<b>Nico Vouilloz, The Alien, leading by 6.5-seconds over Richie Rude in the GC. It's going to be a big finish to the race tomorrow. </b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Nico (not pictured) continues in audio. The freshly-dug turns under the lift went from slippery clay in training to hero dirt in race runs.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Dry recon runs gave way to torrential rain just in time for the women to race Stage 1. Tracy Moseley was completely unfazed taking the win more than a full minute ahead of 2nd place.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
11
<b>Richie lost anywhere from 7- to 10-seconds in this crash today. He sits in 2nd by 6.5 seconds today.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Thomas Lapeyrie is on a roll. 2nd at the Mega and 3rd overall in the GC today on his new Sunn Kern LT. </b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Cecile Ravenel probably can't do more than dent Tracy Moseley's 1:30 lead tomorrow, but she should be able to hold onto 2nd, some 30-seconds up on Anneke Beerten in 3rd.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
10
<b>Jerome smoked everyone on Stage 1, but all the time off the bike the past few weeks dealing with shingles took its toll and he quickly conceded 25-seconds on Stage 2.</b> -Lee Trumpore
5
0
<b>Jerome was on a flyer on Stage 1 this morning. Taking the win and catching Leov in the process.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Today was the first time in her racing career that Anne Caroline had to withdraw for health reasons. She was gutted as she is eager to keep the battle going. </b> -Sven Martin
10
10
<b>Fabien took the win on the short, final stage that ended in the village on some sketchy, loose gravel.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Anneke is looking set for a podium this weekend. Letting it loose on Stage 2 today. </b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Matt Walker and a few of the @vanzacs always run what they brung, and in this case all they brung was DH bikes. 48th place overall so far. Not bad.</b> -Lee Trumpore
5
0
<b>Cecile Ravanel charged to a win on the final stage of the day despite blowing the final corner before the line.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>Fresh off a Megavalanche win last weekend, Remy Absalon threw down the hammer on the physical Stage 1 to finish a season's best 2nd place. He sits in 9th overall.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
10
<b>Sam Flanagan isn't about to hit the tree. He already has, and it hit back harder.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>Jason Marsh wrenching for Santa Cruz and Juliana bikes with a freshly broken collarbone and three busted ribs. #Hardman. </b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Justin Leov came in to Samoens on top of the EWS standings but it only took until the first stage for his rivals to pounce on an uncharacteristic crash.</b> -Lee Trumpore
5
0
<b>Justin Leov has the whole family based here in Europe and it makes the travel and racing much less stressfull.</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Isabeau Courdrier is the next generation of women's enduro racing. Currently in 4th, it's only a matter of time until she's climbs a few steps higher on the podium.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
10
<b>When you're as big as Richie Rude it takes a while to get rolling, but then it's hard to slow down.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>Dan Atherton training and racing today in the Leatt Brace which we haven't seen him wear for a few years now. The riders truly have to push these days for results. Top 20.</b> -Sven Martin
10
9
<b>Who could the multi-discipline World Champ rider be out there today riding for Specialized? Hint he doesn't like to drop his seat all that much. </b> -Sven Martin
10
9
<b>Mark Scott folding himself after slipping off a rubber-covered, skinny, wooden bridge. #doyouevenskinnybro</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Lots of eyes were on Martin Maes to see what he could do on the steep French track but the best he could muster was a 10th on the first stage and 16th overall.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
10
<b>Fabien Barel got off to a slow start, plagued by fatigue and an uncharacteristic 'off day.' He still managed a stage win and currently sits in 6th overall.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>Not content to let Rene's calves steal all the glory, Jared Graves stormed back into EWS competition at full gas. Despite a few problems on two of the stages, he sits in 7th, fully amongst it going into the last day of racing.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>Jose Borges was in the top 10, but learned the hard way that if you are going to ride on the tracks before the event, don't do it with your name on your jersey (or just ride a few days earlier like everyone else). DQ.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>Wyn Masters sitting in 14th had his best result on the most physical stage with the most uphill. </b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Florian Nicolai was disappointed to miss the Stage 2 win by 1-second to Nico Vouilloz. </b> -Sven Martin
10
7
<b>#Vanzac Enduro/DH crossover extreme athlete Daniel Melink.</b> -Sven Martin
10
7
<b>Even with extra-heavy springs, Rene Wildhaber still managed to calve-flex his foot right out of the pedals.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>#vanzacs with the story time between stages.</b> -Sven Martin
10
5
<b>Mid-Stage 2 and there is still so much vertical to drop. Tim Flooks in audio.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>It's always great seeing the DH crowd at the EWS rounds. Even better when they have as much style as Blenki. 10th place overall after Day 1 and a legit 4th place on the 15-minute Stage 1.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
10
<b>The mandatory #doyouevendriftbro shot from Iago Garay.</b> -Sven Martin
10
6
<b>Chris Ball multi-tasks while Vital media end the day with a cold one and Matti photo bombs.</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>ISO 8000 2.8 400/sec - it was that dark this morning right before the thunderstorm. Josh Carlson on his blind training run. You may not stop and re-ride sections during training runs. </b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>The morning rains seemed ages ago by the time riders finished in the sweltering afternoon heat. Matti Lehikoinen cools off his luscious locks at the end of Stage 3.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
9
<b>Racing her Enduro bike at the L2A DH last weekend seems to have paid off for Anneke Beerten.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
8
<b>From the dust of yesterday to this. Stay tuned for the conclusion of this big mountain battle!</b> -Sven Martin
10
15
Intro Graphic

More features:
PLACEHOLDER for related Slideshows view
Description
We'll let the slideshow and these day 1 highlights do the talking.
- Huge rains between practice run 1 and race run 1.
- The gondola was on hold.
- There were a couple airlifts that led to more course holds.
- The eventual canceling of Stage 3 (technically just a repeat of stage 2), so only raced 1,2,4 today.
- Anne Caro dropped out with some health issues, namely severe trouble breathing, and said it's the first time she has ever dropped out of an event in her career for something other than mechanicals or broken bones.
- Clementz smoked Stage 1 but lost out bigtime to a handful of riders who were here in past weeks riding the trails that made up Stage 2 (it's also featured in the past 2 seasons French Enduro rounds to be fair).
- Richie Rude hasn't been anywhere near France or Samoens and he killed it, even with a big crash in front of us on Stage 2. He would definitely be leading otherwise as he ran back up to make sure no one could accuse him of gaining advantage.
- Two of the best stages tomorrow, Sven reckons whoever wins Stage 5 gets bragging rights for the weekend.
View replies to: Enduro World Series, Samoens Stages 1 - 3 Race Action Slideshow
Comments