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| | | Emerald Enduro - Newsletter #3 Who's who? | | The 2016 Enduro World Series gets under way last weekend in Chile as the riders and their teams take to the startline for the first time this season with a gruelling calendar ahead. Rounds one and two are in South America before they head to Wicklow in May for round 3.
Last year was very much the year of the up and comers as a lot of the old guard were pushed by first time winners. 2014 champ Jared Graves was injured for the first three rounds but took the final round in Finale and despite taking the win at round 1, 2013 champ Jerome Clementz caught a bug and was not at full power at rounds 2 & 3. Enter the young guns. Greg Callaghan and Justin Leov were flying early season with a win and a podium each. Both got injured and saw their overall ranking slip but it was very much the year of Richie Rude taking three wins on his way to the overall win.
In the ladies race Tracy Moseley was simply unstoppable despite a first round hiccup that saw Anne Caroline Chausson storm to the top step. She too succumbed to a virus though and it was the Tracy and Cecile Ravanel show for most of the season. Here too though the young guns started to come through with Isabeau Cordurier breaking through to the podium and Anneke Beerton seemingly stuck in fourth. With Tracy only heading to selected rounds the series overall is up for grounds but watch out for when she does race. This rider only knows one speed - flat out!
Let's take a closer look at the riders and their team changes as things kick off. | | Jared Graves - 2014 Enduro World Series World Champion | | | |  One of the most decorated cyclists in the world, Graves has been at the top end of 4-Cross, BMX and now Enduro with multiple World Championships and even an Olympic Gold medal to his name.
2014 proved to be his year in Enduro as he took the World Title in some style following his runners up spot in 2013. However disaster stuck the week before the first round in New Zealand. Rider his local training loop, Graves clipped a tree and separated both shoulders in the ensuing crash. The injury kept him out for several rounds but he finally got back up to speed at the last round in Finale Ligure where he took the win.
For 2016 Graves has done the unthinkable and jumped ship from long term sponsor Yeti to Specialized Factory racing. Graves now has a much bigger operation with him including Irish team manager Paddy Barnes and it will be interesting to see how the change affects him. | | Jerome Clementz - 2013 Enduro World Champion | | | | The 2013 World Champion has had a difficult last two seasons with wins in the first two opening rounds and then a collar bone break and virus stopping him in his tracks in the following respective years. Speaking to Clementz backstage at the start in Wicklow he was obviously ill but he put on a brave face and tried his best, still putting in a top ten ride.  One thing to say about the wily Frenchman is never count him out and we wouldn't be surprised to see him back at full flight in Ireland. One of the best all rounders if he can put a season together, Clementz is unstoppable.
He's also one of the nicest characters on the circuit and is a fan and racer favourite world wide. In 2015 despite just having had a collarbone op he was bouncing around the course in a sling in Scotland, yelling for every rider coming down the hill and chatting with fans. He's the real deal.
No stranger to Ireland, Clementz rode in the Irish Gravity Enduro Series in it's first season in Djouce way back when and suffered the indignity of visiting over Easter, targeting Dublin on one of two dry days in the year - Good Friday. Clementz will be keen to revisit Carrick as it's a course that plays to many of his strengths. Never count out the Cannondale rider if he's healthy. | | Last year Greg only went and won the bloody thing! Despite a huge following on home trails Greg "Pressure is for tyres" Callaghan put in the race of his life to claim his maiden win on home soil and kick off a monster party. While the Emerald Enduro team hoped and dreamed that moment when Greg Callaghan came down into the arena is special and there wasn't a dry eye in the house as the young Irishman tasted success. Many of us had known Greg for years and were aware of his talent but it was a super special moment. 
The following week in Scotland he went close to repeating and if not for a wrong turn he likely would have. Greg came up the hard way as a privateer and when his chance came he grabbed it with both hands and rode out of his skin. A crash at the European Enduro Championships unfortunately put a stop to a fairytale year but it's an older and wiser rider who takes the start in 2016 with the knowledge that he can win. A good winter of training has him setup well for the 2016 season and a nation holds it's breath once again! | | This tall Kiwi knows a thing or two about mountain bikes. A former Downhill pro, Leov has talent in spades. Prior to 2016 he had been unlucky with mechanicals but his early season form saw him conquer his demons and put together some serious runs. 2nd place in Ireland was followed up with the win in Scotland on two courses that many wouldn't have said suited him. Unfortunately a bad crash in Whistler saw an end to his season prematurely whilst leading the series but we know he's hungry this year having had a taste of success. 
The off season has seen a huge change for Leov too who moved to the Canyon team to take up the seat vacated by the retired Fabien Barel. We think he's one to watch and come race day you couldn't not cheer for this likeable New Zealander. | | Where to even start with Richie Rude. A former Junior Downhill World Champion, Rude switched codes early to take to Enduro and served his apprenticeship under the watchful eye of former teammate Jared Graves. In 2015 it paid of in a big way as he took a podium at the Emerald Enduro and followed it up with wins in Samoens, Whistler and Spain, merely needing to finish in 22nd place or better to take the series overall which he did. 
Rude showed a remarkable maturity all season and rode out of his skin on a variety of courses and terrain styles. Like Callaghan, you'd have to think that knowing he can win can push him on and we could be looking at the first retained World Champion in the mens race. Despite mentor Graves now on an opposing team, the two have been training together over the off season. Who has benefitted more is yet to be seen. | | The nearly girl, Cecile Ravanel has finished second overall twice in the EWS with 5 seconds and 3 thirds last year alone. Ravanel has a serious pedigree with a background in XC where she was the Junior World Champion in 1998. She went on to be French champion in XC and also the XC Eliminator discipline. 
Last year in Ireland Cecile finished 3rd and doubtless she'll be gunning for the top spot this year. The course should suit her and she was knocking well and truly on the door at the end of last season. | | Anneke Beerten is another rider who has been hovering around the podium for three years. Her background is in four cross where she is a three time World Champion. 
The off season has seen Beerten make a big move from Specialized to GT. So far this has been hugely successful as she took the win at the season opening Crankworx Rotorua Enduro. She seems more positive, confident and assured this year, it'll be really interesting to see how it plays out, she has a point to prove in 2016. | | The breakthrough rider for 2015 was Isabeau Courdurier. Two fifths, a fourth and two thirds saw her to fourth overall. The diminutive Frenchwoman showed her consistency and her confidence noticeably built across the year as she realised she did deserve to be at the top table. 
Another high profile rider on the move, Courdurier has moved from Rocky Mountain to French legendary team Sunn. And like the other riders to move teams, the fresh start could be the perfect launchpad to move up the rankings. | | Another rising star is Katy Winton. A super talented rider, Katy has been coming up through the ranks at a rapid pace but this past off season has seen her move to Trek World Racing. Here her teammate is none other than three time World Enduro Champion Tracy Moseley. 
The two have been training and riding together a lot in the off season and Winton is looking very fast this year. She lives in Peebles, Scotland, no better place to hone your skills than on some of the best Enduro trails in the world. Katy has come up the hard way and we are thrilled to see her getting top notch support for 2016. Of course the fact that her partner is our own Greg Callaghan has nothing to do with our bias.... | | Check out Enduroworldseries.com for all the action from round 1 in Chile this weekend. That's all for this newsletter but we'll be back soon with more as the season finally gets truly underway. In the mean time make sure you are following us on Facebook and Twitter (see links below) for all the up to the minute info on the Emerald Enduro.
All Photos copyright Matt Wragg/EWS. | | | |
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