Oton and Moseley win La Thuile round of Enduro World Series

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A breathtaking final wrapped up a weekend of racing in La Thuile, Italy, which was hosting a round of the Enduro World Series for the first time on the slopes of Mont Blanc.

For the more than 450 riders taking part, the race was memorable as they experienced all kinds of weather, with snow and hail at times. Highlights of the weekend included 35km of racing in special stages and more than one hour of timed action with 4,000m of descending.

After six timed stages distributed over Saturday and Sunday, France's Damien Oton of the team Devinci Alltricks.com took his first Enduro World Series victory. Following more than one hour of racing, he had a 3:15 advantage over compatriot Francois Bailly-Maitre (BMC Enduro Racing).

Third position went to British rider Joe Barnes (Canyon Factory Enduro). Switzerland's Rene Wildhaber (Trek Factory Racing) was fourth, just in front of the Australian Jared Graves (Yeti, Fox Shox Factory).

For the public, the show was thrilling until the last meter of the course, as the top four riders were still within a four-second time window before the last timed section. The finish line in the paddock area has offered one of the most intense moments in the history of the Enduro World Series, especially when Oton erupted upon realizing, after the last rider, that he had made it.

The women's race was controlled by British rider Tracy Moseley (Trek Factory Racing), in front of Anne Caroline Chausson (Ibis) and Cecile Ravanel (GT Pulse) both from France. Moseley secured her advantage during the morning, after the very long time section, Superkappa, her rivals could not close the gap, even if they rode well the last two sections. Laura Rossin (Devinci - Dream Team) was the best Italian rider and confirmed that the national jersey she got in June was well deserved.

In the junior category, Sebastien Claquin (Giant) was fastest, in front of the Italian Alessandro Levra (Bikecafe), national promise of the discipline, and Clement Decugis (Yeti Tribe).

The Enduro World Series will jump to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean for the two North American rounds in Colorado and Canada.

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