![\"ccs-62657-0-60279600-1469646576.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-60279600-1469646576.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe first North American race of the year will take place amongst some of the USA\u2019s highest mountains in the iconic Aspen-Snowmass resort in Colorado.<\/p>\n
The 450 riders will face six stages over two days of racing, all at a lung busting altitude of 10,000 feet. The resort\u2019s chairlifts mean riders don\u2019t face too much in the way of climbing at just 1700 feet – but the elevation means even a modest climb can be brutal. But with 15,000 feet of descent down classic Colorado singletrack as a reward, it will definitely be worth it.<\/p>\n
In the men\u2019s competition there is just one question – can anyone stop Richie Rude? The Yeti Fox Shox rider has won three of the four races so far this season and cemented his lead over the rest of the field when he won in La Thuile by over a minute and a half just a couple of weeks ago. He won\u2019t have Sam Hill (Chain Reaction Cycles Paypal) chasing him down this time, but Damien Oton (Devinci Global Racing) and Florian Nicolai (Rocky Mountain Urge bp) who sit second and third respectively in the overall rankings will be trying hard to prevent the American taking another win.<\/p>\n
Cecile Ravanel (Commencal Vallnord Enduro Team) will start the race as the hot favourite – she has dominated the women\u2019s field this season and shows no sign of slowing down. She won\u2019t be without competition though, as her main points rival Isabeau Courdurier (SUNN) will be chasing hard as will Anneke Beerten (GT Factory Racing) who returns from illness. Fresh faces could also throw in an upset this weekend – both Casey Brown (Trek Factory Racing) and Andreane Lathier Nadeau (Rocky Mountain Urge bp) managed to podium at their first Enduro World Series races earlier this year and definitely have the potential to do the same here.<\/p>\n