Cycling: The sixth round of the Enduro World Series will take place in the Whistler Bike Park next Sunday. As part of the largest freeride festival, the Crankworx, the enduro elite will enter the penultimate round of the series. The organization has now published the route.
The Crankworx in the Whistler Bike Park is without question the largest and most well-known bike festival in the gravity scene. With the world-renowned Joyride Slopestyle Contest, the A-Line race and many other competitions, the week of the festival is peppered with one highlight after the other. The sixth and penultimate round of the Enduro World Series will take place on Sunday. The series stopped in Whistler last year and caused a stir Top of the World-Trail causing a stir.
The highlights from the last year:
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For the first time, a race in the series will be completed in one day, which places particular demands on the physical condition of the drivers. There are a total of five stages to master, with the Top of the World-Trail forms the end of the race again this year. Not an easy task with a journey time of over 20 minutes.
Stage 1: Microclimate
Stage 2: Crazy Train
Stage 3: Upper Billy's Epic - 27 Switchbacks - Binty's
Stage 4: Lower Ride Don't Slide - Boyd's Trail
Stage 5: Top of the World - No Joke - Little Alder - Expressway - Too Tight - Upper Angry Pirate - Crabapple Turns - Del Boca Vista - EZ Does It - Monkey Hands
Last year, Jared Graves hit the big bang on the final trail. He was the only driver to undercut the magic limit of 23 minutes and took more than 30 seconds off the previous leader Jerome Clementz, thereby securing victory at the end of the day. Clementz will also miss Whistler due to injury and Graves leads the overall standings by a wide margin. So he's going into the race as a big favourite. The trails in the Whistler Bike Park suit him, as he proved last year and also in Colorado two weeks ago.
However, his teammate Richie Rude shouldn't be ignored. In his first enduro season, the young American is finding his rhythm better and better and was able to set several best times in Colorado. Thanks to his consistent performance, he was rewarded with second place.
The two Yeti drivers are therefore the two big favorites. Nevertheless, Rene Wildhaber, Justin Leov, Damien Oton and many others deserve attention. All of them were able to achieve considerable success this season and could be at the top of the podium if they perform consistently.
Anne-Caroline Chausson reshuffled the women's cards in Colorado. After three wins, Tracy Moseley was already far away in the standings. However, the fast French and multiple downhill world champion kept her nerves and was able to significantly reduce the gap to Moseley with her second win of the season in Winter Park. The two top favorites are separated by just 50 points. Chausson won at Whistler in 2013 and should she win again she will draw level with Moseley provided she finishes second.
"It's a tough fight with Tracy, but I'm feeling good. I like Whistler but it's a new year, a new race and everyone has a chance to win", so Chausson sober before the important race.
However, one should not lose sight of Anneke Beerten in this hotly contested war of points. In Colorado, she clinched her first stage win and proved she was a force to be reckoned with. According to her own statement, she likes the jump-heavy trails in bike parks.