Riders from 21 nations gathered at the ends of the earth, the Chilean Andes, this weekend, for the stage-setting opening event of the 2014 Enduro World Series.
The Santa Cruz Montenbaik Enduro by MTBLab 2014, in Nevados de Chillan, tested the world's best mountain bikers on 6 stages over 2 days, against a backdrop of spectacular terrain to kick-start what promises to be another epic season of enduro mountain bike racing.
After two days of to-the-wall racing through the Andes, Anne Caroline Chausson (Ibis Cycles) and Jérôme Clementz (Cannondale Overmountain) emerged victorious.
Chausson dominated the women's field from the outset, winning five of six stages, and staying ahead of rival and EWS World Champion title-holder Tracy Moseley (Trek Factory Racing Enduro Team). Cecile Ravanel (GT Pulse) overtook Anneke Beerten (Specialized Racing Team) on the final stage for the third place spot.
Although reigning EWS World Champion, Jérôme Clementz (Cannondale Overmountain) did not win a single stage, he put in an incredible second day of racing to close a 12 second gap passing Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox Factory Team) in the last stage to take the win.
The Belgian wunderkind, Martin Maes (GT Factory Racing), more than held his own in the Elite category, winning three stages, but losing his spot on the podium to Florian Nicolai (Rocky Mountain Urge BP Team) who put in a blistering final stage behind fellow Frenchman Nico Lau (Cube Action Team), to move into third place overall.
British Moseley's strong performance was matched by fellow TREK Factory Racing Enduro riders, Kiwi Justin Leov (5th place) and Swiss Rene Wildhaber (9th place), to put them on top of the team standings, closely followed by the Rocky Mountain Urge BP Team (France's Isabeau Courdurier (5th), Florian Nicolai (3rd) and Alexandre Cure (7th).) Clementz's Cannondale OverMountain team, including Pauline Dieffenthaler and Marco Osborne, are in third.
Said EWS Managing Director Chris Ball, "It was an amazing race on wild terrain - a true test of everything from high alpine style racing to high-speed volcanic ash and forested singletrack."
First time Enduro World Series hosts, Montenbaik Enduro got the Series off to a powerful start, and showcased the strength and importance of the South American mountain bike community to the global scene. "We are really stoked to have been able to show the real Chilean singletrack and the potential the Andes has for the mountain biking" says Media Director Eduardo de Solminihac.
Chris Ball says, "The community is incredible here and the people and the trails are simply amazing. As far as adventure goes, they don't get better than this."
Results are available, in addition to a new Rider Results Analyser tool that allows various racers and stages to be compared, at http://www.enduroworldseries.com/results.php
Dirt TV's race coverage can be viewed at enduroworldseries.com. The full race highlights edit will be released on Wednesday.
Riders now have six weeks to recover, refocus and prepare their systems for a weekend of world-class racing and recreational whiskey-drinking when the Enduro World Series moves on to Scotland's Tweed Valley, for the Santa Cruz TweedLove World Enduro presented by Sweet Protection, 30 May - 1 June. http://www.enduroworldseries.com/events/ews2-tweedlove-scotland