Video: Raw Practice Footage from the Maydena Enduro World Cup 2023

 More raw footage is great, they had to through in one slow-mo - not needed.

 I see what you did there.

 I'm glad I am not the only one. Every Instagram post too.

 First ever UCI sanctioned but still, it's a bit much to hear with as much enthusiasm as he's giving it.

 Yes!! That huge emphasis on FIRST EVER sounds ridiculous. What, they're going to say that in each venue now?

 @chmurka3rg: they could just say first, they could say inaugural during every video, but as you said, the huge emphasis sounds ridiculous. It’s like they are really trying to make the viewers forget the EWS ever existed.

 1st question : yes
2nd removing the cheekpads helps a lot going uphill

 Being a technology guy who just turned 40, I resent that!! But well, I'd also add "people who use sunglasses with full face helmets"

 Uplift service. Are they actually having to ride the climbs

 @chrismac70: They are actually having to ride the climbs. That's a big part of this race format. There is sometimes an uplift, but not consistently.

 @Ososmash: Seems to be a lot more uplift than there used to be. Not a good thing from my perspective. Enduro should be a big day out.

 @NealWood: 53 km. Over 2km of decending with 1.2km of climbing. Maydena is not so much about the pedalling but the while body strength endurance. Come the end of a race day you're struggling to hold it on as the steepness and speed of the hill is encouraging you to go faster.

 @hayden19: I'm not trying to get into a pissing match but 1200m of climbing isn't exactly epic. We have local enduro's with more climbing.

 Ride in Western Australia in the summer and you'll agree they're worth every penny.

 @NealWood: yes but there's 2.5km of decending, you can't ride that in a day. The course designers know exactly what they're doing. Enduros at maydena are about decending fitness and upper body strength, not so much pedal fitness.

 You like that shit

 Sorry, there is no Fantasy Enduro this year.

 No Enduro fantasy league this year!
That was confirmed a bit earlier today by Brian Park in "Video: Bike Checks - UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup" comments...

 @edspratt: there seems to be some confusion about Fantasy Cups.
From our side it looks like “hey Pinkbike, copy/paste last year’s Fantasy Cup, and make sure you update the names”
But it seems from your side it’s not that easy? Is there something we’re missing? If so, please let us know so we can get off your case.
Because you know it’ll only come up again for XC, and DH and next year’s EW Circus…

 @mwysel: It's no worries, I love the Fantasy League as much as everyone else even though I can't actually win anything, so it's a shame we couldn't get it ready this year.

There is definitely a lot more work behind the scenes than most people think. I can only speak for the parts I'm involved in but on a race day it can easily add 2 hours plus to my day to get the points inputted and sent out to everyone's teams. I have seen in the comments that people think it's an automated process but for each race the points have to be inputted manually.

 thanks @edspratt An extra two hours on Race Days is no joke. I agree, it’d have to be automatic or bust, and there you have it. Thanks for giving us an inside.

 @mwysel: It's not that bad, to be honest, it's just one of those things where to do it properly and make sure there are no mistakes you have to take your time with it. I don't think I made any errors over the past four seasons so the two hours each race was definitely worth it.

 @edspratt: Sad to hear that, it was fun. It would be fine even without the prizes. Thanks for the time you putted into it

 @edspratt: Will you be looking to set it up for next season or is it still all too unsure with the rebranding mess? Thanks

 @edspratt: That could easily be solved by a statement saying Fantasy results will be updated and available every Tuesday after the event. Not blaming you in any way, but that's a much better way of handling it, vs. just not doing anything at all and hoping no one notices. We're already getting that from Discovery.

 @Bleeder: Yeah for sure in the past I have pushed the points updates to the Monday after racing during busy race weekends where there is too much going on. But in fairness the time it takes for me to input points isn't really an issue and we simply just weren't able to get it together for this year.