Lay of the Land - Enduro World Series, Ainsa, Spain - Mountain Biking Pictures

Ainsa early morning while the shuttle vehicles get loaded up. The area is small in population but rich in culture and trails. Chris Ball in audio. -Sven Martin

We give thanks to Jorge Ruis de Eguilaz here who is responsible for bringing the EWS to Ainsa and Spain. A rider by heart with a lot of pride and passion. Thank you. -Sven Martin

Lots of time needed for rehydrating after long days in the sun. -Duncan Philpott

Stage 2 starts at the old village of Morcat. It's one of the longest stages at almost 4km, descending 440 meters. Anka Martin drops in for practise. -Sven Martin

It's not all desert dust and scrub in Spain. Lots of moss, rivers, and loam. So much variety here with the Pyrenees and all the different facing valleys and catchment areas. -Sven Martin

Special views from the offset, practice started on Stage 2 with Jared setting it off at a fair pace. -Duncan Philpott

Lord Cunny at the bottom of Stage 2. Although a slight detour off the liaison, it gives you some idea of just what you can get yourself into out here. -Sven Martin

Golden hour shuttles to make the most of each practice day -Duncan Philpott

Stage 8 isn't shy of a bit of exposure and the trail got REALLY narrow where the camera was. -Duncan Philpott

You don't often see Fabien leaving the ground. He is strictly business and with the World Series title on the line these next two weeks, he is practicing methodically and thoroughly. -Sven Martin

There are always interesting takes on attire whenever you visit new destinations. This is a first for me. #speedtights #notwatgap -Sven Martin

This is not how you want to start your practice. Yoga advised. -Duncan Philpott

Francois on an early morning run on Stage 6 this morning. Chicane wiggle or straight-line speed, over and off. -Sven Martin

A photogrpaher's and filmer's favorite, Marco Osbourne, always swooping low, fast and flat out. Often sketchy, always fast...sometimes too fast. Chris Seager, one half of Aspect Media narrating. -Sven Martin

The other half of Aspect Media Jacob Gibbons racing off to the next filming spot with a bit of turn bar steeze. -Sven Martin

Seager demonstrating to all the pros (not present) what he expects them to look like in this section on Stage 6 as Gibbons narrates. -Sven Martin

Yoann straying from the beaten path -Duncan Philpott

It's cool to see some of the DH guys taking it up on their own backs to get out here and race for the spirit of it! Joe Smith gapping rocks at the start of Stage 4. -Duncan Philpott

Al feels at home on the Trans-Provence-like trail conditions. Hopping the inside gap to keep the speed and flow on Stage 5 today. -Sven Martin

Anneke Beerten always pushes it hard in practice. Here she negotiates the last steeps on Stage 8. -Sven Martin

Spot the rider amongst the beauty. Spain isn't as arid as you'd think and attracted the likes of Doug from Basque MTB. -Duncan Philpott

Bigger mountains lie beyond the smaller ones you can see here as the view stretches out to the Pyranees -Duncan Philpott

The best part of coming to an EWS event is being able to explore a bit before and after the events. Here we are with Basque MTB less than an hour away from Ainsa and ready to drop over 1200m vertical. -Sven Martin

Rene Wildhaber threading the needle on the last bit of consequence on Stage 8. It is also one of the most physical stages of the course. -Sven Martin

We try capture all the riders during practice, but often, despite your best efforts and planning sometimes all you end up with is a shot of them PASSING the media shuttle. -Sven Martin

Iago Garay is the ultimate enduro Freeracer popping and styling it up for the cameras. Except this is how he rides always. Cameras or not. -Sven Martin

Nico being Nico and giving the media a show. -Duncan Philpott

Max Schumann testing the depth of the beige pow at the end of Stage 6. -Sven Martin

Ed Oxley is no stranger to Ainsa. Together with Basque MTB he puts on trips here and other areas of Spain. -Sven Martin

Stage 3's trail surface is made up from pre-historic fossils. A first for me. -Sven Martin

Cunny fossilized. -Sven Martin

End of Stage 5 after a sprint though a wide river bed. -Sven Martin

The pits are in the middle of a castle! A freaking castle! -Sven Martin

Mark Wallace, fresh from a KO at the Red Bull Hardline, is still boosting anything and everything. It will be interesting to see how this young DH'r does out here. -Sven Martin

Marco Osbourne slaying this loose turn in the prime morning sun, winning combo. -Duncan Philpott

The scenery on Stage 6 was spectacular with the trails providing a unique feel. -Duncan Philpott

Team Gehrig being lead out by the Canadian Junior from Whistler, Georgia Astle -Duncan Philpott

Blue skies and loose conditions are familiar territory for Curtis Keene -Duncan Philpott

Martin Maes darts through the woodland with Mark Maurissen in tow, never far behind -Duncan Philpott

Ludo May opens up the speed into the flat-out finish of Stage 8. Spectators were already lurking during practice so it will be interesting to see how many turn up for race day. -Duncan Philpott

The liason was enough to clatter a chain device and Leave T-Mo with some spanner work before any official practice can be started. -Duncan Philpott

Jerome might have been watching Marco Osbourne a little too much as he's starting to get some wild shapes on track! -Duncan Philpott

The bottom of stage two is flat-out, amongst the trees with plenty bumps for airtime -Duncan Philpott

One of the more minor occurrences of exposure on the course. And this is only the liaison to Stage 3! -Duncan Philpott

Wyn Masters coming out wide and nosing it in to the steep little rock roll before a wild, dusty and loose corner. -Duncan Philpott

The peak of the occasional hill is occupied by a historic church or fort and makes for a staggering backdrop. Stay tuned for the racing action in Ainsa. -Duncan Philpott

Lay of the Land - Enduro World Series, Ainsa, Spain

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