New location, familiar winners. With Chile as the far-flung opening venue of the Enduro World Series the enduro world elite rang in the 2014 season. Only those with a large travelling budget were able to take on the long and expensive tour to South America. Everyman and amateur riders from Europe had a hard time. With a total of around 400 starters from 21 nations, including 103 elite riders, the starting field was colourful and high-calibre. A kick-off with a world-class level. Despite the immense pressure to succeed, last year's winner Jérôme Clementz built on his form from the previous season and set the fastest time in the special stages spread over two days. Although he was unable to win any of the six individual stages, he built up a cushion of eight seconds over last year's runner-up Jared Graves. A familiar picture for the men. Unlucky Barel had a stroke of luck. After a crash in the first special stage, the former world champion drove on stubbornly. Diagnosis of the subsequent examination: several broken ribs and a crack in the vertebral body near the spinal cord. It is still unclear when the fast Frenchman will be back in the saddle.
French dominate the competition
France also came out on top in the women's race. Anne-Caroline Chausson won with a lead of 1:11 minutes ahead of last year's overall winner Tracy Moseley. Third place also went to a Frenchwoman, Cecile Ravanel. With four out of six places on the podium, the Grande Nation underlined its dominance. According to experts, this is a consequence of the long enduro tradition in France. The discipline has been firmly established in the professional segment there for quite some time.
The pro bikes of the fastest enduro riders
What equipment do the fastest enduro riders in the world use to chase seconds? We took a close look at the riders in Chile. Carbon or aluminium, 26-inch or 27.5-inch wheels? Everything is still represented in the current field of riders.
Nico Lau - Cube Fritzz HPA
Front/rear suspension travel 160/160 mm
Weight 13.8 kg
Frame size/material 18 inch/aluminium
Wheel size 27.5 "
Tuning Remote lever for locking the shock, Schwalbe SuperGravity tyres with latex milk and VertStar compound at the front, 1x10-speed, extremely high front with two centimetres of spacer and a handlebar with high rise, steering angle 66 degrees
Martin Maes - GT Sanction
Suspension travel front/rear 160/165 mm
Weight 13.6 kg
Frame size/material L/aluminium
Wheel size 27.5 inch
Tuning Two spare tubes in the front frame triangle, Shimano XTR 1x10 drivetrain with chain guide, 66 degree head angle, Fox Float X shock without remote lever, Continental Baron Project 2.4 prototype tyres
Cédric Gracia - Santa Cruz Nomad
Suspension travel front/rear 160/175 mm
Weight 12.85 kg
Frame size/material CL/carbon
Wheel size 27.5 "
Tuning Rock Shox Pike fork and DVO Titan spring damper, Shimano XTR 1x10 drivetrain with chain guide and bashguard, spare tube with CO² carriages under the top tube, Mavic Charge front tyres
Jared Graves - Yeti SB 66 C
Front/rear suspension travel 160/152 mm
Weight 12.6 kg
Frame size/material M/carbon
Wheel size 26 inch
Tuning 170 mm short Shimano XTR cranks with 36 mm chainring, Thomson Elite Dropper dropper post, bottle cage under the down tube, 180 mm brake discs with Shimano Freeza technology, 740 millimetre carbon Renthal FatBar Lite
Remy Absalon - Scott Genius LT
Suspension travel front/rear 170/170 mm
Weight 12.6 kg
Frame size/materialL/carbon
Wheel size 27.5"
Tuning Special headset that flattens the head angle to 65.8 degrees, remote lever for adding a shock platform, Shimano XTR 1x10 drivetrain with chain guide, Ergon grips and saddle, Michelin mud tyres at the front, 1.85/1.7 bar
René Wildhaber - Trek Slash 9
Suspension travel front/rear 160/160 mm
Weight 13.5 kg
Frame size/material 17.5"/aluminium
Wheel size 27.5"
Tuning Schwalbe SuperGravity tyres with latex compound, Magic Mary VertStar front, Hans-Dampf TrailStar rear (1.4/1.6 bar), SRM power measurement with XX1 crank arm, standard geometry with 65-degree steering angle, Easton Haven wheels
65-degree steering angle, Easton Haven aluminium wheels
