When Jesse Melamed flew into the Enduro World Series finish corrall Sunday evening, set in the heart of Whistler Villiage, a thunderous roar went up from the gathered crowd. The Canadian had passed his rival Richie Rude on course, cementing his EWS win at home in Whistler.
Adding to the crowds frenzy was that, moments before, Remi Gauvin had earned his own place on the Pro Men’s podium. The two Canadians finish 1-3 on a very big day for Canada at the Enduro World Series. Earlier that afternoon Canadian riders, led by Seth Sherlock, swept the top five spots of the under-21 men’s race.
Melamed reigns on home turf
For Melamed, it’s not just a home country win. The Rocky Mountain Race Face rider is a born-and-raised Whistler local and many of his family, friends, and fans lined the finish corral.
Melamed led the two-day race from the first of six race stages, winning Saturday’s Pro Stage as well as three of five race stages on Sunday. Richie Rude (Yeti Fox) kept the Canadian under pressure by finishing second on most stages and winning the Stage 3 Queen Stage. A flat on the final stage ended Rude’s chances of another upset in Whistler, openening the door for Melamed to take the win.
Jack Moir (Canyon Cllctv), winner of the 2021 Enduro World Series title, also benefited from Rude’s mechanical woes. The lanky Australian won the fifth and final stage on Sunday by over eight seconds, catapulting him into second.
Remi Gauvin, Melamed’s long-time teammate on Rocky Mountain Race Face, finished fourth on the final stage. That moved him up three positions and, crucially, onto the podium in third.
Adding to the maple flavoured madness, Rhys Verner (Forbidden) and Jack Menzies (We Are One) both finished inside the top 10. Verner in eighth and Menzies in ninth, his first time inside the top-10 of a Pro EWS.
Late race disaster for Lanthier-Nadeau
For Andréane Lanthier-Nadeau, the final stage in Whistler played out opposite of her Rocky Mountain Race Face teammates. A steadily building string of mechancials and a lingering ankle injury culminated in a crash near the top of Sunday’s final stage. The fall came at a crucial point, costing the Canadian significant momentum before the massive step down drop on the new 1199 trail. ALN slid from first going into the stage to fifth at the finish line.
Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing) backed up her win on Saturday’s Pro Stage with another big win on Sunday’s fifth stage to claim the win. Morgane…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…