2017 Enduro World Series kicks off in New Zealand
The unique trails of the Whakarewarewa Forest will serve as the series opening venue. Photo by Enduro World Series
After six months off, this Sunday riders will be lining up on the start line of the 2017 Enduro World Series opener in Rotorua, New Zealand. The event is officially dubbed the Giant Toa Enduro and serves as opening competition for Crankworx Rotorua.
Taking place in the famous Whakarewarewa Forest, competitors will be taking on seven stages in this one day race that will test riders over a variety of terrain from steep and technical to fast and physical. Here’s a preview of the entire 2017 series.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnuDWCXzlPk
All eyes will be on reigning World Champions Richie Rude (Yeti Fox) and Cecile Ravanel (Commencal Vallnord Enduro Team) to see if they’ll be able to dominate their respective fields as they did so convincingly last year. Trying hard to stop them will be a stacked line up of pros all hoping to steal their crowns.
Photo by Enduro World Series
In the men’s race Damien Oton (Devinci Global Racing) starts the year second in the global rankings, and will be feeling confident after winning the NZ Enduro just a fortnight ago. Third ranked Jerome Clementz (Cannondale) won in Rotorua when the series visited in 2015, and will be looking for more of the same this time around. Also worth watching out for are Martin Maes (GT Factory Racing) who won the last race of 2016 in Italy, and Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles Mavic) who took his first EWS win in Valberg at the end of last season.
In the women’s race Isabeau Courdurier (SUNN) had a strong season last year – she was on the podium at every round. However, she’s yet to win an EWS. Could this be her year? Anita Gehrig (Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team) also had an impressive 2016, sitting third in the overall rankings, just ahead of Ines Thoma (Canyon Factory Enduro Team) in fourth. But whether any of them will be able to topple Ravanel remains to be seen.
Cycling culture is strong in New Zealand. Photo by Enduro World Series
The U21 Men’s category will be interesting this season, as last year’s top ranked riders Adrien Dailly (Lapierre Gravity Republic) and Sebastien Claquin (Rocky Mountain Urge bp) both move into the senior category. In the Master’s men Michael Broderick will be back to contest his World Champion title, and we’ll see some new faces on the start line in the U21 Women. And new for 2017 is the Master’s Women category.
Photo by Enduro World Series
“It’s always a pleasure to be in New Zealand, they truly have some of the best mountain biking on earth,” said Chris Ball, Managing Director of the Enduro World Series. “The first race of the year and the beginning of our fifth season will be one of the most exciting and it will be interesting to see who emerges from the off-season on form. Who’ll tame the famous Rotorua trails in this one day classic? We can’t wait to find out.”
For more info visit www.enduroworldseries.com.
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