<b>Samoens is tucked away between these big peaks which are actually dwarfed by the tops of the mountains we start from tomorrow and Sunday. Chris Ball in audio.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Chris Ball testing the course, checking the taping, safety and liaison times today with the media.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Graves is back and looking to carry on where he left off.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Jerome is back and healthy, just how much the last three week's illness will affect him remains to be seen.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>It seems that if you are anywhere with a view of Mont Blanc then rad trails surround you. After multiple trips to these French, Swiss, and Italian valleys, the sheer volume of riding here is still beyond comprehension. Francois Bailly-Maitre in audio.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
0
<b>Dan Atherton clearly slacking off the last six weeks. </b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>The organizers today took great care of us. This shuttle started at the top of a massive lift and we drove to the top of the next mountain almost on the Italian border. 50K load right here.</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>To infinity and beyond...</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Cunny testing out the speed of the newly-dug high alpine turns.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>He might be sitting 12th in the overall as the top privateer, but without an official UCI license, Marc Scott needed a note from his doctor to prove he was fit enough to race in France.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
10
<b>Thunderstorms are in the forecast for the weekend, but at the moment Samoens is much like the rest of Southern France; baked in heat and covered in dust.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
10
<b>Mongo on the loose. There seems to be a lot being made of riders sneaking practice in the area over the past few weeks, but creative taping and fresh course cutting might render local knowlege a recipe for blowing through the tape left and right.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
13
<b>#selfieroost</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
4
<b>Every French Enduro seems to have its own code to crack. Samoens will reward a rider who cannot only conquer the steep, loose trails, but also find a way to maintain maximum speed through endless, flowy corners that link all the gnarly sections together.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
13
<b>The locals here love bike racing. Safety first.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
5
<b>Carbo-loading Kiwis and Matt Walker telling us about his new Enduro bike.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Hot and muggy has been the norm for the past month, but these valleys are known for big storms, and this weekend's forecast calls for more than a passing chance of rain. Fred Glo in audio.</b> -Lee Trumpore
5
0
<b>The top of Stage 5 on Sunday...possibly one of my Top 5 favorite trails anywhere.</b> -Lee Trumpore
5
0
<b>Ahhh, the lingering remnants of shred stoke.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>More fresh-cut sections to keep the locals (and not-so-locals) honest.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
6
<b>We missed our 12:30 lunch and the rescheduled meal at 1:30. Good thing Stage 6 passes by a high mountain cafe run out of a family's house. Ice cream and Coke never tasted so good.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
12
<b>It's hot, even for a guy who lives most of the year in South East Asia.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
7
<b>What would Tupac do to avoid repeating the nasty liaison climb between Stages 5 and 6? We ain't mad at cha. </b> -Lee Trumpore
10
7
<b>Sven still chooses the East Coast. He's visited there, so don't go there.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
6
<b>#avoidthemongoline</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
4
<b>Halfway down Stage 2 with a long way to go to the valley floor.</b> -Lee Trumpore
10
6
<b>The stages are so long and varied, even after one practice run they feel blind.</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Chris Seager usually shreds with a massive video pack, tripod and steady cam, so when he packs light, he really turns it up a notch. World #MediaRoostOff Champs today. </b> -Sven Martin
10
12
<b>This round would have suited Damien Oton, alas his broken ankle sustained in Scotland is just not ready yet.</b> -Sven Martin
5
0
<b>Marco Osborne and his very first trip to the Alps. Just like back home he says, but bigger, longer and wilder.</b> -Sven Martin
10
7
<b>15-minute stages and 10-minute stages will test a different sort of rider. Rooty tech, woods, steep chutes and high alpine all in one stage.</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Dave Trumpore riding how we want the racers to turn here tomorrow on the bottom of Stage 1.</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>The tracks were closed to racers today which allowed the real locals a bit of lift time.</b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>So many different landscapes and styles of tracks today. Some natural goodness on the side of mountain number three. </b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Lee Trumpore not having to take selfies like he does back at home in Taiwan. </b> -Sven Martin
10
8
<b>Spike tires lie in wait and will very much be needed if things like that puffy white thing unleash this weekend. Stay tuned for the gnar!</b> -Sven Martin
10
15
Intro Graphic
More features:
PLACEHOLDER for related Slideshows view
Description
The Enduro World Series returns after a short hiatus to the BIG mountains of Samoens, France. Jared Graves is back from injury, Jerome Clementz is recovering from shingles and everyone is getting their 8-inch rotors out for some serious descents. Stages are long and steep and the weather forecast is looking wet for the two race days. Sven Martin and Lee Trumpore take you on a virtual tour of the stages during media recon in Samoens.
View replies to: Enduro World Series - We're Back in France - Samoens Recon
Comments