[Racing] Day 1 - Enduro World Series - Valdivia, Corral

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Welcome to the first race of the Enduro World Series in 2016, this year just like the 2014 season, Chile finds itself hosting the first round. Unlike last time, this event took place further south in one of the most remote areas of Chile which also happened to be one of the oldest and rainiest.

To cross from Valdivia to Corral, you need to take a ferry that takes about 25 minutes. Corral village has a population of 5,700 inhabitants.. Bienvenidos a Corral.

Valdivia and Corral are characterized by the history that’s behind them. In this place there are a number of strongholds which for many years were intended to fight the invading troops coming from the Pacific Ocean.

These places were guarded by armed soldiers which kept an eye on the bay for 24 hours.

To start the Enduro World Series in Chile, local people offered a re-creation of a sliver of their history.

Cedric Gracia getting the most important details dialed.

Matteo Nati installing a GPS system in Marco Osborne’s bike. It will be used for the first time in an EWS. The idea is to calculate the speed, location and time. A toolbox complete with a clock. Imagine that… Some riders like Iago Garay, Lewis Buchanan and Francoise Bailly-Maitre, are able to train until the last minute. Here they are reviewing videos…

Sunn’s newest racer : Isabeau Courdurier is all smiles and happy to be in Chile.

Cecile Ravanel with the full pre race focus and course visualization.

Last year’s overall winner Richie Rude is the last rider to set off…

The road to the first stage lasted approximately one hour and took place in a public dirt road

Cody Kelley ripping a nice natural line in the woods 325A9317 Slippery mud is sprinkled throughout and can definitely catch you off guard.The lushness of Corral is amazing, it never cease to amaze us… Antonio Leiva loving it.

Ladies first. Cecile Ravanel kicking things off early today.

Francoise Bailly-Maitre – razor focus.

Jerome Clementz is very much ready to sprint out of these large rocks…

Anneke Beerten fell less than two meters from the finish line, I’m sure this will be one of the most frustrating stages for her but she’s looking fast. She’ll find her limit and make up some of the time.

Cody Kelley is absolutely loving the loamy sections.

Yoann Barelli – determined. Sam Blenkinsop – you knew he’d have the best style of anyone on the track.

Jared Graves wrapping up the first stage of his first season on Specialized by heading down towards the finish(and the Pacific Ocean).Remy Absalon takes some time to cool off.Mark Scott with a pretty unfortunate crash just 10 meters from the finish line.

Nicolas Vouilloz’s elusive sillhouette. Richie Rude, always carries impressive speed, and that resulted in first place on this first stage of EWS in Chile. Looks like he’s picking up right where he left off…

Fortunately the weather and temperature cooperated in every way in this first race day. Hopefully the winds brought from the ocean don’t change things and everything stays consistent next stage of the race.