Polygon Factory Racing made its debut this year on one of the most prestigious stages in mountain biking — the Enduro World Series (EWS). This championship represents the peak of global enduro racing, combining the thrill of speed, technical skill, and the spirit of adventure that defines every mountain bike enthusiast.
EWS #1 – Tweed Valley: A Bold Debut in Scotland’s Finest Trails
The season opened with EWS Round 1 in Tweed Valley, Scotland (June 4–5, 2022). After days of heavy rainfall, the skies finally cleared, revealing pristine conditions on some of the UK’s best downhill trails.
Saturday’s Pro Stage was designed for high-speed excitement — fast, flowing, and perfect for spectators. Polygon’s Brady Stone came out strong, finishing 25th after a powerful start.
“The trails were running dry and fast, which made for a smooth run into 25th. I’m really happy to start the season off with this result,” – Brady Stone.
Sunday brought five more stages, including the renowned Queen Stage on the Big Baw trail. Matt Stuttard showed his technical mastery, earning 14th place on one of the most decisive stages of the race.
“It’s so good to be back racing! I last raced 11-months ago since I snapped my collar bone. Loved every minute of it – buzzing to be back,” – Matt Stuttard.
Team Captain Dan Wolfe took charge both on and off the track, giving PinkBike’s 1.5 million followers a behind-the-scenes view through an engaging Instagram takeover filled with commentary and race footage.
“Tweed Valley was the most hotly contested event to start with. A great success for the first outing of Polygon Factory Racing – I am very proud of the lads!” – Dan Wolfe.
EWS #2 – Petzen-Jamnica: Racing Across Borders
The second round of the Enduro World Series took riders across two countries — Austria and Slovenia — for a true test of endurance and versatility. Spanning 40 km and 3,100 vertical meters of descent, the course was one of the most demanding of the season.
Despite a solid start during the Shakedown ride, Dan Wolfe was forced to withdraw due to post-surgery pain in his shoulder. Still, he remained an energetic presence trackside, cheering his teammates and continuing his daily PinkBike coverage.
The Pro Stage in Austria became one for the record books: a 6 km course featuring over 1,000 meters of descent — rocky, rough, steep, and incredibly physical. Riders described it as 13 minutes of pure survival on their MTB bikes.
The following day in Slovenia brought extreme heat and punishing terrain. Brady Stone lost valuable seconds to a mechanical issue but recovered brilliantly to secure the team’s first top 10 stage finish, ending 27th overall.
“What a race! Loved the long tracks but they were brutal to race.” – Brady Stone.
Matt Stuttard kept the momentum with a strong finish, taking 14th in the final stage and 28th overall.
“Petzen was a brutally tough event – from the heat to the tracks, there was no let up. We look forward to the next round in Italy.” – Dan Wolfe.
EWS #3 – Val di Fassa: The Turning Point in the Dolomites
The third stop of the Enduro World Series brought racers to the breathtaking Val di Fassa Trentino, set among the towering rock spires of the Italian Dolomites — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a dream destination for any mountain bicycle rider.
The Pro Stage, short yet packed with technical challenges, tested every rider’s focus. After injuring his wrist in practice, Brady Stone fought through the pain to finish just outside the top 50.
Meanwhile, Matt Stuttard faced a difficult opening, placing 72nd in a stage that didn’t suit his usual strengths. But his experience as a seasoned MTB racer paid off — he knew the real battle was still ahead.
Day two marked an incredible comeback. Stuttard powered through brutal trails to earn a top 10 in Stage 3, then attacked the demanding Queen Stage along the Tutti Frutti ridgeline — one of Europe’s most iconic mountain bike descents. His determination delivered an 11th-place finish on the stage and 18th overall, securing Polygon’s first top-20 result of the season.
“Happy with that! From 72nd to 18th today – I had to dig deep on some brutal stages.” – Matt Stuttard.
Brady also climbed up the ranks with consistent performances, moving from 51st to 39th overall by the end of the weekend.
“I’m so proud of the whole team’s efforts and results throughout this first block of EWS races. Our mechanic, Josh Morris, has gone above and beyond in his support of the new team. Top 10 Stage finishes from Brady in Slovenia then Matt in Italy, culminating with Matt’s Top 20 overall cements the ability of these guys in the most technical and demanding trails. Dan’s dug so deep to help bring everything together as Team Captain while, despite injury, performing both on track and as PinkBike’s face-of-enduro.
A huge thanks to the team sponsors for all their support; DHaRCO, BikeYoke, FSA and Kenda – we can’t wait to see what we can do together as Dan, Brady and Matt touch down in North America in August!” – Dave Musgrove, PFR Team Manager.
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Next Stop: North America
After a promising opening run through Europe, the Polygon Factory Racing Team takes a short break before heading to North America for the next rounds of the Enduro World Series.
With the experience gained from racing across some of the world’s most technical and rugged mountain bike terrains, the team is recharged and ready for the upcoming challenges in Whistler, Burke, and Sugarloaf.
Stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes stories as Polygon Bikes continues to make its mark in the global enduro scene.
