Intro Text
Even though this is the 5th year that the Enduro World Series has descended upon Finale Ligure, Italy, there are brand new trails and zones that will be raced. The riders had to earn their practice turns with some big climbs and long stages. This weekend, the 2017 Enduro World Series Champion will be crowned and the title is up for grabs between Sam Hill and Adrien Dailly. The long, two-day race is ready to punish the riders for one last time this year. Dig in!
Greg Callaghan drops into the 8-km-long stage one which riders are partially shuttled up to on the start of day one. Comments range from "best trail ever" to "impossible to race." We shall see how the action and drama unfolds. Winning this stage will probably be the key to the whole race. Chris Ball in audio. -Sven Martin
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Jerome blending into the trails on stage two. Tons of awesome turns like this here with some exposure thrown in every now and then. -Sven Martin
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Sam Hill out on the longest stage we have ever seen here in Finale both in length and vertical drop. Can he pull another big win margin on stage one like he did in Whistler? -Sven Martin
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Sam Hill a little too wide-open on the throttle today on stage seven. photo by Kike Abelleira
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Adrien Dailly looks stoked to be riding trails so much like his home town of Nice, just around the corner and across the border. He could win the overall here if he stays on point. -Sven Martin
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Jerome Clementz changing it up with kits once again and looking fast this week. -Sven Martin
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Isabeau Courdourier sitting in joint 2nd in the overall wants to end the year on the second step alone. She wont risk it too much going for the win but will have to do all she can to stay ahead of Katy Winton. @maddogboris
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Greg Minnaar figuring it out on stage four this morning. -Sven Martin
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Iago Garay turn down for what? -Sven Martin
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Remi Thirion stoked to be back on the bike and racing, even if it is just on the "little" bike. -Sven Martin
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McKay Vezina threading the needle on some ancient trade roots. @maddogboris
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Sven Martin media squidding. With heavy camera bags you try save weight where you can, no gloves, no knee pads. Sven doesn't even increase his spring rate either because extra air weighs too much. @maddogboris
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Richie Rude wants to the end the year with a win. You can see and feel it. @maddogboris
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Italy is full of surprises as you find out arriving early for Finale. -Sven Martin
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Now while this was a week ago, it sums up the type of weather the EWS has had this year. Here's hoping it stays dry for the final round. -Sven Martin
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#bikehistory -Sven Martin
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Why do we love coming to Finale (and Italy)? You purchase a drink and the food is free. Cocktail hour for the squids. -Sven Martin
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Josh Bryceland sucking in some oxygen into the afterburners on stage seven. -Sven Martin
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Boris finds himself between a rock and a hard place. -Sven Martin
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Stage three's final section has a tricky surprise for the riders. #doyouevennoseturnbro -Sven Martin
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Specialized on the summit of stage one with your new DH Women's World Champ, Mirander Miller in attendance. -Sven Martin
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Retiring. Well, sort of. No more full-time EWS racing for Jerome next year but he will still pick and choose the events he wishes to race. The legend continues. -Sven Martin
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Damien Oton gapping into some more rocks. No smooth bits here on stage four. -Sven Martin
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Luca Shaw has a laugh riding behind Sir Steve Peat. Rumor is the slowest Syndicate rider will wear a dress on Sunday. -Sven Martin
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If you listened to my podcast you will know how I feel about incorrect visor angles. -Sven Martin
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Marco Osbourne getting creative out there on stage five today. -Sven Martin
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Innes Thoma sprints up the steps climb on stage five. -Sven Martin
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Mark Scott had his best result here at Finale last year. We will see if he can smash another podium to back up his Whistler one. -Sven Martin
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Farina missed out on Bronze at World Champs, so I bet she is hungry for some redemption here. -Sven Martin
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So many cool zones this race traverses through. -Sven Martin
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Laying it over above Varigotti. -Sven Martin
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Sam Shaw from New Zealand will dangle his leg wherever he chooses since he has no derailleur. Zerode Kiwi pride. -Sven Martin
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Casey Brown getting Scandil out in the loose, dry conditions. -Sven Martin
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Someone here is tempting fate. Media squids yin and yang! Top of stage one. -Sven Martin
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U21 rider, Julian Hauer loves to SHRED. Who can blame him? -Sven Martin
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Team mates comparing trail notes? -Sven Martin
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Apocalypse now. Get ready for some full-on racing. -Sven Martin
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Greg Callaghan in a happy place. Expect him to go well out here this weekend. He has to to defend his third place from a charging Jerome Clementz right behind him. -Sven Martin
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If found, please return to Greg Minnaar. Learning from past mistakes after one-too-many post-race celebration drinks. -Sven Martin
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Ludo May railing some very deep ruts on stage two. -Sven Martin
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Robin Wallner has become a podium threat of late. It's not easy, but he is right there. -Sven Martin
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Sideways Sam Hill is a fast Sam Hill. He doesn't often let it loose in practice but he has been this week. -Sven Martin
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Caro Gehrig after it. When the stages are tough and physical, the Swiss twins persevere. -Sven Martin
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Sven Martin and @maddogboris follow the pain train through the superb singletrack of Finale Ligure.
View replies to: It All Comes Down to This - EWS Action from Finale Ligure, Italy
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