Enduro World Series #8 Zermatt - Switzerland
Isabeau COURDURIER is our Enduro World Series 2019 champion and becomes the second person ever to achieve a perfect season!
Here we have the team impressions...
Isabeau Courdurier:
After the last round in Northstar, the pressure unconsciously released as I knew the title was secured. My body felt empty and I felt drained both physically and mentally. But this race in Zermatt was about to be a very special one. We planned after visiting Intense in the USA before Northstar, that they would get me a prototype bike for the ultimate round. We have been working closely with Chad from Intense on this one. Chad was very enthusiast about this project. A few weeks ago we woke up to the tragic news that Chad died in a bicycle accident. We were in shock, but there was one thing we wanted to do, to pay a tribute to him. And that was to race this prototype. Jeff Steber hand-welded the frame last week and we built it the day before practices started.
I immediately felt good on it and it was obvious that I was going to be racing on it. On race day I felt I had no strengths left but I focused on one thing: send it for Chad. I gave everything I had. I wanted to leave Zermatt without any regrets. I can't believe how strong the mind can be over the body. I hope that I made Chad proud. I hope this race will be one to remember and I am sure about is that I will never forget the impact of Chad in our life. We are lucky we have been able to meet him.
It is now official we are the 2019 Enduro World Series champions. It feels good to know that I am only the third women to ever win this title, also the youngest one to make it. And more than that the second rider in the EWS history to win all rounds over a season. It is a lot of achievements for me, more than I thought I was capable of. What I will keep in mind for the future is that all that matters is to keep trying and to keep pushing.
I would like to thank everyone that has been involved in this adventure. I would be nowhere without the support I receive.
Cédric Carrez :
What an incredible season! it was the target when we created the team 2 years ago and now we got there. I will never thanks Isa enough for her fighting spirit, hard work and all the sacrifices she has made in recent months to get this title. And with the way, winning the 8 races that count the season.
We are also pleased to have been able to validate the working of the prototype frame developed jointly with the Intense Cycles familly, especially on this very demanding race in Zermatt. The story behind this development is emotionally charged and we are proud to have been able to offer a victory from the first outing of this bike, received only two days before the race.
It was also a great satisfaction to take the start all three, especially as the points scored by Kilian and myself allow us to finish at the 9th place on the team overall ranking in front of the leaders of the industry.
Whatever happens to us, we are incredibly successful in a very short time. 40 million of views for Kilian and a World Champion title for Isa, what more could you expect?
Maybe it can go on for years! but as we say, we must not abuse of good things.
We will never thank enough the brands who trusted in us when we launched our project. I hope we did it well.
Next and last stop of the season, the Trophy of Nations at Finale Ligure next weekend.