We’re used to seeing Enduro World Series e-bike races take place at the same time as the ‘classic’ Enduro World Series rounds, but this round in Valberg (France) was the first completely stand alone EWS-E round. Stages spanned across grey earth, red rock and the undergrowth of the Mercantour. Eight stages in total were raced out in that imposing landscape. Numerous liaisons and technical climbs meant that the COMMENCAL Enduro Project could use and test the full potential of our META POWER.

It was therefore an interesting race, both for e-bike riders like Mathieu Ruffray and for the more ‘classic’ EWS riders, who saw it as perfect training to keep the season momentum rolling. In his very first e-bike race, Alex Rudeau won the Elite Men’s category! More than 11 seconds separated him from 2nd place, so the French Enduro Champion showed that he is gradually returning to his best form after that 7th place last week at the EWS in Italy.

He said, “I think it was a hugely physical and mentally draining race as we had two big days of testing and a big day of racing. A total of 75km, 3000m elevation gain, 4000m elevation loss! We had to manage all of that as well as the batteries because we had really difficult liaisons between stages. I was really tired after the first block of EWS racing, but when you see that you’re in mix, the mind just takes over. At the top of stage 7 I didn't think I was going to get through it, then I left the top and the only thing I had in my head was going faster, going faster and applying myself. Then it paid off!”

Another rider from the COMMENCAL Enduro Project made the top 10! Mathieu Ruffray, who has been competing in the EWS-E since the start of this season gave his best performance of the year so far! Also competing in his first EWS-E race, Louis Jeandel finished 19th.

These results also placed the COMMENCAL Enduro Project team on the top step of the podium! An encouraging performance after several months of intensive work, whether on the development side or purely just racing. This one certainly only motivates the team more to continue to work hard to progress.

Finally, Guillaume Larbeyou did not race this EWS-E round but instead took part in a French Cup race in Val d'Allos, taking a well deserved 3rd place!