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| | Emerald Enduro - Best of the Irish
| | Local riders done good - As we enter the third year of the Enduro World Series we have a number of Irish riders showcasing their talent at the top level. With two riders in particular getting full pro-team rides this year, there has never been a better time for Irish Enduro mountain biking and they'll give plenty for Irish supporters to cheer on. Here's a guide to some of the top Irish talent at their home event. |
| Greg Callaghan - Cube Action Team | | | |  In 2014 Greg Callaghan proved that you don't need pro-team level support with soigneurs, mechanics and team managers to make it to the top. Driving around the circuit in a home made camper-van Callaghan could be found cooking his pasta on a single ring gas burner in the car park of an evening while tuning his bike and washing his gear. He managed a phenomenal 8th place at the Scottish round and was consistently inside the top 20 all year.
For 2015 the hardest working privateer racer of last year steps up to full Pro-Team support on one of the best teams in the EWS - the Cube Action Team. In 2013/14 he spent his Winter working as much as he could to save so that he could travel the full circuit, this year he's out on his bike putting in some extra miles and training in the likes of Scotland and Italy, training that should pay off in a big way for the Dublin rider. What's more he has started the season on the top step of the first Irish Gravity Enduro and claimed first place at the opening two rounds of the Scottish Enduro Series. Add in an 11th at the opening EWS in New Zealand and it looks like Callaghan is enjoying life at Pro level. Watch this space! |
| Despite only being in 4th year at school, 2014 was an amazing year for Conor Lavelle who stepped onto the podium in third place at the Scottish round of the Enduro World Series and managed to maintain that position in the overall despite only visiting a handful of rounds. He also had top results at the Bluegrass Enduro International Series and the Gravity Enduro. Lavelle has the X-factor and signed for top team Ibis over the Winter who have provided full support and access to all eight rounds of the Enduro World Series. 
This year Juniors has expanded it's age catchment but don't expect that to stop Lavelle who is going from strength to strength with some serious mentors in teammates Scottish rider Gary Forrest and legend Anne Caroline Chausson. Lavelle is forced to train in the evening during school time but has been enjoying an excellent start to the season with a 6th place in New Zealand. A cool canny rider with acres of talent, his journey is only beginning. Image Adrian van der Lee. |
| A former Irish DH National Champion, Wolfe has been making a name for himself in Enduro with some amazing stage times and performances at races like the Trans-Provence, a six day epic in France. Mechanical issues cost him at EWS races yet his talent showed through at races like the Scottish round where he placed third on a stage proving that he has the pace to make it. 
This year Wolfe has the backing of Vitus bikes and will look to put together the consistency that could see him threaten the top level. With a winter of some serious training behind him he made an early move to New Zealand to top up his form ahead of the opening round of the EWS where he placed a credible 40th beating several of the big names of the sport while simultaneously having a bad day. Imagine what he could do if it all came together in Wicklow!
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| Leah Maunsell - Kona MBW Racing | | | | Despite being too young to race the EWS last year, Leah Maunsell won the senior female overall at the Gravity Enduro last year in Elites and is a major talent. Competiting at XC, Enduro and Downhill she is one to watch and a really exciting prospect. A County Limerick native she is old enough to take part this year, just, and we are really excited to see her race the EWS in her home country. 
This young lady knows how to ride a bike and would put many of the senior mens field to shame. Biking runs in her blood, she rides with older brother Jonathon on Team Maunsell. We see big things in the future for her and really want the whole country to get behind her as she takes on the worlds best on home soil. Go Leah! Image - Adrian van der Lee, also top image features Leah Maunsell courtesy of D Sweeney. |
| Orla McClean has got to be one of Ireland's most understated Enduro riders. Consistently on the podium at the Irish Gravity Enduro Series she is at home on the roughest and toughest terrain. A strong second place finish at the 2015 Irish National Enduro Series opener leads us to believe winter training has gone well for Orla. 
No stranger to Carrick, we expect Orla to receive some of the biggest cheers from her local fans and Giant Dublin Team mates. |
| A former National XC Champion, Elliott has a background in endurance racing too, taking podiums at multi-day XC and Enduro races in the past. She is currently living in Switzerland which is rather helpful for taking on the big mountain Enduro races like the French and Spanish rounds of the EWS. Not a bad place to train at all and if the weather's bad of a weekend, sure Finale Ligure is only a hop skip and a jump away. A privateer, she races the European circuit and Irish Gravity Enduro rounds when she can make it over, where she invariable does rather well. 
Elliott is a very impressive rider and flies the Irish flag all over Europe. She's bringing a big crowd with her too as everyone wants to see her home trails. Watch out for her in the Wicklow hills and be sure to give her every inch of encouragement you can!
Image Benoît Grébaux. |
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