Enduro World Series heads to Northstar for round seven.

For the first time this season, Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Shox Factory Racing Team), Martin Maes (GT Factory Racing) and Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles Mavic) will go head to head in the ultimate clash of the titans.

Of the three races he’s competed in this season, Rude has won two. Reigning champion Hill has yet to win a race in 2019 - but he sits third in the rankings and has let it be known that he’s not planning on relinquishing that title yet. Meanwhile Maes will be keen to prove he’s not lost any form as he returns to competition for the first time since Madeira.  

And riding high from his first win at round five will be Eddie Masters (Pivot Factory Racing), who also sits second in the series rankings and is another contender for the 2019 Championship. But all four will have to topple current series leader Florian Nicolai (Canyon Factory Racing) who will fight hard to stay at the top. However, with Northstar famous for it’s rocky, dusty trails and unrelenting heat, round seven offers up some very different terrain from any of the series’ previous rounds. 

In the women’s competition Isabeau Courdurier (Intense Mavic Cycling) enters round seven with a perfect season behind her, having won every race so far. She’s yet to wrap up her first championship title though - Isabeau will need to fend off second ranked Noga Korem (GT Factory Racing) to do that. Morgane Charre lies third in the rankings - but just 15 points behind her lies Andreane Lanthier Nadeau (Rocky Mountain Race Face Enduro Team).

Antoine Vidal (Commencal Vallnord Enduro Racing Team) leads the U21 Men category, whilst Lucy Shick of Canada is out front in the U21 Women. In the Master Men reigning Champion Karim Amour (Miranda Racing Team) is leading the points, but fellow Frenchman Cedric Ravanel (Commencal Vallnord Enduro Racing Team) is chasing him down in second place and both will be going hard this weekend in the fight for the overall win. Louise Paulin of Sweden is way out front in the Master Women - but she’ll face stiff competition from the large pool of speedy locals that are on the start list this weekend.

Featuring six stages over two days, this weekend’s race in the iconic North Lake Tahoe region takes place in the Northstar Bike Park, in conjunction with the California Enduro Series. The race will feature 600 riders, including the EWS80 and EWS100 participants.