the yeti team, looks quite nice
  • 1 0
 ALOT of fox 36's around.... fox definitely have a good hold on the N'duro scene!
  • 2 1
 Great result Justn. Kiwis flying high again.
  • 2 0
 nice shots
  • 3 2
 £625?! You couldn't even buy a car for that!
  • 1 0
 The purse might not reflect all of the costs.
  • 2 1
 not one pike to be seen... interesting
  • 2 0
 ............on a sponsored bike, every other competitor was riding them! fox are having to splurge on the marketing budget to make up for their bad rep the last few years, youd still be a fool to spend twice the rice on Fox over RS for a poorer fork
  • 1 0
 Jackets for the winners? Now it's getting to be like a golf tourney.
  • 2 0
 Well it was scotland
  • 3 3
 im sorry but that winning jacket looks like the Alan Partridge blazer and coat of arms
  • 1 1
 still don't see the need to wear goggles around your neck on the podium...
  • 5 0
 Because your sponsor asks you to?







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