Sun, sand, sea and some of the best trails in the world. As at the end of 2013, the season finale on the Ligurian coast in Finale Ligure was also on the agenda this year. What backdrop could be better suited to let it rip again?!
Fabien Barel was back on board after suffering a serious injury with a broken back at the first round of the Enduro World Series (EWS) in Chile. The race was supposed to be a simple form check to see whether the countless hours of rehab were worth it and whether the back is holding up. But then things turned out very differently than expected.
Fabien after the first day:
“Coming here after my injury was a win in itself, but when I saw that I was currently the leader I couldn't believe it. Simply indescribable - it is incredibly difficult to put these emotions into words! I put all my passion and willpower into this day. I've been back on my bike for three weeks and a top 20 result would have been great. Being first here is just amazing.”
The spectacular events of the first day rubbed off on the whole team. After a minor slip on the first stage, Joe Barnes turned the tide and won the next stage. In doing so, he underlined his ambitions to defend his top ten place in the EWS. On the second day, he really banged again, catapulting himself to the top of the rankings, putting him eighth overall in the weekend rankings and seventh overall in the 2014 EWS. Well done, Top Chief!
Joe after the race:
“That was a weekend to my liking. Unfortunately, not everything went well during stage 1, but on stage 2 things went really smoothly. The second day was again completely my thing. I was able to improve my position quite a bit and distance myself from my direct competitors in the overall standings. I'm super happy to end the season in 7th place. That just feels great!”
Unfortunately, Ludo May was not at the start with his broken arm, but he insisted on supporting his teammates with all his might on the hardest climb of the whole weekend in Stage 6. With Ludo's cheering salvos behind her, our newly crowned Trans Provence winner Ines Thoma got everything out of her injured legs on the second day and once again underlined that she is one of the top five enduro women in the world: fifth place in the final and fifth place in the overall ranking!
Ines after the race:
“Today I really felt like a grandmother on a bike. The Trans Provence definitely left its mark and the 2 1⁄2 hour climb this morning really wasn't helpful. I had cramps in both feet, but when I saw Ludo at the side of the track, things really went forward again. I am super happy with my result here!”
We just don't have the words for Fabien's comeback and we don't really know how to describe the events and feelings. So we'll just let his talk of the finish line stand for itself:
"It's incredibly difficult for me to share the emotions I'm experiencing at the moment. I'm not the type to have tears in my eyes, but it happened twice this weekend. Yesterday when I came to the break and was told that I am currently the leader, it was a real shock for me. When you think about what has been behind me in the last few months. I'm sure you can imagine: I've been back on the bike for less than a month and have been working intensively on my core muscles for the past three weeks - just with the goal that my back will last and I can allow myself to ride this weekend.
I spent two months this summer just lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. There's a lot going through your head. My complete focus was on rehabilitation. Getting full outside support was really one of the key factors in getting back on the bike as quickly as possible. When you take all of that into account, you go to the finish line and you're told you're first all weekend. That was the ultimate surprise.
No matter what I do, I always give 100%! With my tasks in the bike industry and of course also on the bike. That is pure positive energy for me. Going all out on the first stage just pushed me even more. I tried to get even better as the race progressed. When I woke up on the second day, the first day was already like a win for me. Everything that comes today is bonus. Then I gave it my all again and after Stage 5 my legs were really at their limit. I thought that there was hardly any way to save my good position at the finish. Then I saw that I'm still in the lead. That gave me a lot of motivation again and I thought: if I just keep my pace, maybe I can make it, who knows?
If there's only one thing I can say after this weekend, it's this: whatever happens to you in life, never give up! No matter what you can do, what you want to do or what you dream of – just do it!”
We at the Canyon Factory Enduro Team and the entire Canyon crew would also like to congratulate the newly crowned and deserved world champions Jared Graves and Tracy Mosley.
We now have a few days to relax and enjoy: The end of the season at the largest French bike festival "Roc d'Azur" is coming up!
Canyon Factory Enduro Team results at EWS #7 in Finale Ligure, Italy:
Fabien Barel: 1st place
Joe Barnes: 8th place
Ines Thoma: 5th place
Ludo May: not at the start due to injury
Team Ranking: 1st place
2014 Enduro World Series Season Overall Results:
Fabien Barel: 40.
Joe Barnes: 7th place.
Ludo May: 20th place.
Ines Thoma: 5th place
Team Ranking: 4st place
Photos: Jeremie Reuiller
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