MOUNTAIN BIKE ENDURO AT THE SUMMIT

In France and abroad, we know the potential bikes have in all of their forms for developing summer tourism. The success of ‘Enduro’, which is now part of the UCI programmes, owes nothing to chance. Benjamín Plasencia Sidauy, commercial director of Epic Enduro Series, which organises Mountain Bike Enduro events, explains the main reasons:

Approximately 35 km with 1,500 metres of vertical gain and 5 specials (9 km of downhills), the circuit designed by Epic Enduro Series can be used by a wide range of sports persons. The approximative duration is 5 hours from start to finish and only the special stages (downhill of more than 20 minutes) are timed.

The Epic Enduro Series is aimed at a broad target – children, youths and adults – of a relatively high socio-economic level.

In Mexico, where Epic Enduro Series has developed tracks entirely devoted to Enduro, such as in Taxco de Alarcón, Guerrero and Oaxaca, attendance rates are very high. Events organised regularly help to breathe life into these areas, promote them and generate economic advantages for local socio-economic players.

Among mountain biking disciplines, Enduro is the one which has witnessed the greatest growth in recent years, due to the pleasure it brings for a relatively small amount of required effort, particularly thanks to the development of electricallyassisted bikes.

Enduro is the most profitable segment for the cycling industry, due to the high consumption of spare parts. For equipped sites, the economic perspectives are also promising. “We are operating in a very robust market, explains Benjamín Plasencia Sidauy, the purchasing power of participants at our events is very high. They constantly travel overseas; which is why we believe that our events could also promote French destinations”. A word to the wise!

The segment witnessed annual growth of 300% last year!