In a frenzy from the start of the first ever Enduro World Series race in Ireland 12 months ago, Irish fans went ballistic when home hero Greg Callaghan faced down the best in the world and beat them on home turf. He's back this weekend for the second coming of the series at Emerald Gravity Enduro (Photo: Sean Rowe)
After the runaway success of last year’s event, the Emerald Gravity Enduro is back in Co Wicklow again this weekend for round 3 of the Enduro World Series.
And, as was the case 12 months ago, a feast of world class racing is in store; with riders and fans from around the world set to descend on Carrick Mountain.
Back then it was Irish star Greg Callaghan who put manners on some of the best riders in the history of the discipline to take a famous win for Ireland.
Advertisement
- Here's the start list for this weekend
- And here's the race book with loads and loads of info
- Check out the parking map if you're going in the motor
The event, run by Niall Davis’s Biking.ie, follows to the traditional Irish enduro format; riders will tackle seven stages and an estimated 50km of pedalling over a single day.
Callaghan’s win of the last year, coupled with the atmosphere created by the fans who descended on the event, meant the countdown to this weekend began before the dust of the 2015 edition had even settled.
Last year's event - the first ever round of the world series in Ireland being won by an Irishman - went so well you couldn't have made it up (Photo with thanks to Enduro World Series)
Callaghan (Cube Action Team) once again faces a mammoth challenge if he is to repeat his escapades of last year after recent 20th place finishes in Argentina and Chile.
And though he is the defending champion, it is the reigning World Champion Richie Rude who comes into the Irish event on a high.
The Yeti-Fox Shox rider is coming off back to back wins in Chile and Argentina and will definitely be pulling out all the stops to extend that run to a hat trick.
And if the recent form book is anything to go by, Callaghan will not only have his hands full with American Rude from Redding, Connecticut.
Martin Maes (GT Factory Racing) is currently 2nd overall in the Enduro World Series and both her and third placed rider Jerome Clementz (Cannondale) are in Ireland for this weekend’s action.
But Callaghan is one home turf and having done a mission impossible last year, he can rip it up again and beat anyone if he is on song this weekend.
At 16-years-old, Leah Maunsell will also be one of Ireland's star turns this weekend (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Related News
And one peak at the strength in depth in the field immediately underlines the world class quality the Irish event is packed with.
Irish fans will also get to see a host of other leading riders from around the global racing on Carrick mountain including: Nico Vouilloz (Lapierre Gravity Republic), Damien Oton (Devinci Enduro Racing), Toni Ferreiro, Florian Nicolai (Rocky mountain URGE bp) and Francois Bailly-Maitre (BMC Factory Trailcrew).
Managing director of the Enduro World Series, Chris Ball said the Emerald Enduro has already become a special fixture on the international calendar.
“The Emerald Enduro was a real favourite amongst the riders last year,” he said.
“Not only are the tracks incredible, but the Irish fans who turned out in their thousands made for an atmosphere like nothing the EWS has ever experienced before.
“The terrain in Wicklow couldn’t be more different to the first two rounds and I think it will be really interesting to see how the riders adapt to the different conditions.”
Killian Callaghan was 3rd last year and with a growing reputation will try to do even better in the U21 event.
Niall Davis of Emerald Enduro said he was looking forward to another celebratory atmosphere this weekend, adding the enthusiasm of the fans and the quality of the racing made for a really special event 12 months ago.
“The trails proved themselves to be fast and fun last year so we’ve largely kept the same route,” he said.
“Competitors should expect rougher tracks with a few exciting tweaks and less pedalling in the stages. It’s going to be an incredible weekend in Carrick.”
And while Callaghan returns to the event as the heroic conqueror, he’s not the only Irish competitor with his eyes on the prizes.
The Irish Enduro women’s champion Lean Maunsell may still be just 16-years-old but she’ll face down all comers this weekend in the women’s U21 category and he presence, like that of Callaghan’s, should prove one of the real high points.
Last year she took victory in the U21 category, aged only 15 years - which was pretty incredible.
And Killian Callaghan rose to the ocassion too, making the final step on the podium in the men's U21 race.
He's back and he's looking to do more damage; maybe even a bit more than last year, you'd never know considering he was 2nd in the junior Europeans last year.
Back to the women; in the elite category Cecile Ravanel (Commencal Vallnord Enduro Team) has won the first two rounds of the world series so far this year and leads the rankings from Isabeau Courdurier (SUNN) and Anneke Beerten (GT Factory Racing).
However, that trio will have it far from their own way, with the victor from last year and current world champion Tracy Moseley returning for the Irish showdown.
Topics
