It was a weekend of threes. The third round of the EWS, the third race format for the series and the third straight weekend of racing for us! This time we made our first trip to Les Deux Alpes in France.
With the rules this time the race started on Friday with us walking the course. On Saturday there was free practice and Sunday was race day! All of the stages were accessed by chairlift. This format is a middle ground between the French and Italian styles of enduro. It was a lot of fun, but very much more on the DH-oriented side of enduro.
From the first practice session it was obvious that this race was going to be very different to what we are used to with Superenduro… but it’s the same sport! We had to change our bikes and the way we ride for this race.
Every race is a chance to learn something new. It’s amazing, after a few years racing you think you have learnt a lot, but then you face a course like this, practicing with other riders or simply setting your bike up and you realise you’re in new territory, that there’s something you just don’t know. It’s something to treasure for next time. Next time you will know you are better-prepared than you are now, because sport is a mirror for life and you never stop learning.
Between Superenduro and the Enduro World Series it’s a very busy season, without respite. To compete at this kind of international level we were working hard all winter, and are still pushing today.
The level in these races is so, so high that I can’t quite believe it and if you really want to make your mark here you’re going to have to give your heart and soul. That’s the beauty of sport and competition, you have to work hard, suffer to get a result and then you can rejoice when you reach that goal… otherwise where’s the fun?
Words: Manuel Ducci / Matt Wragg Photo: Richard Bord
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