Barel wins first Enduro World Series race on 27.5” Michelin tyre

Fabien Barel claimed a world first in winning the first event of the Enduro World Series championship with 27.5” Michelin prototype mountain bike tyres. The world’s best riders competed in Punta Ala, Italy on Saturday, 18 May and Sunday, 19 May for the first race in the championship. Barel finished the event with a 12.5-second lead over the second-place finisher.

On the Saturday two Michelin-shod mountain bike riders overcame difficult weather conditions and wet paving stones due to heavy rain to finish first and second in a field of 400 riders: Alex Cure, riding for the Urge Bike Product Enduro Team, and Barel, for the Canyon Factory Enduro Team. 

Four special stages were scheduled for Sunday. The continuing rain left the terrain muddy and slippery, placing enormous physical demands on the riders. Motivated by his second-place finish of the previous day, Fabien Barel won two out of four specials. 

Michelin says the prototype tyres are the result of two and a half years of research and development alongside Barel. Alex Cure’s 26” front tyre was also a prototype Enduro, while he decided to use a 26×2.35 MICHELIN Wild Grip’R2 Advanced Reinforced tyre on the rear.

Michelin says the weekend shows how racing continues to enable the Group to test its future tyres in the most extreme conditions of use while benefiting from the experience of the world’s best mountain bike riders. The Group says the sporting involvement means it can respond effectively to the expectations of all users’ demands.