Pinkbike Event Awards: Athlete's Choice - The Winners

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DH Race of the Year

UCI World Cup #3, Vallnord, Andorra



As the results for our DH Race of the Year poll began to slowly trickle in (tracking down athletes in the off-season is more difficult than you'd imagine), it became increasingly clear that the Vallnord race had left quite an impression on everyone in attendance. Using Cedric Gracia as a consultant for the design of the course certainly paid off, since the track itself earned accolades for its steep and raw nature. Fittingly, CG chose to announce that this would be his last World Cup downhill race, although we're sure we'll still see the wild man attending enduro races and in film segments for years to come. But no matter how amazing a race course is, it's the fans that really set the mood, and the fans at Vallnord didn't disappoint. It was a party in the woods as fervent spectators pushed against the marking tape, hooting and hollering as racers flew down the rough track. The combination of an excellent track and a passionate crowd has earned UCI World Cup #3 at Vallnord the title of Pinkbike's DH Race of the Year.

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Enduro Race of the Year

Enduro World Series #7/Superenduro #6, Finale Ligure


The riders' nominations for enduro race of the year were a dead-heat. Both the Finale Ligure and Whistler rounds of the Enduro World Series won an equal number of votes when we polled the sport's top riders. But we can only give one award. To receive the nomination is testament to just how right the Crankworx crew got their enduro race this year. It is also a great sign for the direction of where enduro is going in North America. It marks a shift away from the Super-D style pedalfests of recent years and towards real mountain biking with challenging, technical descents on a variety of terrain. By all accounts it was truly a great race, but for this year we are handing the award to the race in Finale Ligure. We're not handing the award over for just this single race though, but for the impact the Superenduro in Finale Ligure has had on the emergence of the discipline. When Crankworx wanted to see how these kind of races were being run in Europe, it was Finale Ligure they came to. There have been more than a few companies who have organised events and press camps around the Finale races over the years as an excuse to come and play.

If there is one race that truly symbolises the evolution of enduro from a high-mountain, lift-based race, to the pedal format that has been more widely adopted, it is this one. Of all things, it is the road network snaking around the surrounding mountains that allowed Finale to become such a great race. Back when European freeride meant taking big, heavy 180mm bikes down singletrack, those roads let riders shuttle to the trailheads quickly and easily. Over the years the trail network expanded and flourished. With the emergence of enduro the technical trails and relatively mellow transfers were perfect for this new style of racing. Then there is the organisation. Superenduro have been at the forefront of enduro race organising for a few years now, putting on the biggest and most professional enduro races anywhere in the world, and Finale has been the jewel in their crown. Take those two elements, add in a healthy dose of sun, sea, pizza and beer, and you have Pinkbike's Best Enduro Race of 2013.

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Slopestyle / Freeride Event of the Year

Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler



Red Bull Joyride has always been a popular stop on the FMB World Tour, but the course hasn't always lived up to riders' expectations. There always seemed to be at least one feature or landing that just wasn't quite right, making it difficult for athletes to put together the run they wanted. But when riders arrived this year they were greeted with a revised course, one that met their requests for more flow and less pedalling in between features. Add in thousands of cheering fans and it's easy to see why this is a must-attend event. In addition to having a dialed in course, the riding in and out of the Whistler bike park is world class, as is the nightlife, making it well worth the trip no matter where competitors are from. For these reasons, the Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler takes the win as Pinkbike's FMB Event of the Year.

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