End of season

After 7 months of traveling, 3 continents visited, 8 Enduro World Series and few regional races, season 2016 is now over. It’s about time for some rest but soon trainings are going to start again to get ready for next year.

Let’s have a quick overview on the last races of the summer and the end of my 2016 season.

 
4th Round of the Enduro World Series - La Thuile (ITA)
 

Due to an unfortunate accident I had to drop out of the race after day one. I have indeed hit a root that went into my shoe and cut my foot during the last stage of the first day. In the end nothing too bad, few stiches and some rest for 10 days and I was back on the bike.

Fortunately, my accident in la Thuile didn’t change my plans for the coming races schedule. For the next 2 rounds we flew overseas. First stop was in Aspen, Colorado. The race was taking place at high altitude (3000m in average), and bodies were being put to the test. After a physically difficult race and a mechanical issue I ended up in 49th position.
 
6th Round of the Enduro World Series - Whistler (CAN)

Whistler, proper mountain bike Mecca, delivered this year again an amazing event. The organizers had put together a great program and some nice stages. I had a good race despite some difficulties in taking risks and I am happy to finish the day in 36th position after 5 stages.

 
Enduro Swiss Cup - Verbier (CH)
 

Back home for few days before to taking on the last races of the season. I took the opportunity to be home to enter the first enduro race organized in the region. The organisation was perfect and we rode some of the best trails around my home town. On the racing side, I lost all my chances of victory after the second stage where I had a flat tire. I still managed to end up 2^nd right behind Max Chapuis (2015 Swiss DH Champion).
 
7th Round of the Enduro World Series - Valberg (FRA)

The second last race was taking place in Valberg, France, on one of the nicest enduro terrain in the world. The race, also known under the name of Les Portes du Mercantour, was simply perfect. Some of the best single tracks we have ever ridden and a perfect organisation. During the weekend I found back some the right feeling I couldn’t found earlier in the season; I was able to take some risks and ride closer to my limits. I ended up in the 30th position and was able to finish few stages very close to the top 20. I was really happy with this result taking into account the level of participants raising every race.

 
8th Round of the Enduro World Series - Finale Ligure (ITA)

As every year, Finale Ligure (ITA) was hosting the final round of the Enduro World Series. This year again, the organizers managed to deliver a great event with some amazing new tracks and a massive crowd cheered on every single rider. On my side I was already feeling tired due to the long season before to event start the race. I had already some difficulty on the long pedaling transitions but still found the energy to finish the weekend in one piece after all the stages. For this last Enduro World Series of the year I ended up 41th.

Season 2016 review, I finished on the 37th position overall. I learned a lot over the past year. I had a different approach at the start of my season with less expectation in terms of results, I was accepting my actual level. I am pleased with my consistency with 4 races close to the top 30 (2x 30th, 1x 31st, 1x 32th). And finally the Canyon Factory Enduro Team ended up on the podium in 3rd position in the overall team ranking.
 
Last but not least, watch the video showing the mental approch of the team before races:
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/the-mental-game-ews-team-focus-with-canyon-2016.html