EWS.8 '18 FINALE
A SWEEP

It’s never happened. Five years and no man in the pro field has ever won every stage, but Richie rolled to the start line in Finale, Italy on Sunday and dominated from beginning to end. It also marked the fourth win in a row for Richie aboard the SB150 – as of now an undefeated combination.

As is Finale’s style, the tracks were dry, hot and rocky. It would be a fully pedal-powered day accented by hike-a-bikes and exposure. Richie checked off each stage with laser focus - a bent crank and slow leak would not stand in his way. Descending the 4th and final stage, crowds lined the track. The fans cheered so loud, they could be heard in the plaza in town.

After climbing more than 6,000 feet (1800 meters) over 30 miles (48 KM), Richie captured the win by more than 22 seconds. What a way to end a season filled with ups and downs, flats, wins, crashes and mechanicals. With three EWS race wins under his belt, Richie walked away with 7th in the overall.

Yeti/FOX Factory teammate Shawn Neer wrapped up his first year of EWS racing sitting in 28th for the day and 22nd for the series overall. Yeti Pro Ambassadors, Mike West and working-man Adam Morse also put in a solid year of racing. West, competing in Masters Men, finished 13th in Finale and 3rd in the overall.