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Let’s hope this final EWS race of the season in Finale Ligure, Italy, closes the shortest season we will ever see in the sport. After two notably wet events, the race in Finale Ligure rolled out on the best dirt possible. Heavy autumn rain in the evenings leading up to the race meant minimal dust and maximum grip.
The elite women’s field was running slim, with only 23 athletes on the start list, two in the U21 race, and a lone masters rider. France’s Morgane Charre won the first two stages and took second on the other pair to win the overall, followed by last weekend’s champ, Melanie Pugin, who went fastest on stages three and four. Estelle Charles moved up in the overall with a smashing third place finish, and UK-based Katy Winton went from 15th to 4th place overall between the two weekends. Norco’s Anita Gehrig had a consistent day to complete the podium in fifth, while Rocky Mountain/Race Face rider Andreane Lanthier Nadeau fought hard and landed just off the celebration platform.
Jesse Melamed shifted into turbo for a repeat of his performance in Zermatt, winning three of the four stages in Finale Ligure. Florian Nocolai matched his second place finish from last weekend, as did Australian Jack Moir, finishing in third for two consecutive weeks. Theo Galy pushed the pace to fourth place, with New Zealand’s Eddie Masters in fifth and Charles Murray just off the step.
It’s time for all of these folks to enjoy a margarita pizza or cocktail by the sea before returning to the gym, and we hope to see a lot more of each of them in 2021.
Melanie Pugin wasn’t holding back on her hunt for another overall win, but Morgane Charre would go faster by 30.49 seconds over the four rough stages.Pivot Factory Racing winner, Morgane Charre, on the final rocks of stage four.
Melamed teaching a lesson in stability down the trough of stage one. The Canadian is riding strong this year, and undoubtedly wished there was more racing to test his peak fitness. Why not huck it before the finish? Eddie Masters: Heels down, eyes up.There were some sweet waves in the Mediterranean sea on Friday evening.Erwin Ronzon of Italy leaping toward the sea with a strong 40th overall.Julie Duvert of the Theory Global Enduro team rode a clean race to tenth position.
Miranda Miller
Becky Cook
When the tracks do widen out in Finale there are endless ways to ride them. Adrien Dailly had a nasty crash, pushing the Lapierre Zipp Collective athlete back to 49th position.Katy Winton stayed in the top ten on every stage to finish the round in fourth overall.
Belgian shredder Gilles Franck looked smooth and cozy at seventh place in the U21 field. Maxime Chapuis gave the spectators a good dirt-nap-show at the end of stage one. The course was closed and unmarked to thwart large crowds, but locals know where to go… Local athlete, Tommaso Francardo, reminds us that manuals are useful. Elliot Heap running between stages with a mechanical. Morgane Charre coming in for a landing. Nicolai telegraphing a bit with those knees.Everyone loves a flat gravel corner, right? Antoine Vidal is flying in the elite races after moving up from U21. What else can we expect from Cécile Ravanel’s protégé?
Miranda Miller with a smooth send before the close of stage four. Denny Lupato with a front flat. He had one of the four rolling-punctures on stage one.Kevin Miquel, like a surgeon. Mathew Stuttard pumping for all he’s worth to finish in an impressive 30th position overall aboard the Privateer 161.Jack Moir. Always pushing and pumping for speed.
That’s a wrap. Hopefully next season brings demonstrably less mayhem, and more fun mountain biking. The Enduro World Series team and individual event organizers took on heaps of risk and responsibility to have a few races this year, and they did a fantastic job. Thanks again y’all!
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