Cycling: The sixth round of the Enduro World Series will take place in the Whistler Bike Park next Sunday. As part of the largest freeride festival, the Crankworx, the enduro elite will enter the penultimate round of the series. The organization has now published the route.
Crankworx at Whistler Bike Park is without a doubt the biggest and most famous bike festival in the gravity scene. With the world-renowned Joyride Slopestyle contest, the A-Line race, and many other competitions, the festival week is packed with one highlight after another. On Sunday, the sixth and penultimate round of the Enduro World Series takes place. The series already stopped in Whistler last year, causing quite a stir with the Top of the World trail.
The highlights from the last year:
[iframe src=”https://mpora.de/videos/AAdjwqqjvxw0/embed” width=”640″ height=”360″ iframe]For the first time, a race in the series will be completed in a single day, thus placing particular demands on the riders' physical condition. A total of five stages must be tackled, with the Top of the World trail once again concluding the race. With a riding time of over 20 minutes, it's no easy feat.
Stage 1: Microclimate
Stage 2: Crazy Train
Stage 3: Upper Billy's Epic - 27 Switchbacks - Binty's
Stage 4: Lower Ride Don't Slide - Boyd's Trail
Stage 5: Top of the World - No Joke - Little Alder - Expressway - Too Tight - Upper Angry Pirate - Crabapple Turns - Del Boca Vista - EZ Does It - Monkey Hands
Last year, Jared Graves hit the big bang on the final trail. He was the only driver to undercut the magic limit of 23 minutes and took more than 30 seconds off the previous leader Jerome Clementz, thereby securing victory at the end of the day. Clementz will also miss Whistler due to injury and Graves leads the overall standings by a wide margin. So he's going into the race as a big favourite. The trails in the Whistler Bike Park suit him, as he proved last year and also in Colorado two weeks ago.
However, his teammate Richie Rude shouldn't be ignored. In his first enduro season, the young American is finding his rhythm better and better and was able to set several best times in Colorado. Thanks to his consistent performance, he was rewarded with second place.
The two Yeti drivers are therefore the two big favorites. Nevertheless, Rene Wildhaber, Justin Leov, Damien Oton and many others deserve attention. All of them were able to achieve considerable success this season and could be at the top of the podium if they perform consistently.
Anne-Caroline Chausson reshuffled the women's cards in Colorado. After three wins, Tracy Moseley was already far away in the standings. However, the fast French and multiple downhill world champion kept her nerves and was able to significantly reduce the gap to Moseley with her second win of the season in Winter Park. The two top favorites are separated by just 50 points. Chausson won at Whistler in 2013 and should she win again she will draw level with Moseley provided she finishes second.
“It’s a tough battle with Tracy, but I feel good. I like Whistler, but it’s a new year, a new race, and everyone has a chance to win,” Chausson said matter-of-factly before the important race.
However, one should not lose sight of Anneke Beerten in this hotly contested war of points. In Colorado, she clinched her first stage win and proved she was a force to be reckoned with. According to her own statement, she likes the jump-heavy trails in bike parks.