VIDEO: “FIGHTING FOR IT,” THE CHALLENGE OF LIFE AT THE TOP OF ENDURO

PRESS RELEASE AND VIDEO COURTESY OF ORBEA

 

Being at the top of elite sport is not easy. It’s every rider’s dream to be on top. Thousands
of riders try, but only a few can boast of having achieved it. What does it take to be the
best? What’s behind a medal? Martin Maes, Vid Persak, Edgar Carballo and Flo Espiñeira
tell us in the documentary released today.

It starts as a passion, a childhood dream; to make a living from riding a bicycle. Traveling
around the world and riding the most incredible, spectacular and demanding trails on the
planet and to taste the sweetness of success. But behind a podium photo, behind a number
on the rankings page or behind a leader’s jersey there are many stories. Most of them are
positive, but some of them are harder life lessons.

It has been a long season with 7 races around the world that have forced all the members of
the Orbea Enduro Team to stay focused from March to September. Martin Maes, Vid Persak,
Edgar Carballo and Flo Espiñeira have once again given their best. But that’s no guarantee
when you’re competing to be the best in the world. Four riders, four nationalities, four
cultures, four different mentalities. Some have achieved their goals, others have not. This is
the real story of the sport and it is the story told in “Fighting for it.”

 

Edgar Carballo was coming off the best season of his life in 2022. He gave the Orbea Wild
its first victory in the history of the E-EDR World Cup. The bar was set high. But everything
changed with a hard fall in the preseason. The struggle to be at the top changed to the
struggle to get back to being the best version of himself. Injuries are the dark side of the
sport. Similar was the case of Vid Persak. For him the season has been a constant battle to
find his place in the World Cup.

But both Edgar and Vid have learned a lesson in positivity, dedication and never giving up.
Their character has been vital in contributing to the true family atmosphere that the Orbea
Enduro Team exudes and that is the foundation of any success. In MTB you compete as an
individual, but you always need a great team of people around you.

Martin Maes started the season with the energy (and doubts) generated by the arrival of his
second child. Elite athletes are human, too. Leaving the family behind is not easy and even
less so with all that is involved in following the calendar of an Enduro World Cup. The
Belgian is always in the running as one of the names to watch. And he has shown that he
has the speed to win, although he has not been able to achieve the consistency needed to
reach the demanding targets set.

Flo is the one who embodies the story of success and glory based on dedication and total
devotion. From the beginning, the path was clear. The adaptation work put in to adjust to the
E-EDR modality was accompanied by a total union with the new Orbea Wild. Flo, also
represents the need to not only be fast, but also to know how to control nerves and pressure.
The ambition, talent and determination demonstrated have placed the Orbea Enduro Team
at the top of the podium. The whole team has seen the reward of thousands of hours of work
together.

 

In “Fighting for It,” the 2023 Orbea Enduro recap, we tell the different sides of the same story:

how a World Cup season is experienced.

Here’s the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LD84dmlYxk