MTB cycling: Last season, bike manufacturer Canyon was able to celebrate winning the overall Enduro World Series team ranking for the first time. For the year 2016, however, the focus of the Koblenz team is not only on defending the team classification, but also on winning the world championship title in the drivers' classification. Newcomer Justin Leov will fight for the title together with Joe Barnes, Ines Thoma and Ludo May.
With the New Zealander, the Canyon Factory Enduro Team has brought another top rider on board whose success story goes back a long way. Justin Leov, called "Juzo" for short, has his roots in downhill racing. In 2000 he got into the downhill business and only four years later he already had his first professional contract in his pocket. In addition to three podium finishes at the Downhill World Cup, victories in the USA and New Zealand followed. The now 31-year-old New Zealander attracted a lot of attention with his victory at the Crankworx Monster Energy Garbanzo Downhill 2009 in Whistler.
In 2012, Juzo switched from downhill to enduro racing. The New Zealander finished the Enduro World Series 2014 in third place overall. Last year's tangible, possible win was thwarted by his crash at Whistler. In this fall, Justin Leov dislocated his shoulder, an operation followed. Now the doctors have given the green light and the New Zealander can finally step on the gas again. On March 26th he will make his debut in the Canyon Factory Enduro Team jersey at the first stop of the Enduro World Series in Valdivia, Chile. Juzo will compete on a Strive, and the New Zealander is enthusiastic about its driving characteristics even before the first race:
“I really love my new bike. Every time I see it standing there, I fall in love all over again. I live for enduro racing and now I have the best foundation to compete in these races. The two modes make driving so much better. It's a real beast in DH mode and eats through the trails. And in uphill mode, you get sensational up the mountain without having the sinking feeling of an aggressive 160mm suspension.”
Unfortunately, Fabien Barel, who finished second overall in the Canyon Factory Enduro Team jersey last season, has retired from active racing. Jazo's team colleague Joe Barnes is of course always good for a surprise: Eighth place in the overall standings at the EWS 2015 confirms this. Ines Thoma, who finished fifth last year, could have a decisive say in the women's race. So we can look forward to a very exciting 5 racing season!