RACE DAY ACTION: Les 2 Alpes Enduro World Series

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<b>Jerome Clementz started the day with an astonishing 24-second win on Stage 1 and held it wide open all the way through the last turn on Stage 4. If it wasn't for the single crown fork you'd never know this wasn't the final corner at Val di Sole.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Tracey Moseley, 3 for 3 with another win. It wasn't an easy one this weekend though, closely fought on every stage, but she still came away with a stage win on #3.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Graves was unlucky today, missing a turn where some tape was blown out. He did the right thing and ran back instead of short-cutting back to the course. Even with that 19th place in Stage 1, he fought his way back to 6th overall, knowing every point counts. What a fighter.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Jared Graves gave up his Enduro World Series points lead and now sits in 2nd place behind Jerome Clementz. Look for him to try to regain the top spot as the series moves on to North America.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Stage 2 had a long road transfer from the technical upper slopes to the lower corner. Riders did everything they could to stay as aero as possible.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>The Tour de France judges have consulted, and the award for best Stage 2 speed tuck down the Col du L2A goes to Nico Lau (right) for the perfect combination of narrow grip and optimal chin placement.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Nico keeping it tidy and winning on Stage 2, even after the brutal Stage 1 climb. The Alien finished 2nd overall today with every ounce of energy considering the long-term points race.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>The difference between hard-pack and spike tires is black and white. Nico Vouilloz opted for the latter on Stage 4 on his way to a 2nd place finish overall.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Rain at the start of Stage 4 had everyone running for spikes for grip on the grassy corners, but this is about as wet as the track got all afternoon.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Nico explains to Team Lapierre that he will win Stage 2, Loic will win Stage 3 and Blenki will win Stage 4. Nico gets what Nico wants.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Sam Blenkinsop getting wild on Stage 3, cheered on by fellow Kiwi Wyn Masters. Blenki rode strong on both the tech and the pedal sections taking a win on the steep Stage 4 and 3rd place overall.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>There are three options when diving off an exposed ledge. Snow, crash pad or rock-embedded dirt. Unfortunately it was option three for this rider on Stage 2. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>The off-camber grass was also full of holes and whoops which were extra treacherous with a few light sprinkles.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Kiwi brother from a French mother, Loic Bruni took the win on Stage 3 with a little help from WynTV. #doyouevenliftbro</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>James Shirley (from the sequence yesterday) is one wild rider. He hucked huge today and then railed this tricky rut on the edge of an even bigger cliff without even thinking of slowing down.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Emmeline Ragot was flying on the more DH oriented stages. She was the only woman taking this inside straight-line over the rocks in Stage 3 despite her noodleness.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>The Spirit of Enduro Rule #1: Ride it out.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>The Spirit of Enduro, Rule #2: Run it out.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Dan Atherton with two second place Stage finishes today is feeling comfortable again. Pushing hard and risking lots in the last two stages, just to be pipped by Bruni and Nico. 5th overall today for Affy.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>With a low seeding for riders like Neil Donoghue, there were plenty of hold ups and wild passes on the undefined, shrubby grass slopes. GO Donnie!</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Cecile Ravanel has been consistently finishing right near the top all series long. She is the fittest and fastest in the pedaling with her XCO background, but her tech skills are top notch, too. 2nd overall with a victory on Stage 1.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Anne Caroline Chausson had a mixed day. Some problems, a flat, but also a big Stage 4 win put her in 4th overall today. Expect her to move up when she is fully recovered.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>How many times to do you see full spikes in the dry, with XTR pedals? Fabien, Nico, Jerome and a few others opted for the spikes on the last stage when it was grassy, steep and off-camber. The threat of rain was also looming, making it an easy choice. </b> -Sven Martin
<b>Curtis Keene chose to go with flats for Stages 2-4. He was able to ride looser as seen here, but was it faster? There was still a fair bit of pedaling involved, but the American Dream hung on for 9th overall.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Remy Absalon, an Enduro legend, quietly rode consistently all day. A strong 5th place finish on Stage 1 carried him into 4th overall on the day.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Cedric is a true legend. Finishing a respectable 7th overall today. He rode his Tallboy LTc today and needs to remember to "look to the side" once in a while.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Frenchman, Loris Vergier, officially joins Martin Maes on the young guns list. 1st place in juniors for the Lapierre rider.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Rene Wildhaber is a legend. 38-years young and adapting instantly to any and all formats of big mountain racing. He was probably the first rider to make a career out of this kind of racing many years ago and is still holding his own. 8th overall.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>I love the smell of brakes pads in the morning. #smellslikeenduro</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Jamie Nicoll slays the *New Zealand section* of Stage 2</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Nico Vouilloz passed Fabian Barel on Stage 2 when a flat tire took out his former Sunn teammate for the 2nd week in a row.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Dan Atherton back up to speed on the final stage. He had his lines dialed and it showed. Soon he will win a stage and possibly a round of the EWS.</b> -Sven Martin
<b>Not to be outdone by his Dudes of Hazard mate in yesterday's slideshow, Joe Barnes laid down the biggest roost in the final turn of Stage 3.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Moseley, Ravanel and Ragot make one legit podium. After 40-minutes of timed racing, only 21-seconds separated these women at Les 2 Alpes.</b> -Lee Trumpore
<b>Jerome Clementz knows how to reward himself and everyone else for that matter. He called open bar at the Windsor Pub tonight like a true people's champion. Cheers, JC!</b> -Sven Martin
<b>It took three rounds, but Jerome Clementz finally has an Enduro World Series event overall win to his name and takes the lead in the series points battle. The show moves to North America in a few weeks and we'll be there with the action.</b> -Sven Martin<br />
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<b>THANKS TO SVEN AND LEE FOR MAKING US FEE LIKE WE'RE ON THE TRAIL WITH THEM!</b>
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One long day, four brutal stages and immeasurable drama sum up the Enduro World Series at Les 2 Alpes, which kicked off the Crankworx L2A festival this weekend. Jerome Clementz earned his first event overall win by powering through the painful Stage 1 climb and Pro women's dominator, Tracy Moseley, went 3 for 3 today. Stages 2 through 4 were basically considered downhill tracks by most competitors as steep, technical terrain made keeping one's bike together a difficult task. Clementz's victory at Les 2 Alpes pilots him into the Enduro World Series points lead, which prior leader, Jared Graves, suffered disappointment during racing, finishing 6th on the day.

Feast your eyes on the photos, tune your ears into the audio and imagine the smell of burning rotors as Sven Martin and Lee Trumpore bring you the best action on the web from the Enduro World Series.

View Full Results from the Enduro World Series Les 2 Alpes
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