Mountain biking’s legends helped get the Enduro World Series off to a strong start, but it’s the young guns who promise its solid future. The Junior category has become an open contest incubating a bunch of new talents. And at each venue, we’ve seen the involvement of local kids, all of which suggests the future of enduro mountain biking is in good stead.
La Thuile is all set for the upcoming Enduro World Series offering 220km of cross-country tracks between two countries - France and Italy. Full of smooth slopes, technical trails, rocky sections and jumps; only the riders with good preparation will be able to commit here. Solid 4700m of elevation change and 35 km of SP will be the battleground to gain a handful of seconds until the last km. The race will be organized over two days, with six Special Stages (SP) equally distributed between Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 of July.
From a technical point of view, the park can be divided in two areas, fol lowing altitude zones. The highest part of it, between 2400 and 1900 m, is characterized by a ground level which is smooth and linear. The soil is made of grazing land and of juniper trees. In case of rain the soil drains well. In some areas the soil is black, somewhere else it is red, due to the presence of coal and copper. Visibility is pergectly clear. But you must be careful to the wind, which maybe strong at those heights, particularly when you change direction. From 1900 to 1400 m the slope changes, and gets steep and you find yourself in the woods. The paths get more winding and your brakes are at stake. The soil is different, there are roots, stones and counterslopes. Above all, the first passages in the morning are particularly difficult, owing to the dew on the ground. The soli is often covered with pine needles, giving a sort of velvet sensation, and giving a good idea of the layout of the path. There are some streams to ford. Light there changes suddenly, the classic "sun-shadow" effect.
Says Enduro World Series Managing Director, Chris Ball, “What counts on race day? It’s not just about pace, but intelligence, experience, strategy, strength, energy. Managing your equipment. Adjusting to the different conditions across each race. We’re seeing some amazing riding from the young racers, and as they develop their strategic game, it’s apparent that the ultimate championship could be in anyone’s hands.”
For the public there will be plenty of things to do, such as riding trails or visit the enormous trade show in the paddock area, which will host the finish line of the last SP on both days.
We'll see who comes out victorious in La Thuile Valley.
All images are courtesy of superenduromtb.com, copyrights applied.
Source: http://www.enduroworldseries.com
