TALENT SPOTTING

Riders to watch in this year’s EWS – let the battle commence!

MELANIE PUGIN

Riding for Spain’s BH Bikes, the 2021 Pro Women’s overall winner stood on top of the podium in Val di Fassa, Crans Montana and La Thuile (where there were two rounds) last year. The Frenchwoman will be hoping to repeat her victorious season in 2022, but there’s a host of fast riders hot on her heels, ready to snatch the title away.

HARRIET HARNDEN

Harriet ‘Hattie’ Harnden juggles World Cup XC racing with EWS rounds for Trek Factory Racing. Her first EWS victory in the second round at La Thuile last year made her the youngest ever EWS Pro winner, at 20 years old. The Malvern local has had a cyclocross-filled winter and is looking forward to the technical EWS tracks in 2022.

BEX BARAONA

Tweed Valley-based Bex took her first EWS win at the final round of the 2021 series, on home turf, and is carrying great momentum into 2022. Now signed to the Yeti/Fox Factory team, she’s looking to improve on her seventh place overall in the Pro Women’s category last season.

JACK ‘SHARK ATTACK’ MOIR

The former World Cup DH rider surprised pundits when he made the switch to enduro in 2021. This Aussie sensation rocked the establishment as he piloted his Canyon to overall EWS victory, in his usual long-limbed, effortless style. He took two Pro Men’s wins and five podiums, making him the man to watch in 2022.

RITCHIE RUDE

One of the hardesttraining riders in the EWS, Rude took three wins out of the first four rounds in 2021. The American finished fifth in Finale Ligure and was the favourite to take the Pro Men title, but a shock disqualification from the final round (for cutting the course) saw the win slip away. The Yeti rider is back for redemption in 2022.

MARTIN MAES

Having notched up a DH World Cup win as well as plenty of EWS success, Maes has moved to the Orbea team for 2022. The mild-mannered Belgian had a frustrating 2021. A crash in the first round left him in ninth and made him miss the next race with a concussion, but his tenacity and pace saw him win the final round.