Weapons of Choice | A selection of bikes from Finale Ligure EWS

20.10.2015
by

The culmination of the ENDURO WORLD SERIES in Finale Ligure is always set to be one of those unforgettable weekends of racing, sea views, beaches, and a real sense of la dolce vita in the pavement café-strewn old town. A mecca for mountain bikers all year round, Finale Ligure and Finalborgo definitely count the season closer of the EWS as one of their highlights.

We decided certain riders and their interesting bikes needed a closer look, so headed out with our cameras before the race, during the two days of racing and once the clock had stopped, stepping outside of the standard media coverage to present them here:

Robin LECHEVALLIER ist Ingenieur bei der französischen Bikemarke B`TWIN. Er fuhr mit seinem Prototypen nach 40 Rennminuten auf den 108.Platz.
Robin LECHEVALLIER is an engineer for the French bike brand B`TWIN. After 40 minutes of racing, him and his prototype bike finished in 108th. When asked if B`TWIN were going to start designing enduro bikes, Robin kept quiet, as the company tend to produce more affordable bikes.
Bike Solid
The 17-year-old Marcus BARRY travelled from Ireland to race his MAGIX for the German bike company Solid.
Die "Stuttgarter Härte" wurde in Finale durch Ferdinand BRUNOLD vertreten. Ferdi fährt für das Endura Bergamont Factory Team in der U21 auf den 22.Platz.
‘Stuttgarter Härte’ were represented in Finale by Ferdinand BRUNOLD, who rode in the U21 category for the Endura Bergamont Factory Team. The only German in his age cat, he missed the podium by just 19 positions.
Nicht nur Jussi "Ralle" RAJALA stammt aus Finnland sondern auch sein Bike von Pole Bicycles. Mit seinem Pole Rinn war er einer von drei Teamfahrern der kleinen finnischen Marke bei der EWS in Finale. Ralle kam auf Platz 218.
Not just the rider, Jussi „Ralle“ RAJALA, hails from Finland, but also his bike from Pole Bicycles. Riding his Pole Rinn alongside two other team riders from this small Finnish brand at the EWS in Finale, Ralle finished 218th.
Daniel JAHN Teamfahrer und Angestellter bei Nicolai Bikes und ein passionierter Enduro Biker war mit einem Nicolai ION16 am Start.
Daniel JAHN, team rider, passionate enduro rider and employee at Nicolai Bikes, took to the race on a Nicolai ION16.
Philip GERKEN aus Hannover war mit unserem Dauertestbike Radon Slide Carbon 27,5 9.0 in Finale am Start. Sein Rennwochenende beendete er auf Platz 232.
Philip GERKEN from Hannover toed the startline in Finale on the Radon Slide Carbon 27.5 9.0, one of our long-term test fleet, finishing the weekend in 232nd position.
Das italienische SIX INCH Team war auch 2015 bei der EWS in Finale mit mehreren Fahrern vertreten. Francesco DE FELICI ging mit seinem Specialzed an den Start.
The Italian SIX INCH Team fielded another strong team at the EWS in Finale 2015. Francesco DE FELICI relied on his Specialized for the race.
Primoz STANCAR aus Slowenien war 2014 Weltmeister in der Masterklasse und kam 2015 auf den 3.Rang. Der Slowene Primoz fährt auf einem Orbea Rallon für die Orbea Enduro Crew.
Slovenia’s Primoz STANCAR was crowned Masters World Champ in 2014, and finished a solid third place in 2015. Primoz rides an Orbea Rallon for the Orbea Enduro Crew.
Der Schweizer CC-Fahrer Mathias Flückinger fuhr in Finale sein erstes Enduro-Rennen. Das Bike des ehemaligen XC U23 World Champion, sein Stöckli Amber SL ist mit der elektronischen Schaltung Shimano XTR Di2 ausgestattet.
Finale was the first enduro race for the Swiss cyclo-cross rider Mathias FLÜCKINGER. The former XC U23 World Champion rode a Stöckli Amber SL with Shimano XTR Di2 electronic shifters.
Der Italiener Andrea Gamenara mit seinem italienischen Ancillotti FRY 27.5 landete auf dem 110.Platz.
Italy’s Andrea GAMENARA finished in 110th with his Ancillotti FRY 27.5.
Der vielbeschäftige Chef vom Bikepark Todtnau, Bikeshop Freiburg, 2.Vorsitzender Mountainbike Freiburg e.V., Arne GRAMMER, nahm mit seinem Mondraker am Rennen teil.
As a developer for Ghost Bikes, Ronny SEIFERT was out testing a Reynolds Carbon wheelset on his Ghost Riot.
Max SCHUMANN vom Carver SR Suntour fuhr in Finale auf den 83.Platz.
Max SCHUMANN from the Carver SR Suntour Team raced his 2015 model to 83rd in Finale.
Kilian BRON belegte mit seinem SUNN in Finale den 63.Platz und erreichte damit bei der EWS 2015 den 58.Rang.
Kilian BRON and his SUNN Kern LT (prototype 160/160mm, SRAM parts) claimed the 63rd spot in Finale, securing an overall EWS position of 58th.
Der vielbeschäftige Chef vom Bikepark Todtnau, Bikeshop Freiburg, 2.Vorsitzender Mountainbike Freiburg e.V., Arne GRAMMER, nahm mit seinem Mondraker am Rennen teil.
The ever-busy manager of Bikepark Todtnau, Bikeshop Freiburg and vice-chairman of Mountainbike Freiburg e.V., Arne GRAMMER, travelled down to Finale with a crew of Freiburg-based mountain bikers to take part on his Mondraker.
Richard Norgate aus Großbritannien kam mit seinem Orange 5, extra large,
Richard NORGATE from the UK heaved his extra large Orange 5 to Finale, finishing 115th for his brewery team ‘Magic Rock Brewing.’
Marcus KLAUSMANN, der 15-fache Deutsche DH-Meister, ging mit einem Ghost Riot an den Start. Leider hatte er auf der 3.Stage einen Plattfuss und dann war auch noch sein Transponder defekt.
15 x German DH champion, Marcus KLAUSMANN lined up with his Ghost Riot in Finale. Never without his power metre, Marcus has fitted a SRM PowerMeter. Unfortunately along with suffering a flat on the 3rd stage, Marcus’s transmitter then broke too.
Denny LUPATO, der jüngere Bruder des dreifachen Italienischen Enduro Meisters Alex LUPATO fuhr mit seinem Pivot Mach 6 Carbon in Finale auf den 40.Platz und lies damit seinen Bruder, der allerdings verletzt an den Start ging, hinter sich.
Denny LUPATO, the younger brother of the 3 x Italian enduro champion Alex LUPATO, rode his Pivot Mach 6 Carbon to 40th position in Finale, leaving his brother (who started the race with an injury) in his wake.
Greg CALLAGHAN vom CUBE Action Team war mit seinem Sieg in seinem Heimatland Irland und dem anschließenden 3.Platz in Schottland die Überraschung des Jahres. Leider zog er sich vor dem 4. Lauf zur EWS eine schwere Verletzung zu. In Finale fühlte er sich wieder absolut fit und kam auf den 7.Platz. Die EWS 2015 beendete er dann auf Platz 10.
Having cinched victory on home turf in Ireland and finishing 3rd in Scotland, Greg Callaghan has been the breakthrough rider of the year. However, he unfortunately sustained a serious injury just before the 4th round of the EWS. Fit once again, he came 7th in Finale and gained 10th in the overall standings of the EWS 2015.

Words and Photos : Manne Schmitt

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