       The Strive Diaries are back and more exciting than ever. The Canyon Factory Enduro Team (CFET) started the new season with a trip halfway around the world. What's happening in front of and behind the scenes of the team is even easier to follow this season. Because from now on, every single stop of the Enduro World Series will be documented with a short video.
[iframe src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/E8s1xX1bDOc” width=”620″ height=”349″ iframe]The opening race of the Enduro World Series (EWS) took place last weekend as part of the Crankworx Festival in Rotorua, New Zealand. The first race of the season is always a big adventure for the team: new challenges in terms of logistics and organization had to be mastered as well as the demanding trails. The route had everything to offer, from narrow, jungle-like single trails with difficult and steep root passages to relatively hard and demanding downhill stages.
The Canyon Factory Enduro Team showed full team spirit and ambition and prevailed against the locals at the end of the day. Unfortunately, Ludo May, who broke his collarbone in training, was out of the race. Everyone was excited for Fabien Barel's opener as his last EWS season started with a fatal crash. Barel did what he does best. He climbed the mountains quickly and then shot them down again extremely quickly.
After training, Fabien reported that it was already difficult enough to even get to the bottom. He rode very consistently in the race and then used his downhill skills on the last two stages to bag second place.
Ines, who unfortunately felt ill on the day of the race and suffered a serious crash on the last downhill stage, can be really proud of her sixth place. Thanks to the excellent teamwork of Fabien Barel, Joe Barnes and Ines Thoma, the Canyon Factory Enduro Team was able to bring home an outstanding overall victory. A successful start for the team. Congratulations!