EWS #4 Whistler, Canada: 6-7 August 2022

Round 4 of the Enduro World Series took place in the mountain bike mecca of Whistler BC, Canada. Two days of racing six big stages, featuring nearly 3,000m of descent on a course just shy of 40km. With only one liaison lift-assisted, the Polygon Factory Racing team were prepared for lots of pedaling and steep climbing. After some rain in the lead-up, the trails were slick in practice but mostly dried up to deliver conditions from hero-dirt to blown out berms with the gnarly roots and rocks that are a given in Whistler.

“

Practice day did not disappoint. Some proper tracks that will test bikes and bodies come racing.”
-Matt Stuttard

Day 1

Pro-Stage: 1199 > Duffman > World Cup Single Track > Ho Chi Min > Longhorn > Monkey Hands | Length 4.7km | Descent 597m

The Pro-Stage kicked off with optimal conditions in the bike park. Sweeping berms, rough rocky sections, steep chutes, big rock slabs, wooden bridges, tight corners, steep climbs, slippery silky powder and challenging light conditions.

Matt Stuttard finished in P25 with plenty more in the tank. He was pumped to have some big features in the race - including the all-new 1199 Track.

The 1199 track is a tribute to the iconic late-Canadian downhill racer Stevie Smith. 1199 being Stevie’s total World Cup points at the end of 2013, the year he became the first Canadian to win the World Cup overall title.

Things didn’t quite go to plan in the Pro-Stage for Brady Stone, finishing in P60. But Brady was feeling all pumped and ‘ready to give it the beans’ for day 2.

Team Captain, Dan Wolfe finished in P63, feeling confident with the trajectory of his racing post-surgery last year.

“

The game has changed. EWS putting in some big ass features for Pro Stage - that was something else!” ”
-Dan Wolfe

Day 2

Super-hot conditions made for a brutal day 2, with steep climbs and long gnarly descents. Plus a day for cycling up the 2010 Olympic bobsled track on the way to race bikes.

Stage 1: Microclimate | Length 2.1km | Descent 414m

Unfortunately no-one got a chance to practise stage one the previous day but all rode the trail well, Brady was hot on Matt’s heels with only 3 seconds between them on this stage. Stage one is full of roots and a few climbs thrown in.

Stage 2: Golden Boner > Roam in the Loam > Rabbit Tracks | Length 2.2km | Descent 280m

Matt Stuttard had to dig deep after a big off on stage 1, where he clipped a stump with his pedal and ejected over the bars landing on his shoulder. After getting it strapped up, Matt managed to push on as the day went on.

Stage 3: No Joke > Miss Fire > Delayed Fuse > South Park | Length 3.5km | Descent 623m

With a big lift bump up to the day’s highest point, extra points were up for grabs with the Queen Stage. One of the longest & hardest stages of the race. Matt Stuttard was up for the challenge and ended up placing P32.

Stage 4: Ride Don’t Slide > Cirque Du Soil > Ride Don’t Slide | Length 2.1km | Descent 450m

Ride Don’t Slide took racers out of the Bike Park and into root-town. Yet another challenging stage in the hottest part of the day, leading into a hike-a-bike liaison back up to the final stage of the race.

Stage 5: 1199 > Duffman > World Cup Single Track > Ho Chi Min > Longhorn > Monkey Hands| Length 4.7km | Descent 597m

The final stage was a repeat of the Pro-Stage - proving mentally & physically draining. The PFR team gave it their all and was rewarded with some stellar results. Matt Stuttard’s P25 and Brady Stone’s P27 landed them in 30th and 41st respectively overall.

“

After a slow start on the Pro-Stage, I gave it my best effort and finally found some pace on the last stage, ending in P41 for the weekend. I learnt a lot and am looking forward to the next 2 rounds on the USA east coast.”
-Brady Stone

Team Captain, Dan Wolfe, raced consistently to finish 63rd while continuing to deliver his outstanding EWS event coverage to PinkBike’s 1.5 million Instagram followers.