Enduro World Series #4, Pezten - Race Slideshow - Mountain Biking Pictures

This could be a DH race run with all its intensity. Ok, it pretty much is.

Spent after digging deep on the final stage and taking the win by just 10 seconds after 52 minutes of timed racing.

Cecile Ravanel despite another convincing win (two and a half minutes), still had a tough weekend.

Taking a cue from Sam, Elliott Heap takes a win in U21. His riding on day one would have seen him top six in the elite field too.

Taking risks and smashing inside lines right up to the final corner just wasn't enough for Martin Maes today. He and Sam Hill won every single stage this weekend. Audio from before racing stage 6.

Martins crashes on stage 3 are probably where the race was lost, only 10 seconds off Sam's pace overall. That is 9 2nd place finishes now, but honored to be right up there with the legend.

Isabeau had an eventful week but still left with another second place.

Issabeau down stage one.

Theotim Trabac with a strong second in junior men. Stage three yesterday.

Robin Wallner rode with this for five minutes on stage six and still took third. Never give up. He was in 5th place, 14 seconds off the podium going into the last stage of the day. A third-fastest stage 6 time and mistakes by riders battling in front of him was enough to claim the final podium spot.

Robin Wallner attacking on trail.

Wild child Casey Brown turning heads with a solid 3rd place finish.

Casey was sitting in 4th, 12 seconds off the podium with the final, and longest stage remaining. She put down a scorcher of a run to best Melanie Pugin by 35 seconds on Stage 5 to finish third overall.

Ruaridh Cunningham with a well deserved fourth place. Tricky Scottish conditions playing to his strengths.

Melanie Pugin was sitting in third until the final stage and ended the race in fourth. I think we will see her battling for the podium the rest of the year.

It never clicked for Richie Rude this weekend. The slippery conditions getting the better of him. Scrubbing the slipperiest of root sections on stage five.

Ines Thoma's 5th place was not without incident. With the slippery condidtions catching out almost everyone at some point, it became less about how often racers crashed but how quickly they could get going again.

Sometimes you just wanted to crawl into a little ball and hide yourself in a hole.

Local kid, Vid Persak with an amazing fifth place. He knew some trails but the conditions kept it a level playing field. The crowd went crazy every time he passed.

In many places a single deep rut was the only line choice, any deviation sapping precious momentum.

Jared Graves just can't seem to catch a break. A high speed crash into a creek bed on Stage 5 left him a bit dazed and bloodied on the side of the track for at least 10 minutes. He crashed again on the final stage of the day to finish 159th.

Jesse came here to take it easy. Instead he took home a top ten. Expect him to be moving up again when he is 100%.

The sun may have dried the tracks a bit, but there were still plenty of deep water crossings to sap riders speed and weight down the bikes with a fresh coat of mud.

There was a lot of this...

...and this.

Rupert Chapman is a trooper. World Cup DH, Crankworx, Enduro World Series, he takes it all in his stride. An awkward dab / crash left him with a badly broken foot and he is currently down but not out.

Rae Morrison had a couple of good stage finishes and ended the weekend seventh. The muddy water crossings on stage two were nobodies favourite.

Greg Callaghan's on-bike-and-body snacks and hydration.

Eddie Masters was sitting pretty in third. A small crash on the final stage bent his rotor sized his wheel then rendered his front brake inoperable. He is still happy with his seventh though. If he had an event-free stage 6, he would have likely landed on or near the podium.

Eddie's rotor.

Common sight at the end of stage one.

What better way to spend your birthday? Earning turns and slapping berms. Happy Birthday Loosedog.

Eliminator World Champ Paul VanderPloeg catches a cheer from Matt Delorme.

Florian with the crowd point and 8th place.

ALN back from injury and into the top ten.

Ella Conolly taking the win in junior womens. High up the beautiful stage three.

Thomas Lapeyrie smooth sliding down stage four. A trail you have to put on your bucket list.

Anita and Noga head towards Austria.

Damien Oton left the paddock pretty close to twelve o' clock.

Despite the sunny weather, staying dry wasn't an option on Stage 2. Marco Osborne takes the plunge on his way to 15th overall.

Mitch Ropelato finally took the double spikes off and let it slide.

Despite a slight sprained ankle on day one, Sam Hill muscled through on Sunday to seal the deal.

Josh Carlson on the intended line.

Greg Callaghhan on the hero line.

Noga on the steep of stage three.

The loam and greenery out here simply has to be experienced. Sam Shaw came all the way from New Zealand and was not disappointed. A top 25 on stage five.

Martin Maes about to take a twenty minute pedal through a mountain.

A tough weekend for Katy Winton but she championed on never giving up. True grit.

Mark Scott with a shaky start to his weekend on the very first stage.

Casey Brown hippie child through the flowers.

Ines Thoma on the tricky steep left-hander on stage three. Arm pump deluxe on this stage.

Sam Hill floating down the long stage three. Three stage wins and his third EWS win this year. Unstoppable?<br />

Pro Women's podium.

Pro Men's podium.

Moody sky farewell and our hopes that we return!