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Andréane Lanthier Nadeau podiums again at EWS finals

Six Canadians ride to top-20 finishes as Enduro World Series wraps up in Finale Ligure

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure ALN
EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure ALN
Women’s podium – EWS Finale Ligure, Italy. Image: Enduro World Series

Andréane Lanthier Nadeau wrapped up her 2018 Enduro World Series season with a second straight podium on Sunday. A week after her bronze in Spain, the Rocky Mountain / Race Face rider finished third in Finale Ligure, Italy.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure ALN
Lanthier Nadeau kicks up dust through the woods of Finale Ligure. Image: Enduro World Series

ALN’s teammate Jesse Melamed was again the top Canadian man. The Whistler local extended his top-10 streak with a seventh place at the EWS finals, which were held for a sixth straight time at the seaside venue of Finale Ligure, Italy.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
Miranda Miller descends to the Mediterranean, and 10th place. Image: Enduro World Series

Lanthier Nadeau and Melamed weren’t the only Canadian’s having a good day in Miditerranean. Miranda Miller (Specialized Gravity Racing) was 10th in the seaside event. It was her second top-10 in two weeks, after placing seventh a week earlier in Ainsa, Spain. Casey Brown (Trek Factory Racing) raced to 16th after announcing Finale Ligure would be her final EWS appearance.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
Jesse Melamed sails to seventh in Finale Ligure. Image: Enduro World Series

On the men’s side, Rocky Mountain / Race Face’s Remi Gauvin finished close behind his teammate, Melamed. Gauvin ended his 2018 campaign with an 11th place in the Italian round. Mckay Vezina made it three Canadian men in the top-20. The Giant Factory Off-Road Team racer nabbed 17th in Finale, his best recent Enduro World Series result.

RELATED: Mckay Vezina: Crashing and community in the EWS

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
Back on form in 2018, Richie Rude was again on the podiums stop step. Image: Enduro World Series
Enduro World Series round No. 8: Rude and Ravanel rule in Finale

Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Enduro) won Sunday’s final in impressive fashion. The American swept all four stages of racing to claim his third EWS win of the season. Damien Oton (Unior Devinci Factory Racing) followed in second. SUNN racing’s Kevin Miquel was close behind in third, his best EWS result to date.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
Ravanel charging hard for a massive Italian crowd. Image: Enduro World Series

For the first half of Sunday’s racing, it looked like Isabeau Courdurier (Intense Mavic Collective) might finally be the one to unseat the unstoppable Cecile Ravanel (Commencal Vallnord Enduro). Courdurier won the first two of the days four stages, signaling she might finally end her season-long string of silver medals with a win in Italy. In the unfamiliar position of racing on her back foot, Ravanel rebounded to win the third stage, but still trailed her fellow Frenchwoman for the lead. Another victory on the fourth stage was enough, just, to propel Ravanel to the win. Ravanel’s narrow, 6.9 second victory in Finale preserves the dominant riders perfect 2018 season.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
2018 Enduro World Series podium: Isabeau Courdurier (2nd) Cecile Ravanel (1st) Katy Winton (3rd) Image: Enduro World Series
2018 Enduro World Series champions crowned in Finale Ligure, Italy

Having won every round, Ravanel’s third-straight EWS title was all but secured going into Sunday’s racing. Isabeau Courdurier’s perfect streak of seconds landed her the same position in the overall standings. Racing to sixth in Finale Ligure was enough for Katy Winton (Trek Factory Racing) to keep third ahead of GT Factory Racing’s Noga Korem.

RELATED: Escaping ‘the wrist prison:’ ALN on Injury, EWS and finding freedom on the bike

After missing the opening three rounds of racing with a broken wrist, Andréane Lanthier Nadeau’s impressive mid-season comeback landed her in 11th overall.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
Damion Oton (2nd) Sam Hill (1st) Florian Nicolai (3rd) Image: Enduro World Series

Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles Mavic) also enjoyed a nearly untouchable lead rolling into Sunday. The Australian rode a more relaxed pace in the mountains above the Mediterranean, riding safely to ninth. Added to his four wins already in 2018, it was easily enough to give Hill his second straight EWS title. Martin Maes (GT Factory Racing) was not so lucky. Having to race hard to defend his podium, the Belgian crashed hard and was forced out of the race. In an unfortunate end to his stellar season, the DNF dropped Maes off the overall podium into fourth.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
Sam Hill safely through the rocks. Image: Enduro World Series

Damien Oton’s second place capped off a consistent season, and the French rider leapt up into second overall. Florian Nicolai (Canyon Factory Enduro Team) finished fourth in Finale, bringing his season points to 2,770, just 50 points ahead of Maes for the final podium place.

Despite missing two rounds with two separate injuries, Jesse Melamed ended his 2018 season ninth overall, with teammate Remi Gauvin close behind in 12th. Mckay Vezina rode his 17th in Italy all the way up to 31st in the season rankings.

EWS Enduro World Series Finale Ligure
2018 Enduro World Series overall winners. Image: Enduro World Series