Source: press release
Physical race, special pedaling and a lot of public along the routes. After the fear of the weather alert, the first day of competition starts.
If until late yesterday the weather forecast gave a probable further deterioration during the day today, the awakening this morning for everyone at Finale was anything but disheartening.
All those who wandered around the paddock area early this morning, intent on setting up the stands, were able to witness a truly suggestive sunrise with the sun timidly making its way through the clouds still laden with rain.
As happens in the scenes of the most apocalyptic films, after the storm slowly everything returned to normal and the race was able to start regularly with the competitors who progressively left the stage from 8:30 am towards the three special stages of the day: Bondi Trail (Borgio Verezzi), San Michele (Noli) and DH Men (Varigotti).
From the very first statements on stage, a certain tension emerged from the leader of the General Classification Richie Rude: “I am quite tense, the title victory is close but not yet certain. It's not easy to give it your all when there is so much at stake. I'll have to be very careful and play it well ”.
Richie at the end of the day closed eighth with 20.95sec seconds from the lead in the hands of the reigning champion and teammate Jared Graves. Jared now totally out of the game for the championship and with nothing to lose has pushed really hard to keep everyone behind, even Richie's opponents.
Despite these attempts Jerome finishes second, showing the desire to push and finish this season in the best possible way by trying to win his second race of 2015. At the start he declares “It's the last race of the season and it's time to push hard”.
In women the title is practically in the hands of Tracy Moseley who is preparing to win it for the third consecutive year.
Sportively on stage a few seconds before the start, the direct opponent Cecil Ravanel declares “Mathematically the title is not yet in the hands of Tracy. However, not seeing her Champion again this year and instead finding myself there, would mean that Tracy had a big problem during the race and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I will do my race and give my best as always ”.
Cecile in the lead after the PS3 of 2.24sec, however, must give way to Tracy in PS4, a special steep and technical where the guide of the English-style downhill has the best. Tracy closed the first day with an advantage of 3.28 sec. Ines Thoma of the Canyon team closes third of the day, but Anneke Berten Team Specialized extends the French Courdurier Isabeau over her direct rival for the third step of the podium.
The first of the Italians in the men's category is Danny Lupato, thirty-eighth, about two seconds behind Nicola Casadei's fortieth Sanmarinese. In women, the two Ligurians Laura Rossin and Valentina Macheda finish respectively in twenty-third and twenty-ninth position, while Sara de Leo and Chiara Pastore respectively in eighteenth and twenty-seventh position.
Tomorrow will be a new day of competition, the last of this 2015 season with the special stages PS5 and PS6, the most internal in the Finale area, the longest and with the greatest difference in height, within the municipalities of Rialto and Orco Feglino . At the end of these two specials we will return to the sea, where the Finale Outdoor Resort organization and the Superenduro and EMBA (Enduro Mountain Bike Association) managers will crown the new 2015 champions.
Ranking DAY1 Finale Ligure:
1. GRAVES JARED YETI / FOX SHOX FACT 17:24:18
2. CLEMENTZ JEROME CANNONDALE OVERMOUNT 17:31:15 PM
3. BAILLY-MAITRE FRANCOIS BMC FACTORY TRAILCRE 17:38:04 PM
4. VOUILLOZ NICOLAS LAPIERRE GRAVITY REP 17:39:45
5. BAREL FABIEN CANYON FACTORY ENDUR 17:41:78
6. LAU NICO CUBE ACTION 17:41:81
7. CALLAGHAN GREG CUBE ACTION 17:42:62
8. RUDE RICHIE YETI FOX SHOX FACTOR 17:45:13
9. OTON DAMIEN DEVINCI / ALLTRICKS.CO 17:51:47
10. CURE ALEXANDRE ROCKY MOUNTAIN URGE 17:51:62 PM
COMPLETE RANKING
STANDINGS
Ranking after matchday 1 MEN
Ranking after matchday 1 WOMEN
Ranking after day 1 MEN Master
Ranking after matchday 1 MEN Under
Ranking after matchday 1 WOMEN Under
START SHEET
http://www.finaleoutdoorresort.com/finalenduro/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/StartList1.pdf
COMPLETE PHOTOGALLERY
https://www.flickr.com/photos/superenduromtb/albums/72157658990897350/
