La Thuile is known for its "wild" enduro and it doesn't get wilder than this. A freshly cut trail for the beginning of stage two and five. -Sven Martin
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Sam Hill, fresh off a 2nd place at the last EWS round, is riding like he means business and is absolutely loving the rough and raw nature of the La Thuile tracks. -Lee Trumpore
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Andrew Neethling coming to an abrupt stop on stage six. Although this race may suit the downhillers, it is still tougher than any world cup in recent years. -Sven Martin
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Richie Rude plowing over the roots on stage six. The loam is slowly revealing a deep network of roots. -Sven Martin
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It's all about the brakes this weekend. More so than the suspension. -Sven Martin
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KrunkShox is not messing around. It's a good sign of a race venue when you need to run full, uncut spikes just to survive in the DRY!! -Sven Martin
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On a dare, Ed Master fully hucked the massive root shelf into the steep finishing pitch of Stage 5. Somehow he held on and rode it out. Barely. -Lee Trumpore
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Kiwi Junior, Cole Lucas, running the 2019 Eagle extended drivetrain and its super duper wide range is helping up all the liaison climbs. Kahaaah! -Sven Martin
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Damien Oton, currently 2nd in the EWS standings, took the win the last time the EWS visited La Thuile. -Lee Trumpore
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Hiking up to the top of Stage 4 with Mont Blanc poking over the horizon. Fabian Barel is here for 'fun' but he's showing the pace of someone with slightly more ambitious goals. -Lee Trumpore
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Sam Blenkinsop was on the podium in Argentina and I'm sure he has his sights set on the box again. Blenki-style forever. -Sven Martin
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Blenki's hands after day one practice. He'll be forced to wear gloves on race day though. #rules -Lee Trumpore
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Matti Lehikoinen halfway through the rock garden on six. -Sven Martin
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Jerome knows a thing or two about being a professional. There was no missing this Mt Blanc photo op. -Sven Martin
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Bryan Regnier is going to give it a go here this weekend but is riding with an injured thumb from his massive huck crash back home. -Sven Martin
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Lift #panshotfirday selfies. -Sven Martin
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Nico Lau leaned back and flat out on stage three. -Sven Martin
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Steep slopes, fresh tracks, and tight corners led to full-on carnage at times. BC's Sarah Leishman (not pictured) in audio. -Lee Trumpore
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Allan Cooke, Santa Cruz team manager, having his own fun during training with the team. End of stage two. -Sven Martin
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Iago Garay #doyouevenboostbro on the top of stage two / five. For the record most people were struggling to remain upright over this little, blind, off-camber rise. -Sven Martin
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Jared leads out Keene on the top of stage five. BFFs. -Sven Martin
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Mid-stage four during training. Can you picture ripping this trail with a couple of your mates. GT's Mark Maurissen in audio. -Sven Martin
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Cody Kelley, new to the EWS this year and quickly vying for the title of most stylish rider on track. -Lee Trumpore
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Hidden under the alpine scrub are plenty of holes and rocks that like to grab wheels and pull riders to the ground. #bailsandfails -Sven Martin
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Radial #panshotfirday on stage six. -Sven Martin
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Josh Carlson under the lift on stage six. The final stage of the week finish with a sting in the tail. A super-tech, long rock garden into some super-steep switchbacks. -Sven Martin
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While a 'French line' usually shortens a corner, Loose Dog Lewis made his own Sheffield line, hucking off a downed tree and adding at least 5 seconds to this section of track. Style beats speed? -Lee Trumpore
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Scenic stage four. Already a legend from two years ago with a new start this year but the same lower reaches. 7.5kms long!!! -Sven Martin
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Cecile Ravanel, on the top of stage four, has to be a favorite for the Women's race. Her strong and aggressive riding style will be perfect for these tracks. -Sven Martin
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Jesse Melamed up on the first turn of stage one which descends to the town of La Thuile all the way down below, visible on the left. -Sven Martin
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Enduro-specific Italian breakfast to start off a long practice day. -Lee Trumpore
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Dan Atherton has taken a break from digging a new bike park in Wales race his first EWS of the year. -Lee Trumpore
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Fresh off a 2nd place at Trans-Provence, Francois Bailly-Maitre has had plenty of steep, tight switchback practice. -Lee Trumpore
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Josh Carlson unintentionally bike-packed his way around the final corners of Stage 5. -Lee Trumpore
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Under 21 leader, Sebastien Claquin, one the steep switchback corners on Stage 5. -Lee Trumpore
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Ines Thoma. Roots, loam, and flare -Lee Trumpore
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Greg Callaghan, last round's winner in Ireland, has been on the gas throughout practice. -Lee Trumpore
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Jared Graves sets up extra wide to miss both the snow and the old rut from 2014. -Lee Trumpore
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Andreane Lanthier of Rocky Mountain has been injured most of this season, but look for her to be a podium threat this weekend. -Lee Trumpore
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Nico Vouilloz, always fast, and always a threat for the win. -Lee Trumpore
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Sheep line on the right, while Mark Scott prefers the sneaky straight-line huck through the rocks. -Lee Trumpore
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No one makes a turn bar look as good as CG -Lee Trumpore
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Sam Hill, the danger man this weekend. The only question is will he be able to hang on for the long runs this weekend? -Sven Martin
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Isabeau Courdurier, gunning for another podium this weekend under the shadow of Mont Blanc. -Lee Trumpore
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Troy Brosnan is about to learn what racing 3 full seasons worth of World Cup DH in one weekend feels like. -Lee Trumpore
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Countless beautiful and loamy corners. -Lee Trumpore
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The final push up to stage one where the racing begins. Riders are on-course as this is typed for incredible racing. Stay tuned for updates! -Sven Martin
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Description
Sam Hill says Stage 3 at the Enduro World Series in La Thuile is like riding the World Cup tracks of Livigno, Val di Sole, Champery and South Africa all in one. Steep, raw and how we like it. Riders on course in Italy.
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